Page 70 of Tempting the Dhampir

“I’m curious if the shift has anything to do with our connection, our distance limit. I’m wondering if the hundred-yard rule is still in place,” I muse.

“Want to try it out? Let me get dressed, and then we can test it.”

Sadie’s easy trust in me warms my body from the inside out.

She gets out of the bed and walks to her closet, her nude body splendid in the pale moonlight coming through the windows. I’m feeling awfully happy that the glass is one-way and that I don’t have to worry about neighbors spying on her beautiful body, but just to be sure, I keep the lights off.

In my head, I had a whole day planned. Watch the sunset, see the Strip light up in the distance, dinner, then maybe things would naturally progress. But I’m finding that life is very unpredictable with Sadie, in the best way possible.

When she struts back into the bedroom, she’s still naked, holding her clothes in her hand. Naked, except for her new glittery shoes on her feet.

“They fit like a glove. How did you know my size?” Sadie says, standing in front of the mirror and assessing her shoes from all angles.

“I may have done some snooping,” I admit with something between a wince and a shrug, not quite sure if I should be proud of my sleuthing skills.

“Weirdly, I don’t mind. Thank you.” Sadie walks to the bed and places a knee on the mattress. Cupping my jaw, she gives me a wet kiss. Right as the kiss is about to turn ravenous, she leans away. “Can I borrow a shirt? My jeans are kind of… damp.”

The mental image of her in my clothes, with those shoes, and the just-fucked hair she’s currently sporting, has all my blood pumping straight to my cock.

I take a deep breath with the hope of centering myself, but the air is rife with the smell of sex and Sadie’s arousal. I want my house to smell like this, always.

Before I allow myself to do my cock’s bidding, I take Sadie’s hand and walk to my closet. I turn on the lights, dimming them to their lowest setting, and pull on some sweats. I find my favorite button-down for Sadie as she skims her fingers along the other shirts.

“You really like black, don’t you?” Sadie teases.

“Some of them are charcoal, raven, ebony, obsidian…” I justify. “But this one is the most comfortable.”

I hold it out for her as she threads her arms through before I fasten the buttons. The moment feels very domestic, very right, and I smile to myself.

“What’s that smile for, zooms?” Sadie asks, tone kind and curious.

“Just how right it feels to have you here like this,” I reply, not quite meeting her eyes, afraid what she said earlier was only in the heat of the moment.

Sadie reaches forward and grips my chin between two fingers, lowering my face until my eyes are locked on hers. “I meant what I said. I want to stay. Nothing has ever felt this natural. This real,” she confesses fiercely. Her grip loosens, hand moving to her own heart. In a smaller voice, she adds, “I don’t want to sabotage my own happiness by being scared. I’m giving you one hundred percent of my heart. Please keep it safe.”

Needing to reassure her, I cup Sadie’s face with both my hands, her hands resting on my waist, as we stare deeply into each other’s eyes, baring our deepest selves to one another.

“Sadie, you’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on. And not just your physical body. Your soul calls to mine. I want to know you more and more each day. The fates might have pushed us together or orchestrated our meet-cute, but right here, right now, I’m choosing you. I want you.”

Right along with that confession, it feels like a veil is lifted from my eyes.

Puzzle pieces are slowly slotting into place in my head. I’m starting to understand the events that took place on the island, over the last few days, things about myself, but mainly…

Sadie.

Sadie at the center of it all.

At the center of me.

“We choose each other,” she says affectionately, eyes gleaming with emotion, a pink blush whispering across her cheeks.

“We do.” My lips find hers, sealing an unspoken promise between us.

“Is that—Did you—I mean, this is going to sound so weird. This desire.” She rubs at her chest. “Is that your emotion I’m feeling?”

“I believe it is. I can feel a bit of yours too.”

“How does that even work?”

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