Page 25 of Luka

“I don’t think you said it soon enough.” Luka gave him a soft kiss. “I’ve been feeling the same way, too.”

Luka had told Spencer that he wasn’t used to sharing his emotions, so Spencer felt grateful his mate hadn’t held that back. It was what he needed to hear, especially at a time like this, when his life felt like it had been upended.

And Spencer’s feelings for Luka hadn’t grown because Luka had protected him. It was so much more than that. Luka had saved Spencer’s life in ways that went beyond protecting him. Spencer felt like he had a purpose, like he could take on the world simply because Luka was at his side.

It was also the quiet moments they’d shared, the fishing and hiking, making love in front of the fireplace, how Luka had opened his life to Spencer when it was probably second nature for Luka to shut everyone out. How Luka had known there might be a chance they’d turn out to not be mates, and yet he’d still taken a chance.

Not once in his life had Spencer felt this way about anyone, like he would sacrifice himself in order to save Luka’s life, if it came down to that. He also felt safe in Luka’s arms, like nothing bad could happen to him.

Spencer frowned when he heard a low, steady beeping sound. “What is that?”

Luka set Spencer aside, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the security room. “Something or someone tripped a motion sensor.”

“A racoon or something?”

Spencer’s stomach dropped when Luka shook his head. “They’re calibrated to ignore wildlife. I had to do that because, in the beginning, too many squirrels and skunks set them off.”

At first Spencer didn’t see anything that would indicate someone was on the premises. Luka’s neighbors were close but not close enough that someone stepping out their back door would set off an alarm.

Luka tapped one of the monitors. “Right there.”

It took a moment for Spencer to see wat Luka was talking about. The shadow moved, and then two more moved. Whoever they were, they were surrounding Luka’s house.

Chapter Eight

Luka heard Spencer gasp when he pressed a panel on the wall and a door popped open. That was one of many reasons Luka had purchased the house. Whoever had last owned it had to have been paranoid, because they’d built what was essentially a panic room.

Only, it wasn’t just a room. Behind the back wall of the small space was another secret door that led under the house and to the nearby storm tunnel that spilled into a ravine. Luka had checked the entire place before he’d signed the paperwork. It had taken him a minute to realize what was so odd about the paneling.

Not that the paneling lent to suspicion. There was nothing unusual about it. Luka’s hunch had been more like a gut feeling, and when he’d discovered the room, he knew he had to purchase the house.

Now he was glad he was just as paranoid as the previous owner. In his line of work, before he’d retired, one couldn’t have too many exists of escape.

“Are we going to stuff ourselves in there?” Spencer sounded worried. “I don’t do well with closed spaces.”

“Do you do well with vampires breaching our home?” Luka realized in that moment that he’d called it their home and liked that.

“Move aside.” Spencer started to push his way in, but a hand to his mate’s arm stopped him.

“Let me show you a very useful trick to this room.” Luka stepped in first then opened the second passageway. “We’re not staying in here.”

What he didn’t say was that the vampires would be able to track their scents, so they had very little time to get into the tunnel and follow it before the bloodsuckers were hot on their heels. Spencer was already panicking enough, though he was trying really hard to hide it, and Luka didn’t want to add to the guy’s stress.

Luka grabbed Spencer’s hand and led him down the narrow tunnel that led out of the secret room. The doors would automatically close behind them.

He could feel the tremble in Spencer’s hand, and he squeezed it gently to offer reassurance. The musty smell of the storm tunnel was thick in the air. Luka could hear the sound of rushing water in the distance. The tunnel was tall enough for them to walk without having to crouch, which was more than likely a relief to Spencer, who already seemed to be struggling with being enclosed in the tunnel.

If Luka had been by himself, he would have stayed and defended his home. He couldn’t take that chance with Spencer. His mate meant more than four walls and a roof.

As they walked down the tunnel, Luka heard Spencer’s breathing becoming more labored. He paused and turned to face his mate, reaching out to gently cup his cheek. “We’re going to be okay, Spencer. I promise.”

Spencer nodded, but Luka—with his ability to see in the dark—could see the fear in his eyes. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Spencer’s lips, hoping to ease his mate’s nerves. It seemed to work, even if just a little, as Spencer relaxed into the kiss.

Too bad they couldn’t stay like that, but they continued walking, the sound of rushing water growing louder with each step. Finally, Luka saw a glimmer of light up ahead. They picked up the pace, their hurried footsteps echoing through the tunnel.

When they emerged from the tunnel, they traversed through the water to a maintenance shed. Luka had paid a pretty penny to build it, including permits and the structure being up to code. He punched in the code, and the door made a clicking sound.

“What’s this?” Spencer looked around, as if the vampires were about to attack at any second. They probably were.

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