Page 58 of Tempting the Dhampir

My world feels like it’s righted itself with that small gesture.

I lead her out of her room and let go of her hand, placing my palm on the small of her back to guide her into the living room. Sadie makes her way to the center and slowly turns in a circle.

Her lips are parted, eyes wide as they bounce from one bouquet to another before finally settling on mine.

With a disbelieving shake of her head, Sadie whispers, “How? Why?”

I give her a shrug and explain, “You said you like peonies.”

“So you got me, like what, a million of them?” Shock laces her words.

“I thought a thousand would be okay for the first time I got you flowers. We can build up to a million over the years.” I hope she appreciates the little reference to the future I slipped in there.

Sadie’s voice is soft with affection, lower lip trembling as an array of emotions flit across her face.

Her name is a shaky whisper across my lips. “Sadie-queen.”

I take long strides over to her and enfold her in my arms. She clings to my shoulders, one hand resting on the nape of my neck.

Sadie’s breath is warm against my neck as she admits, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to cry. This is just the single nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. They’re lovely. You’re lovely.”

I loosen my grip and pull back so I can look into her eyes. I keep one arm wrapped around her as I thumb her tears away with my other hand. “You deserve so much more than this. I want you to be happy. I want to be the one who makes you happy.”

“You’re already doing a fantastic job.” Sadie lifts onto her tiptoes and pulls me down with her grip on the back of my neck, meeting my lips with a tender kiss.

My hold on her tightens, drawing her closer as I return her kiss. Our tongues come together in a tantalizing dance, hands starting to roam, growing greedier.

“Hold on,” I pant through racing breaths, my lips hovering over hers. “I have a whole date planned for us.”

Unable to resist, I kiss her again. What was meant to be a press of my lips quickly turns hungry again.

I break away.

“Breakfast.”

Kiss.

“Car.”

Kiss.

“Date.”

Kiss.

Sadie’s whimper nearly undoes me, making me want to forget all the plans I made and take her straight back to her bedroom to show her the kind of loving she deserves.

She takes a step back and smiles lazily up at me. Her eyes are glassy, blissful.

Beautiful.

“Coffee first. Then breakfast. Then date.” Sadie throws me the okay sign with her fingers. “I’m just going to stand in the middle of these gorgeous flowers and breathe them in before I can do anything else.”

With a dazed expression, she walks to each bouquet and sticks her nose right into the blooms, inhaling deeply and letting her breath out on a contented sigh.

I think our day is off to a good start.

Chapter twenty-nine

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