Page 27 of All Night Long

“All done and we have three new vampires who had asked to join. I’ve printed out their details and put them on your desk.”

Gray glanced at the pile he had and sighed. “Along with all of this?”

“Yep. Must be fun being the boss.”

“Yeah, but no.”

“You should have a deputy or someone like that.”

“You wanting the job?” Gray grinned when Key shuddered.

“Fuck no. I’ve seen the shit you put up with and there is no way in hell I’d put myself in that position. Some of the vamps who work here are… challenging.”

Gray snorted. Challenging was a good way of putting it, but Gray let some behaviors slide because they were damn good at their job and he needed vamps who could work under pressure.

Staring at his to do list, he exhaled heavily. At least he had something that would keep him busy and his mind away from a certain mate.

Chapter Twelve

Henry closed the door to his apartment and sagged against it. Two days without seeing Gray and he could feel the changes in his body. This was what he didn’t like about being mated to a vampire. And everything else as well. He wasn’t a booty call, and the sooner Gray realized that the better, because Henry was fed up.

Pushing away from the door, Henry rubbed his chest, something he’d been doing for the past day or so. His body wanted Gray, whether he wanted the vampire or not. And just that second, said vampire appeared.

Somehow Henry managed not to shout, but barely. Gray had his back to Henry, so Henry glared at him. When Gray turned, Henry blanked his expression. “Gray. So nice of you to appear. Without permission.” Henry walked past Gray and sat watching the vampire as he moved around his small living room.

“We need to talk.”

“Ah, those lovely words all people want to hear.”

“I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you.” Gray straightened. “Would you like to go out for a meal?”

Henry’s eyebrows shot up. “A meal? Me and you? Together and in public?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” And now he had no idea what to say. Gray asking him out on a date was the last thing he ever thought he’d hear the vampire say. “Er, yeah, I guess.”

“Wow. I’m bowled over with your enthusiasm.”

“I’m surprised.” He rubbed his chest again and Gray sat next to him, taking one of Henry’s hands in his own. The instant their skin made contact, Henry’s body relaxed. “I hate how my body does that.”

“It has a similar effect on me.”

“It does?”

“To a lesser extent, but yes, it does.”

“Why are you being nice?” This new Gray kinda scared Henry. He was used to the sarcastic bastard who spat out orders, expecting Henry to agree.

“I’ve had time to think?”

“How’s the brain doing?”

Gray smiled softly, which surprised Henry. Again. “It worked overtime.”

“I bet it did, and why are you being all nice to me and not ordering me around?”

“This isn’t going to work if I—not we—if I don’t try. We’re mated for life. If we don’t talk about it and all the implications, then we get nowhere. I don’t want it to be a case where we hate each other but have to have sex. Can you imagine how that would be for us?”

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