66. Vameer
Vameer
“Ahundred and three years! Vameer!” Rune uses her grip on my robe to pull herself closer.
“It was an accident.”
Rune shakes her head, her eyes wide. “No shit.”
A laugh huffs out of me.
“Is that why you didn’t know what birth control pills are?”
I lift a shoulder. “I found some pub owners the evening you woke me. They showed me the internet, and I spent that first night reading as much as I could. But that was not a topic I looked up.”
She exhales, sitting back on her heels, still on my lap. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I can. I believe you. But like… wow. What a mindfuck.”
“It was that.” My smile is soft.
I did not think she would, but I’m glad my mate does not doubt me.
Rune lifts back up onto her knees, looking closely at my features. “Are you okay? After sleeping that long?”
Affection has a purr rolling out of me. “I’m fine, Mate.”
She softens at the title. “Weren’t you hungry though? Starved?”
I left off the part about the two men I brought with me when I told her the story of how I got there. It didn’t seem like a necessary detail.
“I would’ve been.” I tell her the truth. “But that drop of your blood was all I needed to fuel my change.”
“But after that…?”
“I made a blood trade. Enough to fuel me so I could find you.”
Rune starts to bite her lip, but I dart a hand up, slipping the tip of my pointer finger between her lips, stopping her from hurting herself.
“Careful.” I drag my finger down her chin.
She catches my hand in both of hers. “Can I ask you something?”
“Siempre. Always.”
“Did you…” She tries to pull our pulse faster.
I push out the softest purr. “Never be nervous to talk to me. You can ask me anything.”
“Was it a woman?”
I stare at my mate. “Excuse me?”
She straightens her shoulders. “Did you bite a woman? Was your mouth—”
Rune squeaks as I flip her onto her back.
I brace myself over her naked body. My cock, which is still hard since the last time I came on my pretty mate, presses against her stomach.
“I have not put my mouth on a woman in over one hundred years. And, unless it is to kill them, I will never have my fangs in another woman again.” I press more of my weight onto Rune.
“And if you so much as act like you’re going to sink your fangs into a man who isn’t me, prepare for them to die. ”
Rune is breathing heavy as she stares up at me with her perfect eyes.
Then she smiles. Wide. “Okay, good.”
I let out a growl. But I don’t mean it. So she just smiles wider.
“Sneaky girl.” I narrow my eyes.
She arches up and presses her mouth to mine in a quick kiss.
I drop flat on top of her, tucking my arms beneath her in a hug.
Rune laughs as she wiggles beneath me. “Squishing. Me.”
I nuzzle against her neck, then use my gravito to lift us until we’re standing in the grass.
Her eyes trail down my body, my robe still open.
I grip her shoulders and turn her to face the backpack. “Get dressed.” I slap her ass.
Rune grumbles but walks the few steps to her backpack.
As I watch, she bends at the waist, flashing me a rear view of her pussy.
This time my growl is real.
But instead of tipping her head to the side, Rune bends farther, arching her back, presenting to me.
“Clothing. Now.” I close my eyes and grip the base of my dick, wishing I still had a pair of shorts to tuck my length into.
There’s the metallic sound of her opening the bag. “I wouldn’t mind—”
“Do not finish that sentence. If I fuck you again, you’ll pass out. You feel good now because my blood is fresh in your veins. But your changes have taken a lot of energy. And I will not have you sleeping in the forest. My brother will have a safe place for us to stay. We’ll go there now.”
I crack my eyes open after I hear the glide of fabric against skin and find Rune dressed in jean shorts and a green T-shirt with a low neckline. She’s tying her shoelaces, and I see she’s put several of her bracelets on her wrist.
Rune looks up just as I pull my robe into place. “Your brother… Did he know where you were?”
I shake my head as guilt presses in around me. “It was an accident. I just wanted to rest.”
My beautiful mate crosses the few steps between us. “Honey, you can’t keep blaming yourself.”
The pulse in my chest stutters.
Rune places her hand over my heart. “It’s not your fault.”
Something thick fills my throat.
And it tastes a lot like love.
“Call me that again.” I whisper my demand.
The edges of her mouth lift. “Honey?”
I nod.
She slides her other hand up my chest. “He will forgive you, Honey.”
My mouth opens and closes. But I can’t say the words I want to.
No one has ever called me by an endearment.
She shifts closer. “It’s what your blood tastes like. Did you know that?”
I shake my head. “Mate blood tastes… special. You’re the only one who will ever know that flavor.”
“Really?” Her expression brightens. “What do I taste like?”
“Chocolate.” I rub my thumb over the pulse point in her neck. “Your pussy tastes like chocolate too.” Rune pulls in a shocked breath. “But your scent, the one that fills whatever room you’re in. It’s fresh apples. All Alts can smell it. But to me, as your mate, it’s the best scent in the world.”
“I’ve always liked apples. And honey.” She slowly drags her hands back down my chest, over the thick material of my robe. “You smell like storm clouds. And I’ve always loved the rain.”
Gods, I love this woman.
Her finger catches on something, and we both look down.
Rune pulls the material away from my body, focused back on the bullet holes.
“I’m fine,” I remind her. “That was from yesterday.” I look up at the sky, trying to remember if that timing is correct.
“Yesterday? You got shot at two days in a row?”
I lift a shoulder. “Modern times.”
Rune just stares up at me.
“I was not hurt. My gravito kept the bullets from penetrating my skin.”
She mouths the word gravito.
“It’s the power all vampires have. How we jump long distances. Move things without touching them.” I tap a finger to her chest. “I believe you will get it.”
“Is that the smoke stuff?”
“Sí. But not all vampires can do that.”
“Make it visible?”
I dip my chin. “That and… when you use it enough, it… learns.” This is probably the worst explanation anyone has ever given of the power, but I’ve never had to explain it before.
“I’ve done a lot of fighting. Been in a lot of battles.
So my gravito has learned how to protect me.
And when someone attacks me, it covers my skin like a shield.
So.” I pluck at the material. “The bullets made it through my robe but never touched my skin.”
“That’s amazing.”
Cloudy gray gravito pops into existence around us.
Rune lets out a startled laugh.
And the cloud turns a light shade of yellow.
My brows lift.
That’s new.
“So pretty.” Rune runs her hand through the tendrils of power.
The cloud pulses a pink color.
I make an incredulous sound.
My gravito just blushed.
There’s a pinch at the back of my neck. And I swat at the obnoxious cloud.
“You were supposed to keep her in the stairwell.” I chastise my power.
There’s another pinch on my neck. Then my gravito goes transparent as I swipe a hand through it.
Rune looks like she’s trying really hard not to smile. “The gravito, it’s your power, right? So it’s… you?”
I sigh. “It’s a pest.”
A gray puff of gravito pops around my head.
I hiss at it. Then I lift her bag into my hand, scoop up my mate, and cut off her laughter when I jump, up and away.