“I know.”
I look over at him and find his eyes glowing bright orange. “I needed that,” I confess.
“We need each other,” he admits. “Especially in times of chaos.”
“I love you,” I tell him and shift over so I can snuggle into the crook of his arm.
“I love you too, Mouse.”
I reach up to kiss him and unlike our fucking, our kiss is slow, gentle, soft.
It almost makes me want to cry how grateful I am for him, how lucky I feel to have him.
“I should clean up,” I tell him and move to get up.
“Five more minutes.” He tucks me back into his side. “Just five more minutes and then I’ll clean you myself.”
“Deal,” I tell him and return to his side, but it doesn’t take long before we’re both out.
Episode Ninety-One
ON ONE CONDITION
I wake with a start and look around the unfamiliar room.
For a second I think I must be dreaming, or worse, kidnapped again, and then I see the long line of Bran’s body next to me in bed. His eyes are open and he’s staring right at me. He’s still got speckles of blood on his skin.
I sigh and drop back to the bed. “How long have you been awake?”
The heavy drapes have been pulled closed, but there’s a sliver of daylight stealing through a part in the curtains. He should be sleeping.
“A while,” he answers.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Something like that.”
I suppose I can’t blame him, considering what we’re about to face.
I roll into his side and he tucks me into the crook of his arm. I inhale his scent. The familiarity warms my belly. That heady vampire scent of his, a little coppery with blood but with an edge of something masculine, that leather and amber I love so much.
“I have an idea.”
He absently plays with my hair. “Go on.”
“Let’s shower and get dressed and go to Stanley’s for a grilled cheese.”
He laughs lightly, the rock of his shoulders jostling me. “Of course you would pick a grilled cheese as your last supper.”
I rise up, propping myself on my elbow. “Excuse me. I plan to win this thing. Last supper my ass.”
He laughs again. “All right, little mouse. Ask and you shall receive.” He climbs from bed and holds out his hand for me. We’re both still naked and I ogle his backside as he leads me into the attached bathroom. He really does have the finest ass.
I’m half expecting to find Stanley’s closed, what with the impending war. Thankfully, Stanley is nothing if not consistent. The Greasy Spoon is open seven days a week, come rain, hail, snow or war.
“Well look what the cat dragged in!” Judy shouts from behind the counter. “Our favorite customer.”
The others seated inside the diner look up at me and frown, clearly annoyed that the server has decided to pick favorites.