I want to set down roots this time.
Romeo drove up to the house in his beat-up truck and I flashed to the front door, yanking it open so fast, I nearly ripped it off the hinges in my haste to see him again. As soon as he stepped out, I was in front of him, enjoying the look on his startled face as I appeared in a flash of speed.
He slapped a hand over his chest. “Jesus, every time you do that, it never fails to scare the crap out of me,” he said, recovering quickly as he let out a startled chuckle.
I smiled and reached for his face, cupping his jaw and leaning in to kiss him. He immediately swept me into his strong arms and smiled against my lips. I kissed him slowly, letting my lips slide over his, tasting his mouth, and breathing him in. He still retained my scent though earlier I’d tried my best to wash myself off him. As dangerous as I knew it was to have him walk around town smelling like me with other supernaturals in the vicinity, claiming him as mine just gave me an overwhelming sense of ownership. I knew it was risky to have such feelings for a man I’d just met, but none of that mattered right now. He was mine and that was all there was to it.
I kissed him for a minute and then pulled back, offering him a salacious grin before taking his hand and pulling him up the drive and into my house where I shut the door, locking out all would-be intruders to our sanctuary.
“Something smells amazing,” he said, squatting at the front door to pull off his boots. He padded across my hardwood floors to the kitchen after me in stockinged feet.
I turned and smiled at him, noting the circles under his eyes. “I made chicken stew. I hope you like that. I had no idea if you’d like chicken but you seem like a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”
Romeo walked up behind me and slipped his hands around my waist, leaning down and resting his chin on my shoulder as he looked in the pot that I stirred.
“Like I said, it smells amazing and I’m starving but I had no idea you could eat anything but blood,” he whispered against my neck. A shiver ran up my spine at his proximity.
“Older vampires can eat small portions as I said. I don’t especially like food anymore, but I do like cooking for you,” I said, setting down the ladle and turning in his arms to face him. I leaned in to kiss him again. When I pulled back, I could sense his hunger both for me and for what I’d made. “Let’s get you fed.” I pointed to a cabinet. “Grab a couple of bowls from that cupboard.”
Romeo smiled at me and reached up to do as I asked, grabbing two bowls and then started looking through drawers for spoons. He pulled out a couple of those and watched as I ladled up the stew. It had been ages since I’d made anything in a kitchen and I really hoped he’d enjoy my attempt. I brought the bowls to the table, set them down, and then returned to the refrigerator to take out a beer and a bottle of ketchup.
We sat across from each other and I watched him lean down and sniff his bowl then rub his hands together before picking up his spoon. He glanced up and smiled as I cracked open the bottle of ketchup. I downed the entire contents and then glanced over at him. He was holding his spoon full of stew and staring at me openmouthed.
“What the hell was that?” Romeo asked.
I looked at him and then at the empty bottle of ketchup in my hand, waggling it before glancing back at him and smiling.
“Ketchup.”
“I can see that,” he scoffed, “but did you just drink that entire bottle?” he asked, still staring.
I nodded. “Yeah. I like ketchup.”
Romeo laughed. “I guess.” He put the stew in his mouth and then chewed, staring at me for a second before his eyes rolled back in his head. “Oh my God, this is delicious,” he said around the mouthful of food.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Eat up. There’s a whole pot.”
I dug into my own bowl and took a small portion, tasting it on the tip of my tongue before eating the spoonful. The texture felt strange in my mouth but I managed to finish my smaller portion while he polished off his bowl and two others, topping it off with his beer. He finally leaned back in his chair and rubbed his belly, smiling at me.
“That was incredible.”
I couldn’t help but smile back at him. “I’m so glad you liked it. I was a little unsure of the seasonings.”
“They were perfect.” Romeo reached for my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back of my knuckles. “You’re perfect.”
“I want you to tell me all about why you were called out to the forest but first…” I stood up, grasping his hand. “I want to take you to bed.”
Romeo smiled up at me. “What about these dishes?” He pointed to the bowls.
I dropped his hand and picked them up. Faster than the human eye could track, I’d cleared the table and washed the dishes. I was back in front of him with his hand in mine before he’d moved an inch. He stood up, laughing.
“Well, that’s something that will take some time getting used to.”
I
