Page 35 of Craving Her Vampire

“Is your nose failing you?” she asks, her forehead wrinkling. “I have heard when you get to be your age, things start to fail.” Shesuggestively motions to the front of my pants. I roll my eyes, but my mate doesn’t think it’s funny and emits a low growl.

“Careful, Saphira,” I say, pleased with Daisy’s possessiveness. “My mate isn’t used to our relationship.”“Relationship?” Daisy turns her glare to me.

“She is like a daughter to me,” I rush to explain.

“Daughter?” Daisy questions further.

“Fuck, not my real daughter. I raised her.” It’s my turn to glare at Saphira. “Why couldn’t you call before you came?”

“My hands were full,” she answers distractedly when she spots Heath. “You are gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” He grins. “You are, too.”

“Too bad you aren’t my mate,” Saph says, her lip sticking out.

“That is a shame.” Heath strolls closer.

“Stop,” I hiss. “You aren’t mates, so you don’t need to have a relationship.” Anger begins to build. Saph isn’t my daughter, but she has always been under my protection, even when she wasn’t with me.

“You're no fun,” Saph says, wrinkling her nose.

“What are you?” Daisy asks, her head tilted, eyeing Heath.

His lips tip up. “You don’t want to know. Micah is being rude. My name is Heath.” He wisely keeps his hands to himself.

“Daisy.” I’m pleased when she moves closer and tucks her hand in my back pocket. “Is that chicken?” she asks Saph.

“Yes, with all the sides,” Saph gushes. “I figured the vampire was low on food and forgot to feed you.” I grit my teeth because her comment hits me in the chest.

“He was going to order something soon,” Daisy says, frowning. “We’ve been busy.”

“No need now,” Saph says as she unloads the food on the table. “You bought furniture.”

“It was time.” I narrow my eyes when Heath moves to Saphira. “I didn’t expect anyone

else to be using it.”

“Don’t pout,” Saph says, earning a deadly look from Daisy. “We are happy for you and wanted to help.” She sets out five plates. I reluctantly pull out the chair at the head of the table, pulling Daisy with me. Instead of sitting, my mate walks around Heath and Saph, grabs a plate, and then returns to my chair. I would have missed her swiping Saphira’s bracelet if I hadn't been watching my mate so intensely.

Hiding a grin, I sit and am surprised when Daisy takes her place on my lap.

I’ll buy Saph another one.

“Why are there five plates?” I ask, wrapping my arm around Daisy.

“I was in the group text, and only one other person was brave enough to come,” she says, opening the gravy lid. “Why is everyone so scared of you?” She licks gravy from her finger.

“Because they’re smart,” Daisy replies. Heath snorts and sits to my right.

Saphira laughs. “I like you.”

“I don’t like you yet,” Daisy says.

“That’s alright, we have time.” She smiles at my mate's cautious face. “Can you guess who’s coming?”

“Yes.” I grab some chicken and put it on my mate's plate. “Ryker, Bash, Quinn, and your brothers aren’t scared of me, but they know what it’s like to have a mate. Besides you and Heath, Sally is the only one I’m close to who doesn’t have a mate.”

“I hate it when you are right,” Saph grumbles.

---