Sunglasses at Night (Claws Clause 3)

Tabby blinked, almost as if she had forgotten that there was a room full of other people.

“Oh. Right.” Pulling back, she snagged his hand, expertly avoiding his claws. “Come on.”

There were a few of Tabby’s former fellow slayers there, each one invited courtesy of Boone who arrived in all his spooky, doom-and-gloom glory. He smiled indulgently down at Tabby when she took her uncle on a tour through the place, learning it at the same time as she showed it off.

Adam hung back, letting them have some together. He purposely avoided the other slayers, though he was secretly glad that Eddie hadn’t made the invite list.

When he couldn’t stand being separated from Tabby, he whisked her away from her uncle so that he could introduce her to Luis and Connie Diaz.

Not everyone had made it to the office before Adam and Tabby had. The door kept opening, new guests joining the get-together. The food Adam ordered for his guests showed up about half an hour after their arrival. Not much after that, a familiar couple came strolling into the room.

Tapping Tabby on the elbow, he got her attention. She was chatting companionably with Debbie, while keeping the boisterous Dayborn away from Boone. To Adam’s surprise, Debbie’s fangs seemed to lengthen when she spied the older slayer and he almost had to laugh.

Maybe there really was someone for everyone.

On that note, he walked with Tabby over to Maddox and Evangeline Wolfe.

“Eva. Wolfe. I didn’t think you guys would make it.”

The big brute shrugged, slinging his arm around his mate’s waist. For a human, Evangeline was tall—as tall as Adam, actually—but, dwarfed by Wolfe, she seemed so much smaller. Then again, that was probably because she’d lost the huge bump she’d sported the last time he’d seen her.

Tabby noticed, too. “Congratulations on the baby, you two. How is she?”

Eva’s face seemed to glow. “Wonderful. She’s simply wonderful.”

Adam couldn’t help himself. He glanced behind the mated pair, as if he expected to find a newborn hidden behind them somewhere. “Where is she?”

“Mad’s parents are having a little Grammy and Pop-Pop time,” she said, a teasing look on her face. From the way Wolfe rolled his eyes, Adam guessed the former Alpha couple of the Eastern Pack weren’t big fans of the names. On a husky laugh, she added, “Anyway, when we got the invitation, Sarah insisted that we get out of the house for a while without”—she turned into her mate, total adoration replacing the tease—“our new pup. We won’t be able to stay long, but we wanted to show our support. Adam… this is amazing.”

Wolfe grunted in agreement. He jerked his head at the desk closest to him. “That my brother’s?”

Adam followed his gesture. “Yeah, actually. Colt made them for us when I mentioned my idea. Said it was a mating gift, then told me he expected me to still take deliveries whenever we’re not out on a call. But that’s Pretty Boy for you. I’d expect no less from him.” Adam looked around. “Hey. You know, I don’t see him yet. I thought he was coming with Shea.”

A shadow fell over Wolfe’s weathered face. His golden eyes dimmed to a soft amber that seemed almost somber.

“Shea will be here,” Eva said, reaching a slender hand out to rub one of Maddox’s oversized biceps. “She said she wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m surprised she isn’t yet. Then again, we can’t all be as punctual as you.”

Adam could tell that Eva’s return to teasing had less to do with his hatred of being late, and everything to do with trying to settle her mate’s sour mood.

With another congratulations—even though he’d sent flowers to Wolf’s Creek when Colt gave him the news that she’d given birth—and a promise to catch up again soon, Adam whisked Tabby away, leaving the bonded pair alone together.

Tabby poked him in the side. “You know, now that I don’t have to worry about you having eyes for another chick, she’s not so bad.”

Adam froze, halfway toward greeting another guest. “What?”

“Evangeline Wolfe. I used to wonder if you were just settling for me because you couldn’t have her. Then I remembered I’m awesome and you’re lucky to have found me. And now,” Tabby said, lifting her hand to stroke the scars left from his claiming bite, “you’re stuck with me.”

He had to work hard to resist his sudden urge to lift her up, sneak her away from the party, and christen one of the other rooms of their new office.

Instead, he allowed his fangs to lengthen.

One of the best things about not having to worry about any accidental blood exchanges any longer was that he’d finally learned how to make his bite pleasurable for her. A little nip and sip was foreplay to them now. As he scented the heat pooling between her legs, watching the lust flare in her eyes, Adam nearly said fuck it after all.

“A blood-bonding is for life,” he told her. “Now that I’ve claimed you, your life is tied to mine. For as long as I keep my head on my shoulders and my ass out of the sun, you’re stuck with me, too.”

She patted his chest. “Then it’s a good thing you’ve got me around to keep an eye on the sun for you, eh, champ?”

It would be rude to run out of the party this soon. That didn’t stop him from lowering his head and, forever mindful of his fangs, kissing his slayer with all the promise of what he was going to do with her once he got her back in their basement.