PROLOGUE

B rooklyn blinked her eyes open and stared at a familiar ceiling.

The Moretti castle.

Wait, this wasn't right.

Was she dead?

Or dreaming.

She frowned. Something felt different. Her body...didn't hurt.

At all.

Sure, she was only thirty-five, but she couldn't remember the last time she woke up without any pain in her lower back.

Side effects of being a scientist and leaning over for years.

"She's awake." She heard...

Sage?

Brooklyn sat up, then let the dizziness pass.

Sage smiled at her. "Hi, how do you feel?"

Her eyes snapped to the vampire, who walked around the corner.

Logan.

"Hey beautiful," he said...lovingly.

"Where are we?" Brooklyn asked.

"I'll leave you both alone," Sage said, reaching out and rubbing her hand. "If you have any questions, and you will, then I'm here. I'm glad you are back."

"Wait," Brooklyn said, her eyes glancing between Logan and the scientist. "Don't you hate me?"

Sage shook her head.

"No. But I do need your help in the lab, so enjoy the honeymoon period." She winked. "And then let's get back to work."

Logan walked over as Sage left. He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "How much do you remember?"

"The hotel. You...we had sex."

He nodded.

"You bit me." His hand went to her neck, and she felt nothing. But the memories came flooding back. She gasped.

"Oh Jesus. Am I a vampire?" She leaped up and Logan moved out of the way.

Pacing the room, she felt the world spinning out of control.

"Yes," Logan said.

"How did...how could...why?"

"You are my mate, Brook," he said calmly.

She flapped her hands around trying to find the words, but her brain only wanted to focus on him.

His legs.

Why was he in shorts? His bare arms, those tattoos. How had he become one hundred times sexier?

He smirked at her as he stood and walked to stand in front of her.

"I desire you as much as you do me right now. Can you feel it?" He took her hips in his hands.

Yes.

How?

How could she feel his arousal? Not his cock, but the way his body craved hers.

"What is this?"

"The mating bond," Logan said, cupping her cheek. "Something humans will never experience."

My god.

It was amazing and terrifying.

"You told me you loved me," he said to her. "I was not going to live without you, little mouse. Changing you saved your life. And has given us a chance."

"They could still kill me." She shook her head.

"Well then, you better do as Sage says. Get back to work after you have spent the next forty-eight hours on my cock."

Her eyes drifted away.

"Do you really forgive me?" Brooklyn asked, her eyes meeting his.

"I understand why you did it," he said. "To protect humans."

"There's more," she said, knowing she had to tell him everything, so he truly knew her.

His brows lifted, and she saw the concern.

"I killed my brother," Brooklyn said, then shook her head.

"Excuse me?" He pulled back.

"Well, I didn't. I thought I did. I have been trying to repent all my life, and that's why I had to protect the human race," she explained, knowing it would make little sense.

Logan held up his hand.

"Start from the top and don't leave anything out."

So she did.

Including the conversation with her parents when she confessed.

"So he had a blot clot. It wasn't me. But I still can't help feeling that I might have caused it."

Logan led her back to the bed to sit down. He kneeled before her and took her hands.

"Enough. Brook, you were a small child. You are not a killer. You are a little misguided, but we can work on that." He smirked.

She smiled softly at him.

"You make a very beautiful vampire too, by the way." Logan winked and her heart burst open.

"Is this going to work?" she whispered.

"We will make it work. Now I can chase you around the castle and make love to you with all the power in my body."

Lord.

A shiver ran through her, from the tips of her toes to the top of her ears.

"Like that idea?"

"I mean...yes." She smiled and felt her cheeks blush and body react.

His eyes dipped to the space between her legs.

"I have a lot to show you about your new body," Logan said, spreading her legs.

Oh.

As heat pooled at her core, she lay back and let her vampire mate show her the kind of pleasure only he could.

LOGAN SLAMMED HIS COCK inside her, her hungry gaze meeting his.

"Good girl, take all of me inside you."

"Holy hell," Brooklyn cried.

Starting slowly, he stroked himself with her pussy and waited for her to adjust.

"Hold on to the bed." He ordered her, his eyes dipping to her fingers as they clenched the linen, and then he moved.

Hard.

Fast.

Faster than the human eye could follow.

White heat built between them, setting off a series of orgasms, but he didn't stop.

She screamed.

He flipped her.

She cried out as he pressed her against their headboard.

Then, when she was straddling him, his cock deep inside her once more, he gripped her face and locked their eyes.

"Tell me you love me," he demanded.

"I love you, Logan," Brooklyn cried. "I am yours."

"Mine. So fucking all mine. Now come on my cock." He growled and tugged her down hard, thrusting up his hips and pouring his now active seed inside her.

If they lived through this next part of their lives, they may just make little vampire babies.

For now, he had to protect her and work with the Moretti royal army to ensure the vampire race did, in fact, find a way to exist.

Because the alternative wasn't worth thinking about.

If it came down to a them or us situation, it would be Vincent Moretti's decision how this all unfolded.

Terrifying.

Yet, it was time.

Right now, Logan would relish this precious time with his mate. Making love to her and ensuring she never second guessed his commitment and that she was, above all else, his priority.

Forever.