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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Aura Hayes
Read between
August 9 - August 16, 2025
Ahh. Oh fuck. She’s touching me again.
Who knew this goofball could be so romantic?
“I can’t believe you did all this. How did you do this? It’s extraordinary.” He puffs out his chest under my praise. “Nothing is too much when it comes to you.”
Zavier pulls out two glass flutes and fills them with champagne. He’s careful not to let the froth overflow and fills it as close to the top as possible. “Trying to get me drunk?” I accept the drink as he carefully passes it over. “Planning to disarm me and have your wicked way?” “Oh, Celine. I don’t need champagne to do that.”
Did you know Celine means heavenly in French? It aligns perfectly with my theory that you’re an angel. Heavenly flower is even more appropriate if you ask me.”
“Rapid fire.” Zav claps his hands. “Favorite color?” “I wasn’t asking questions fast enough for you?” I cross my arms over my chest and may or may not push my cleavage up a little more than necessary to accentuate the little bit of boobs I have. His eyes flick down for longer than a quick glance. Zav takes his arms and does the exact same thing a moment later making me snort. “Green.” This isn’t exactly true but the vibrance of his eyes in that moment eclipses my old favorite color of purple. “Red.” He points at himself like it’s not clear whose favorite color he’s stating. “Least favorite
...more
The man seems to have a pressing need to be touching me.
Having the view surround us completely including under our feet is breathtaking. Even though it’s a touristy thing, seeing it now with nobody else in the room is pretty magical. “What do you think?” I ask Zav without taking my eyes off the view in front of me. “Beautiful.” “Isn’t the view spectacular?” I gush and trace a falling raindrop on the glass with my finger. “Magnificent.” I feel his stare on me as he says it and fight off the blush wanting to stain my cheeks.
A man who whimpers and moans for his woman is such a turn on.
“Celine.” A growl sounds in my throat. “Unless you want me to cover your neck in my marks and spank your ass raw, you’ll sit still.” The gasp she lets out is telling, and I know if we were at the point where I could slip my fingers into her panties I’d find her fucking soaked for me.
need to be on my best behavior. I don’t want to take Celine to bed until I tell her we’re mates and what I am. It feels wrong to take that step with her without her knowing the full extent of our connection. I might be a lot of things; killer, stalker, psychopath—but I won’t take advantage of my mate like that.
Celine nods reluctantly, and I dance a little on the inside at the thought of extra alone time with her.
“I’ll take the couch.” She announces suddenly and I have to resist the urge to hold my hand to my chest like a Victorian child with the plague. “I think the fuck not,” I refute.
“Zavier.” Snapping pulls me out of my daydream. Celine taps her foot in rapid succession on the hardwood floor and lets out a huff. “Did you hear me?” “You want to get married and have my babies? Great plan. Love that plan.” Her cheeks burn red, and she chucks a pillow at my head. “Shut up. You know what? I don’t care that I’m stealing your bed.” Hair flows around her shoulders as she abruptly turns and closes the door behind her.
“Meow.” The disgruntled sound behind me shows Midnight making himself at home on my makeshift bed. The bakery has opened, and he is working overtime to produce biscuits. “Make yourself at home, my friend. Neither you nor your owner will be leaving.” It sounds ominous but I’d be damned again if I let her slip through my fingers.
Footsteps echo in the room and girls start to murmur about something that’s gotten their attention. The steps continue until I hear them stop just behind me. A heady, masculine scent fills my nostrils and now I can’t catch my breath for a different reason. “Boo.” A familiar tenor sounds next to my ear. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I should’ve known him letting me leave the apartment alone was too good to be true. He resisted when I first brought it up, wary of the intruder stalking me, but then it was like a light bulb went off in his head and he agreed. Now I see why.
“What’s your passcode?” I ask when the phone prompts me. “Zero, three, One, Three.” I put in the numbers and search for the Mexican restaurant’s information. I stop before hitting the call button, my finger hovering above the screen. “That’s weird. Your passcode is my birthday.” He glances over at me, sliding his glasses up his nose. “Huh. Funny coincidence.”
“It’s been five minutes,” he whines. “You’re telling me I need to wait longer to be pretty?” “Beauty is pain and patience.” Ava folds her hands across her chest and settles back into the couch cushions. “Plus, you know you’re a pretty princess already, so shut up.” “Aw, am I?” He bats his lashes at her, flashing her a winning smile. They’ve been going back and forth since she arrived. It started with him sneaking a bite of her enchilada and her hangry self retaliating by making him do masks with us. Truth be told I think he enjoys it.
“I think I like girl’s night,” he muses. Ava pats his arm. “Oh, sweetie. This is only the tip of the iceberg of what girl’s night can be.” He gives her a dopey grin. “I can’t wait for the next one.”
Midnight observes from his perch on top of the fridge like he’s Gordon Ramsey. Every little bit, he’ll interject like we’ve gone about the process wrong. Cat thinks he’s a human, I swear.
“Midnight,” I grind out. “Your mother is going to be the death of me. Not the literal death, since I can’t die easily, but at least the death of my dick.” “Meow.” I sigh, “Thanks, bud.”
I left a blood drawn heart this time instead of a smiley face. Just for Celine. Even when I’m killing, I’m only thinking of her.
Celine. My mate. This can’t be the end. She doesn’t know how big of a dick I have yet. I’m going to die and she doesn’t even know. This is the worst.
The sound that comes out of me is equivalent to a dying animal getting run over by a car. I certainly feel that way as well. “Fuck me,” I wheeze, as pain radiates from the top of my head down to my toes.
“I’m here!” The front door slams against the wall as I throw the keys down and rush inside. “Zavier, you better not be dead! I haven’t gotten to interrogate you Detective Brennan style yet!” A low, weak wheeze sounds from the living room, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Might as well rip the bandage off.” He runs a hand through his red hair much like the color of the blood he was just downing. “I’m a vampire.” I wait for him to say more but he doesn’t. No punchline to the joke, no ha I got you, Celine. He says nothing else and sits there waiting for me to reply to his ridiculous statement. “A vampire,” I reply in a deadpan voice. He nods. “I vant to suck your blood ... kind of vampire?” Zav rolls his eyes at that one. “That’s a harmful stereotype, how dare you bring that up?” He crosses his arms, sporting a mock pout on his lips,
“Please, don’t be afraid of me. Don’t pull away.” His baritone voice cracks, breaking my heart. “I can’t stand it.” Thankfully he doesn’t make another move to touch me and backs up slightly.
I am indeed crusty, but hey, at least I’m the sexiest crusty vampire she’ll ever meet.
Twisting toward her, I hold her to me like the most precious thing in the world. Because she is.
I can’t blame her for needing time. I’m overzealous and want to jump headfirst into things with her.
I notice him staring at Celine’s chest a little too long and bristle. Welp, another one to add to my list.
I cast one last glance back at my car. True to his word, Zav sits in the passenger seat like a seemingly perfect angel. His tall form looks hilariously normal folded into the vehicle and at the same time too ethereal for this world.
“Ready to go, my little wet kitten?” Zavier asks from where he watches next to me. “Strike that nickname off your list.” I fiddle with the vent so warm air blasts me in the face. “Would you prefer sweet cheeks? Or honey bun? Or pudding pop?” He purses his lips in thought. “Oh, I know, pookie.” “Shut up,” I groan. “I beg of you. No pet names.” He grins maniacally. “Where are we headed?”
she giggles softly, and I’m a goner.
I haven’t told her we’re mates yet, but should probably do it sooner rather than later. I want to get started on our forever.
Zavier wasn’t happy about it when I told him I was headed back to work this morning. The mopey pout he sported, and koala hug he latched onto me with were pitiful.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out with a smile I can’t seem to stop. “Yes?” I cross my arm under the elbow of my other that holds the phone to my ear. Silence greets me. “Hellloooo?” “I miss you,” a sappy voice croons from the other end.
Zavier tilts his head at me like a dog begging its owner for attention. Where did I find this one? In an abandoned alley? Well, kind of.
Zavier picks up my water and strategically places his lips on my lip gloss prints on the edge of the glass. His green eyes bore into mine and I fight the shiver that comes over me. This man.
“Celine. I promise you are not a burden in the slightest. I’ve been alone for hundreds of years and now I have you.” His eyes soften and I melt a little. “I love waking up to you in my apartment. I love hearing your soft snores through the door. I love learning what I do that makes you roll your eyes. I love seeing how wild your hair looks when you walk out of the bedroom in the morning.”
“Please don’t think you’re a burden. You’re a light in my life.” A small stroke on the top of my hand. “Well, Midnight comes first and then you.” He winks and I purse my lips.
Freaking stalker vampire.
pitiful state and pulls me into a side hug. His hand directs my head to rest on his shoulder. “Tell Daddy Zav what’s going on.” Faster than the speed of light I pull back and glare at him. “Never say those words to me again.”
We may be fated mates but no magnetic pull dictates who or what I do. Yes, it may initially bring us together in a way it wouldn’t for others, but we still have free will. If I wasn’t insanely attracted to you both mentally and physically, I wouldn’t be here. You are the most stunning, intelligent, kind creature I’ve ever crossed paths with, and I worship the ground you walk on.”
“Pretty girl, you’re my everything. We haven’t known each other long considering the length of my life thus far, but up until now its paled in comparison to being with you. The mate bond doesn’t force us into doing anything. Okay?” I reiterate my point, and she nods. “Get it through that gorgeous skull of yours that I’m here for you because I want to be here. You can’t get rid of me.”
She probably doesn’t realize it, but there will never come a time when I tire of her. She is the single, most important thing, in my immortal life.
I startle when Ava suddenly shouts. “Zavier get your fine ass out here!” He appears before us in a tumble of crimson hair.
“You rang for me and my emotional support pussy?” He strokes Midnight’s tail like an evil villain waiting expectantly in their chair.
I glance pointedly at Zavier, and he holds his hands up in surrender before answering. He pouts and adjusts his glasses where they’ve slid down his nose. “Now when have I ever misbehaved?”
I’ll be a good boy and come,” he whispers against my ear,
