Before Daybreak (Love Bitten)

“Our second start to the day is a fuck of a lot better than the first,” Braeden murmured, his arms tightening around me. “This is how I want to wake up every night from now until eternity.”

“We could’ve experienced this sooner if I hadn’t rushed away earlier without waking you up.” I rolled over and brushed my lips against his. “I’m so sorry.”

“You already apologized, baby. No need to do it again.” His kiss was no quick graze of his mouth, like mine had been. Instead, one of his hands cradled the back of my head while his tongue swept inside. He didn’t lift his head again until I was breathless. “Just promise me you’ll never leave me alone in this bed again.”

I flashed him a playful grin. “Not even to go to the bathroom?”

“No exceptions. That’s what never means,” he confirmed with a rueful smile. “Maybe in a hundred years, I’ll be okay waking up without you.”

Any insecurities he was feeling about us were my fault, and I didn’t know how to fix them. He would only be truly reassured by claiming me, but I was nowhere ready to take that step. All I could do for now was avoid doing anything to add to his uncertainty. “Then I promise to wake you up anytime I need to leave the bed, no matter the reason. And in a hundred years, I’ll check to see if you’re ready to lift the restriction.”

“Remind me to kiss you before asking you for favors in the future.” He captured my mouth again and didn’t let up until I rocked my pussy against his hard length in an attempt to relieve the ache between my legs. “It makes you much more agreeable.”

I couldn’t argue with that logic. His kisses had the power to scramble my brain...and so did his bossiness. “You didn’t really ask. It was more like a command.”

“What can I say?” he asked, mischievousness gleaming in his bright blue eyes. “You proved how well you take orders from me when I had my cock inside your perfect little pussy, so I figured it might work for this, too.”

The sensual thrill racing up my spine came to an abrupt halt when a familiar female voice called, “Callidora Yellen, get down here right this instant.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I grumbled, burying my face in the crook of Braeden’s neck. “My mom’s pushiness is a mood killer.”

“You heard your mother,” my dad hollered.

“I suppose that it’s safe to assume your parents decided to pay us a visit?” Braeden asked, his chest shaking with suppressed laughter.

I pushed up to an elbow and glared down at him. “This isn’t funny.”

“Sure, it is,” he disagreed with a grin. “I’m five hundred and forty-three years old and finally experiencing the time-honored rite of passage of getting busted by my girl’s parents.”

“Do I need to remind you that we’re naked and reek of sex?” I hissed, poking his chest with my index finger.

“But are we?” He swept his hand down the length of our bodies as he used his magic to clean and clothe us.

“You’re actually enjoying this,” I accused, heaving a deep sigh when Braeden slid off the mattress and tugged me with him.

He shrugged his broad shoulders and conceded, “Maybe just a little, but can you blame me? You’re so fucking adorable when you’re freaking out over nothing.”

“Yeah, well, my parents tend to have that effect on me,” I grumbled as we headed toward the door. “And it’s not nothing. I know they love me, but they’re impossible.”

Braeden flung his arm around my shoulders. “This time will be different.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How?”

“You’ve never had me at your back.” We reached the top of the stairs, and he brushed a kiss against my temple. “The whole dynamic will be different with even numbers. We’ll provide your parents with an unbreakable united front.”

I’d never had unwavering support from anyone in my life, not when it came to what I truly wanted at least. My parents meant well and had my best interests at heart—or at least what they thought was best for me—but they couldn’t move past seeing me as their little girl. They’d been together for centuries before my mom had gotten pregnant with me, and the long wait made them extra protective of me. The idea of me going on missions for the council and risking my life was something they couldn’t wrap their brains around, so they’d steadfastly ignored the subject whenever I’d brought it up.

Since I knew where they were coming from, I wasn’t angry with them. I couldn’t help but be hurt over their willful obliviousness of my dreams, though. But having Braeden’s support took away a lot of the sting. Especially since it seemed to come without any strings attached so far...except for me admitting to something I already knew to be true—that I would always be his. “Hopefully that’ll be enough for them to behave.”