CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

W hen breakfast arrived, Piper felt too sick to eat, even though she knew she needed food to keep up her strength, so she spooned small bites of the scrambled egg into her mouth. Not that she could outrun or outmaneuver a vampire. Sage had rattled off a bunch of facts and figures, and basically, yeah, vampires were tons stronger and faster.

Not that it wasn’t plainly obvious by the layers of sculptured muscle on the body sitting opposite her.

Oliver had been right. The shutters had whirred closed while the kitchen staff had delivered the meal and she’d given a little squeal. It was more psychological, knowing she was trapped, but when Oliver placed a comforting hand on the small of her back, it calmed her.

Though she wished his touch wasn’t one of a soothing nature.

Mate.

Oliver thought she was his mate.

That just seemed insane. Sure, she’d fallen in love with him, but to learn she was the soul mate to a member of another species? Insane.

And yet, despite her fear, her defenses were weakening the more time she spent with Oliver. The shock of learning he was a vampire was beginning to subside, and that was partly due to the way he was chipping away at her walls with his reminders of their time together. Short as it had been. However, she had to admit the entire time he had been protecting her and had saved her life.

Twice.

When she saw the vampire on Eric’s computer screen, it was vastly different from standing in a room with one or two of them. Sure, they were unearthly gorgeous, and the journalist in her was intrigued but it was only natural to want to run for your life, despite any trust that had been built.

Piper still didn’t understand how Sage was so okay with all of this. She knew from reading her sister’s diary that she’d met Ari randomly in a bar and not that long ago. She had to assume her sister truly loved Ari Moretti and perhaps vampires had normal relationships with humans.

Perhaps it wasn’t all that different?

She’d obviously had sex with Oliver and there hadn’t been anything weird. No extra body parts or sounds. But she hadn’t seen his fangs, so that wasn’t entirely true.

She stared at his mouth as he ate, then wiped a napkin over it.

No fangs.

Stop thinking about fangs.

“No coffee?” she asked when he finished his glass of water.

“No, ma’am.” He let out a timely yawn. “I should sleep, but today I’m spending it with you.”

“A vampire with a southern drawl. Shouldn’t you be from, I don’t know, Transylvania or something?”

Oliver let out a snort.

“Try Italy, but I was raised in the south here in the United States. But sure, if you want to believe we’re hatched and keep humans for pets, then be my guest.”

“Fine. I’m sorry.” She dropped her coffee cup into the saucer. “I get snarky when I’m scared.”

“No kidding.” He arched a brow.

She let out her own yawn and smothered it with her hand. Despite the small amount she’d eaten it was enough to lull her into relaxing and her eyes wanted to close.

“You are tired. Given everything you’ve been through it’s no wonder,” Oliver said, standing. “Why don’t we turn on Netflix and relax?”

Piper pushed away her half-eaten breakfast. “You want me to snuggle up with a vampire?”

“I want you to watch a movie with the same person you did yesterday on the jet.”

He didn’t wait for her to respond. He turned on the TV which was mounted on the wall and chose, yup, Vampire Diaries .

“Ha, ha.” She shook her head and stood, then pushed her chair in.

“Would you rather a serial killer documentary right now?” he asked with complete sincerity.

“Well played, Oliver, well played.” Piper laughed, feeling more relaxed. It nearly felt like he was... human again.

But he wasn’t. He never would be.

He smirked.

“Come on,” he said, and held out his hand.

“And let me guess... You won’t bite ?” she asked, as she moved closer to the sofa where he had flopped down.

“Well, now, I never said that darlin’.” He grinned, patting the cushions. “You can sit on that side, and I’ll stay over here.”

She chewed her lip.

“What if Sage comes over—” Oliver shook his head, confirming she wouldn’t. “And you won’t—”

“I won’t touch you. You can make all the moves, or none. The choice is completely yours.”

A tug of desire flashed through her, surprising her. Did she want him to touch her? As her fear faded, the strength of the chemistry that was always constant was growing. That, and she was beginning to understand that love didn’t disappear even when you found out the person wasn’t human.

Go figure.

Piper sat and tucked her feet under her, then positioned two or three cushions around her.

The show started and the light in the room dimmed. Before long, her eyes closed, but she kept forcing them open. At one point she heard Oliver’s heavy breathing. She felt her cushions slip and wriggled to get comfortable. A familiar arm fell around her and she snuggled into the warmth of his body, mildly aware of what was happening but not wanting to change it.

Denial was a comfortable space. Just for a little while.

Then she fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

WHEN PIPER OPENED HER eyes, she was lying alongside Oliver on the sofa, and he was gazing down at her. She went to bolt off, but he held her with the arm wrapped around her hips.

“Let me go,” she said quietly.

“No.”

The calm stern manner of his answer surprised her. She knew without doubt there would be no budging him. It was as if he was saying, you’re mine and I’m not letting you go.

“Oli.”

Even as she protested her inner being knew she was in no harm.

“You’re so beautiful when you sleep,” he said thickly.

“Just not when I’m awake?”

“Take the compliment, Piper.” He gave her a little frown.

“Can I assume my neck is bite free?” she asked.

“Why do humans always think it’s the neck?” Oliver asked, shrugging. “I gotta tell you there are many other more delectable spots on the body.”

“I’m sorry, did I offend your vampire-ness?”

A smile grew on his lips, and she forced herself not to grin back. The truth was, she was enjoying this banter and it was helping her feel more comfortable. Which was obviously his plan. Part of her felt he was just the same old gorgeous Oliver.

Yet, he was a vampire, and she couldn’t forget that.

“What time is it?” she asked, craning her neck to see the shutters were still closed.

His smile faded. “Three in the afternoon.”

“So, what do vampires do with their lives normally? You wanted me to know you, so perhaps you should show me.”

Oliver stared at her for a long moment and then nodded. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the sofa. His strength was more obvious now he wasn’t hiding anything.

And God damn, it was sexy as hell.

“Go brush your teeth and I’ll return.” He patted her bottom.

“What are you trying to say? I have bad breath?”

“Two minutes,” he called out as the door to her room shut behind him.

How rude.

Piper was only half honest when she’d asked him to show her his life. She’d just tricked him into a tour around the mansion.

Now she was one step closer to escaping.