Page 35 of Make Me Bleed

Really? “You’re not going to push me to tell you?” When he shakes his head, I can’t help but point out, “That’s not very ‘dominant male’ of you.”

Hank offers me a crooked grin. “When my mate was frightened, she knew to come to her male. That he could keep her safe. Whether it was just the damn dark or something that hid out in it, she’ll tell her honey bear in time. For now, I’m just glad to have her in the safety of my den.” He winks at me. “I’m talkin’ ‘bout you, ya know.”

My flush deepens. Yup… I definitely mentioned the dark last night. But everything else…

“Oh, I know. And… thank you. For everything you did. You’re right. It’s silly. At my age, I shouldn’t be afraid of the dark?—”

“Your age.” He snorts. “Sweet Elise, you can’t be more than twenty. And me, pushin’ forty the way I am. The things I want to do to you… you’d blush away all my blood if you knew the depraved things I have in mind. It’d be indecent if you weren’t my Fate-given mate. Even then, I’m robbin’ the cradle, but call me a fuckin’ thief, because you’re mine, Lise. And I ain’t plannin’ on letting you go.”

I scoot closer to him. “I think you forgot something.”

“Oh. What’s that?”

“That I’m a vampire. You look good for your age, but I lookgreat.”I grin at him. “I’m seventy-four, and you should know, I’m not innocent.”

And he’d shift to his bear and head for the mountains if he knew some of the depraved things I wanted to do tohim.

CHAPTER 12

RESCUING

“Hang on.” His eyes spark. “So you’d be the one robbin’ the cradle then.” Hank purrs. Wait. Can a bear purr? I don’t know, but I can’t describe the sound he makes any other way. “An older woman takin’ advantage of a young, innocent virgin like me… it’s naughty. Ilikeit.”

Virgin…I knew he would have to be. I only hope that he understands what I mean when I said Iwasn’tan innocent because I haven’t been a virgin in almost as long as he’s been alive.

Do I tell him that now? It doesn’t seem right to mention my previous lovers while I’m lying in Hank’s bed, and I wonder if he thinks the same because he oh-so-casually changes the subject.

He trails his hand over my shoulder. “You hungry? I could make breakfast… or I couldbebreakfast.”

My mouth waters. “I wouldn’t say no to a sip.”

“I was hopin’ you’d say so.” He pauses for a moment. “But do ya eat? I’m not judgin’ you if ya do or not, but you’re my mate. I don’t really know too much about vampires, obviously. I’ll give you my blood, but if you need real food, I’m happy to provide that.”

Something about his earnest tone has a genuine smile tugging on my lips. “I eat. Not often, and usually it’s more out of a societal duty because I’m sharing dinner with someone, but I don’t need to. Not like I need blood.”

“Good to know. So, uh, where do you want to do this? ‘Cause we can stay in the bed, or I can bring you to my workshop. I have chairs I’m building in there.”

“Workshop?” I echo.

He nods. “Yup. Like the carving I made you. I’m a whizz with a knife. That’s the bear in my, I guess, knowing how to use my claws. Not too shabby with some hammers and a nail, either. I build furniture for the locals, and get enough money to survive out in the woods.” He nudges me with his knee. “If you’re worried about your male providin’ for his mate, I’ve been waitin’ a long time for you to come along, Lise. I’ll make you happy.”

Somehow, I don’t doubt it.

His body is thrumming, waiting for me to take his blood inside of me. Probably because it’s the only way he can right now, but if I feed from him in this bed… that’ll change pretty quickly.

For that reason, I tell him, “Maybe we should go to the workshop.”

Hank sighs. “Yeah. I reckon you’re right. Come on. I’ll show you?—”

He goes predatorily still. His honey-colored eyes darken to a burnt orange shade as his body bows forward, the shifter still in his skin though he grows impossibly bigger.

Uh-oh.

“Hank?”

His nostrils flare. “Fire. And a wolf.”

I don’t even have to ask what he means. Like the house in Dyea mine now, this den belongs to Hank. If he senses intruders,he’ll know before anyone. And with his shifter senses, he’ll be able to smell them, too.

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