Page 44 of Fangs and Fudge

“Not it,” Vena called from the bathroom.

Groaning a little, I went to answer it.

MC stood on the front porch, holding a paper grocery bag.

“Morning, Everly. I heard you needed some more sweetened condensed milk to make fudge for the pack. Since I know I screwed up yesterday with you and Vena and Shepard, I was hoping this could be a peace offering.”

Since he’d gotten into trouble for coming to our house when he wasn’t told to in the first place, I doubted that coming here to apologize would win him Shepard’s forgiveness, but I didn’t say so. MC and I both knew he was here because of his misguided infatuation with Vena.

He lifted the bag. “I got seven cans. I wasn’t sure how much you needed.”

“That’s more than enough. Thanks.”

I went to accept the bag, but he pulled it back. “It’s heavy. I’ll set it on the table for you.”

He walked past me before I could block him but jerked to a stop. His nostrils flared twice, and he looked at me like I’d grown two heads. I knew exactly what the problem was, but I played dumb for all it was worth.

“Please don’t sneeze on me,” I said. “I can’t afford to be sick.”

“Oh. Yeah. No. No sneeze,” he said, turning and continuing to the table.

Vena chose that moment to leave the bathroom.

She was wearing her summer pajamas, which were comfortable cotton shorts and a cotton tank top. The way MC was looking at her, though, you would have thought it was lingerie.

“Can I talk to you outside for a moment, Vena?” he asked. “It’s important.”

She glanced at me, and I could see the ‘I’m going to throat punch him’ look in her eyes. So I sent back my ‘play nice, or you’ll be grounded’ look.

“Fine. I’ll give you two minutes,” Vena said, marching toward the door.

He followed, and I saw the way his nostrils flared again when he walked past me.

After the door closed, I watched them for a moment to make sure Vena wouldn’t give into her urge to smack him. Whatever he started saying to her removed some of her defensive edge, though.

Assured that they’d be fine, I went to my room to grab some clothes then went to shower. If I planned on dropping off fudge, I needed to wash off whatever MC had smelled, or Shepard would have another fit, too.

I sighed and heard the bathroom door open.

“Let me guess. He smelled vampire on me. Why is my life so complicated?”

“Do I complicate your life, Everly?” Cross asked from the other side of the curtain.

My eyes rounded, and I poked my head out of the curtain. Cross wasn’t just standing in the bathroom. He was inches away from me. His gaze swept over my wet face and dipped to my lips.

“Allow me to uncomplicate it,” he said before closing the distance between us.

His lips settled over mine, warm and firm. Desire and anticipation rushed through me against my better judgement. And when his hands cupped my face and he kissed me with a hunger that stole my breath, I knew I was done for.

I grabbed for Cross, wanting more, and lost my balance. His arm snaked around me and pulled me to his chest at the same time he took advantage of my surprised gasp. Stealing his way inside, his tongue stroked against mine. He groaned. The kiss changed, conveying his desperate need. My pulse thundered in my ears as I held on for dear life as I kissed him back.

When he finally pulled away to look at me, I was gasping for air.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.

I shivered. “I think that added more complications."

He smiled slightly. “Depends on how you look at it. But I believe I interrupted your bathing. Would you like me to assist you?”

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