Popsicle Mate

The sound of the front door wakes me up, and I blink in confusion at the bunny wallpaper illuminated by the nightlight plugged into the wall.

Oh, yeah, I camped out in Ambros's room after Tris flailed around too much in his sleep and smacked me in the face. The view through the window shows darkness outside, which means it's not time to be awake.

Groggy, I roll over in bed and squint at the clock on the nightstand. There's still an hour before I need to wake up.

Shivering, I burrow down into the warmth of the sheets and pull the blanket up over my head until only my eyes peek out.

A moment later, the door opens, and Ambros steps into the room. He pauses on the threshold, then softly closes the door and shrugs out of his vest. "Is that a Goldilocks in my bed?"

"Hush, Rosebud, I'm sleeping," I mumble through the blanket, unwilling to give up my cozy cocoon.

A chuckle drifts through the room as he strips out of his black, military-grade tactical gear. "Even if you weren't talking, I'd know you're awake by your heartbeat."

"This bed is taken." I roll myself up in the bedding. "Try across the hall."

"But this bed is just right." The mattress dips and a tug on the blanket lets in a cool draft before Ambros slides in behind me, his bare skin as cold as a popsicle from patrolling the town.

With a yelp, I crawl away, but he catches me, dragging me back against his frozen body. "No! Get off!"

"Come on, Rowe." He pins me down with his muscular arms. "It's your duty as my mate to warm me up."

"Lies!" As I wiggle to escape, something nudges my ass. "That better be a popsicle in your pants!"

"What pants?" His cold nose burrows into the curve of my shoulder. "That's all me, baby."

"Tiny erasers." My pulse quickens as he moves up to my ear. "I'm going to really cap your fangs this time."

"Liar." He sucks my racing pulse into his mouth before letting it go. "Your heartbeat is saying Rosebud, I warmed your bed for you. Now let me warm the rest of you."

I giggle at his high-pitched imitation of me. "I don't sound like that."

"Rosebud, I knew you would be hungry when you got home from a long night of protecting my town. Please, have your wicked way with me." Playful nibbles move down my shoulder, his fangs dimpling my skin without piercing me. "Why, thank you, my love. That sounds delightful."

Not wanting to disturb Owen, who sleeps just on the other side of the connected bathroom, I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter.

"Shh." Making his way down my arm, his head disappears beneath the blanket. "You'll wake up the others, and they're trying to sleep."

I roll onto my back to escape the ticklish bites. "I was trying to sleep."

His head burrows under my shirt, and pops out of my collar, our noses touching. "You were already awake when I came into the room."

My eyes cross to bring him into focus. "The front door woke me. You need to work on stealth, spy man."

He leans down to brush our lips together. "I'll take that into consideration."

"See that you do…" A moan escapes as he kisses me.

His cold lips coax me to open, his tongue slipping past their seam to stroke against mine, sending tingles through my body.

Icy fingers slip under my shirt to cup my breasts, and I flinch. "Your hands are freezing!"

"Sorry." He pinches my hard nipples, and electricity shoots down to the growing heat between my thighs. "They'll warm up soon."

The contrast of hot and cold raises goose bumps all over, making my skin tingle.

With each deep, claiming kiss, I melt further beneath him, desire curling through me. He pushes the nightshirt I wear over the tops of our heads, and I pull my arms free of it before wrapping them around his broad back, marveling at how well we fit together.

His thumb grazes my nipple, sending shivers of pleasure through me. Even after all this time, I still can't quite believe Ambros and I found each other, despite the odds set against us. It took a perfect culmination of events for our paths to cross, and I cherish each moment we've shared since.

"Rowe." He kisses down my chin to my throat. "You have no idea how much I adore you."

Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word tells me daily that he loves me, but it's still not enough.

My leg wraps around his hips. "Show me."

A groan leaves him as he traces a path down to my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

My hands tangle in his auburn locks, urging him closer.

"Rowe." Warm lips nuzzle my throat. "I could just eat you up right now."

I arch my head back. "Then do it."

Instead of sinking his fangs into my neck, he rises above me to once more claim my lips in a heated kiss, his tongue thrusting deep as he rocks against me, his hard cock rubbing my clit through the thin barrier of my underwear.

Gasping, I lift my hips to meet him, the material growing damp with my desire.

I reach down, trying to push my panties out of the way, but the press of our bodies holds them in place. "Off. Now."

He nibbles on my ear. "Show some patience."

Head turning, I catch his bottom lip with my teeth.

A shiver goes through him, and he reaches between us, tracing along the waistband of my underwear before slipping beneath the fabric. The cool sensation of his touch on my heated skin draws an excited moan from me, and I release his lip to kiss his chin and jaw.

"You're so wet for me." His nimble fingers circle my entrance, then sink inside of me as he groans. "So warm."

His head dips to capture my lips in a searing claim that curls my toes while his hand moves between my thighs, deftly driving my pleasure higher.

I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders as my back arches, desperate for more contact. Every nerve ending sings under his expert touch, and I teeter on the edge.

"Come for me, baby," Ros whispers against my neck, his fangs grazing the sensitive skin there as he continues to work his magic.

Moaning, I tip over, release pulsing through me in waves that leave me breathless and trembling.

My inner muscles clench around his fingers as they leave me, and his cock slides home. The stretch of being filled sends pleasure through me once more, but Ros isn't finished.

Even as I adjust to the delicious fullness of him inside me, his fangs pierce my vein, and overwhelming ecstasy crashes over me, leaving me gasping for breath as I climax again.

I quiver from the combined sensation of Ros feeding on me while taking my body, every thrust sending fresh waves rolling through me.

When at last I don't think I can take any more, he freezes over me, his hips pressed flush to mine, and warmth floods my channel.

His fangs pull from my neck, followed by the sweep of his tongue to heal the wound. His head lifts, his beautiful, blue-green eyes filled with love as he gazes down at me. "See? I knew you would warm me up."

"Shut your pretty face," I gasp, my muscles still twitching with aftershock. "Since you ate, you better make me breakfast."

His brows arch. "Right now?"

A shiver wracks my body, and my inner walls squeeze the semi-hard cock still buried inside me. "In a minute. Just let me…" I wrap my legs around him. "Just stay like this for a bit."

His arms curl beneath my body in a hug. "For as long as you want."

Dawn lightens the window by the time we disentangle ourselves and dress, then tiptoe downstairs.

The cold kitchen greets us, and I press the button to start the coffee pot while Ros collects bacon and the ingredients for waffles. My job complete, I lean against the island, out of the way as he works.

With the griddle on the stovetop to heat, he pulls out the waffle iron and plugs it into the wall before mixing up the batter, every step fluid with practice.

Now this is magic.

Soon, the air fills with the mouthwatering aroma of buttery sweet waffles and savory meat. The sizzling sound is pure music to my ears, and my stomach growls impatiently.

"That smells amazing." My mouth waters at the thought of the crisp, delicious bacon, mere moments away from being devoured. "I'm so glad your sister taught you how to cook."

"Me, too." He flips a piece of bacon into the air, catching it back in the pan with a satisfying sizzle. "It was how I won your heart, after all."

Longing fills me as I eye the smoked meat. "Wasn't that destiny?"

"No, destiny was us finding each other. After that, I had to work to lure you to my side with bribes." He winks at me over his shoulder.

"Ah, yes. The luring. I remember now." I study his broad back. After getting back up, he had pulled on the same thick canvas pants and black T-shirt from off the floor. "You know, with the sunlight curse broken, you could take day patrols and not freeze your butt off at night."

Ros feigns dismay. "But then I wouldn't get to come home to my little bed warmer."

My stomach clenches at the remembered pleasure. "But you could go to sleep with your average-sized bed warmer."

He turns to arch a brow at me.

"Fine, your little bed warmer," I huff with annoyance, but who am I kidding?

In no world am I average height. If I want to reach the second shelf in the kitchen, I have to climb on the counter.

"We're working on the rotation." With the skill of practice, he pops a steaming waffle out and moves it to a pan in the oven to stay warm. "Everyone is excited to move around town with no need for the sunlight serum to save them from being burned alive. It's like a whole new world has opened up for them."

A twinkle fills his eyes. "I'll get my turn. Promise."

It's not like I don't understand. As the leader of the vampire community in Hartford Cove, Ambros takes his role seriously, so of course he'd put himself last on the list to enjoy a little daytime.

After how royally his father messed things up, he has to prove his leadership skills to the others.

I slump onto the island. "Fine, I'll be patient."

"That's my girl." He slides crispy bacon between paper towels to drain.

"It's dumb that all these stupid spells need to be renewed yearly." I straighten to lean against the kitchen counter as I watch Ros flip out another waffle like a pro. "One of my family's grimoires has to have a spell that's more permanent."

"Maybe." Doubt fills his voice. "Even a year of reprieve is more than we've had in generations."

I understand his doubt. If a more permanent option existed, why didn't my ancestors use it? Unless they were sneaky bastards who just wanted to make the paranormal community beholden to them. Which is possible. The witch with the biggest bag of tricks wins, or so Mel says.

"If there is a spell like that, you'll find it." Ros's words hold more confidence than I feel. "You're a brilliant witch from a long line of powerful witches."

"Tell that to Aspen," I grumble.

He turns to me, a hard glint in his eyes. "I'll do more than tell him."

The way Ros holds the spatula makes me nervous. "No killing my mentor."

"Who are we killing?" Haut shuffles into the kitchen from the hallway that leads to his first-story bedroom.

"Aspen." Ros slaps the spatula against Haut's knuckles as he steals a slice of bacon.

Half vanishes in a single bite, and Haut joins me at the counter, offering me the rest. "Need me to take him for a short walk in the woods, bad puppy?"

"No." I eat the crispy piece of heaven from his fingers. "I'm handling him."

Owen rubs his eyes as he walks through the kitchen archway. "Who are we handling?"

I sigh. "You guys have super hearing. Use it so we don't have to repeat everything."

Owen beelines for the coffee pot. "Aren't you the one always complaining about eavesdropping?"

"You're very selective about the things you listen to." I nudge Haut and point at the bacon, mouthing, Fetch.

His eyebrows arch, but he sneaks up on silent feet behind Ros and reaches for the plate.

The spatula cracks against his knuckles again with military precision.

"I may not have super hearing, but I am a hunter." Ros nudges Haut to the side with his hip to open the waffle iron. "Get the plates. Breakfast is ready."

Owen pauses in the process of pulling down mugs to check the clock on the microwave. "Someone should wake up Tris, or he'll be late for work."

"Tris!" Haut cups his hands around his mouth. "Wakey-wakey! You better get down here before we eat all the bacon!"

A heavy thump comes from upstairs, rattling the pictures on the wall.

Owen frowns and cocks his head. "Is someone at the porch?"

I snicker. "Pretty sure that was Tris falling out of bed."

My laugh cuts off as a knock sounds on the front door.

Ros turns from the stove with a plate piled high with bacon and another with waffles. "Who would be here at this time of the morning?"

"Only one way to find out." I bounce toward the foyer, yelling up the stairs as I pass. "Tris, are you okay up there? Please tell me you didn't break anything too important."

"My dick and face are fine!" he shouts back.

"Wait a second, Rowe," Owen cautions.

Too late, I swing the door open and stare up in confusion at the stranger on our porch. He stands with a cowboy hat in his hands, his brown hair swept back from his face.

My hand on the doorknob tightens, and I shiver as cold air slips past the closed screen door.

"Hello, ma'am." His nose twitches. "Sorry to disrupt your breakfast. My name's Levi."

His formal tone takes me aback. Has anyone ever called me ma'am? Makes me feel damn near adult.

"Hi, Levi." I wrack my mind for any Levis I've met and come up blank. "What brings you here?"

Levi's uncertain gaze sweeps over me. "The folks in town said the Wendall witch lives here?"

Sensing trouble, I move to close the door. "Never heard of her."

"Rowe," Owen admonishes, catching the door before it closes. "The man made the walk up here, we might at well?—"

His words cut off in a growl as his focus lands on the stranger, and shadows boil from his skin, his werewolf curse surging to the surface.

His eyes flash red as coals, and he shoves me behind him. "Rowe, go upstairs and get Ros's gun."