Page 53 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

Leander swore if he’d been able to get hard again, he would have at the look of blatant bliss on Merri’s face. As it was, he dropped back down, claiming Merri’s mouth and licking the taste of them together right off his mate’s tongue.

* * *

Leaning over the vanity counter, Merrick inspected the two small holes at the base of his throat. Leander had been careful. There was no bruising and no tearing. Just perfectly round punctures where his mate had fed from him while they’d had sex. A whole new round of blushing worked its way from his chest up to his cheeks.

He’d never blushed so much in his life.

Behind him, Leander stepped out of the shower stall. Merrick had been in there with him but had ducked out after he’d washed his hair while Leander finished rinsing his. Merrick’s hair was currently still damp and slicked back against his head for the five minutes it would remain tame until it began to dry.

Letting his gaze rove over Leander’s frame, a dark pull of want bloomed low in his belly. He’d never felt more sated, and yet, the sight of his mate’s leanly muscled form was enough to get him going in record time.

Looking up, Leander met his gaze in the mirror. Raising a brow, he asked, “Alright, love?”

Voice lost for a moment, Merrick nodded.

Leander wrapped a towel around his waist and came to stand behind Merrick, wrapping his arms around his waist and dropping his gaze to the reflection of the bite marks on Merrick’s neck. “Do you regret it?”

With a start, Merrick’s gaze snapped to Leander’s before he turned around completely, putting them chest to chest. “No, no regrets.”

Just as Merrick tilted his chin up for a kiss, a loud buzzing came from the bedroom.

Leander sighed, dropping a quick kiss to his lips before stepping back. “That’s probably Ammon.”

“Ammon?” Merrick turned back to the mirror and squeezed out some of the leave-in frizz control he’d bought for the gala. It made his hair so soft and so much more manageable, he was kind of pissed he’d never tried using it before. He walked to the open door while he ran the product through his hair.

“My assistant,” Leander said before he picked up his buzzing phone off the nightstand. He looked at the screen and then over to Merrick. “Do you care if he comes up?”

“Of course not.”

A small smile pulled up Leander’s lips. “Okay. I’ll throw on something and go let him in.”

6

Ammon was an unfairly beautiful man. From his light brown skin to his ridiculously long and full eyelashes that were as deep black as his perfectly tousled hair, Merrick felt like a potato just standing in the same room as him.

“Merrick, it’s so nice to meet you,” Ammon said, thrusting the bags in his hands at Leander and walking toward Merrick with his hand extended.

“Oh, um, it’s nice to meet you, too.” Merrick shook the hand offered to him, only startling a little at how warm Ammon’s skin was. It could have been because Leander’s skin was noticeably cooler than the average human, making Ammon feel very warm in comparison, but Merrick didn’t think so. He wondered what type of paranormal he was. Obviously not a vampire.

Leander huffed from his place just inside the door, but there was a smile on his face. “I was going to make introductions.”

“Already on it, boss,” Ammon said, tossing a wink at Leander over his shoulder.

“I can see that. Don’t get too cozy while I put these away.”

“No promises,” Ammon called as Leander headed toward the bedroom.

Something fluttered in Merrick’s belly at how at home he seemed already. It felt surreal that just days ago, he’d been worried they’d never even kiss. The bite mark at the base of his throat ached, and his cheeks went pink at the thought of what they’d been doing less than an hour ago.

“Um,” Merrick stuttered out. “Can I offer you some coffee or tea?”

Ammon smiled at him, one dark eyebrow raising. “I’d love some coffee. Did you and bossman have a nice evening at the gala?”

A loud sigh reached them all the way from the bedroom down the hall.

Merrick’s eyes widened, but Ammon only laughed.

“As I’m sure you’ve already noticed, Leander is a touch dramatic.” Ammon rested his hand on Merrick’s elbow, turning him toward the kitchen like he was the host instead of the other way around. “Oh my gods, who is this enchanting creature?”

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