Page 77 of Vampire Pack

He squeezed me to his chest, tightly. "Maybe I kind of love you too."

I fell asleep feeling more important than I ever had before. And, in the fading haze of heat, I decided that I was glad I'd accidentally bitten my enemy-with-benefits.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

carmen

I had no idea what time it was when I woke up. The blackout curtains on the windows didn't give me any clues.

Peeking out through cracked eyes, I took in the space.

King was awake, with a book perched on the strip of his chest that my bare body hadn't claimed. I was starfished across the top of him, so it was a small strip.

His wings were wrapped around me too, securing me against him and making that strip even smaller. The back of his book was pressed right up against his wing.

I opened my eyes a little wider. "Are you using the side of your wing to hold your book up?" I finally asked.

"Yup."

I blinked. "Oh. Nifty."

"Nifty," he agreed, sounding amused. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know." I moved a little, just testing my muscles. "Weird. But okay, I think."

"We can work with weird but okay."

I was so sore between my thighs that I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to walk, but that was to be expected.

"How many hours did it last?"

"About twelve. I was lost in rut for nine or ten."

I nodded.

It was longer than I would've expected, but first heat was always kind of a wildcard.

"You used the birth control shot, right?" I asked.

"Right after we had burgers. I kept the empty tube, in case you wanted to make sure."

"I trust you." The words slipped out before I could consider them.

They were still true. I did trust him. A lot more than I ever would've expected to.

I couldn't remember my entire heat in detail, but I remembered everything that had come before. And I remembered how well he'd taken care of me. How good he'd made me feel. The way he had never seemed tired of me, even though he had to have been exhausted. How he had never hesitated, or paused, or seemed uncertain about meeting my needs.

Even when those needs were more hassle than pleasure for him.

"Thank you," I finally said, lifting my face off his chest so I could meet his eyes. "I didn't realize it would be so…" I trailed off, not having words for it.

Out of control?

Instinctual?

Animalistic?

Surreal?