Page 85 of The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine

Then there was a prophecy about me and the beast beyond the barrier. It had mentioned my cursed wolf, Fluffy – Fluffy who was Reggie, and Reggie who was Fluffy. I didn’t know Reggie yet, but I loved Fluffy and I was sure that Reggie and I would bond properly once we got to know each other as humans.

‘He’s in dog form again,’ I said to Connor.

‘It’s going to take time for him to adjust.’

‘Yeah. He’ll be okay though, right?’

‘I’m sure he’ll be fine. After all, he has a very understanding roomie.’

‘And you’re okay with that?’ I said lightly, searching his eyes. ‘Reggie staying here with me?’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Why wouldn’t I be? Fluffy has looked after you since the day you arrived in town. He’s been by your side through thick and thin, he crossed the barrier with you and faced the beast. It turns out he’s a brave young man still trying to find his way into adulthood.’

‘Yeah. He’s young and he’s already been through a lot.’ I paused. ‘He didn’t mention family or parents.’

‘I noticed,’ he said softly. ‘We need to give him time to tell us his story. Like you, he was pedestrian most of his life – he was only bitten at sixteen. The paranormal world must still be daunting.’

I snorted. ‘It’s not daunting, it’s amazing! Coming to Portlock is the best thing that’s ever happened to me!’ I grimaced. ‘Though it turns out I accidentally abducted a man from London to come with me.’

‘Did he seem upset when you left England?’ Connor asked me.

I replayed the whole crazy series of events in my mind. Fluffy had been protective, but he hadn’t resisted once when I was trying to escape. He’d happily gone into a pet carrier and come to the airport with me. ‘I don’t think so,’ I said finally.

Connor pressed a kiss to my forehead. ‘There you go, then. You didn’t kidnap anyone. If you want a life in crime, you’ll have to start somewhere else.’

I grinned suddenly and pushed him back onto the bed. ‘Maybe I should start with soliciting.’

His eyes darkened. ‘I could get on board with that.’

I climbed onto his lap and he rolled us over so that he was pinning me down. When he leaned down and seized my lips, the zing between us made me gasp. ‘Hold on,’ I said abruptly. ‘Can you make the zing happen? Because it always seems to come at the most opportune time.’

‘It comes when one of us is riding high on desire.’ His voice was gravelly. ‘Are you feeling a rush of desire, doe?’

I groaned and rocked against him. ‘You bet I am.’ I seized my courage. ‘Is that all there is between us Connor? Desire?’

‘You know it’s more than that.’ He looked into my eyes. ‘I love you, Bunny Barrington, with all of my tattered heart.’

Thank God. He loved me, not that I’d doubted it, not really, but it was something else to hear those words fall from his lips. I felt like my heart would burst from love. I’d never felt this way about anyone before. Connor made me feel safe and grounded, loved and cherished. Everything he did, his every action, had our best interests at heart. I’d never been the centre of anyone’s world before and it was a heady feeling.

‘I love you too, Connor MacKenzie.’ I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to me.

‘Thank God for that,’ he murmured, lowering his lips to mine again. I swear his kisses were divine; they should have been listed as one of the wonders of the world. The way he touched me, was like he always knew exactly what I wanted. But then he’d had a lifetime to get really good in bed, several lifetimes probably.

‘Since we’re confessing things,’ I whispered against his lips, ‘do you want to tell me how old you are?’

‘Nice try.’ He grinned. ‘You’re going to have to work harder for it than that.’

‘Harder than declaring my undying love for you?’ I protested.

He ground his hips against my centre, making me gasp. ‘Much harder.’

‘My head is too full,’ I admitted. ‘Distract me?’

‘With pleasure,’ he purred as he peeled off my clothes.

I reached up to undo his black and red flannel shirt, revealing a muscular torso the gods would be jealous of. ‘I love it when you wear flannel,’ I blurted out.

A slow smile tugged his lips. ‘I’ve noticed.’

---