Page 42 of Only Fangs

“Under the bed.”

“Under the bed?”

God, this was embarrassing. Here he was, a powerful creature of the night, brought low by the first feeble rays of the morning sun. “Just close the shutters, please.”

There was a moment of silence before the bed creaked and then Collin’s feet appeared on the floor. The mortal walked to the windows and pulled the shutters closed, plunging the room into blissful darkness once more.

Mikael let out a sigh of relief and climbed out from under the bed. “Thank you.”

Collin looked at him with concern. “Did you get hurt? I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

“I’m fine, I just wasn’t thinking either. It’s my own fault.” Mikael studied his forearm. There was a line of blisters along the pale skin where the sunlight had hit, but they were already beginning to heal. “It’s barely a burn. I’ll be alright.”

Collin turned on the overhead light and frowned at the marks on Mikael’s skin. “That looks bad. Can I get you a bandage or something?”

“It’ll be fine by tonight.” Mikael gave his mate a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Well, I am worrying,” Collin said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m your mate now. Isn’t it my job to worry about you?”

Mikael chuckled and tugged at the mortal’s arms. “Come here.” He pulled Collin against him and leaned down to press their lips together.

Collin sighed and melted into the embrace, his body molding against Mikael’s. His breath tickled Mikael’s lips as he pulled away. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”

“Look.” Mikael showed Collin his forearm once more. “I’m already healing.”

“Wow. That’s fast.”

Collin was right; Mikael was healing fast, even by vampire standards. The blisters on his skin were fading rapidly. In a few minutes, there’d be no trace of them remaining.

“I bet it’s your blood that’s helping me heal this fast.”

“Mine?” Collin blinked. “How?”

“My sire mentioned that my mate’s blood would make me stronger.”

“Oh.” Collin ran his fingers along Mikael’s arm as if he needed to touch to believe what he was seeing. “I guess that’s a good thing?”

“The best thing.” Mikael tilted Collin’s chin up with his hand and pressed their lips together for another gentle kiss. His whole body hummed with contentment. “I’ve never had any blood as good as yours.”

“Never?”

“Never,” Mikael confirmed. “And I’ve had all kinds of blood.”

“I know.” Something shifted in Collin’s expression, and Mikael wondered if that was a hint of jealousy he saw there.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Collin bit his lower lip as if he was working up the courage to say what he needed to say. “It’s just that I’ve watched you bite a lot of people, always wishing it was me.”

So it was jealousy after all. “I thought you enjoyed watching my streams.”

Collin shot him an exasperated look. “Of course I did, but now…”

“Now what?” Mikael prompted gently.

“I know biting other people is part of your job. You’re a performer and you have to do certain things in front of the camera… And I’d never ask you to stop doing what you’re doing if you still enjoy it, but…” Collin swallowed and then looked up at Mikael, meeting his eyes. “I don’t know if I can do it anymore. Watching you bite someone else, watching them get off on it…”

Collin’s cheeks flushed with heat as if his feelings embarrassed him, though there was nothing for him to be embarrassed about. Mikael loved the honesty with which he expressed his emotions, always had.

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