Page 28 of Savoring Her Snake

“Heath, do you want something?” she asks, stopping across from me and placing her palm flat on the bar.

“No, darling.” Her face flushes, and Saphira sighs. I trace Juliana’s finger, and her shiver satisfies me. “Ignore them. I do.” My comment makes her smile, and her nervousness eases.

“Are you sure you want to be mated to him?” Micah asks, and I hiss.

“Don’t be mean to him,” Juliana growls, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t care what you are. I fight dirty.” Everyone stops talking. I know Micah meant nothing from the comment but to mess with me. Her quick defense pleases me.

“Fuck, she’s perfect for you,” he says, smiling wide.

“I knew I would love you,” Sally says. “She’s got fire inside her, too.”

“Of course she does,” Saphira says.

“Let’s not set fire to anyone here,” Maverick says. “Ryker still bitches about it.”

“It was only two people,” Saphira says.

“You set someone’s hair on fire?” Juliana asks. I wrap a finger around two of hers.

“They weren’t nice guys,” Saphira says. “I still think Ryker misses me.”

“He probably does,” Maverick says dryly.

“He probably doesn’t miss the hairless customers,” Kingston says.

“You were responsible for one of those,” Saphira reminds him.

“Ryker doesn’t miss me,” he states firmly.

“You are going to freak her out,” Gabby hisses.

“I don’t think so,” Roxanne says.

“She has to get used to it with this crew,” Sally says. “She’s meant to be Heath’s mate. We won’t freak her out.”

“Are we?” Quinn asks Juliana.

“No,” Juliana says firmly. “But I should get back to work. I’ll swing back.” She smiles at me, and I reluctantly remove my hand.

“She’s taking everything well,” Sally mumbles.

“Did you tell her what your animal is?” Kingston asks.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to tell me?” Saphira asks. I feel bad that I haven’t, but I feared her reaction. She is a friend, the first I made since Quinn and Micah, and I would hate to lose her. She has accepted me for the man I am.

“I will, but not tonight,” I say, and her nose wrinkles.

“Let’s bring a table over,” Roxanne suggests, and I’m grateful for her distraction. I stay in my seat and watch Micah talk to a table full of people. They smile and get up, moving across the room.

A vampire can influence humans and some shifters to do anything they want. I’ve never seen Micah use his power to empty a table. The bar has filled up quickly, and the only empty seats are at the front of the bar. Micah could have moved the piece of wood with one finger, but Kingson grabs the other side to appear as normal as possible. They stop four feet from me, and the ladies bring the chairs, arranging them around it.

I shake my head and glance at my mate. Her lips are curved as she works, her attention bouncing from the customers to me and the table filling with dangerous shifters. I should be more annoyed with their presence than I am. Having them meet Juliana, I hope, makes her trust me more. She can see that they aren’t afraid of me, and even though they are similar to me, they act like regular people.

“It’s going well,” Quinn says, leaning beside me.

“Better than I expected,” I mumble.

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