Page 21 of Definitely Dead

“Up you go,” he said, patting his mate’s hip. Then, because he wanted to—and he could—he brushed another kiss over his lips. “We have company.”

He had expected more panic. Maybe a tinge of pink as embarrassment crept in, but neither of those things happened. Sunne took his time getting to his feet, a funny little smile on his mouth.

“You look very satisfied with yourself,” Tyr observed as he joined him.

“Oh, I am. I’ve wanted to do that since I met you.”

They’d wasted days dancing around boundaries that didn’t exist, but it had been well worth the wait. “Why didn’t you?”

Sunne shrugged, a small, casual movement of his shoulders. “Nerves, maybe? I don’t know. It didn’t feel right yet.”

He wouldn’t have been able to put it into such simple terms, but he understood exactly what Sunne meant. It had never been about a lack of attraction, and all about the desire for it to mean something.

“Oh.” A gasp fell from his mate’s lips as they started walking toward the pier. “He’s…different.”

That was one way to describe the new arrival.

A couple inches shorter but just as broad in the chest, the male had the kind of body developed from hard labor rather than hours spent in a gym. Tight denim encased thighs the size of tree trunks, and a plain white tee begged for mercy as it stretched tight across his chest.

Not really Tyr’s type, but he supposed the guy was objectively handsome. If one were into that sort of thing.

“Stop looking at him.”

Sunne snorted. “How am I supposed to talk to him if I can’t look at him?”

“Good point. Don’t talk to him either.”

His laughter was soft and indulgent, and he slipped his hand into Tyr’s with a comforting squeeze. “I meant that I’ve never seen an actual cowboy before.”

Tyr stared at the newcomer. He just looked like a guy in a hat to him. “I guess, but to be fair, I’ve never met a cowboyvampirebefore.”

“You’re serious?” He blinked a couple of times, his brow creased. “He’s really a vampire?”

“Yep.” He could feel the energy pouring off the male, even at a distance. Not immense, but a little wild. A little restless. “Probably not very old.”

“Huh,” Sunne mused. Then he waved his free hand over his head in greeting. “Hey, there!” he called. “You look a little lost.”

The cowboy turned away from the river and removed his wide-brimmed hat like a true gentleman. Approaching them, he wore a charming smile—broad, ingratiating, with just a hint of humility.

Tyr hated him already.

“Not lost,” he answered, his voice low, smooth, and tinged with the kind of accent that melted panties. “I’m dead, ain’t I?”

“More than once.” Tyr grunted when his mate elbowed him in the ribs.

“I’m Sunne.” Stepping forward, he offered his hand and a kind smile. “What’s your name?”

“Fenton Truitt, but you can call me Finn.” His gaze flickered to Tyr before accepting the handshake, and he kept the contact brief while maintaining a respectful distance.

Their eyes met again, and Tyr nodded his approval as understanding passed between them. Sunne was off-limits.

“You’re a vampire, right?” Sunne asked.

Finn shook his head. “Naw. Bloodsucker killed me, but I’m not one of them.”

Well…shit.

Fenton Truitt was absolutely a vampire, and the fact that he didn’t know it painted a pretty bleak picture.

---