Page 71 of The Vampire's Mate

James sighed. “And why I’vewantedto smother you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for that.”

“Why?Youdid.”

“Because your behavior can be blamed on the curse. I’ve always been a commitment-phobic asshole; yes I’m admitting it, don’t look at me like that!”

He snickered, unable to hold it back. “Damn it. I owe Shiloh a weekend off.”

“Why?”

“I bet them you’d never admit to it.”

I sat upright, jaw dropping. “Youbeton me?” James could only laugh in response. A deep, belly-aching laugh that—as offended as I was about the situation—warmed my heart. I wasn’t about to ruin that. So instead, I moved to stand up. “That’s it, I’m…”

A knock at the door turned my blood to ice. “… getting the door apparently.” Despite my words, I couldn’t make myself move.

“I’ll get it, love,” James said softly, rising and wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. He held me close and kissed my neck before stepping around me.

Carlos was going batshit, and while James welcomed our guest, I corralled the dog into the kitchen to calm him down. As helpful as Gabriel had proved, his presence still gave me the creeps. Funny how one good deed couldn’t outweighmurdering my friend. My friend who tried to kill me. And James.

Shut up.

“Ryder?” James called.

“Hm?” I was distracting myself by scratching Carlos behind the ear. Totally for his comfort. Not because it was soothing for me.

“Will you come here?”

I didn’t want to, but I secured Carlos before joining James and Gabriel in the entryway. He was dressed more casually now, in jeans and a sweater, but it didn’t make him any less intimidating. His eyes lit up the living room as he took in my appearance. I tried to ignore the feeling crawling under my skin when our eyes met, but it was hard.

“Right here, love,” James whispered, and the unease faded from my body. All I had to do was focus onmyvampire. “Gabriel says he can help us. We have to destroy the silver first so he can touch them, but we can’t do that here.”

“Why not?”

It was Gabriel’s turn to speak, though I kept my eyes trained on James. “The only way to destroy silver is to submerge it in sulfuric acid. Unfortunately, the resulting fumes are toxic to humans if performed in an enclosed space. Since we can’t touch the chain, you’ll have to be the one to place it in the acid. Once enough time has passed, we’ll be able to retrieve the diamonds and destroy both of them appropriately.”

“The acid won’t destroy them?”

“The only sure thing capable of destroying a diamond is intense heat—like a building fire, for instance.”

My gaze shot to Gabriel’s smirk. Okay, now he was taunting me. But I tamped my anger down.

“We can do it at my place,” Gabriel offered. “I have an outdoor patio with enough open space to where you won’t feel the effects of the acid.”

Oh, how convenient.I shuffled in place, shoving my hands in my pockets. “All right.”

“Why don’t you go ahead of us and get set up?” James suggested. “We need a minute.”

Gabriel smirked at me. “Sure thing,” he said, letting himself out of the house.

James took my chin in his hand, tipping my gaze to his. I hadn’t even realized I was still staring at the front door. “Breathe, love.”

I did, and stepped into his arms. “I know,” I muttered, burying my face in his neck. “I’m being ridiculous.”

“I don’t think you’re being ridiculous,” he said. “But I, for one, am ready to get this over with. It’s not my life on the line anymore; they’re fucking with you now. That curse could have swayed your decision about the bond.”

I frowned at him. “It didn’t. I’m still here. A decision I made on my own,despitean ancient curse. Don’t worry, it’ll take more than a little witchcraft to change my mind about you.”

---