Page 14 of Her Vampire Hero

“He will be able to control his shifts at the full moon. Right now, he has no choice, and the beast takes over for him during that time.”

Hearing that, Jenny lost all her anger. “I can see why he wants a mate so badly, why you all do. I’m just having a hard time believing I’m someone’s true love.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t had the best luck with relationships.”

“Maybe that’s because your mate was here all along.”

“Maybe,” she mused.

“I should get you home. It’s getting late for you day walkers, and my night shift rush at the tea shop is coming up soon.”

They walked back to the B&B in comfortable silence, the tension from Grayson's interruption slowly fading. As they reached the front porch, Jenny was reluctant to say goodnight. There was something about Rook, something that made her feel safe. Understood. It was a dangerous feeling.

"Well," she said, turning to face him. "Thanks for the tour. It was enlightening."

"I hope it's helped you feel a bit more at home here."

"Home," Jenny repeated, the word tasting strange on her tongue. "I don't know about that. But it's not as scary as it was before."

They stood there for a moment, the air between them sizzling with unspoken words and the potential of what could be. Jenny gaze was drawn to Rook's lips, and again she wondered what they would feel like against hers. As if reading her thoughts, Rook leaned in slightly, his cool breath fanning across her face.

"Jenny," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "May I—"

She didn't let him finish. Rising up on her toes, Jenny pressed her lips to his in a kiss that started gently but quickly blazed into something more. Rook's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as she tangled her fingers in his hair. He tasted like spiced tea and something darker, more intoxicating.

Lost in the kiss, Jenny felt like she was being swept away by a whirlwind of emotions she had never experienced before. The world around them faded into nothingness as Rook deepened the kiss, his intensity matching her own.

The world spun around her, and all she could focus on was the taste of Rook's lips and the feeling of his warmth enveloping her. His hand slid down her back, pulling her closer still, as she explored his jawline with her fingertips. His tongue danced against hers, teasing and tantalizing, as he held her tight against his hard body. She moaned softly into his mouth, feeling dizzy with desire.

She gave in completely to the sensations coursing through her body—the soft brushing of his stubble against her cheek; the way his hands pressed firmly against her waist; the slightest hint of bergamot in his aftershave mingling with his unique scent that made her nose tingle; and most of all, the way he made her feel alive like never before—like every nerve ending in her body was on fire, but she never wanted the feeling to end.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Jenny felt like her world had tilted on its axis. She'd been kissed before, but never like that. Never with such intensity, such rightness.

Her fingers dug into his hair as he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. "Jenny," he breathed out, his voice hoarse from their passionate embrace. For a moment they stayed like that, gazing deeply into each other's eyes before he leaned in again for another mind-blowing kiss.

"Wow," she breathed, her lips tingling. "That was..."

"Special," Rook said, looking as dazed as she felt.

For a moment, Jenny was tempted to invite him in, to see where this electric connection between them might lead. But the rational part of her brain, the part that reminded her of her interview and her life outside Beastly Falls, held her back.

"I’m not ready for this," she said reluctantly.

Rook nodded, though she could see the reluctance in his eyes as well. "Of course.”

“Does this mean you’re my soul mate?”

“Yes.”

“That’s heavy,” she said.

“No pressure.” He kissed her quickly on the lips—too quickly—and then stepped away. “Sweet dreams."

As she watched him disappear into the night, Jenny touched her lips, wondering if his kiss affected her like this, what would his bite be like?

Chapter Five

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