Page 12 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“The vampires hunted the sirens,” I said through gritted teeth. “If they know what you are…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I didn’t even want to think it, but I couldn’t ignore it. Not without risking everything we’d fought for. If the vampires—if my kind—knew what she was…

They would come for her.

“You think they’ll come for me?” She blinked, reaching for her head like she felt the weight of that absent crown. “They wouldn’t come after me because…”

I waited for her to say it, but she remained silent. Confusion and fear twisted on her face, the last vestiges of that powerful ruler falling away to reveal what she would only show me: her vulnerability.

Because I’m a Queen.

She didn’t speak, but I heard the words spoken in my own mind. A whisper down this new bond we shared. A smile cracked my mouth. “Yes, you are.”

Thea froze as she registered what had happened. “Wait, you heard my thoughts?”

“I did.” I tugged her closer, and she melted against me, her softness curling around my hard body. Her hands flattened against my back, desperate to leave no space between us.

Smoke and cinnamon laced with night-blooming flowers. She shuddered in my arms and pressed closer. Like us. Like home.

I searched her eyes for how she felt about this new development. Nuzzling into her hair, I breathed her in and planted a kiss before I said, “You smell pretty good, too.”

“So, you can hear all of my thoughts?” she squeaked. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

“Because you no longer have the advantage?” I teased, brushing another kiss to her forehead. “I didn’t hear them before. I think I have to be…attuned to you.”

“Attuned?”

“Right now, you’re the only thought I have, and I think it’s opened whatever bridge there is between us. Earlier, there were so many people to distract me, but now…”

“I’m just worried that I’m going to think something stupid or cruel or that I will upset you,” she said in a small voice

“I get that,” I said. How many times had I worried the same thing when her powers had first manifested? But unlike me, my mate didn’t have a cruel bone in her body. “We’ll figure it out. And selfishly, I like being able to hear you. I want to know you, all of you.” I snaked a hand up her back and wove it through her hair, tugging it so I could see her face. “I don’t just want to hear what you are thinking. I need to hear you,” I murmured, tracing her jawline with my lips. “I’ve missed you.”

She heated beneath me, sending another scent surging. Sweet and ripe and tempting—a scent that belonged only to her. Her head craned, stretching her neck to reveal two crescent-shaped scars. An offering.

“That’s right…” I swallowed, the words thick with need, and angled my mouth to those scars. “You have missed me.”

“Of course, I missed you,” she whimpered as my fang scraped her skin. “I need you, too.”

“You need me…” I shook my head, allowing another slight scrape, enough to draw a single bead of blood and she moaned. “You are a Queen. You need no one.”

I need you.

“I need you, Julian,” she said as if she needed this to be clear. She needed me to hear it. “You are my king.”

“I’m not sure your new sisters will like that.” I chuckled, even as my heart strained. There were things she needed to understand about court, things I needed to warn her about. “I’m not sure being a Queen is enough to protect you. There are vampires that don’t respect the authority of Le Regine.”

She shook her head. Her hands roved over my skin, seeking a distraction. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

But as much as I wanted to stay in bed with her forever and ignore the reality of our situation, we couldn’t. “My love.”

She turned her face, displaying her slender neck again and sent a single command through our bond.

Bite me.

The demand sent blood rocketing to my groin, and I groaned. She wasn’t playing fair. It did the trick. My concerns vanished entirely as she wrapped a leg around my hip and pressed her soft flesh against my erection. An invitation. Not long ago, I’d lived with the fear of never seeing her again.

The world could fucking wait.

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