Page 104 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Poor Jacqueline. I’m going to have to take her shopping when we get back to make up for it.” Thea sighed. “Maybe Paris?”

It probably wasn’t a good sign she was already planning to leave Venice again. She had meant what she’d said about not wanting to be Queen. The trouble was that I wasn’t sure she had a choice. Not with magic on the line and enemies everywhere. I kept these thoughts to myself.

“Wherever you want,” I said smoothly, guiding her toward the dock where my yacht was waiting.

But we hadn’t even stepped onto the dock when Thea pulled away. She tapped her forehead. “Why are you so quiet?”

“Tired.”

Her head tilted, her eyes narrowing to show she didn’t believe my lie. “You’ve been shielding your thoughts since we left Venice. Was this is a bad idea? Did you not want to come?”

I took a deep breath before holding out my hand. “I’m just trying to help you relax.”

“And hearing your thoughts would ruin that?” she guessed, lifting an eyebrow.

“Definitely,” I admitted. I lowered my outstretched hand when I realized she wasn’t going to take it.

“I want to know what’s going on,” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Nothing. I just don’t want anything to ruin this trip.” I tried to sound convincing, but while I could shield my thoughts, I couldn’t keep her from feeling my emotions. We shared those. It was the problem with the only two bodies, one soul thing.

Sad frustration overtook me until my heart ached. It took me a second to realize that was what she was feeling. “I won’t enjoy this trip at all if you don’t talk to me. Are you sure it’s nothing?” Her tone was gentle, but the concern in her eyes was palpable. “We can talk about this. If you regret coming...”

“I don’t regret it,” I said. I could at least put a stop to that line of thinking. The thought of having her entirely to myself—naked on a beach—was all I wanted. It might be the closest we got to a honeymoon, even if we hadn’t actually gotten married yet.

“Then tell me what’s weighing on you,” she pleaded. “I can feel all your anxiety. You might as well tell me what’s behind it.”

Since Venice, I’d had my mental shields up. I hadn’t want to add to her worries, but was keeping it inside any better—especially when she had a direct line to my emotions? Plus, she made a fucking good point about the anxiety.

“I’m your mate,” she added softly, and I wondered if I’d let those thoughts slip through to her. “For better or worse, right? Talk to me.”

“It’s just…” Where did I begin? The fears that gnawed at me every waking moment and sometimes sent me startling awake with nightmares? The responsibility that hung around me like a lead weight? Telling her might send the wrong message. I would shoulder all of it for her but that didn’t make the load any lighter to bear.

“Just what?” She reached for my hand.

“I worry about everything. The court, the enemies, the magic...losing you.”

She laughed so softly I found myself looking up in surprise. “Maybe I can hear your thoughts, and I’m just mistaking them for my own. That’s all I think about, too.”

I yanked her toward me, wrapping her in my arms. “I don’t think we’re doing this vacation thing right.”

“What do vampires usually do on vacation?” She pushed onto her tiptoes expectantly, and I knew she wanted a kiss. I smiled and humored her, the touch of her lips instantly soothing the ragged edges I felt inside me.

“I’ll show you later,” I said darkly. My mouth cruised along her jawline. “What about you? What do you do on vacation?”

“I’ve only been on vacation once, and I was a kid,” she admitted to me, her eyes lowering. Embarrassment flooded through me in a cold wave, and I knew this was a sensitive subject for her. Not only because she now knew why her mother didn’t take her places but because she seemed disinclined to believe I didn’t care that she’d had less experience of the world.

“Good.” I let my hand slide down to grab her rear. “Then we’ll do it the vampire way.”

“Oh yeah?” She lit up.

“Unless there’s an objection.” I let my mind conjure up a series of increasingly filthy images of exactly how I planned to spend the time we had together.

Thea swallowed, her cheeks turning pink in ways that gave me entirely new ideas. “No objection,” she whimpered.

“Maybe we should get on the boat and get this vacation started.”

She yanked free of my arms, grabbed my hand, and proceeded to haul me toward the dock.

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