13. Chapter Twelve

With the Pet store cleaned up and closed, the ladies taken care of, I take my mate home to my house while he is unconscious.

He has been lying on the couch for hours, sleeping soundly, and lost in the unconsciousness of his mind. I place my ear on his stomach, listening to the wild race of my little one’s heartbeat.

“I promise to always protect you.” I rub his stomach with my hand, wondering how this is possible. His heat must have changed his body chemistry. Whatever happened, whatever the reason, I’m thankful to have a family I never thought I’d have.

I didn’t know so much history was connected to his last name. His ancestors have been through so much and I will risk my life to make sure his name gets the future it deserves.

He groans and I lift my head, waiting for him to open his eyes. Pressing the cool rag against his forehead, then down his cheek, then his mating mark on his neck.

Those big brown eyes slowly open, seeming lost with sleep.

“How is my Curious Kitten?” I ask softly, gently skimming my knuckles down his cheek.

He leans into my touch, sighing as if he has forgotten everything that has happened. The moment everything comes rushing back, he pauses, snaps his eyes wide open, and scurries to a seated position.

“What happened? Did that happen? Did I dream that? Did you kill my foster brothers? Were they wolves? Is Deacon a wolf? Oh my God, are Ashley and Morgan safe? Am I pregnant? No, right? I can’t be. Men can’t get pregnant because that’s impossible. That’s not possible?” he questions in a high-pitched tone that sounds more like a yelp.

I chuckle at his panic and curiosity. I always love his questions. Teasing my thumb over his lip, I press the wet rag to the back of his neck. “Everything you remembered happened. I killed them. Deacon is a wolf. Your friends are safe and Ashley’s under the impression she hit her head on a shelf at the store. You are pregnant. I don’t know how. I don’t have the answer for that except, your body changed during the heat.”

His face loses color and suddenly he looks pale.

“Are you okay? Talk to me, Oliver. Please.”

He takes my hand, placing it on his stomach. “We’re going to be a family. I’m finally going to have people who love me.”

“You’ll always have someone who loves you,” I whisper, pressing our lips together. “For eternity, Oliver. You’ll always find love in me.”

He grins before smashing his lips onto mine. Our tongues meet, the taste of him awakening my soul.

“I missed you,” he whispers after breaking the kiss. “I’m so sorry for pulling away.”

I cup the back of his head, pressing our foreheads together because I am not ready to be even an inch away from him. “Don’t be. I understand. You had to think about a lot. Knowing you’re fated to a vampire who could only drink Grandie blood isn’t an everyday occurrence.”

A snort slips from him as he laughs, but there’s a tear rolling down his cheek as the laughter turns into something else entirely.

“Hey, hey, talk to me. What’s going on?” I slip in beside him on the couch and he climbs onto my lap. Wanting more, my arms tighten around him, then pull him against me so there’s no space left between us.

“You being a vampire doesn’t bother me. When you say we are for forever, all it does it bring me peace.” He takes my hand and places it right over his heart. “Right here. A place where I didn’t think I’d ever feel anything other than a void. I don’t care that you had to live off Grandie blood because the only blood you’ll ever need, is mine.”

“Their blood was only to sustain me, yours keeps me alive, yours binds me to you and only you.” I tug on his curls. “You aren’t upset about that? At all?”

“Did they taste better than me?”

I make a sound of disgust. “No one could taste better than you. I want to drink you down until you think there is no blood in your body left.” I drag my lips over the side of his neck. “Which you’ll never have to worry about. Your body will constantly replenish for me so if I wanted, I could take, and take, and take…” I whisper, nibbling on his earlobe.

“Then no,” he moans. “Why would I be mad over people I don’t know?”

I grip his chin. “Because you grew up with those people,” I spit pure venom at the thought.

“It wouldn’t have led me here to this moment with you. Obviously, I wish I knew them and maybe one day you can tell me what they were like, but I don’t have a need.”

“Okay, Kitten. Whatever you want.” I kiss his jaw and he gasps, rolling his hips so his cock glides across mine.

“What do we tell people as my stomach grows? I can’t hide it for nine months.”

“It won’t take that long, but we will worry about it when we need to. I just want to enjoy you, watch you grow, and finally live the life I’ve been dying to have for the last four hundred years.” I taste his skin where the mating mark is, growling as my fangs lengthen.

“You want me?” He cups my cock.

“Always.” I undress us before he can protest, moving inhumanly fast. I rub our cocks together and without warning, I bite him, sucking his blood into my mouth.

He shouts, scratching his nails down my back. “You’re gluttonous when it comes to me, aren’t you?”

My Curious Kitten is always asking questions but not even my answer would be enough because he truly has no idea.