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“I’ll catch you. I’ll always catch you.”
Spending time together? Catching?
How in the world was he supposed to not fall for this man? Of course, Ryder couldn’t possibly mean it the way it sounded. But really, his mouth needed to come with a warning label.
Warning: things coming out could be hazardous to your heart.
Thankfully, the manager chose that moment to return with the cashier. They both remarked on how they couldn’t recall when the item had arrived at the store. The cashier worked on ringing up Ryder’s stack of books while the manager hemmed and hawed over the price, finally cooking up five hundred dollars, which was astounding for a thrift store.
Yet, it was hard to argue with it. The trunk was in spectacular condition. There was a little wear on it, but that only gave it some character. Gideon was sure if they’d found it in a regular store, they’d be asking at least three times that.
Ryder didn’t even blink. He handed over his bank card and paid despite Gideon’s protests. He appreciated a thank-you gift, but this felt too extravagant.
He followed the sexy vampire out of the store, but he had to wait on the sidewalk while Ryder carefully secured the trunk and wrapped it in a protective tarp before he returned to scoop up Gideon. It was on the tip of his tongue to remind him he was wearing galoshes, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Please. He wasn’t stupid. Why would he miss out on a chance to be in Ryder’s arms? When was this likely to happen again?
The ride to their new home was far too short. Gideon unloaded the bags they’d tucked in the rear while Ryder carried the trunk to his place first to empty the books. He hefted the monster up to the second floor for Gideon.
With a nod, Ryder left. That was it. No hug or sweet dreams. No good-bye kiss. No, let’s do it all over again sometime but naked and in bed.
Okay, he hadn’t expected the last one, but it would have been nice.
Sighing, Gideon flopped onto his new overstuffed and comfortable green couch and pulled his phone out of his pocket to find a text from Ethan waiting for him.
Rather than texting, he called. If Ethan wasn’t busy locking lips—or other body parts—with his mate, he’d answer.
“Since you’re calling, I take it the night didn’t go as you’d hoped,” Ethan said as a greeting.
“We got shopping done, which wasn’t bad. I found an amazing trunk at the thrift store. He carried me from his truck. We—”
“He carried you? Why? Did you get hurt?” Ethan interrupted.
Gideon rolled his eyes. Why was everyone always assuming that he was going to get hurt? “It wasromantic. The parking lot was all slushy and dirty. He didn’t want my feet to get dirty, so he carried me.”
“Yeah, okay. That’s romantic. I totally love it when Marcus carries me around,” Ethan quickly agreed. “So, and…you were in his arms…?”
“Nothing.”
“What?” Ethan shrieked. “How? How is that even possible?”
“We almost kissed, but someone shouted from a passing car and that pissed him off. Mood ruined.” Gideon groaned. “I thought once we got home I could spark the mood and at least get a good-night kiss, but he just dropped off the trunk and left. Practically ran from my place.”
“You’re playing too hard to get,” Ethan said flatly.
Gideon bolted upright, clenching his phone in his fist. “Too hard to get! Are you out of your mind? What do you want me to do? Show up on his doorstep naked with whipped cream and a cherry on my dick? Ask him if he’s feeling hungry?”
“It’s a start.”
“You’ve been reading romance novels again,” Gideon accused.
“So what? I’ve been helping Marcus transcribe and annotate old clan meeting notes into a digital format. My brain is tired, and it needs something happy. Romance has a happy ending. Plus, there are some good ideas in those books.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m serious! Ryder is a natural caretaker with you. He needs an excuse to take care of you. What if the knob on your showerhappenedto break and you run to his place dripping wet in only a towel, begging for help and shivering from the cold air?”
Gideon chuckled. “You are an evil, evil vampire. I don’t know how Marcus manages you.”
