“Good. I gotta go, my nurse is here, and Isee meds. This woman enjoys stabbing me.”
“I’m sure she’s not the first,” Maggiequipped, and Roger laughed.
“And she won’t be the last! Take care ofyourself; I need my partner in tiptop shape. I’ll talk to you soon,love ya, kid,” he said gruffly.
Before she could reply, he hung up. “Loveyou too,” she said anyway.
Maggie closed the phone and set it on thestand next to her bed. She swallowed the lump in her throat asRoger’s last words ran through her head. It had been years sincesomeone told her they loved her, not since A.J. And A.J. only saidit once, after they broke up. It seemed he’d felt compelled to makeit clear there was no change in his feelings for her, but she’dknown that without words. She’d awkwardly said it back to him. Now,Roger was the second person, and only the second time she’d heardthose words from another. She hadn’t gotten the chance to say themback to him, but he knew she loved him.
“How is he?” Aiden inquired.
“He has a concussion and doesn’t rememberanything, but he thinks they’re sending him home tomorrow.”
“It’s not just a concussion,” Aiden said. “Itook the memory from him.”
“I see. Will the Savages go after himagain?”
“There are already some trainees fromRonan’s men keeping watch over him.”
“Is Ronan your vampire leader or boss orsomething?”
“I guess you could call him my boss.” Hecouldn’t get into details with her about Ronan, not while sheremained human and they were unmated.
“How long will they watch over Roger?”
“For a few weeks after he’s released. If anySavages go after him, they’ll be taken down. However, they’ll knowwe also won’t leave any loose ends and would have changed hismemories. They won’t see him as a threat, and unlike you, his bloodis not abigtemptation.”
He’d known the second her blood hit histongue she was his mate, and he’d believed that was the reason herblood was potent. Now, he knew the truth. “You’re a powerful humanwith blood that any vampire who tastes it would crave more. TheSavage who bit you won’t stop until he’s destroyed.”
“You drank from me too. Will you be stopped?Will you take more; do youexpectmore? Is that why I’mhere?”
Aiden’s gut clenched. “No. I won’t take fromyou again without your permission. I have control over my baserinstincts.”Barely.
“And if I give permission?” Maggie didn’tmiss the flash of red in his eyes or his glance at her neck. Hernipples puckered as anticipation clamored through her body. It hurtso bad when the Savage bit her, but it had been one of the greatestpleasures of her life when Aiden fed on her. God help her, she knewshe shouldn’t, but she wanted to experience that again, withhim.
“Then I would taste you over and overagain.”
Maggie’s breath caught as she struggled tosuppress the rush of lust his words evoked in her. She had no ideawhat it was about him, but he could arouse her faster than any manshe’d ever encountered.
Get your libido in check. Getting involvedwith this vamp would be one of the worst decisions you evermade.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I, uh… I need ashower,” she muttered and rose.
She probably should have mentioned somethingthat didn’t involve nudity, but it was the only thing she couldthink of for a quick escape. She didn’t look back at him as shestepped into the bathroom and closed the door. Leaning against thedoor, she took a deep breath and listened as he left the room.
• • •
Maggie didn’t see Aiden again until laterthat night when he knocked on the door. Taking a deep breath, shebraced herself to face him before pulling it open to reveal himlooking like a walking, talking temptation on the other side. Hewore a pair of loose-fitting jeans; his forest green sweaterbrought out his eyes and enhanced the golden color of his skin.
He could attract every woman in ahundred-mile radius, yet his eyes filled with yearning when theyran over her body. He didn’t look at her like he was stripping herbare as so many other men had over the years. No, he looked at heras if she were the most exquisite woman he’d ever seen.
There was nothing special about the sweaterand yoga pants she wore, but she suddenly felt like the sexiestwoman in the world.
“I thought you might be hungry,” hesaid.
She was starved, but she didn’t know if itwas for food or him. When her stomach rumbled, she had her answer.“I am.”
“There’s a restaurant downstairs. We couldgo there for dinner.”
