Page 73 of Bloody Temptations

“I know it’s crazy—”

“It’s not crazy in the least. You have no fricken idea how adorable you are. How endearing. I know you have your hang ups, and I’m not minimising them, but you havenoidea how much people like you. Just look at Bedeer and Willan and Jax and all that. And Belinda loves you. She thinks you are the sweetest thing. She’s completely hooked on thatCrumblesapp and it drives Lifo batty.” He rolls us, making me squawk indignantly.

Somehow I find myself pressed on my back, with my wrists trapped in his hands beside my head. His beautiful face hovers over mine and he looks serious. Deadly serious.

“And I’m fucking crazy about you. I have been, since that first night I saw you at the club. I saw you sitting there, and I just thought ‘Damn. This guy. This guy is fucking special.’ And I wasright. You are fucking special. And I am not shocked in the slightest that Matteus saw it too. The guy is smart as shit. And terrifying.”

I don’t argue that Matteus isn’t terrifying, because I just don’t see it. I’m too focused on Kai’s fervent declaration.

“I’m crazy about you too, you know.” I whisper. It’s not the intense declaration he just gave me, but I’m hoping that he sees that I mean it. With everything in me.

“Ugh,finally," he groans loudly and collapses on top of me, nuzzling and kissing at my neck with smacky little kisses. It tickles, making me giggle and squirm under him until I snort.

“Yes! Two for two! Nothing can stop me now!” He crows, then returns to my neck.

It feels incredible, sending tremors of pleasure through me until I’m writhing against him for a different reason all together, dragging my hardening dick against his hip.

Kai pulls off before we can get too carried away again. There’s time until dawn, but not long enough to get off a second time. He rolls to the side, tucking himself against my side this time.

“So, you gonna take the job?” He asks, pressing a hand to the sluggishly bleeding wound I gnawed into his neck earlier.

“Probably. The contract’s in my email. If there is nothing too weird in there, I really should take him up on the offer.”

“But do youwantto?”

“Yeah, absolutely. It’s the type of thing I’ve always wanted to do. And it will be an amazing experience. Plus all the other stuff. And steady hours to plan my life. And I’ll get to wear my suits again. I miss them.”

“Ngh,” Kai grunts, thrusting against my hip. “Yes. You should model them for me first, though. Make sure they fit.”

I laugh again—when I woke up this evening, I really didn’t think I’d be laughing anywhere near as much as I have been—and shove at his side. “Oh, quit it, you horny beast.”

“Only for you though, Finny-babe. Only for you.” He reaches up to press a kiss to the corner of my cheek.

I turn my head to look at him, his face kind of blurry this close. He’s still perfection.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

23

Epilogue - Finn

Three Months Later

I never thought I’dhave a personal vendetta against a season. And yet, here I am.

Summer means long days under the sun. As a vamp, it means short nights under the moon. I hate how restrictive it is. Each night feels like a race against the clock, which is an awful feeling.

Especially when your bosses insist on arguing about the dumbest things on the planet rather than letting you finish up for the night.

I mean, generally speaking, separately Matteus and Aristet are awesome. Together? They are awful. I’ve never seen two such grown, capable andoldbeings be reduced to such childish shitheads than these two. They are forever at each other’s throats. Case in point, right now, when we are trying to have a brainstorming session on improvements for the social inclusion elements of the club.

“I still think we should have a website. It would be a great avenue of support for new vamps—”

“Yes, but themystiqueis what makes this place so… Hearts Gate. We can’t lose that. If I had my way, we wouldn’t advertise at all. Word of mouth only. All hush, hush, secret and all that. Very cool.” Aristet interrupts me, holding his hands aloft, like he can see his great vision.

Matteus, on the other side of the table, scoffs derisively, rolling his eyes at me. I don’t react. I love my job, but sometimes it can feel like being a child caught between fighting parents.

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