Page 155 of Volik

When I look up into his.

He breaks.

His hips shove forward.

He buries himself as deep as he can go.

And he releases within me.

“Done.” I close my laptop and set it on the coffee table.

After the failed attempt to work in the office earlier, we took a quick shower. I ate a box of mac and cheese at the kitchen island. Then we sat on the couch together as I filled out the Contact Me About a Story form on May Branock’s website.

Volik stands from his spot beside me, but before I can follow, he scoops me up into his arms bridal style.

I make an unattractive squawk of surprise.

“You look tired” is his explanation.

Instead of arguing, because it’s true, I rest my head on his shoulder and let my powerful vampire boyfriend carry me through this gorgeous underground home that feels like a giant spa.

I’m already in my pajamas—a pair of shorts and a tank top.

Usually, if I was up working, I’d wear more than this. But sitting next to Volik keeps me plenty warm. Not to mention the way my own body has been feeling warmer.

In the bedroom, Volik sets me on the mattress, then circles around to the other side.

“Are you going to bed too?”

“Da.”

He pulls his shirt off, and the material snags on his horns, but it doesn’t tear.

He glares at it as he throws it to the ground.

I fight off my smile. “Are you going to sleep?”

“Nyet.” He lowers onto the mattress beside me. “But I will stay.”

It feels like the polite thing would be for me to say that he doesn’t have to. That he can go do whatever he would normally do at night. But… I like the idea of him being beside me all night.

The blanket is shoved halfway down the bed, so I catch it with my toes and lift my legs, bringing the blanket into reach. Volik twists toward the nightstand to turn off the lights.

My fingers are inches away from the blanket when I pause.

And before I can control it, before I can stop it, my pulse quickens.

Volik snaps his head in my direction. “What happened?”

I want to play it off.

I want so badly to play it off.

But I can’t.

I sit up, and Volik follows, moving so his legs surround me. One behind, one in front as he looks at the side of my face.

“Mate.” He places a hand on my back and one over his heart. “Please, tell me what just happened.”