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I look over at the black pillar candles which are flickering next to the draining board. I’d forgotten that I had lit my vampire’s tears candles. Red wax is oozing over the tapered tip in a frightening, provocative way.
I move my eyes back to Tate with a nonchalant expression on my face. “No,” I say.
He breathes out a laugh and drops his eyes again, the toe of his boot now rubbing back and forth in the gap between us. “You’re so weird,” he murmurs, and then he straightens up and locks me in with his penetrating stare. “Do you want me to be here?” he finally asks, straight to the point.
I can see in my peripheral vision that his hands are gripped tightly around the leather of his belt and as I look up into his eyes my tummy does a sparkly flip.
I swallow a little and make my expression resolute. It’s no more than a whisper but I choke it out before I can stop myself.
“Yes,” I say.
Tate instantly closes the gap between us but, just as he does, the lights from Mitch’s work truck flash up the driveway. Tate turns his head, groaning in frustration, and then he zones back in on me. He places his hands on my cheeks and I try not to shiver as his warmth seeps into me. I can feel it pooling in my belly and he’s nowhere even near there.
Yet.
He dips his head to my throat and presses his mouth against me hard, quickly sucking at the soft skin before grazing it with his teeth. The sensation drips down my body like the molten wax on my candles and my stomach starts lapping with heat.
“As soon as they’re gone, I’m yours,” he murmurs quietly, the words warm and hushed against my neck. I shiver as he runs the tip of his tongue over the skin that he just claimed and his words press into my body with as much pressure as his hands.
I’m yours.
He really said that.
I. Am. Yours.
Before Mitch is out of the truck Tate pulls away and leaves the kitchen without a second glance.
I fall back against the sink and think about what the hell I just started.
Chapter 20
Three Years Ago
The last day before school closes for winter break also ends up being Tate’s last day before he transfers. As soon as he told me that he was moving, he no longer let me keep up the pretence of not being with him at school, stealing me away to his table every lunch break and meeting up with me by the bleachers after the final bell, and I haven’t minded one bit.
Okay, no-one around him can believe that he would pick me to be his girlfriend, but Tate is way too cut for them to argue with him about it. Even Hudson has shut his mouth, although I seem to be bumping into him in every corridor that I walk down and he really gives me the creeps. If only he was the one transferring schools.
It snowed last night so there’s a sugar-icing dusting of it all across the sports ground, the grass blades sparkling with frost as I make my way across the yard to get to my next class. I spot the sophomores on the field doing their double Gym lesson so I stop to watch, knowing that Tate will be there. As it’s the last day of term classes are basically all frees, so the girls have evidently taken it upon themselves to “observe” like I am, dressed in their gym clothes but sat on the bleachers to watch the boys.
On the field the guys are kitted out in their football shorts and jerseys, and they’re currently split into two teams, huddling as they discuss their plans of attack. When they all stand back up,clapping their hands to pump each other up, I spot Tate on the farther side and I clutch my books tightly to my chest.
Wow. Even with that helmet on he looks to die for. And those shoulder pads? I want him to tackleme.
I push my glasses back up my flushed pink nose and start making my way to the door of the tech block when I hear a voice call out, “Hey!”
I turn my head, trying to squelch my smile as Tate comes bounding up the field, whipping off his helmet and heading in my direction. I step away from the door and walk tentatively towards the grass, stopping just as I breach the twinkling green border, brimming with both nerves and joy at Tate’s display of attention. As soon as I’m within reach he wraps his arms around the back of my skirt and heaves me up, his fingers cupping my behind. I let out a surprised but delightedoofas he squishes me to his chest and bounces me up and down in his solid tan arms.
He grins up at me before lowering his eyes to my mouth and he gives me a light but long kiss, his lips frozen but soft as silk.
I giggle as he pulls back and he tilts his head to look up at me, his hands slowly slipping into dangerous territory.
“Hey quarterback,” I tease and he gives me a cocky flash of perfect white teeth.
“Hey wife,” he says, and he presses a firm kiss into my neck.
I bite back my startled gasp and I dig my teeth into my lower lip. He’s never called me that before, but my body really,reallylikes it.
“I want you to stay back after school tonight, okay?” he asks, leaning back so that he can look into my eyes. “I’m staying out here with the team for the rest of the day, but I want you to meet me at the entryway after the bell so that I can give you your present.”
