Page 12 of Tamed By Her Vampire Protector

Leo caught the direction of my gaze.“I know a warm fire would feel really good, but lighting one would send up a smoke signal and give away our location.”

I sat down on the sofa and shrugged.“This is already cozy enough for me.It’s so much more than I expected.”It was true.After living on survival mode in prison-like conditions for so long, a simple home with soft pillows and some privacy was like a slice of heaven.

Leo rummaged around the kitchen cupboards like he lived here all along.“I used to come here when I needed to get away from the vampire clan.All the cloak and dagger stuff and Machiavellian power plays get to be too much sometimes.Is gin okay?”He held up a half empty glass bottle like it was a trophy.

“Yeah.Whatever you’ve got is fine.”

The pop of the stopper coming out of the bottle sounded like a firecracker in the silent room.“Good, because that’s all there is.I hope you like it neat.”He came over with two glasses and handed me one before he sat down next to me.

“At this point, I’m just glad I’m not drinking boiled swamp water,” I said wryly before I took a swig.The alcohol burned going down my throat, but the warmth spreading throughout my body was worth it.“This is so nice.I wish I could stay here forever.It reminds me of home, before everything went to shit.”

Leo sighed.“When I was younger, I used to dream of what life would be like if I was just a normal man.What it would be like to come home from work to snuggle with someone.We would clean up dirty dishes from the dining table after dinner, or settle down in front of the fire after putting the kids to sleep.”

He threw his head back and chugged the contents of his glass in one gulp.“It sounds so stupid, now.That life only existed on TV and for other people.It was never going to be mine.The darkness and violence will always be in my blood.My life is in service to my master.”

Never in my life did I think I would feel sorry for a vampire, but at this moment, Leo’s words filled me with sadness.He would never escape his life as part of the Diamantis clan.What torture it must be to live for an eternity without knowing a moment of peace.

Neither of us was ever going to know peace as long as the vampires ruled the world.

I don’t know what came over me, but the words spilled out of my mouth before I could doubt myself.“I know it’s not real, but what if for tonight we pretend.You’re just a normal boy and I’m just a girl enjoying a night at home after a long day.”

I held my breath as I waited for his answer.Was I making a fool of myself?

Chapter 6

Meghan

Leo blinked in surprise.“Really?You would be willing to do that?”

“I’m doing this for me, too.I think we both need a bit of normalcy, however short it may be.”

Leo looked at me with awe, like I had just made all his birthday and Christmas wishes come true at once.My cheeks grew warm under the intensity of his gaze.Clearing my throat, I got up and went over to the kitchen to see what I could find.

“Do you think the previous owner left any food behind?”I opened and shut the kitchen cupboards in an attempt to distract myself.I had to escape from the confusing emotions clouding my head.Don’t be stupid, I reminded myself.None of this was real.We were just two traumatized people grabbing onto the first bit of comfort we could find.

“I don’t know, I never really noticed.It’s not like I need to eat.”Leo said from behind me.I almost jumped out of my skin at how close he was suddenly.Even though he wished to be a human man, he was still moved with the supernatural speed and stealth of a vampire.

I was essentially trapped between Leo and the kitchen counter.“Then you can help me look.”My voice shook as I spoke.My body brushed against his as I slipped past him.I bit back the moan that threatened to come out as a delicious shiver ran through me.

We both made a racket, slamming cupboards and drawers as we searched for something that we could throw together into a meal.

“Aha!”I cried out as I found a dusty plastic wrapped pack of dried pasta and a jar of spaghetti sauce.Behind the jar, I spotted a container of powdered Parmesan cheese, the kind you would find in a shaker at cheap pizza shops.I gathered the found treasure in my arms and displayed them proudly on the counter.

Leo grinned as he held up the sauce pot and a jug of water he found under the sink.“Now we’re cooking.”

I twisted off the lid and gave the sauce a cautious sniff.Even though it had expired over a year ago, it was still red colored and there wasn’t anything fuzzy growing on the surface.I shrugged.Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and it wasn’t like I hadn’t already eaten worse things.There weren’t any spices in the cupboards, and I thought what a sad life the person who lived here must have lived.

To my surprise, the stove still worked.Apparently the propane tank I saw earlier wasn’t empty.Leo started boiling a pot of water and put another sauce pot on the stove to heat up the sauce.I examined him with curiosity.Vampires didn’t need to eat, so why did he move around the kitchen with such ease?

“Do you often cook?”I asked.Watching him as he stirred the sauce so it didn’t burn, I appreciated the flex of his shoulders as he worked.

“My mother hated any reminder of my father’s mortality, so I didn’t exactly grow up in a normal family.However, one thing my father insisted on was dinner time with just the two of us.”The water sputtered as it boiled.Leo dropped two handfuls of spaghetti in.“Even if I didn’t need to eat, I loved spending time helping my dad and sharing meals with him.These were some of the only happy memories I have of my family.As much as my mother loved my father, I don’t think she really ever wanted to be a mother.”

Silently, I cursed at Leo’s mother for being such a cold bitch.What kind of damage did that she do to her own child?

Leo turned his head and gave me a sad smile.“There’s no need to pity me.I’ve had decades to think about these things.It’s not her fault, really.She cared for me in her own way, as much as the vampire inside of her would allow.My father was the best parent I could have asked for.”

Using a fork, Leo fished out a strand of spaghetti and held it out for me to try.

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