He caught her face between his hands, hating the fear he saw etched there. “My darling, Evie, there already is.” He kissed her. Hard. He gave her everything he was and would be. He kissed her so hard that he tasted blood and knew she did too.
She hissed and attacked, clamping down hard on his neck. She sank her fangs deep. His orgasm boiled up from his balls, shooting out through the tip of his cock. He felt her response, the spasms of her pussy as she came.
He angled his head and bit into her shoulder. Blood spurted into his mouth and he came again, even harder than the first time. So damn good.
Some little voice in the back of his head screamed at him to stop, so he did.
He eased his fangs out and licked the wound, closing it. He felt Evie hesitate and then do the same. They stared at one another for the longest time. There was a drop of blood on her bottom lip so he leaned forward and licked it off.
She shuddered. “What am I going to do with you?”
He almost gave her an answer. He wanted her to love him. But some semblance of common sense or wisdom held him back at the last second.
“Whatever you want,” he quipped. “Just remember, I’m not going anywhere.”
She shook her head and eased off his lap. Her pussy sucked at his still-hard dick one final time and he could swear he saw stars. They both groaned and he let his head fall back against the sofa. He was on edge but content—a strange combination.
He wondered what time it was and as soon as the question was formed in his head he knew the answer. “If we’re going to Haven tonight, we should get going.”
“Are you going to call your family and tell them we’ll be there?” Evie reached for her shredded underwear, picked them up and dangled them in front of him. “Really?”
He shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself.” And he couldn’t. Not when it came to Evie. Maybe in a hundred years or so.
Craig paused. He would be around to see her in a hundred years. He’d always thought his siblings would outlive him. Now he had the potential to live long after they were gone. It was unsettling to say the least.
“What’s wrong?” Evie slipped on her bra and sweater. The sweater was so long it came down to the tops of her thighs.
He thought about not telling her, but wanted there to be honesty between them. “It occurred to me that I’ll outlive my family, which is weird, because I always thought they’d outlive me.
Werewolves live hundreds of years, even half-breeds.”
Evie sat on the coffee table in front of him. “You’ll live a long time and do great things, I have no doubt.”
“So will you.”
Evie shook her head. “I don’t think I’m cut out to live forever, or for hundreds of years.”
“Of course you are. Think of the artwork you can create, the places you can go, the things you can do.” Craig was beginning to panic at the finality in Evie’s voice.
“That’s not likely with Vladimir looking for me. I don’t think he’ll be too forgiving of me running out on him.”
Craig’s fangs erupted and he roared.
Evie jumped back, her fangs automatically dropping, her eyes blazing red. Both of them stared and then Craig shook his head and wrestled for control.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Evie sighed and rubbed her eyes.
“Neither did I.” She grabbed her jeans.
“Call your family.” He watched as she padded down the hallway to their bedroom. Theirs. That’s how he thought of it. He didn’t think in terms of himself anymore, but of them.
Knowing there was little he could do to change Evie’s mind until Vladimir was dealt with, Craig decided to stop trying. He’d use actions, not words to show her he was committed to their relationship.
He hauled his jeans up over his hips and zipped them. His sweater was on the floor so he grabbed it, shook it out and pulled it on. He could hear water running in the bathroom and knew Evie was cleaning up.
One thing about being a vampire, there was no need for contraceptives. He could no longer get a woman pregnant.
That much he did know.
He’d never thought much about having kids of his own, a family.
Frankly, he’d never thought he’d marry or have a serious relationship. His need to protect his siblings’ secret had always taken precedent. Now that was no longer an issue. Evie knew everything. For the first time since he’d discovered his brother and sister were different, he finally believed he could actually have a life of his own.
It was liberating and scary at the same time. He’d always been so focused on them and what they needed that he’d never really considered what he wanted.
He grabbed his phone and pressed his sister’s name on his contact list, not wanting to think about the situation any longer. He knew vampires weren’t supposed to get headaches, but his head wasn’t listening.
“Hey, Craig.” Chrissten’s voice soothed the voices in his head. Family was what was important. Evie and family. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Hey.” He struggled to make normal conversation. “Are you going to be at Haven tonight?”
“We can be. Why?”
“Meredith called and apologized for last night. She also asked us to come by.”
“What time do you want us to be there?” His sister’s question was like a balm to his senses. He knew they’d be there to support him.
“We’re heading out soon. I’d say we’ll be there within the hour.”
“We’ll be there.” Chrissten paused.
“I love you, little brother.”
“Love you too.” He hung up the phone. He knew Evie was standing just behind him. He stood and tucked the phone away. “We need to get some weapons.”
“Is everything okay?” Evie asked.
“No, but it will be.” He wouldn’t let it be any other way. He held out his hand. “Come on. Damek left me the key for downstairs. We can get what we need before we head out.”
Chrissten slowly set her phone down on the bedside table.
“Everything will be okay, baby.”
Hank’s strong arms came around her and he pulled her back down onto the bed beside him.
“I’m so worried about him. He’s all alone.”
“No, no he’s not.” The flat tone of Hank’s voice made her really pay attention. “I know what it’s like to be truly alone. To not know what you are or if there are any others like you out there.
He’s got us and Quinn and Bethany and, most importantly, he’s got Damek. That vampire treats him like a little brother.
Always has. He’ll protect Craig and help him get through this.”
“I know you’re right.” Chrissten gently caressed her husband’s face. “I’m sorry you were so alone.”
The corners of Hank’s mouth turned upward. He still didn’t smile much, but when he did it made her heart sing. “It was worth it because it brought me to you.”
He eased her closer and never took his eyes off her as he kissed her. She sighed and lost herself in her love for him. They’d already made love and she’d hoped to again, but that didn’t seem likely now. She broke the kiss.
“We have to meet him and Evie at Haven in less than an hour.”
Hank rolled until she was under him.
“I can do a lot in an hour.”
She laughed and playfully pushed at his shoulder. “We don’t have an hour.”
“A half hour then.” He caught her hands in his and raised them over her head, pinning her to the mattress.
She sighed and tried to look put out.
“Okay, if you have to.”
“I do.” He nibbled on the corner of her lips. “I really do.”
Chrissten laughed and kissed him back.
Damek drew out his phone and hit one of the three programmed numbers. It was answered on the second ring.