Page 19 of Victory for Vampires

I touch her elbow carefully. “We would never leave you stranded in here, Carolya, no matter how distracted we are.”

Her smile broadens as she twitches her wings. “We’ll see about that, Boss.”

Indeed we will, because I am already counting down the minutes to dinner.

12

VALENTINA

Hours later with my packed bag in hand, I ascend the steps to my mates’ apartment. But by the time I’m halfway up, Pietro appears in the stairwell, grabbing my bag as he slides a hand to the back of my neck.

The possessive touch shoots my lust sky high, and I turn in the stairwell, shoving him against the wall to take his mouth. He nearly drops the bag as he wraps both muscular arms around me and thrusts his tongue between my lips. As his delicious flavor bursts across my senses, I groan and suck at him, desperate for more.

Our bond snaps, pulls and tightens, demanding more, demanding something deeper. Demanding thatthingwe’ve never been ready to formalize. Without meaning to, I bring my hand to his chest to cover the stunningziolcross there. He breaks the kiss, blood smeared over his lips, his eyes hooded as he stares at me. In that stare, I see a male who’s completely in love, whose focus is me, always me.

“I’m already dreading leaving,” I whisper into the space between us.

His lashes flutter, and he tucks my hair behind my ear. Trailing his fingers down my throat and down into the top of my shirt, he cocks his head to the side.

“We need to talk about that,” he says quietly. “Because I don’t think I can let you go again. Last time…” his voice trails off as he brings his free hand to his chest. “Alé will tell you I was out of my mind with anguish for months after you left. I would never hold you back from your dreams, but…” He stops speaking, but I know what he means.

“I cried every day for six months,” I admit, “last time I went home. It was so terrible. And even though I’m making great career progress, I’m not fulfilled, not like I could be.”

His smile is wry. “And yet we cannot give up our dreams, so what are we to do?”

I glance up the stairwell. “Talk with our mate about this. Try to come up with some ideas. I cannot bear the thought of parting from you both again.”

“Then let us enjoy each other,” he encourages. “The conversation will happen soon enough.”

But by the time we reach the top of the stairs, Alé stands there with a thoughtful smile. He’s got a dishrag slung over one muscular shoulder, his black button-down open to the waist.

“Damn you look good in that.” I wave my hand at all of him.

“I know,” he says confidently. “If we’re going to have a talk, I want to be half naked or full naked. So, I got started while you two were lurking in the stairwell.”

Laughing, I cross the threshold and leap into his arms, taking his mouth as fervently as I took Pietro’s. I kiss and kiss and kiss him as Pietro rounds us with my suitcase, disappearing into their apartment.

When we finally part, I call my wings, letting them erupt from my back to flare above my head. Alé’s eyes go wide as he takes in the fluttering smoky feathers at my back. Reaching out,he strokes the very edge of my wings, sending heat shooting through me. I love it when he touches my wings. And the way he looks at them, like they aren’t lesser, like there’s nothing wrong with their smaller size, makes me feel beautiful and cherished.

“I love you.” Tears fill my eyes as I think about how much he loves me, how much he’s always loved me. “And I want to bite you, Alé.”

He calls his wings, flaring them huge and dark up around us, cocooning us in shadows as his lips come to mine. “I want that with a desperation I can’t ignore. Let’s do it, amore. Let’s figure out how to make this work. It’s time, my heart.”

He’s right. It is time, despite my current project and need to succeed. Something has to give.

“We need ideas,” I mutter, frustrated because I’ve always tried to think of ideas for us to be together, and only one thing has ever come to me. That thing is nigh impossible, although I’ve been considering it for a while.

“We’ll figure it out,” he says quietly, rubbing his larger wings on mine. “For now, let’s fly, mate.” He unfurls his wings and tucks them up behind his back.

Pietro reappears in the doorway with a bright smile and a small bag slung over his shoulder. He pats it and beams at me. “Snacks for the flight.” He gestures up the hallway. “Let’s head for the roof. We can start up there and fly over downtown, then head toward the gas station to give you the full ward experience.”

The walls shimmy around us. The building is happy for us, so I pat her gently, careful not to tickle her again.

A door opens at the far end of the hall. Laughing, we grab one another's hands and walk to the door. Ascending a small flight of metal stairs, we reach the top and go out onto the hot roof of the building.

Above us, the haven’s protective wards glow faintly green. I call my wings again, and Pietro comes to my front, lifting my chin with one finger.

“We’re with you if you want us, alright?” Crimson eyes scan my face before thin lips pull into a wicked smirk. “You can do this, my love.”

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