“Goodie. What could be more fun?” I smack him playfully with a pillow at his sarcasm. “Oh, my mom was wondering if we wanted to visit sometime next month. I told her I would ask.”
“You think you can get the time off?” I question, surprised. Today is the first day I’ve really spoken to him since returning from Bulgaria. Marc has been overseeing the remaining members of his team as they flush out vampire covens in the greater Sophia region. The attack on the Denver base was shocking, but the fact that every person inside the house was slaughtered without much effort raised alarms all over the country. After beefing up security, he’s on a mission to wipe out any and all vampire related everything.
I also think they’re working so hard to cover the fact they lost two of their own.
“I’m overdue for a vacation, as are you.”
“But I’ve barely started working.”
“Eh, hazard vacation. You were vital in taking down a Master.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“You did in that warehouse, and gave that European group the push they needed to attack in Bulgaria. Plus, your cats took Kleidion down,” he motions, nodding toward the two tabbies curled on the cushion next to my head. They have yet to leave my side since that fateful night.
“That’s right,” I coo, scratching behind their ears eliciting a round of purrs. Still wrapping my brain around the fact they shifted to giant panthers, I wonder why I can do the same. Maybe The Agency has archives or something with the answer.
“Seattle could be nice.” My imagination starts spinning when I think of the warm evenings spent outside and star gazing, if it’s not raining, of course.
“The fair should be happening around that time,” Parker says. “I could win you a stuffed animal.”
“I think you mean that I could win you one.”
“Only if it’s a duck. Oh, and the elephant ears. We could get one, or twenty, of those. And garlic fries. Have you ever had garlic fries?”
“I’m already convinced,” I laugh. “And speaking of food, you’re making me hungry.”
“I ordered Garden of Thai. Should be here in about twenty minutes.”
In all the time we’ve been talking Parker has gradually shifted over and now has my feet in his lap. The crafty jackal.
He fixes his gaze on a small dark stain on the rug for a long moment while absently rubbing my leg. Thank goodness I’m wearing real pants today since it’s been a long while since I’ve shaved. When he looks back up, I can see his heart beating in his neck, the pace definitely faster than it was a minute ago.
“I love you. You know that, right?” His heartbreakingly perfect smile and liquid gray eyes are full of such patience and love that my breath catches in my throat, rendering me speechless. “You don’t have to say anything. But I wanted you to know how I feel.”
If ever my brain has short-circuited, it’s now. I know exactly how I feel, but there will be plenty of time to tell him in our long, long future together. After all, we have our whole lives ahead of us.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Hunting Tess. Please consider leaving a review!
If you’re looking for another read check out my series Reign of Prophecy.
