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“I don’t know,” I say. “But I felt it outside, at security, and here at the gate. So…maybe?”
Despite my crackling intuition, I don’t see anyone who could be responsible for the feeling, and neither does Jesse. He whispers toward the Vikings to be on alert, but that’s a constant state of being for them, so Erik just grunts in response while Leif nods.
Nothing out of the ordinary happens, though, and soon, we’re on the plane, taking our seats in first class. We’re offered drinks by the flight attendant before the plane even finishes boarding, and if I still ate and drank regular food, I’d really appreciate it.
As we decline any refreshments, the flight attendant’s eyes widen slightly and she stutters, obviously just having figured out we’re not human. Jesse gives me a smile when I look over at him, and I return it.
That reaction is just something we’ll have to deal with until humans seeing vampires out in the wild is a common, everyday thing that no longer shocks them.
I lean back and close my eyes, trying to ignore the feeling that continues to twist my insides.
Either my intuitive radar is off, or whoever has been watching us has followed us onto this plane.
And if they have, what in the hell do they want?
33
AN ETERNITY
By the time we land in Los Angeles, I’m wound up so tight, every muscle in my body feels petrified. As soon as the plane stops and the fasten seatbelt lights turn off, I unbuckle and push myself to my feet. Stretching slowly to loosen my muscles, I scan the rest of the cabin.
Travelers stand in the aisle, popping open the overhead bins and pulling carry-on bags down. I don’t see a single soul looking in my direction, yet I still feel eyes on me. As soon as the flight attendants open the cabin door, I grab Jesse’s hand and pull him along behind me. Once we’re up the ramp and inside the terminal, I look back to make sure Erik and Leif are behind us. Seeing them at our backs, I relax a little.
We head down the escalator to the baggage claim area, and the tension in my chest eases a bit. By the time our luggage rolls out onto the conveyor belt, the feeling of being watched has completely faded. Jesse shoots me a questioning glance, and I shrug with a shake of my head.
“Whoever it was is gone,” I whisper, and he nods.
When we step outside, the California sky is lit up in oranges and purples as the sun burns low in the western sky. A car is waiting for us by the curb, and I take one last look at the crowd milling around us while Leif and Erik load our luggage into the back.
I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.
And I don’t feel anything, either.
Jesse holds out a hand, inviting me to climb into the SUV before him. I take the far seat in the middle row, greeting our driver as I buckle up. Jesse lets the Vikings climb into the back row first, then takes his own seat beside me. When he closes the door, he looks over at me and smiles.
“Welcome home.”
I return his grin. “It’s good to be back.”
The drive to the manor is quiet and uneventful, and soon, we’re walking through the front doors and being greeted by the vampires who reside within. They treat us both with respect and deference, using words like “Your Highness” and “My King.” A few even verbally acknowledge me as their queen.
It’s fucking weird, but I try not to let my discomfort show. Jesse, of course, feels it despite my efforts, and assures the small crowd he’ll be back after seeing me settled before pulling me up the stairs. When we reach our bedroom, he pulls me aside to let Leif enter first with our luggage. The big blond performs a quick search of the room after placing our bags on the bed, then nods at Jesse on his way out.
“Was that really necessary?” I ask as my mate pulls me inside and closes the door behind us.
“It makes him feel better,” Jesse replies, but doesn’t release my hand until he’s led me into the bathroom.
Closing the door, he spins around to look at me with heated eyes. “This, however, is truly necessary.”
He zips forward, his hands tugging at my clothes as his mouth seals over mine. This bathroom is soundproof, keeping any unwanted vampire ears from hearing anything we don’t want them to hear, so I don’t hold back as I groan into the kiss.
Jesse breaks away long enough to whip my shirt over my head, then reignites the kiss as his hands move around me to unhook the clasp of my bra. My own fingers pluck at the button of his slacks, and as soon as I slide down the zipper, they fall to his ankles. I grip his erection through his boxer briefs, and it’s his turn to moan.
“Don’t you have some urgent business to take care of?” I ask as I stroke his hard cock.
“I need to make you come a few times before I go,” he murmurs as he kisses his way down to my breasts.
As he sucks one nipple between his soft lips, his hands unbutton and unzip my jeans before pushing them, along with my underwear, down my legs. He flicks the pebbled nub with his tongue before releasing it and dropping to his knees, holding me steady as he pulls first one foot free of the material, then the next. He kisses a path up one leg, and, spreading my thighs apart, burrows his tongue through my flesh to find my clit. My knees buckle, but Jesse holds me steady as he laps at the sensitive bundle of nerves.
