Page 40 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

Entirely of their own accord, my gaze strays to Noah’s neck again.

Sensing where my attention has landed, he looks up. His eyes are slightly hooded, and his expression doesn’t help the hunger one bit.

And I realize…he hasn’t had his blood either.

Which means we’re both a little weak this morning. A little willpower impaired.

“Did you remember your medication?” he asks, his voice slightly strained.

“Yep. You?”

“Yeah.”

I clear my throat. “We just ate, like, three animals.”

He smiles, settling back into his seat and taking out his phone as a distraction. “It’s a different hunger.”

Is it ever. I don’t crave Noah like I crave a donut or a salad. (Because that would be weird.)

But I do crave him.

I force myself to walk away, keeping busy by making the bed and then straightening the bathroom. While we wait for Cassian to show up, we go about our business, pretending this little room isn’t shrinking by the minute.

Noah appears in the bathroom doorway while I’m doing my makeup, leaning a well-muscled arm against the doorframe. “We should probably talk to someone at the front desk and see what they can do about this room situation.”

Because I’m already looking in the mirror, I see disappointment flash across my face. Quickly schooling it, I swipe lip balm over my lips and then press them together. From the way Noah watches me, I can tell I didn’t hide it soon enough.

He steps inside the bathroom, coming up behind me. I watch him, lip balm frozen halfway back to my makeup bag.

Meeting my eyes in the reflection, he sets his hand on my shoulder, running his thumb over the side of my neck. “Unless you’re happy with this arrangement?”

I shiver under his touch. “We probably shouldn’t have this conversation until after we’ve had our blood.”

Noah nods, but his eyes drift down to watch the movement of his thumb. “We shouldn’t.”

We’ve skipped two doses—last night and this morning. Two is a lot when you’re a final-stage vampire.

“Where’s Cassian?” I ask, my voice strained.

“About thirty minutes away.”

I laugh a little. “You already looked?”

“I probably shouldn’t have.”

“Why did you?”

He lifts his eyes as he lowers his mouth to my neck. “I was hoping he’d be closer.”

“Really?” My eyelids flutter when he presses his warm lips against my skin. “Because I’m glad he’s not.”

Noah makes a dark noise, and his hands move to either side of my waist. “I really should go downstairs and talk to someone at the front desk.”

“You really shouldn’t. Not yet.”

He teases his mouth over me. “If I stay, we’ll have to find a way to pass the time until Cassian gets here.”

I can’t even respond. I just make a noise that sounds a bit like a mew.

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