Page 45 of Make Me Bleed

Then, rising up on my tiptoes, I take a fistful of his hair, pulling his mouth over to mine. I kiss him, pouring all the promise of forever into it before I release him.

“Hurry back,” he demands in a throaty voice.

I plan on it.

To saythe mayor of Dyea is a sweetheart is an understatement. The first one to welcome us to the sanctuary, his bright nature is almost enough to look past his unfortunatescent. He knows it, too. Poor male. Every time I speak with him, I make it a point to breathe through my nose so that I don’t offend him by reaction to his innate skunky spray.

What makes it worse is that he does his best to attempt to cover it up. Instead of using cologne, though, he swaps out an air freshener that he wears on a stretchy cord over his head.

Today’s scent in lemon, and it does absolutely nothing to cover up his odor.

Relying on decades of manners drilled into me, you wouldn’t know that my eyes are watering or that I’m even more desperate for a shower. Spending time with the mayor often ends with one walking away, carrying the stench away with you as it clings to your hair and your clothes.

I’m entirely aware of that even as I wait on bated—and, okay,held—breath for his answer to my request to allow Hank to move into the sanctuary so that he can live with me.

He didn’t even hesitate to respond.

“Oh, a bear shifter mate?” Mayor Lou had clasped his hands over his heart. “Your beloved? Of course he can come!”

I thought I might make it without too much of his skunkiness transferring to me, but in a final act of congratulations, the mayor patted my upper arm.

Smiling at him, expressing my gratitude while fighting the urge to wince, I thanked the mayor, then made my escape after promising to introduce Hank to him the first chance I get.

My plan had been to go in search for Bridget and her wolf once I finished speaking to Mayor Lou. After that touch, I hate to say it, but my shower became a priority. I decided to freshen up, then stop by Bridget’s place before returning to Hank’s den.

It was a good plan. I liked my plan.

I looked forward to my plan.

And then, letting myself into the house, I completely stopped thinking about my plan as a warning tingle sent shivers coursing down my spine.

The door was open. Though I’d been locking it behind me recently, the night I ran out into the words, I didn’t bother. Mainly because I had no intention of walking away from my house until I did.

Besides, we’re a community here. I didn’t think it would matter if I left it unlocked while I wasn’t home. It was more that I was worried about someone sneaking in while Iwashome.

I should’ve been more concerned about that because, the moment I grab the knob and shove in the front door, I know someone is inside of my house. I’m already stepping in anyway, closing the door again behind me out of habit, before I see a figure sitting on my couch out of the corner of my eye.

Oh, Hank.

“Hank, honey, I told you I would be right back?—”

“Hank,” says a cold, emotionless voice. “Who, pray tell, is Hank?”

Not the male who’s been lying in wait for me to walk in through the front door.

Because that’s?—

“Julian.”

CHAPTER 15

BELOVED

The devastatingly handsome vampire is sitting on my couch, one leg resting on his thigh, arms spread out along the back as if he has every right to be in my personal territory.

My fangs punch through my gums. The tips slide right past the swell of my bottom lip as my nails sharpen into claws. Ancient lore says that vampires don’t have a reflection. That’s something else the humans get wrong since I can see my profile in the dark television screen out of the corner of my eye. I lookfurious.

And Julian just raises his eyebrows at me in mock acknowledgement of my reaction.

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