Page 105 of Taste of Forever
“What about family?”
I shook my head. “I’m an only child and my parents were older when they had me. They passed when I was in college and I don’t have any extended family.”
Laith’s face crumpled. “Fuck. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. And it’s okay. They hadn’t been in good health since I was a teenager. Maybe it’s a bit morbid, but I had kind of been preparing myself for years already.”
“It’s such a shame humans are so short-lived.” Laith brought one of my hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “The more time I spend with them, the more fascinating and lovely they are.”
I thought back to one of our earliest conversations when he explained blood mates to me. “But I’m going to live as long as a vampire now, right?”
“Yes. Once we complete the mating ceremony, your lifespan will be attached to mine. We’ll age at the same rate and when it’s our time, we’ll die together.” Laith turned my hand over and kissed the center of my palm. “How does eight hundred-plus years sound?”
I shook my head on a soft laugh. “I can’t even imagine the next ten or twenty years, let alone eight hundred.”
Laith smirked. “How’s that for a taste of forever?”
“It’s a pretty good taste.”
“Fuck yeah, you are.” He dragged me into him and went for my neck with his talented mouth.
I shuddered at the memory of his fangs in that same spot last night, although now he only gently nipped and kissed me there, his solid hand and forearm supporting my back. Without his bitedriving me to another orgasm, I was able to keep my wits and circle back to our conversation.
“I need to go back to the apartment, Laith.”
He groaned against my neck. “No.”
“Please? It’ll just be a quick trip. I’ll pack a bag in like ten minutes.”
“And if this Soren guy is watching the place and ambushes you?” Laith pulled back with a hard stare. “He already hurt you once.”
“You could come with me,” I suggested. “I don’t think he’ll come near me if you’re around.”
“Obviously I’d go with you. That’ll be the only way I let you go back,” Laith bit out. “But I don’t want you going there at all.”
I chewed my lip. “Okay, look. The only thing I really want is an old photo of me with my parents. It’s the only copy I have.”
Laith sighed heavily. “You’re killing me, Science Barbie.”
“Vampire Ken,” I cooed, kissing his jaw. “I know exactly where it is. It won’t take but a minute.”
“What if Justin’s there?” he grumbled.
“I don’t think he is.” I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the messages. “He texted me just once saying he packed his stuff and left for his parents’ house.”
“Let me see.”
I turned the phone screen toward Laith, and he smirked when he read the entire message. “‘Hope you’re satisfied’, he says.” His magenta eyes lifted to meet mine, hand stroking over my thigh. “Well, are you?”
“You know I am.” I leaned into him, our lips meeting in a long, lingering kiss.
That kiss rolled into another one, and then another. Laith grabbed my thigh and drew my leg over his hip, the two of us rolling on the mattress in a tangle of arms, legs, lips, and tongues.
When we parted for a breath, I was on top of him. My forehead snuggled into his neck, legs draped on either side of him. His arms wrapped around my back, palms making soothing passes up and down my spine.
“We’ll go back for your picture,” he murmured. “And nothing else. In and out.”
I kissed his neck happily. “Thank you.”
