Page 14 of In the Dark

“He’s gone, but you might want to improve your security in case he comes back.”

Key winced as he lay back down on the sofa. “Who are you?” he whispered.

“Kelvin.” Kelvin smiled. “We had this conversation earlier.”

“I remember your face, but not your name. You saved me?”

“I managed to chase him away, and I brought you here.”

“How did you know where I lived?”

Kelvin paused. He wasn’t about to tell Key the truth while he was like this. “You mumbled it when I asked.”

“I did?” Key frowned, then winced again. “I feel like shit.”

“The meds will kick in soon, and you can get some more sleep.”

“With you here? A stranger?”

“Do I feel like a stranger to you? Trust your instincts about me.”

“What?” Key groaned and touched his cheek, wincing. “I can barely speak and you want me to trust my instincts?” Key’s eyelids fluttered closed, then snapped open. “You can go now.”

“I need to wake you up again in a couple of hours. You took a hard hit to the head.”

Key’s eyelids fluttered again, and Kelvin could see him fighting off sleep. “I want you to go.” The words came out softer and again Key closed his eyes.

“I will later. I promise. Let me make sure you’re safe first.”

“Why?” Key didn’t open his eyes when he asked, his breathing slowing.

“I need to.”

Key hummed but didn’t say anything and Kelvin watched him fall asleep. His body needed to heal, and sleep was the best way to do that. Even with Key fighting it, his body took over and did what it needed to do.

Once Kelvin was certain Key was asleep, he pulled the blanket over him and watched Key sleep.

Not stalkerish at all.

Running a hand through his hair, Kelvin glanced away, then twisted around so he was leaning back on the sofa. Key had forgotten that Kelvin had told him he was a vampire. Not surprising really, but now he had to tell him again if he wanted a future with his mate.

“Damn,” Kelvin murmured. Though, now he could plan how to tell Key in a way that he would believe, rather than simply blurting it out. Would telling his mate after sex be good? Sighing, Kelvin closed his eyes. He knew if he got close to Key like that, then he would mate him, and that could fuck them both up.

He had too many things going on when all he wanted was a quiet life with Key. Doing things that mates did together and forgetting about laws and Maxim and different vampire factions. What he wouldn’t give to come home to his mate after a hard day at work and be able to relax, talk, fuck. The normal things, but no. He had Maxim and his band of merry conspirators to deal with.

Life sucked.

Key snored, and Kelvin couldn’t stop the small smile that crossed his lips. Being close to his mate was far better than watching him through a window. He could scent him, he could touch him. He just couldn’t mate him.

“Fuck.”

Maybe he should do it, anyway. A mate only came once. Was he willing to let him go? For some archaic law? Was he willing to do what so many had done before and walk away? Kelvin wanted to say yes, that he was a vampire that followed their laws, but being here next to Key made him question it.

Like Gray had said, some rules, some laws were made to be broken, but was he the vampire to break them?

Chapter Seven

Blinking his tired, gritty eyes open, Key winced when he moved his head, pain pounding inside. “Fuck,” he mumbled, then coughed. His throat was dry and sore, his voice rough.

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