“Not lately,” I say lightly, but nothing more as he returns with blood. I down it hungrily and put the glass on the bedside cabinet. I snuggle further down the bed and gratefully lower my head to the pillow. “Can he stay, please?” I ask my sire in a tone that I know he can’t refuse.
He smiles softly. “Of course, my love.” He bends down to kiss my forehead, nods at Cole and leaves again. I look at the clock and it is 2:30 AM. I close my eyes and don’t open them again until it is light out and I’m looking straight into the sleeping face of my sire. My breath catches as I watch him.
I feel Cole’s arm tighten around me as he senses my movement and I turn to him. He is still fast asleep. I lie back down quietly, enjoying being sandwiched between the two. Pity nothing will ever come from this. Devon is one thing; CK is something else entirely in Cole’s mind. After Sibiu, I think it will be a long, long time before he considers it. But that is okay for now. One day, he will come around.
“Having wicked thoughts, my sweet,” CK says softly to me and I turn to him with a smile.
“How can you tell?” I say, just as softly.
“I know you,” he says simply and leans over to give me a deep kiss.
He takes my hand and holds it lightly and I take comfort in his touch, slight as it is.
“I’m glad you are back, Aefre. I thought I had lost you.”
“I thought I had lost myself. When I realized that I had no connection to Devon, I understood what it was you were trying to say to me. I’m sorry for being a stubborn fool.” I turn my head towards him as he does to me and we are nose to nose.
“I expect nothing less from you, my sweet,” he says with a soft chuckle. “But I am glad that you see now that without your Vampire self, we all have something to lose.”
I nod.
“I will leave you to your husband. If I don’t go now, I will end up causing trouble between you two,” he says with a smirk. He is gone in a flash of Vampire speed as Cole stirs next to me. I turn to him. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” he says, rubbing his face with his hand. “God, I feel like I have slept for months. I always sleep better when you are next to me.”
“As do I.” I kiss him and climb on top of him, but he pushes me away.
“As much as I want you, I have to get out of this bed. All I can smell is you and your sire,” he says with a soft laugh.
“I need to shower,” I say, climbing off him and heading to the bathroom. “Join me.”
No sooner have I stepped into the shower, he joins me with a small smile and says, “Who am I kidding? I can’t resist you when you throw yourself at me.”
“Throw myself at you? I like the sound of that,” I say with a chuckle.
“Here, let me.” He takes the soap out of my hand and gives me a very thorough cleaning. I revel at his gentle touch. He finishes up and kisses me. Then he ruins all of his good work with a hard and fast fuck against the wall of the shower, with the water beating down on us.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE
“I ’ve come to some decisions,” I say to him as we are getting dry and dressed.
“Oh, what about?” he asks, a bit warily.
I tell him and he looks stunned. “Is that what you want?”
“Yes. I have called Scott up here with Lincoln, Devon, Nico, and Cade. We are going to have a meeting about it now. Is there anything you want to say before I speak to them?”
“Cade?” he asks, confused and I remember that he doesn’t know. I fill him in, and he looks concerned, but I brush it off.
“Don’t worry about it, my love. It’s handled.”
“Sure,” he says, unconvinced. “When did you call Scott and Lincoln?”
I tap my head.
“Oh. No, I have nothing to say. It is your decision. I will support whatever you want.”