Page 4 of The Vampire's Mate

The bathroom light was off, so he wasn’t in the shower. He wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.

The coffeemaker in the kitchen started gurgling. I smiled, dragging myself from the bed.

Once I was washed and dressed, I followed the country music floating down the hallway. James always knew when I entered a room, but he let me pretend to catch him dancing in the kitchen—in nothing but his underwear. I leaned against the doorway, inhaling the aroma of coffee and watching him until the song faded away. Only then did he look over his shoulder and give me that heart-stopping smile. The ridiculous grin on my own face was completely involuntary.

“Morning, love.”

I shivered, goosebumps pebbling my skin. Damn, the man’s voice alone did things to me I couldn’t explain. “Morning. Someone’s in a good mood.”

His eyes raked over my body. “How can I not be when you’re standing there looking like that.” He approached, fingering the hickey on my neck. “You look so damn good with my mark on you.”

I preened under the praise. James leaned in, and I tipped my head back in invitation. I hummed, and his tongue darted out to swipe across the tender skin. “Don’t get me riled up,” I groaned, though my cock was already rising in interest.

James chuckled. “Doesn’t take much with you, does it?”

His fangs elongated, eager to play, and I wriggled out of his grip. “I’m serious, James.” I took a long pull from my coffee, letting it burn its way down my throat and distract me from the pressing need hanging between my thighs. “I can’t fall victim to your spell right now. The Jenkins clan gets in this morning and I promised I’d pick them up at the airport.”

He continued peppering my skin with kisses—lighter ones, thankfully. Those I could handle while I drank my coffee. “I’d forgotten. I guess we’re postponing that talk?”

Was that hope in his voice? I was starting to think that maybe James was avoiding the conversation as much as I usually did. “Well, they’ve been flying all night.” I arched toward his touch. “Th-they’ve probably b-been awake with—fucking hell.” That damned tongue! James was shaking with laughter. “I’m gladyoufind this funny!”

He pulled back, hooked a finger under my chin, and tugged me in for a chaste kiss on my lips. “Simply a reminder of what’s waiting for you tonight. You’ve got breakfast in the microwave. I have to open the bar.”

“Cocktease,” I muttered under my breath, knowing he heard me clear as day.

I pushed away from the doorframe, tending to Carlos and finishing up my morning routine. In Hannah’s room, I made one last sweep to make sure it was clean. Not that Raleigh cared much for cleanliness, but Angel had enough trouble sleeping as it was. He didn’t need anything adding to his stress.

Boston Logan International Airport was about an hour away, and I was buzzing in my seat the whole drive. After they’d had to postpone their trip by a month because the baby got sick, I was ready to see them. Raleigh and I hadn’t seen each other in over a year, and I almost couldn’t believe how much had changed. I wasn’t surprised in the slightest when they eloped—astronauts in outer space could see that the two men were in love—but now they were dads. Even more outrageously,I’dabandoned my partyphase to do the same thing, moving to a cozy little town to be closer to my daughter.

And James. God, he was one thing I never saw coming. I didn’t want to panic too much by overthinking our situation, but we were comfortable. I didn’t see why it had to be any more complicated than that.

To save everyone the trauma of jumping into the car with the baby, I parked and went inside. I scanned the crowd of people, knowing that I had no chance in hell of missing Raleigh anywhere. At 6’ 4”, the man towered over the other passengers—and his husband, Angel, who barely touched his shoulder. Both men had the most striking blue eyes I’d ever seen, and they seemed to shine in the crowd as they met mine. Angel’s hair was a little shorter, Raleigh’s a little shaggier, but for the most part they looked the same as the last time I’d seen them. As they cleared the crowd and stepped closer, the newest member of the Jenkins family came into view. Raleigh minded the luggage while Angel carried their precious cargo close to his chest.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were excited to see me, Mr. Clark,” Raleigh said, stepping close and wrapping me up in his big arms. He crushed me tight against his broad chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs.

“Don’t get your hopes up, big guy.” I shoved him away playfully and turned to his husband. Or more specifically, the bundle in his arms. “I’m only here for her.”

Genevieve, Evie for short, was sleeping soundly, so I didn’t dare touch her. It was a conscious choice. Not because Angel was giving me a look that could put me six feet under.

“Good to see you, Angel.” I gave him a quick squeeze on the shoulder. He’d never been one for physical contact—unless it was from Raleigh.

He made a show of ducking around me and looking over his shoulder. “I thought we’d get to meet your boyfriend. Raleigh can’t shut up about him.”

Raleigh grinned and shrugged. “I mean, have you seen him?”

Angel’s glare shifted from me to him.

I took the rolling suitcase from him. “He’s at Liz’s. Our new bartender doesn’t start for a few more days. Don’t give me that look, you’ll meet him tonight.”

“I don’t think we’ll be up for much socializing.” Angel said, ever the anxious one.

Before I could get a word in, Raleigh pulled his husband close. “It’s not socializing if they live together, darling.”

“We don’t live together!” I called, refusing to let him see the lie on my face.

We crossed into the parking structure and I hit the button on my key fob to unlock the doors. Once I’d tossed the luggage into the trunk, Raleigh perched against my vehicle while Angel installed the car seat.

I thought we’d moved on, but Raleigh’s grin told me otherwise. “So when’s the last time James spent any time at his own home? He’s at your place almost every time I call you.”

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