Page 88 of Fanged Desire
Our breathless moans echoed around the pavilion and sent butterflies scattering in the air. I gave one final cry as she drove her fingers into me again, deep and intense, and I forced my hips against her hand.
My pushing became a slow grinding, riding out the release, even as Hunter’s hips bucked wildly against my palm. She foundher release alongside me, and we both collapsed, breathless and sweat-slicked, tangled up in one another and unwilling to let go.
We lay there for a long while, breathing heavily, eventually talking quietly – reflecting on everything that had brought us to this precise, perfect moment.
“Are you ever going to tell the others about us?” I asked eventually, lifting my head from her chest.
“Yeah…” Hunter breathed, reaching up to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. “I think it’s time they knew you were my mate.”
The word ricocheted around my rib cage, sending my heart thumping wildly all over again. I would never get tired of hearing her say it.
“You know, I think I knew some part of me was tied to you all along.” I lifted myself to look into her eyes, fingers trailing lovingly down her glistening chest. “I think I’ve been falling for you from the moment we met.”
Hunter’s lips curved into a small, vulnerable smile and she pressed her damp forehead to mine.
“I love you, Addison.” She whispered the words, a steadfast promise under a canopy of fluttering wings.
I stared into her eyes, and the words flowed freely. Sweet and tender and true. “And I love you.”
I knew then that no matter what the future had in store for me – human or vampire, doctor or something else entirely – so long as Hunter was by my side, I would be content.
Epilogue
Hunter
The hospital smelled like disinfectant, stale coffee, and whatever someone had reheated for lunch in the break room microwave three days ago. My sensitive nose hated it all, but there I was, leaning against Addison's desk in her little office, half-transformed and wings fully extended, while she measured my wingspan. Again.
“You know they haven’t changed since last time, right?” I grumbled, trying not to shift too much while she faffed about. My wings didn’t exactly fit in the cramped space, and a coffee pot had already fallen victim to their expanse.
Addison, donning her lab coat and a pair of glasses that I rarely saw her wear, ignored me. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she dutifully jotted down the numbers.
“Measurements are important,” she said matter of factly. “If I’m going to understand vampire physiology, I need to document everything properly.”
“Whatever you say.” I cocked a brow, looking her up and down. “By the way, you look sexy in glasses.”
The clipboard in her hands swatted against my arm before I could even think to dodge. “Behave.”
“Not likely.” I grinned, letting my wings snap closed and leaning against her desk. “You wouldn’t love me if I wasn’t a nuisance.”
Her mouth twitched like she was trying not to smile, and she busied herself with her notes.
We’d been like this for months now – happy, comfortable, content. We’d moved in together a couple of months ago, into a small, cozy apartment just down the road from Penelope’s.
Addison had insisted on adopting a cat, and though I’d been adamant at the start aboutnotwanting one, Tinkle was now my very best friend – much to the chagrin of Maxine who had formerly held that esteemed position. It had taken her weeks to forgive me for that slight.
Addison finished her notes and stepped back, hands on her hips as she surveyed me like a specimen in a jar. “Okay, you’re good to go.”
“Finally.” My wings folded back in, sinking into my spine, and I tugged my shirt back on. “You know, if you keep studying me like this, I’m going to start charging.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? How much?”
“Three forehead kisses every day. And a new cat bed for Tinkle.”
“You could buy Tinkle a hundred cat beds and he’d still choose to sleep in a box. And Ialreadykiss you, literally every day.”
“Fair point. How about you pay me back in the bedroom later?” I leaned forward, brushing a kiss against her temple. “But you have to keep the glasses on.”
Addison rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed pink, before she glanced at the clock on her desk and frowned. “What time is Ethan’s thing again?”
