Page 11 of The Vampire's Mate

I nodded. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“What did James say when you told him that?”

I watched Carlos over Evie’s head. He’d found another dog, and he was chasing the poor thing around in circles.

Raleigh took my silence as a response. “You weren’t honest with him, were you?”

“I didn’tlie. I told him I needed space to think.”

“So he opened up to you and talked about something that he knew you’d freak out about, and you turned him away?”

I grimaced. “Well, when you put it like that…”

“Talk to him, Ryder. He might be able to make you feel better about it.” Raleigh took a deep breath, and I knew the next words out of his mouth were going to be frustrating. “Besides, you wouldn’t be this scared if you didn’t know what you wanted to do.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Sure, you commitment-phobe.”

“You’re one to talk,” I scoffed.

“We’re not talking about me, are we?” Raleigh fussed over his daughter, who’d curled into the crook of my neck. “All I’m saying is that if youdidn’twant to take whatever this step is, you would’ve ended things on the spot.”

I didn’t get a chance to reply. On that note, I didn’twantto reply. Letting Raleigh know that he was right was bordering on dangerous territory. Evie decided then that she was fed up with the conversation and refused to let us go on any longer. Apparently, a trip to the park without other-daddy was out of the question. She let out a cry that Raleigh explained meant she only wanted Angel. As it was, I had to be ready for my lunch meeting. His friend had left, so Carlos laid at my feet, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. This time, he contented himself to trot alongside us on the walk home. All he’d done was play in the leaves and chase a few innocent animals in the park, and he was as happy as could be.

Why couldn’t human life be that simple? Or…paranormallife?

Ugh!

As we walked into the house, I heard Angel in the kitchen. Between the running water, Evie’s crying, and the looming presence of my best friend, you’d think the house wouldn’t feel empty. James was doing exactly as I asked and still, it made my heart sink to be in that house without him. After a quick check-in with Angel, who was a man of few words anyway, I trudged down the hall to take a shower.

I rushed through washing myself, not caring to spend any more time than necessary in the too-big space. I wasn’t accustomed to solo showers anymore.

“Will you guys be okay while I go to this meeting?” I asked, walking into the living room and scrubbing my messy hair with atowel. I was early, which never happened, but I was craving some one-on-one time with my man before Shiloh showed up.

Angel was plastered to Raleigh’s side—as always—with Evie on his chest. “We’ll be fine,” Raleigh answered. “Remember what I told you.”

“Sure thing, Dad.” I wadded up my towel andcarefullythrew it in Raleigh’s direction on my way out the door. Evie found it hilarious.

Liz’s was only closed one day a week, and James chose that day to invite Shiloh for lunch and drinks. According to James, Shiloh had been a little jumpy in their interview, so he wanted them to feel comfortable in the space before throwing them to the wolves on their first shift.

By the time I parked outside and jogged up to the door, I was itching to have James in my arms. Even one night without him was too long.

Despite having his back to me, James knew the moment I entered. Still, he feigned shock when I slipped my arms around his waist and brushed my lips over his neck.

“Hey, you.”

“Hey, yourself,” he rumbled. “I’m glad you came.”

I held him close, feeling a sudden need to comfort him. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I wouldn’t.”

“About last night?—”

“I have questions,” I interrupted, “but I want to talk this out.” I held him in place when he tried to turn around. Because as damn good as he felt in my arms, I was still terrified about a lifelong bond.

James let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll do this however you want. You call the shots here. I’ll tell you everything you could ever hope to know.”

“Not right this second,” I chuckled. Right now, I needed my vampire. “How long do we have?” I knew the ghost of my breath across his skin would drive him wild.

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