Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Living together would make things easier. It had been two weeks since Sky had helped Elizabeth on to the underworld, and each night Gideon or Ryder made up a new excuse for why they had to sleep in the same bed. The problem was that Gideon was running out of excuses, and they were becoming very weird and utterly unbelievable.
“But should I move to Ryder’s place? Should he move up to mine?”
Rafe shrugged. “You’ll have to talk to him about that. Both of you can stay where you are and spread your things between the two condos for all I care.”
“But what if another vampire needs a place to live? Someone who works at Phoenix or a friend of the Variks?”
Rafe kissed the top of his head while chuckling. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll cross that bridge later if we must. You figure out you and Ryder first.”
“But—”
“No buts, except for your cute one,” Rafe murmured. “Really, Gideon. You’re looking for excuses now. We might be vampires and have centuries ahead of us, but wouldn’t you rather spend that time with the person who owns your heart? There is hardly a minute that ticks by that I don’t think of Philippe, that I don’t long for him. It doesn’t matter if we have an eternity ahead of us. An hour away from him is too long.”
Gideon sat up and stared at Rafe, but Ryder filled his mind. He missed him. They’d been apart for barely an hour, but he missed him. He wanted to tell him about his successful hunt, about the boy and girl he saw bickering as they crossed the quad, and about running into Rafe. He wanted to crawl into Ryder’s arms and snuggle close, covering himself in Ryder’s scent and no one else’s.
Grabbing his bag, Gideon jumped to his feet and turned to face Rafe with a smirk. “Do you mind dropping me off at my place on your way home?”
Rafe reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. “I thought you might ask that. Let’s roll.”
Ryder didn’t even give him the chance to knock when he returned to their building. As soon as he stepped into the hall, Ryder’s door opened and the vampire stuck his head out, concern written in the lines on his handsome face.
“You look like you were worried about me,” Gideon teased as he ambled over to Ryder. His lover retreated so Gideon could enter his place. After Ryder closed the door, Gideon wrapped his arms around him and snuggled in close for the nice, tight hug he knew Ryder had waiting for him. Ryder hugs were some of the very best. His amazing man squeezed until it felt as if he were going to sink into Ryder’s chest.
“Apparently, I shouldn’t have been,” Ryder murmured as he placed his head on top of Gideon’s and breathed him in. “You ran into Rafe.”
He’d known full well Ryder would pick up Rafe’s scent on him and couldn’t help a little tease. “What’s wrong? You jealous? You don’t trust me with Rafe?”
Ryder huffed at him but still tightened his hold on Gideon. “I trust Rafe, but that doesn’t mean I’m not jealous of anyone who gets near you.” Ryder’s voice dropped so that it was nearly a pout. “I want to be the only one who touches you.”
Gideon laughed and stepped back so that he could see Ryder’s sad expression. His big, scary man was so perfect. Grabbing one of Ryder’s hands, Gideon pulled him into the living room where they sat. Well, it was more that Ryder sat and Gideon snuggled close, half in Ryder’s lap and half on the couch.
“Well, this was a pleasant conversation I had with Rafe that you will probably like,” Gideon began, resting his head on Ryder’s shoulder.
“Forgive my skepticism when it comes to our boss.”
A soft snort jumped from Gideon. Rafe’s idea of helpful rarely matched everyone else’s idea of helpful.
“We’re dating, right?” Gideon inquired.
Ryder turned his head toward him, one eyebrow arched hard. “Yes?”
“And it’s exclusive, right?”
“Very exclusive,” Ryder growled. That was a very definite answer. Ryder wrapped one arm around his waist and pulled him completely onto his lap. “I don’t share, Gideon. I can’t share you with anyone.”
Gideon placed his arms loosely behind Ryder’s neck and pressed a tiny kiss to the tip of his nose. “I don’t want you to share me with anyone else.” Gideon paused and let out a long, deep sigh. “But I have to say that the current living arrangement is not working for me.”
Ryder tensed under him. “What do you mean?”
“I’m running out of excuses for why we need to sleep together each day. We can’t sleep separately anymore. My bed is too big without you. And too cold. We have to figure something out. Like you sleep in my bed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and I’m in your bed on the other days of the week. Or maybe we rotate weeks. One week we sleep at my place and the next, we sleep at yours. I don’t want any more anxiety over wondering if I’m invading your space and how I’m going to lure you into spending time with me. You—”