26. Flora

Flora

I t seemed to take hours for the cops to interview me and finally take Jake away. By the time we got back up to my office, I’d been gone so long that Amy was hysterical. I sent her home for the day, then canceled the rest of my meetings so I could leave too.

“Let’s go home,” Teresa said as I closed the laptop. “I’ll run you a nice bubble bath.”

I shook my head. “I need to go see Henry first. He should hear it from me.”

“I’ll go with you.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to protest, but then I realized that it would be nice to have someone with me. I could handle it myself, but with Teresa around, maybe I didn’t have to.

“I need to tell you something,” I said, leaning my hip against my desk and looking her in the eye. “I love you.”

Teresa’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? It’s not just the adrenaline talking?”

I shook my head. “I never believed in love at first sight before, but the fact is, I fell a little bit in love with you the day we met, and it’s just gotten stronger every day since then. I know it’s crazy, especially when we’ve known each other for such a short time, but you’re it for me, Teresa. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, no matter what it takes.”

Teresa opened her mouth to speak, and I held up my hand to stop her. “Don’t feel like you have to say anything back. I know you’ve got the physiological connection to me because of the fated mate thing, but I hope someday you’ll have an emotional connection too.”

She stalked closer, her expression tender. “I already have an emotional connection, Flora. I love you too. It’s not just because of my vampire,” she placed her hand over her heart. “I feel it here too.”

She stepped closer, pressing her lips against mine, and my entire body relaxed. When I’d been with Jacob I’d been scared, no doubt about it, but I’d also been strangely calm because I’d known in my heart that this woman, this vampire, would do everything she could to find me. I never doubted it.

I had no idea how we were going to make things between us work with our very different lives, but I didn’t doubt we’d figure it out. Together.

I shifted on the desk, opening my legs so Teresa could step between them, deepening the kiss. I gripped her ass cheeks in my hands, pulling her closer and tilting my head to give her better access.

We just stood there for several long minutes, arms around each other, kissing like we had all the time in the world. There was a world of emotion in that kiss, and a promise of what was to come. When we pulled apart, I looked into those icy blue eyes and took a quivering breath.

“I want nothing more than to lay you on that couch and lick your pussy until you come all over my face,” I told her. “But I need to go talk to Henry. He should hear what happened from me, not the police. And when we’re done there, I’m going to fire you as my bodyguard.”

“Fire me?” Teresa asked in confusion.

“It turns out I don’t need a bodyguard anymore,” I told her. “I do however have an opening for a girlfriend. Do you think you might be interested in the job?”

Teresa shook her head. “I think I’m more interested in the job of spouse.”

I pretended to consider her words. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s see how you do as a girlfriend and if things go well, I’ll promote you after we do your performance evaluation.”

“You’ve got a deal.”

For all my big talk, after spending a few hours comforting a distraught Henry we were both too exhausted to do anything when we got back to my house. I texted Amy to let her know I was taking a sick day tomorrow. Then after I started nodding off during my bubble bath, Teresa wrapped me in a towel, helped me find a nightgown, then put me to bed.

When I woke up again, it was just after one in the morning. I sat up and took a drink of water, then used the restroom. By the time I returned, Teresa was awake too.

“Sorry to wake you,” I whispered. “I was both dying of thirst and dying to pee.”

She smirked in the dim glow of the bedside lamp she’d turned on. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough with me to share your bio functions.”

“I feel comfortable enough with you to do almost anything,” I said, taking a little flying leap and landing on the bottom of the bed. I tore off the blanket, then made my way up between her legs.

As usual, Teresa was wearing only a tank top and panties to bed. I slid her panties down, baring her pussy, and immediately lowered my head for a long, leisurely lick. She made a cute little noise, and I did it again before separating her lower lips with my fingers to slip inside her channel. I kept up my slow pace, licking up her arousal as I explored her folds. When I sucked her clitoris into my mouth, Teresa’s hips punched up and she let out a growl that was decidedly not human.

“Wait,” she gasped.

I stopped immediately. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No, I…”

She sat up, and I pushed back so I was sitting on my heels, watching her carefully.

“I want to claim you,” she said. “I want to bite you and give you the mate mark, so that we’re joined forever. But if you’re not ready, we can wait.”

“I don’t want to wait,” I said. “I know all I need to know. You are the woman I want to be with forever, Teresa.”

In a flash she grabbed my hips and spun me around so I landed on my back on the bed. I opened my legs, and she straddled one of my thighs with both of hers. Her fingers went to my channel, sliding in and out. When she found me dripping wet and ready for her, Teresa slid two fingers deep inside me without preamble.

As she started fucking me with her fingers, Teresa lowered her head, kissing me deeply. Her tongue slid against mine, the kiss turning rougher as she ground her pussy against my thigh. Wanting to help her along, I slid one of my hands between us, sliding up underneath her shirt and finding a nipple. I gave her a hard pinch and Teresa cried out, picking up speed.

When she curled her fingers deep inside me, I lost control, crying out Teresa’s name as the waves of pleasure crashed through me. She moved my head to the side, and then I felt her teeth sinking into the skin at the base of my neck.

I cried out, first in pain, then in pleasure. White hot energy filled my body, quickly followed by what could only be described as excited euphoria. Teresa licked at the wound, sealing it, then her hips picked up speed as she ground against me almost frantically.

I bent my knees, pressing my feet into the mattress and flipping us so I was on top. I slid my hand down, pressing my thumb firmly against her clitoris, sliding it back and forth until Teresa found her own release.

When she was finished we lay side by side, both of us gasping for breath. As crazy as it sounded, I could feel the first tendrils of the mate bond taking effect, connecting me with my mate in a way I never imagined.

“I can… feel you somehow,” I said in wonder. “It’s almost like your presence is in my brain, and I can feel your emotions.”

“Yeah, me too. It’s hella cool, huh?”

I slid down to wrap her in my arms, hugging her close.

“It’s really cool, mate.”