She made a soft sound in the back of her throat and shifted closer.
Then his phone rang.
The last thing Craig wanted to do was stop kissing Evie, but he knew he had to answer his phone. If he soon didn’t make contact with his friends, they might come here. And he wasn’t sure Evie was up to that yet. And he sure as hell knew Damek wouldn’t be pleased. The older vampire valued his privacy and zealously guarded it.
Knowing Damek like he did, Craig wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the older vampire moved, and sooner rather than later. In fact, he’d be shocked if he didn’t. He probably had another apartment all ready in case he had to move in a hurry. Damek was nothing if not organized and prepared. Craig admired that and hoped to learn from him.
Evie was calm now, but her eruption of anger hadn’t truly surprised him.
She’d dealt with so much in such a short time that her emotions were bound to be volatile. He was lucky in that most of this wasn’t new to him. Plus, he had his family and Sonia and Damek supporting him. She was alone.
He eased back, letting his lips linger one final second before grabbing the phone before it went to voice mail.
“Hello.” He knew it was Meredith from the call display. He pulled Evie close to him, wanting her to hear the conversation. There could be no secrets between them. He wanted her to truly understand that they were in this together.
“Hi, Craig.” Meredith took a deep breath on the other end of the line. “I’m so sorry about last night. We’re all sorry. We shouldn’t have reacted as badly as we did. That was wrong of us. I just want you to know that you’re welcome at Haven anytime and if you need anything from us, you have only to ask.”
The hole their lack of acceptance had created in Craig’s heart began to slowly close. This was a new beginning for all of them. The parameters of their relationship had changed, but the basis of their friendship remained. They had years of shared history, of memories that nothing could erase. If he was a jerk, he could blow off her apology or he could take it and reach out to her, to all of them.
He chose the latter.
“That means a lot to me, Meredith.
You mean a lot to me.”
She sniffed and he knew she was crying. “You mean a lot to me too. To all of us.”
Craig wasn’t sure about that part.
“What does Isaiah have to say about that?”
Craig heard a muffled curse in the background and knew Isaiah was listening in on the call. “You’re welcome here, Craig.” The alpha wolf sighed. “I wasn’t exactly expecting two vampires to walk into our place last night. I maybe didn’t handle the situation quite as well as I could have.”
Craig heard Meredith mutter, “That’s an understatement.” It made him smile.
“I shouldn’t have sprung it on you like that,” Craig admitted. “I should have called ahead and prepared you first. Not surprised you. But in my defense, I thought that was the kind of thing I should tell you in person.”
“It was a surprise, for sure.” The dry tone in Isaiah’s tone made Craig laugh.
“I imagine it was. Was a shock for me too.”
“How are you dealing with things?”
Meredith asked. Once again, she’d fallen into her familiar role of mothering him.
It might take a while, but they’d get their relationship back on track.
“I’m managing. We’re managing.
Listen, I’m sorry if Damek gave you a hard time last night.”
“I’ll deny it if you ever tell him,” Isaiah said, “but the vampire was right for once.”
“You know, you can’t keep calling Damek the vampire now. There’s more than just one,” Craig pointed out.
“Don’t remind me,” Isaiah groused.
Craig heard the teasing note in his voice and relaxed. “When are you coming over?” the werewolf demanded.
“Meredith won’t rest until she sees you in person.”
Craig glanced at Evie, who nodded.
“How about we come over after closing so we can talk?”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
Craig ended the call and turned to Evie. “Is that okay with you? We won’t go if you’re not comfortable with it.”
“They’re your friends,” she pointed out.
He tossed his phone aside and lifted her, pulling her over him until she was straddling his lap. “You’re more important.” He wanted—no, needed—
her to understand that what he felt for her transcended other relationships. Even the one he had with his family. It didn’t matter to him if they accepted Evie or not, she belonged to him, with him. He’d been prepared to give up his life in Chicago, his friends and family, if necessary.
Thankfully, they were coming around. He didn’t want to lose them. It would hurt him deeply. But losing Evie would devastate him to the point he wasn’t sure he could recover.
He had no idea why he felt so tied to her and on such a deep emotional level.
It was as though their souls were joined.
It sounded hokey as hell, but was true nonetheless.
Craig didn’t want to talk anymore.
He cupped her breasts through the sweater she wore, his sweater. The possessive side of him liked the fact she was wearing his clothes. The saner part of him told himself not to read too much into the action.
“I want you.”
He’d meant to seduce her with words and light touches, but that was beyond him now. Whereas anger had filled her earlier, now lust consumed him. He understood Evie better than she thought. He’d channeled his anger into another physical outlet, one much more pleasurable.
He ran his thumbs over her pebbled nipples. “Let me have you.” He leaned forward and nuzzled his lips against her throat. “I need you.”
She made a small sound in the back of her throat and then she pushed him away.
He made himself release her when what he most wanted to do was band his arms around her and never let her go.
Evie yanked the sweater up and off, exposing her lace-covered breasts. He couldn’t read the expression on her face.
Part resignation, part arousal and maybe something more.
“Yes.”
She kissed him then, and he lost himself in the beauty that was Evie.
Vladimir studied the fawning minion in front of him. “Tell me again what you saw?”
The man looked up at him, a rapt expression on his face as his words eagerly fell from his lips. “I saw another vampire. No, I felt him. His power is immense.”
“Really?” A growing rage was filling Vladimir. There was no vampire more powerful than he. He was the oldest. He’d taken care of that detail by killing the one who’d made him. It had taken him ten years to gain Andre’s full trust and, once he had it, he’d wasted no time dispatching his maker. Andre had often bragged about being the oldest vampire, therefore, now he was the oldest. And if he wasn’t, he’d find a way to destroy this other vampire. “And where did you see—no, feel—this vampire.”
“Outside a small bar in Wicker Park.
Haven.”
Vladimir leaned back in his chair. It was more a throne really. It had once belonged to an Austrian king who hadn’t needed it in a long, long time. He surveyed the large living room. Four more of his minions stood, waiting for his instructions. What he really wanted was a family of his own making.
Vampires loyal to him, willing to do his bidding at a moment’s notice. Intelligent beings unlike these mindless creatures.
He tapped his fingers on the fine oak arm of the chair. “Hmm. Watch this Haven club, and call me if the creature returns or if you see Evie.” He’d taken several photos of her when he’d been stalking her so his minions all knew what she looked like.