Page 6 of The Vampire's Mate

They shook hands, and based on Raleigh’s grimace, James used a touch of his vampiric strength. “Better rest up so I can give you a fair shot, then. It’s good to meet you, Raleigh. You too, Angel.”

Angel gave a noncommittal grunt, annoyed that his pillow had moved. He stood, curling his hand around Raleigh’s massive bicep. “Can we go to bed now?” Never mind that he could’ve gone to bed hours ago. Maybe it was his way of showing me he was interested in meeting James.

Or Raleigh had made him.

Raleigh wrapped his arm around his husband, pulling him close to his chest and pressing a kiss to his hair. Something in my chest ached, but I shoved it aside. Raleigh glanced back at me. “You okay to keep holding her while we get her playpen set up?”

Of course I said yes. I shifted, relaxing into my seat and settling Evie on my chest. Sensing eyes on me, I looked up. James was watching me with an expectant look. “What?” I asked, crooking a brow at him.

His mouth curled into a grin. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more adorable.

“Adorable? Pfft.” Evie stirred, and I lowered my voice. “Hot, sure. Sexy? Definitely. But never adorable.” James nodded sagely along with me, but the sparkle in his eyes said I’d only proved him right. Damn him.

Raleigh re-entered the room, eyes going to James again. Was thatsuspicionin his glance? I rolled my eyes, shrugging it away. Of course he’d be curious, protective even: James was the only person I’d spent more than a couple of nights with since I’d met Raleigh. I listened to him mutter to Evie as he took her from my arms,and I couldn’t help but smile at the tenderness in the big man’s movements. Raleigh had always been a spectacle on his own. Angel made him even better. And now we hadDaddyRaleigh—and this version was my favorite yet. Evie brought out a gentler side to the giant.

“Goodnight, guys,” he said softly.

“Goodnight,” we both echoed quietly.

Before he disappeared down the hallway, Raleigh turned back with a smarmy grin.Uh oh.“By the way,” he said, a sly note in his voice, “we sleep like the dead these days. Use that information however you see fit.” Then his eyes sank pointedly to the hickey on my neck. By the time I snapped out a retort, he was already gone.

I shook out my tired arms and stood up, happy when James pulled me to him. I wasn’t sure when I’d begun to crave his close proximity, but I wasn’t about to question it. Having him pressed against me felt good—that was all I needed to know.

“Hi,” he whispered, giving me a much more passionate kiss now that we were alone.

I hummed when we separated. “Hello to you too.”

Then he stiffened. “We don’t have to talk tonight if you don’t want to.”

A spike of panic threatened its way up from my stomach, confirming my suspicions: hewasavoiding this conversation. Things between us were good—really good. I wanted to stay in our little bubble forever, blissfully unchanging.

“We should,” I said. “We’ve put it off long enough. You want a drink?”

James immediately moved to pull away. “I’ll make them.”

“You’ve been slinging cocktails all day,” I protested. “Let me do it.”

“You just think you’re better at it,” he accused. But he smiled and relented, sitting back on the couch. I’d never seen anyone sit so rigidly before in my life.

Grateful for a moment to myself, I headed to the kitchen and prepared myself for the conversation ahead.

Chapter 3

I re-enteredthe living room with two glasses of scotch and handed one to James.

“Thank you, love,” he said, accepting it from his perch on the couch.

I scanned the suspiciously quiet space. “Where’s Carlos?”

“The Hellhound is outside, playing in a pile of leaves and refusing to come in. I thought it best to leave him to it.”

I gave him a flat look. He hadn’t even tried to let him in. “He knows you’re scared of him, you know.”

“I’m not scared!” He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. “And good.”

I settled onto the couch next to my vampire. “I’ll leave him for now. As long as he’s quiet.”

My hand found his thigh and he twisted our fingers together. With the other I gripped onto my drink like a lifeline. I could hope all I wanted that he couldn’t sense my nerves, but I knew better. Next to me, James scrubbed his free hand over his face, floundering for words that didn’t come.

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