Page 21 of Forbidden Daddy Mate

“I…yeah,” I said. “Just still processing.”

She nodded. “Me too.” Color rose to her cheeks, making her look even prettier. “To be honest, I think I’ve probably needed to get that out of my system for a while.”

I snorted. “You and me both.” I paused, trying to figure out the best way to approach what I needed to say next. “But I’m not sure it’s a good idea for us to do something like that again.”

Freya paused, looking at me curiously as she waited for me to continue.

“Don’t get me wrong,” I said. “The sex was amazing. And nothing would make me happier than to…” I trailed off. I’d been about to say, rip your clothes off and fuck you against the wall again here and now. But I knew if I said as much, I was going to have a far harder time not succumbing to that craving. And giving into it, no matter how badly I wanted to, would only end in disaster. The clean break was easier.

“I get it,” Freya said. And part of me wondered if she got all of it, including the parts left unsaid. “I feel the same. This probably shouldn’t happen again.”

“Glad we’re in agreement.”

The words hung in the air above us but did nothing to stifle the crackling energy running between us at the moment. I had an uncomfortable fear that no matter what I’d said or told myself, holding back was going to be a lot harder than I’d thought. And now that I knew what she felt like, what she tasted like, I wasn’t sure if I was going to let her go the way I’d promised. That, more than anything, was why having sex had been such a bad idea.

“So what now?” she asked. “We really wait here until morning? What if they come back?”

I marched over to the tree and rummaged through the packages beneath, pulling out a thin one. “This was for Jenn,” I said, holding it out. “But I don’t think she’ll mind, given the circumstances.

Silently, she unwrapped the package, opening the box to reveal an elegant silver necklace.

“It’s the real deal,” I said. “It’s true that vampires can’t touch silver. Wear this, and it should give you some protection. If I thought we could leave right now, I would. But there are some temporary precautions we can take until morning. Salt and things like that. Still, I’d feel a lot better if you’d take this.”

“You and me both.”

“Here, let me.” I motioned for her to spin around, and she obliged. I brushed her hair away from her neck, trying not to drown in her scent again. All I wanted to do was spin her around and kiss her. But I held off, barely touching her as I clasped the necklace, knowing that the more I touched her, the harder it would be for me to resist those urges already growing.

She stepped away once I’d finished, giving a small smile as she turned back to look at me.

“Thanks,” she said. She yawned, glancing at the clock, then snorted. “God, it’s not even three in the morning.”

“Hell of a start to the day,” I agreed.

“Not going to lie, I’ve got a bit of emotional whiplash going on at the moment,” she admitted.

“You and me both,” I said. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to give her some comfort. Only I didn’t trust myself to stop there, so I kept my hands at my side. “Get some rest, all right? I’ll be right here.”

She looked like she was about to say something. But instead, she nodded, then curled up on the couch and was asleep in minutes.

I stayed up the entire night, keeping an eye on Freya, sleeping on the couch, and the door, where a thick layer of salt would serve as a barrier against the vampires. The cuts on my side ached, but they’d heal in a couple of days. Until then, it was better if I didn’t shift.

I should have been exhausted, but instead, I remained on high alert, all my attention focused on Freya. Moonlight streaked across her face, making her dark hair glint. She murmured something and rolled over, facing the couch.

I didn’t leave her side the entire night, ears pricked as I listened for any sign of the vampires. But I’d been right in saying they wouldn’t try anything again. Dawn rose, and we were both safe.

Freya stirred, eyes opening as she propped herself up on her elbows. Her eyes blinked blearily, her brow furrowing as she tried to get a sense of her surroundings. They flew open wide as memories from the night before came flooding back. Her head whipped around, her shoulders easing when she saw me.

“How’d you sleep?” I asked.

“Okay,” she said. She shuddered, drawing the blanket closer to her. “So what’s the plan? Back to Brixton?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think we’re going to get as far as Brixton,” I said. “Especially not with your arm like that. I don’t know how much you’ll be able to run on it if we shift. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to shift at all.”

“Me neither,” she admitted, looking at it. “I would have thought it would’ve healed more by now.”

“Vampire wounds, even if they aren’t using their teeth, tend not to heal as quickly,” I said. “I’d offer to carry you on my back, but my own injuries are still healing. I’ll be fine in a day or so. But we’ll be going slower.”

“So if we can’t shift and can’t make it to Brixton, and we aren’t staying here, then where are we going?”

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