“That never gets old, Romeo,” he said, gasping.
I fucking loved his growly voice. It was low and combined with the way he watched me with sparkling lust-filled topaz eyes, I couldn’t imagine ever tiring of this incredible man. I let go of his ass where both hands had landed after he pulled me into his arms and slid my flat palms up his chest, resting them there as I continued to stare. The absence of a racing heartbeat was so strange but at the moment it really didn’t bother me. His chest still heaved with his panting breath.
When my stomach suddenly growled, he laughed out loud, grinning widely where his inch long fangs gleamed. I stared at them for just a second before he managed to retract them. He lifted his hand and covered his lips, looking shy and embarrassed.
“Sorry about that,” he said behind his hand. “It happens when I get turned on.” He grabbed my right hand and brought it down to the long, hard ridge in his pants. I let my fingers trace over his thick cock and nearly groaned, closing my eyes. My traitorous stomach growled again, this time, even louder than before. My eyes flew open, only to meet his amused grin.
I glanced at the clock, noting that it was late and remembering that I hadn’t eaten anything since lunchtime. Sally and I had gone over to the saloon for a cheeseburger and the best goddamned onion rings I’d ever tasted in my life.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t eaten in hours,” I said, looking back at Vincent.
“Come on. Let’s feed you.” Vincent took my hand in his, tugging me toward the door to my office.
“Hang on.” I dropped his hand and walked back to the desk, withdrawing my gun and badge and closing the drawer before sliding the gun into the holster on my hip. I looked up at Vincent and smiled, walking toward him. “Ready?” I shut out the light as we headed down the hall and out into the empty lobby of the sheriff’s station.
Since Prosper Woods was the opposite of a bastion of crime, there was no need for anyone to take the night shift. Dave and Sally switched off having the phones—including the 911 calls—forwarded to their cell phones, not minding the extra pay they received when they were on call. Since they rarely had to leave the house while they were on call, I was pretty sure neither one of them hated the duty one bit.
“Where do you want to eat? It’s my treat,” Vincent said as we stepped outside, and I stopped to lock up. His car was parked beside my old truck in front of the station. For a split second, I was tempted to tell him I’d love it if we could drive into Stockton for some sushi but then I remembered he was a vampire, and we’d both be in danger if we left Prosper Woods. I think he realized what I was thinking when he stopped me out in front of the station and turned to face me.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Vincent said, tuning into me as always.
“What?” I cocked my head to the side, watching Vincent’s face grow very serious.
He sighed deeply, looking utterly pained. “I’m so sorry, Romeo.”
I lifted my hand, cupped his stubbly cheek and stared into his golden eyes. “Why?”
He sighed. “Because of me, you’re stuck here with nowhere to eat except at my house or yours.”
“First of all, that’s not true. The saloon serves a great burger and sides, and the diner, Todd’s Hash House, has a massive variety of stuff.” I suddenly grinned at him. “And, I happen to know first-hand that they both stock up on ketchup by the case.” My smile didn’t seem to make him feel any better and I could see the dejection in his features when he shrugged.
“Wherever you prefer, Romeo,” Vincent said, sounding more upset than he needed to.
“Well, when I was in the saloon at lunchtime, I had the best onion rings of my life. If you don’t mind, we’ll eat there,” I said.
Vincent snorted. “The saloon owned by Floyd Reardon? The alpha werewolf?”
I’d completely forgotten about that little factoid. “Oh, shit. I forgot. Well, we can grab something and take it back to your house or better yet, we can eat at the diner. I’m pretty sure werewolves don’t own that place. That would just be too much of a coincidence.”
He looked undecided and finally shrugged. “Let’s go to the saloon. I know for a fact; Reardon isn’t going to give us any problems out in public even if he is inside the bar.”
“There is that to consider for sure,” I said, frowning, “but there’s also something else.” I was hesitant to tell him that the bartender, Greg Brown, was part of the Frederick pack.
“The fact that the bartender is a werewolf?” Vincent asked, as if reading my mind.
My eyes widened. “You know about that?”
“I saw him the night the whole pack was in the woods. It’s kind of hard to miss the guy. He’s as big as the side of a barn,” Vincent replied with a smirk. He slid his arm into the crook of mine. “Let’s go. I think both of us should try and make at least one ally in the pack.”
“Both of us,” I said, nodding.
Vincent smiled. “Especially me, because I’m the vampire. Maybe the bartender is someone I should get to know. If he knows I’m not a threat to him, perhaps he’ll somehow be able to influence his alpha. It’s worth a shot, though, I get the impression Floyd’s
