Page 63 of Feral

“You changed my whole life, Hale. I want so many things with you now. I’ll get better too.”

“You don’t need to get better. You were perfect.”

Yannis leans forward and presses a kiss to my mouth. “You were incredible tonight. You’re so sexy, and I felt so safe and protected.”

“I didn’t frighten you?”

“Not at all, but I do have a couple of questions.”

“Okay.”

“What did Bowie mean when he said mate?”

I nod, accepting that it’s time we talked about this. “Why don’t we go home and discuss it? I’ll answer all your questions.”

“Promise? I know you’re holding back, but I can handle the truth.”

“I learned that tonight.” I cup his face. “I promise. I want you to know.”

And I hope you’ll still want to stay.

Chapter 19

Yannis

Back at Hale’s apartment, I stand in front of the windows in the living room, looking out at the city skyline. My head is filled with all the new things I’ve learned, but mostly, I’m stuck on my growing feelings for the sexy vampire.

Watching him go apeshit on Ricco and Vito tonight should have sent me running in the other direction, but it had the opposite effect. I wanted to climb into his arms and stay there. The experience of witnessing such a violent scene at the hands of my man seems to have awakened my sex drive. My cock has been semi-hard ever since, but before we go any further, I know we need to talk. I need to understand what it really means to be in a relationship with a vampire. I laugh to myself. I’ll take sentences I never thought I’d say for five hundred.

I need to know what it means to be a mate, and whether that’s what I am to Hale. I need to know what the future looks like, and if someday I’ll have to become a vampire too. A shiver runs down my spine.

Become a vampire.

I’m not scared of them, but could I be one? If not, should I even be here with Hale? The idea of leaving him makes my stomach hurt though, so I guess that means something.

“Are you alright, Yannis?”

I turn to find Hale standing quietly behind me. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and nothing else, all the blood and gore washed away.

“Damn, you’re stealth.”

He smiles and nods slightly. “Call it a benefit.”

I take a step closer, wanting to kiss him but holding back. We have to talk first. “I’m good. Just a lot of questions and stuff bopping around my head.”

“Let’s sit and talk then.”

He takes my hand, leading me to the couch. Just the small bit of contact between us makes my stomach flutter and another wave of heat surges between my legs. I clear my throat as I sit next to him.

“You want to know about mates,” Hale says.

“Yes.”

Still holding my hand, he plays with my fingers, entwining his with mine. It’s the first time I’ve noticed that his skin is cooler than mine, as if he’s been outside on a cold day and he’s just starting to warm up.

“The supernatural world is different from yours in lots of ways.”

I nod.

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