Rebecca Zanetti - Tempted

“Later. Sleep now.”

“No.” He rolled her under him, propping his weight on his elbows. She opened her eyes to glare. Amusement had him fighting a grin. She looked like a grumpy kitten. Then he sobered. “I mated you.”

The sleep cleared from her eyes. “Huh?” She rubbed her neck where the puncture wound had closed, but the outline—his bite—would always remain. “You bit me.”

“Yeah.” He shouldn’t be feeling such intense pleasure from that fact.

She gasped. A tiny frown furrowed her eyebrows. “I’m immortal?”

“Well, you will be soon. I mean, not immortal completely. We can die by beheading.” Not to mention what the damn virus could do to her. “I’m sorry.”

“Well”—she slid both hands up his arms to clasp his shoulders—“I figured we’d get around to the mating part after the courting and dating. But we’ve done everything else backwards, so what the heck.”

He shook his head, thinking she didn’t understand. “You’re not mad?”

“No.” A mischievous smile settled on her kissable lips. “I like the idea of being immortal. It’s very cool. I do love you. But I still want the courtship part.”

“You’ll get the courtship part.” He’d never understand the woman. But damn, he loved her.

Her breath caught. “Hey. So, now that we’re mated, will my gift kick in with you? I mean, will I be able to see images from objects you touch?”

“Probably.” If it made her happy, he’d touch whatever she wanted. “In fact, as your chromosomal pairs alter, you’ll probably feel a bunch of changes.”

“Wow. So many changes.” Intrigue had her lips bowing in concentration.

The plan he wanted to hit her with made even more sense now. He hoped she’d agree so he didn’t have to force her to headquarters. Though he’d do what he had to do. “Speaking of changes, I’ve been thinking.”

“That sounds scary.” Her small hands caressed his shoulders.

“Yeah. Well, you can’t go back to your teaching job, can you?”

“No.” The woman had a pretty pout. “Even though the doctor said I’m not crazy, I’m sure the school can’t hire me back. Maybe no school will hire me.”

Max kept his face bland while elation whipped through him. He certainly wasn’t qualified to do what she did naturally—what she was meant to do—teach. “Well, I happen to know of a teaching job where I live. We’re getting a bunch of animals soon.”

She huffed out a laugh. “The kids can’t be that bad, Max. Geez.”

He frowned. “No. Real animals. Shifters. You know, mainly mountain lion shifters, but maybe some wolves.”

Her hands stilled. “Shifters? Like real fantasy-channel people who shift into animals?”

“Yeah, and now that some of us are taking mates, there may be vampire kids, too.” They required a qualified teacher. He’d need to okay the plan with Dage, but his friend would agree. They were family, after all. “You’d also teach Janie, who’s human.”

“Oh.” Sarah’s smile lit up the room. “Where you live sounds like the perfect place for us to date. Count me in.”

Relief filled him. He’d have hated to kidnap her twice in one week. He rolled her so they could spoon. “I love you, Sarah.”

“See what a good plan and compromise can do? There’s hope for you yet.” She snuggled into him with a soft sigh. “I love you too, Max.”