Page 23 of Her Vampire Hero

The intensity in his voice both warmed Jenny's heart and sent a flicker of uncertainty through her. This thing between them was moving so fast, burning so bright. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

"I missed you too," she admitted, because it was true. Even though it had only been a few hours since she'd last seen him, it had felt like an eternity.

Rook pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face. "How was your day? How's the car coming along?"

Jenny heard the unspoken question beneath his words.How much longer until you leave?

"It's going well," she said, keeping her tone light. "Another day or two, and it'll be road ready."

A shadow passed over Rook's face. He nodded, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "That's good. You must be excited to get back on the road."

Jenny's heart clenched at the poorly disguised pain in his voice. Before she could overthink it, she blurted out, "I almost tried to leave today."

Rook stiffened in her arms, his face going carefully blank. "Oh?"

Jenny rushed to explain. "I walked up to the barrier. I could see my car, just sitting there on the other side. All I had to do was take one step, and I'd be free to go."

"What stopped you?" Rook asked.

Jenny met his gaze, seeing the vulnerability there. "You," she said simply. "The thought of leaving you hurt more than the thought of staying."

The look of pure joy that bloomed on Rook's face took Jenny's breath away. He crushed her to his chest, peppering her face with kisses. "Jenny," he breathed between kisses, "my Jenny."

She laughed, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "Easy there, vampire boy. I haven't made any decisions yet. I'm just considering all my options."

Rook pulled back, cupping her face in his hands. "Of course," he said, his tone serious despite the smile still playing at his lips. "I would never pressure you to stay if it's not what you truly want. I just glad you're giving us a chance."

Jenny leaned into his touch, marveling at how safe and cherished she felt in his arms. It was a new feeling for her, one she was quickly becoming addicted to.

"Come on," Rook said, taking her hand. "Let me treat you to dinner. You must be starving after working all day."

As they walked hand in hand through the twilight streets of Beastly Falls, Jenny felt a sense of rightness settle over her. Thetown, which had seemed so strange and unsettling when she first arrived, now felt almost like home.

They ended up at a small bistro run by a family of selkies.

Over a delicious meal of fresh seafood (which Jenny tried not to think too hard about, given the nature of the cooks), she and Rook talked and laughed, sharing stories and dreams. It felt so natural, so easy, that Jenny could almost forget the ticking clock hanging over their heads.

As the night wore on and the restaurant began to empty, their conversation turned more serious. Rook reached across the table, taking Jenny's hand in his.

"I know this is all happening very fast," he said, his thumb tracing circles on her palm. "And I know it must be overwhelming for you. Having a vampire mate is a big adjustment, even for those of us who grew up in the supernatural world."

Jenny nodded, grateful that he understood. "A week ago, I was just Jenny the mechanic, chasing a pipe dream. Now I'm living in a town full of supernatural creatures."

"Do you regret it?" Rook asked.

Jenny squeezed his hand. "No," she said firmly. "I don't regret a thing. I just need more time to process it all. To figure out where I fit in this new world."

Rook brought her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "I'll love you forever, no matter what you decide."

The raw emotion in his voice made Jenny's heart ache and her body pound with desire. “I need to feel your teeth,” she whispered.

Rook closed his eyes, taking a deep breath he didn't need. When he opened them again, the intensity of his gaze made Jenny shiver.

"Not here," he said.

“Anywhere,” she breathed.

Rook groaned, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Jenny lost herself in the sensations, in the feeling of rightness that came from being in Rook's arms.

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