Page 33 of Benjamin and the Thief

“Are you hungry? We can call to have food delivered.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“We’ll order online when we’re home.”

And while she was busy going through the online menu, he could sneak a bottle of blood out of the fridge and gulp it down in the bathroom, then hide the empty bottle.

The drive to his flat in the Tenderloin took less than fifteen minutes despite the traffic. He parked the Porsche in the garage, then led Catalina to the elevator. Once inside, he punched the button for his floor before pulling Catalina into his arms.

She molded herself to him, and he appreciated the gesture. Feeling her body pressed to his instantly awakened his hunger for her.

“You must be exhausted,” he murmured at her lips. “I know I should have let you go home to sleep in your own bed, but I’m a selfish bastard.”

“I wouldn’t call that selfish.”

“That’s because you don’t know what I’m dreaming of right now.” He slid his hand to her ass and drew her against his groin.

A small gasp rolled over her lips.

“Yep, now you know…” He pressed his forehead to hers. “But if you’re too tired, tell me, and I won’t⁠—”

“—won’t make love to me?” she interrupted. “But what if I want you to? But if you’re too tired…”

The little temptress didn’t finish her sentence and instead pouted, making her lips look even more appealing. And impossible to resist.

“Not another word out of that pretty mouth of yours, or I’m gonna make love to you right here in the elevator.”

He didn’t give her a chance to reply. Instead, he lifted her off her feet and pressed her against the wall of the elevator before he captured her lips and kissed her as if his life depended on it. She responded to him with just as much passion, and when she slid her hands onto his ass to yank him closer, his heart skipped a beat, while his cock filled with blood, readying itself for what was to come.

Hunger surged inside him. He wanted both her body and her blood, but most of all, he wanted her heart. He wanted it to beat for him. He wanted her to know his true self, the vampire within. He wanted her to accept him fully without reservations, without fear. Perhaps tonight was the right time to tell her what he really was. He’d shown her that he was prepared to do everything in his power to help her and her brother. Would this prove to her that he was good? That he wasn’t as dangerous as his sharp fangs suggested? But how would he even start that kind of conversation?

A sound from behind him suddenly startled him, and he ripped his lips from Catalina’s and whirled around, instinctively shielding her behind his broad back. The door into his flat had opened—not by itself, but at the hands of his brother, Damian. And he wasn’t the only one in his flat. All his friends were there.

They broke into song, reminding him what day it was. With everything going on, he’d completely forgotten.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

While they sang, Damian stepped closer and looked over his shoulder, then grinned. He’d spotted Catalina.

Damian pulled him in for a hug. “Well, that explains your massive boner,” he whispered. “Happy birthday, bro!”

“Happy birthday, bro,” he replied.

With his friends still singing to them, he turned slightly and reached for Catalina, leading her out of the elevator. She looked embarrassed, to say the least. He put his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side.

“…dear Damian and Benjamin, happy birthday to you!” They ended the song.

“Thanks, guys!” Benjamin replied, then turned to his brother. “Why didn’t you tell me there would be a party?”

“I didn’t know either.”

His mate, Naomi, came to his side and hugged him, then winked. “Trust me, he knew. He was just too sweet pretending he didn’t know what I was planning.”

Damian pressed a kiss to Naomi’s lips. “I’ll thank you for it later.”

Several people in the crowd laughed. They all knew what he meant by that. His twin was utterly insatiable, and Naomi clearly encouraged him.

“Get a room, you two,” Benjamin said.