I took a cab to Grayson’s when I got off work at five. I knew I would be pushing it to be ready on time, but I could always just speed through the process. The hard part was just getting home. I couldn’t risk people seeing me speed down the streets in a blur.

  When I exited the elevator half an hour later, I hurried to open the door to the apartment. Stepping inside, it was completely quiet. Not just human quiet. There was no sound coming from the apartment that I could hear. I grabbed my cell calling Grayson to see where the hell he was.

  “Hey babe,” he sounded out of breath.

  “What’s going on? Where are you?”

  He sighed deeply. “I meant to call you. I’m running late. I already had my secretary call the restaurant and my parents. I had to move the time an hour later. I just wanted to be the one to call you. I’m sorry. I got distracted, but I’m on my way home now.”

  I took a deep breath, calming the anxiety I felt from rushing to get home with plenty of time to get ready. “Alright, baby. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  “I love you, Gabriella,” he lowered his voice barely whispering.

  “I love you more.”

  Now that I had actual time to think, what was I going to wear?

  ***

  At six-thirty on the dot, Grayson was dragging me downstairs to the car waiting at the curb to take us to the restaurant. I wasn’t surprised when John dropped us off to see that the restaurant was one Grayson owned. I had been becoming more and more familiar with things Grayson owned, not wanting him to spring another survey on me again. Of course I’d still give my honest opinion. After a lifetime living with vampires who could tell when you were lying, old habits really did die hard.

  Grayson wrapped my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You nervous?” I shook my head, giving him a soft smile. “Good. No reason to be.” He leaned in close to my ear, whispering, “Did you feed tonight?”

  I tilted my head to the side, giving Grayson an expression that said, ‘come on!’ “I’m not making that mistake again, Grayson. That’s all we need is for your parents to think I’m odd when I’m eyeballing them like they’re mouthwatering steak dinners.”

  His lips pulled up in a half smirk, “That’s not what I meant. I’d be more than happy to. . .satisfy. . .any craving you might have.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

  I took a deep, cleansing breath. His offer was very tempting. I grabbed Grayson’s wrist checking the time on his watch, we were already a few minutes late. The drive had been hectic, full of people rushing to get home from work.

  “Rain check?” I bit my lip letting him know my disappointment.

  Grayson leaned in placing a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. “Definitely.” His voice was full of hunger, but not for food.

  Once inside, the hostess led us back to a private dining area. Both Charles and Josephine were already there waiting.

  “So how did you two meet, Gabriella? Grayson hasn’t told us the story.” Josephine pried after the waiter left with our orders.

  I turned to Grayson smiling, remembering the day. He gripped my thigh a little bit tighter, giving me the go ahead. I turned back to Josephine. “I was meeting a friend who was running late. I pulled out my phone to send him a quick text, you know, where are you at?” She nodded. “I wasn’t paying attention and ran smack into Grayson, who just happened to be playing with his phone, too.”

  Telling the story, reminded me I really needed to thank Shawn for being late that day. If he hadn’t, I would have never met Grayson. He and I would have walked right past each other that day. That was a very depressing thought. In fact, I needed to thank Shawn for a lot. He brought us together and brought us back together when I was being an idiot.

  The conversation continued much the same way. Grayson’s parents asked me about my job. They were shocked to find out how much money my company made on simply arranging for other companies to do stuff.

  “And what about your family?” Charles asked. Our entrees had been served, but it did nothing to lighten the conversation. They wanted as much information as they could get about the woman dating their son and I understood that. I just wouldn’t be giving them all the supernatural details.

  I took a sip of my drink, “It’s just my mom.”

  “Oh?” Josephine looked up from her plate. She and Charles had been going back and forth asking questions. “What happened to your father?”

  “He died before I was born.”

  Josephine reached across the table, clutching my hand. “My dear, I’m so sorry.”

  I shook my head, trying to brush off her sympathy. “Don’t be. I never knew him to miss him.”

  “Yes, but...”

  “Mother!” Grayson cut off Josephine’s comment. She looked up at him but said nothing more on the topic.

  By the time dinner concluded, two hours had passed. It was amazing how quickly it flew. We all gave praise to Grayson over the quality of his restaurant. Charles and Josephine had insisted that Grayson bring me home with him soon to meet the rest of the family.

  “It was lovely seeing you again, Gabriella.” Josephine pulled me into a tight embrace. “Don’t break his heart,” she whispered before pulling back a polite smile on her face.

  We said our goodbyes outside the restaurant. Grayson began tugging me away down the street. Where the hell was he taking me?

  “Where are you going?” Charles called out asking the question I wanted answered.

  Grayson turned to respond to his father. “We’re parked over here.” He pointed to the parking garage.

  “You drove?”

  Grayson nodded pulling me along again. “Where are we going, Grayson?” I asked once we far enough away from his parents.

  He didn’t pause in his strides; he just kept pulling me along. “I wasn’t lying to them Gaby. We really are parked over here.”

  He pulled me into the concrete building. I looked around, not seeing the car we rode in. Before I could even open my mouth to ask again why we were there, Grayson pulled be against his hard body, his mouth instantly on mine. My body moved with his like a magnet. My finger gripped his hair pulling him in deeper. His hands glided up and down my back, coaxing desire to spread to my core. I felt the harsh, cold concrete against my back as his hands found my hips pushing me against the hard wall. I hadn’t even been aware we had been moving. That was the effect Grayson had on me. He could make everything in the world fade away except me and him. And being a vampire with heightened senses, that was saying something.

  I slid my fingers down his chest feeling every defined hard muscle hidden under his shirt. I quickly undid the first few buttons before Grayson grabbed my hands pinning them above my head. He then rained kisses down on me. My neck, my shoulder, my breasts. He released my hands before dropping to his knees, trailing kisses down my stomach.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, breathless.

  Grayson’s hands slowly were slipping under my dress, coasting up my thighs. “Rain check, remember?”

  “This is more than just a rain check,” I moaned.

  Grayson’s hands paused in their ascent up my dress. His eyes locked on mine, while his fingers stroked my thigh lightly going back and forth. “I appreciate everything you did for me tonight. Everything,” he pressed. “Now shut up and let me show you my appreciation.”

  His started pushing my skirt up to my hips. Every inch it rose, my breathing became heavier. “We could get caught, Grayson.”

  He looked up at me again, eyes smoldering. His hands rested on my hips, holding up the fabric of my dress. “You’re a vampire, Gaby. You can hear everything.”

  I nodded hastily. I probably would have agreed to anything he said while he held that gleam in his eye. Grayson licked his lips. Throwing my leg over his shoulder, my body began to shake with anticipation. The fact we were in public made everything so much more intense. He pushed my panties to the side and slowly descended onto my sex. I groaned when his tongue did one long swipe across it. Then, he latched on with his tongue swirling around my sensitive nub. Using one hand to hold my dress up and hold me steady since I was writhing against him, Grayson eased his other hand down.

  “I want you so bad,” I moaned.

  He eased a finger inside of me. I cried out with pleasure of it all. He was building me closer to the edge. “I know baby,” he whispered against my sex. His warm breath and words only added to my pleasure.

  I had forgotten that I needed to be listening out for people. I’m sure if any were around they would certainly know what we were doing. I wasn’t exactly being quiet. Keeping my eyes closed, I opened up my hearing, noticing nothing unusual before I relaxed back into the exquisite torment Grayson was causing me. I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him against me as I came hard, screaming his name.

  My cheeks were flush with the pleasure of it. My skin tingled everywhere as I slowly relaxed back into my skin, feeling a warm blanket of bliss surrounding me. I opened my eyes and that feeling was short lived. It washed away and was replaced immediately by dread. Staring across from the other side of the garage stood Anton.

  He was no more than one hundred feet away. I felt all the blood drain from my face. Grayson felt my body tense up. He looked up at me, but I couldn’t break my gaze from Anton. The rage and disgust I saw building in his features had me terrified. Grayson noticed my expression. He disengaged himself from me, realizing someone else was there. He pulled my skirt down letting it fall back around my knees.

  “Is this what you’ve been doing, your many nights away from home.” Anger leaked from every surface of Anton. “Him?” He spat gesturing his hand in the air.

  Grayson stood trying to block me with his body from Anton’s view. I held my hand up gripping his arm. “Don’t,” I whispered easing him behind me.

  “Yes, human. Don’t,” Anton sneered. His eyes narrowed in on something on Grayson. If I thought he was angry before... “YOU FED ON HIM!” Anton seemed as if he was more stating a fact than asking a question. Fury rose in his eyes as they locked onto the old puncture wounds on Grayson’s neck, his collar not quite covering them since his shirt was still half undone.

  My breathing was heavy and quick. My heart pounded in my stomach. I tried my best to ease them both, knowing Anton could hear them with his senses.

  “Did you fuck him?” What little blood that remained in my face drained away, and I thought I was going to faint. I didn’t think it was possible, but my heart raced faster. I thought it might explode. Anton glared at me upon hearing it. He knew the unspoken answer. His expression, already contorted with anger, turned completely hostile. “YOU ARE MINE!” He shouted at me.

  I cringed but stayed in my spot in front of Grayson. “I was never yours, Anton,” I whispered through clenched teeth, knowing he could hear me even though it came out airy.

  He ran his hand through his midnight black hair. Lowering his tone he hissed, “I should kill you for your indiscretion,” I refused to turn away from him. Instead I locked my blue eyes on him. A wicked smile spread on his face, “but I have a better idea. One that will teach you a lesson and that will also allow me to keep you.” His eye flickered back to Grayson. “I’ll kill your human as punishment.”

  What happened next was almost impossible to see. I barely caught it, I knew no human could. Faster than a bolt of lightning, Anton moved at superhuman speed across the garage towards us. Even with my enhanced vision, if I would have blinked I would have missed it. He was a master and could move faster than any normal vampire could. I guess the fates were looking out for me that day, because I didn’t blink. I saw Anton move, speeding towards us. He had his hand raised to knock me out of the way. As if I had hours to decide what to do, my brain processed on instinct. Quicker than I had ever moved before, I shoved Grayson in the corner, then turned to meet Anton. I crouched down. My shoulder made contact with Anton’s chest. Using all the strength I could muster, I pushed against him with my forearm sending him flying through the air. He crashed against the hard wall across the garage, cracking the cement. Before he stood, I was crouched down in a defensive position in front of Grayson. My black hair swung over my shoulder, almost like a curtain around my face, darkening my features.

  Anton stood taking me in, his lips curled over his teeth, snarling at me. He made to take a step towards me. A growl escaped my lips. Yes, an actual growl. I sounded like a mountain lion protecting her young. Grayson may not have been my young, but he was certainly mine. I had never heard a sound like that come from me. I never expected it. Apparently, neither did Anton.

  He stood there, glued to his spot. His anger melted to disgust. “You would choose a human over your own kind?” His face wrinkled as he spoke.

  Not moving from my position, I glared at him with what I knew where honey green eyes, I spat through closed teeth, “He is just as much my kind as you.”

  Anton rolled his shoulders back while straightening his clothes. Running his fingers through his disheveled hair, he did his best to tame his appearance. “That’s right, you little half breed. You don’t really belong anywhere.” His eyes were cold as he continued. “You want to choose a puny, insignificant human over us.” He shook his head in disapproval. “They are food, Gabriella. Cattle ripe for the slaughter. We are the superior race.” He took a deep cleansing breath, holding his hand out to me. “Come with me now. You belong with us, with your mother.” I didn’t move. “Or do not think about returning. You will be an outcast in our world, just like in his.” I still didn’t move. I was ready in case this was a ploy and he tried to make a move toward Grayson again. Anton’s eyes darkened with hatred. “Fine!” He bellowed, dropping his hand, “but this isn’t over.” With that, Anton turned and blurred out of the parking garage.

  I stayed crouched. Frozen. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had been exiled. I don’t know how much time passed before Grayson placed his hand on my shoulder. I turned looking at his hand, and then flicked my eyes to his face. Seeing the love and sadness in his expression caused me to relax. I blinked and I knew my eyes had changed back to their regular deep blue color. All the fight drained out of me as Grayson pulled me into his arms. My head rested against his white linen shirt as the tears spilled down my face. Grayson held me through it all.

  Once the tears stopped, Grayson, not releasing his hold on me, whispered, “Come on, let’s go home.” I tilted my chin up, scanning his features. Finally, I nodded. I had a place and it was with Grayson.

  Grayson’s lifted his phone to his ear calling for the car. John was there in seconds. Opening the door, I was shuffled inside.

  Grayson kept me close to him the whole way back to the apartment. I leaned into him, absorbing his warmth. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from shivering. Once my anger had left me, I was cold.

  He huddled close to me, keeping his arm around my shoulder as we entered the lobby and rode up the elevator. Opening the door to the apartment, he led me inside not stopping until we were in the bathroom where Grayson helped me unzip my dress.

  “Grayson,” I sighed, unmoving, “I’m really not in the mood.”

  He leaned around my body, lightly grasping my chin, turning it towards him. “I know that. I just want to take care of you. Please just let me?” I gazed into his smoky gray eyes and nodded.

  He continued to undress me then he turned on the shower. “How hot do you want it?”

  “Hot,” I stated. Grayson smiled reassuringly. After adjusting the temperature, he removed his clothes as well. He helped me step into the large shower, handling me like I might shatter at any moment. The water scolded my skin, turning it a deep pinkish color, but it felt wonderful on my achy muscles. Amazing how something as simple as a shower could relax you, body and mind.

  Grayson took his time washing my hair, an act I hadn’t experienced since I was a child. My mother had been the last one to do it before I felt old enough to handle it on my own. He tilted my head back, letting the water cascade down, washing all the shampoo from my hair. He grabbed a washcloth and applied my body wash to it. Slowly, he rubbed it delicately over my body, covering every pore with the wash. After I was as I clean as I could get, Grayson pulled me against his chest, just holding me to him. There were no signs of an ulterior motive, he just comforted me.

  When the water started to run cold, Grayson helped me from the shower. He dried me off then wrapped the towel around me while he did the same for himself before leading me to the bedroom, and sitting me on the bed.

  “What do you want to wear?” he asked. “One of your nightgowns?”

  I shook my head, “Can I wear one of your T-shirts?”

  His eyes spoke to me with such kindness. “Of course.”

  Grayson stepped in the closet, and came back out wearing black pajama pants that hung off his hips, clutching a shirt I had seen him wear around the apartment last week.

  He pulled me to my feet. Letting the towel drop to the floor, Grayson helped me into the shirt. He walked over to the drawer he had given me. Opening it, he grabbed a random pair of panties off the top. I placed my hand on his shoulder for balance as he helped me slip them on. It was a strange turn. Normally, he was helping me out of my clothes. A small smile crept across my face.

  “What?” He asked.

  I told him my thought, and he chuckled lightly.

  Even after the hot shower, my body was still having small spasms of shivers. Grayson noticed.

  “I’m going to get you some blood.” He declared as he stalked toward the kitchen before I could tell him otherwise. “You don’t leave it in the bag to microwave it, do you? Or should I do it on the stove?” he asked.

  I sighed. “You can just bring it to me in the bag. I’ll drink it cold.”

  “No, you need something warm.”

  “Alright then, how about some coffee or soup?”

  Grayson huffed. “Gabriella, just tell me how you want me to heat it up.” There was a pregnant pause. “How have you been heating it up since you got here?” he asked.