Page 44 of The HalloQueen

He smiled, “they’re there, Bels. I just don’t need to risk slicing my lips open all the time. They show when I need them.” He grabbed my hand and led me back towards the stairs, allowing me a moment to check out every single muscle in his swimmers’ shaped back.

Tim meowed from his resting place on the stairs and swatted out his paw playfully at Thomas, making him jump, “shit, I forgot about him.”

In feigned outrage, I shook my hand free and leaned over to grab him, “You forgot my Timmy?

He grumbled something incomprehensible and turned the bottom of the stairs to head back to the kitchen and I followed, snuggling into Tim’s soft fur, “I won’t forget about you, baby, don’t let the scary vampire bother you.” After walking into the kitchen, I froze at the sheer amount of grocery bags on the counter. “Oh my god, Thomas. Who the hell is going to eat all this food!?”

“You are,ma chérie.” He began sorting through things, putting delicious-looking berries and cheese into my fridge. “You’re getting three five-star meals today.”

“This is enough food for a small army, I’m only one person - I think your eyes were bigger than your stomach.”

“Humor me, Bels.”

I laughed and shook my head, heading to grab my coffee pot and fill it with water. I went through the motions of making my coffee, feeling my to-do list build with each step.

Pour the water in.

Finish photographing the lingerie.

Close the lid.

Make marketing images for social media.

Grab the grounds.

Prepare old inventory for clearance.

Measure out the coffee.

Create ads.

My mind spun and my foot began tapping so I grabbed sticky pads out of the drawer and began listing everything out and chewing on my nails while it brewed. The room faded around me, filling with a visual static as I hyperfocused on the launch for a moment. God, there was just so much to do, how could I possibly spend a day at home?

Suddenly, hands grasped my hips and lips brushed against my neck, “Bels?” he whispered and I shivered, returning slightly to the present, but quickly scribbling down a few more things on my mind.

“Bels,” he said again, more firmly.

“Just a sec,” I tapped the pen quickly against the countertop, I knew I was forgetting something.

“Bels,” He growled, “Come back to me.”

“I just know I’m -”

His hands tightened on my hips, “let me help.”

“I -”

He growled again, running his hands under the hem of my shirt, pressing against the flesh of my stomach and my heart rate slowed with the gentle pull from his power.

“Annabel. Come back.”

I sighed, relaxing back into him, as if someone had laid a heavy blanket over me, soothing my worries and comforting me. The list was still there, it was all still waiting for me, but I was able to breathe around it.

“You’re allowed to take a day off. You’re allowed to be here with me.” He said, smoothing my damp hair and pressing his hips into mine. “I promise, the launch will not fail because you are taking a day to orgasm into oblivion and eat well. I’m going to take care of you so you can go back tomorrow and do even more. If you burn yourself from both ends you’ll fail before you get started.”

I furrowed my brows, “I thought you weren’t going to feed from me unless I gave you permission.”

“Oh please, that was but a nibble,amour.” He kissed my neck and turned back to the grocery bags, continuing to put things away so I poured my coffee and leaned against the butcher block, fingering the leaves of my succulents and wishing them a good morning. It was a strange scene of domesticity playing out in my home - one that I’d never expected. A handsome man preparing to cook breakfast, a shiny black cat sunning on the faux brick floors, and the smell of coffee and freshly washed bodies permeating the space.

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