Roman (Vampire's Mate, #1)

by Grae Bryan

Big brown eyes, messy brown hair, a smattering of freckles across his nose. Lovely.

He was just a boy. A simple human man. One with a smart mouth and a smile that could take someone’s breath away. Not just boy, his demon snarled at him. Not just anything. Special. Perfect. Ours.

He tossed the finished blood bag onto the passenger seat floor and started his car. He needed to get moving. To leave this town. He didn’t have time for lovely boys with smooth skin and freckled noses and big brown puppy-dog eyes.

“Fuck off, I’m reading.” “And a good evening to you too.” He knew that voice. He looked up to find a pair of familiar bright-blue eyes gazing back at him. And now Danny was choking on his turkey sandwich.

There was something different about him tonight. Something less…harsh. He was still clearly prone to staring, but that cold, predatory look was gone. Which was slightly unfortunate, because without the “creep” part, he was just Mr. Handsome, and Danny refused to drool over another hospital employee.

What cologne did this guy use, and would he let Danny borrow some to pour on his pillow?

“Blood and sex, Danny. That is what our demons crave. What I crave.” Well, holy shit. That should not be so hot. That should be terrifying, not arousing.

The pause was making Danny anxious, but he wasn’t sure what he was expecting. For Roman to be all, Yes, human I just met. I am 100 percent certain you are my pre-vampire-demon soulmate who I will be with forever and ever? That would be insane. Right? Then why was Danny feeling so invested in the answer?

He hadn’t had time to meet someone outside of the hospital, and he hadn’t been interested in meeting anyone inside the hospital. And then Roman had walked in, all delicious and broody and saving-him-from-muggers-y.

Roman’s demon had raged at the distance, insisting they be close to their mate. One taste of Danny, and its obsession had only grown. They had compromised by stalking the boy.

“I’m new in town. Be nice.” He stepped in closer to Gabe, breathing in subtly as he went, seeming to inhale the brother’s scent. Roman really hoped it was just an intimidation tactic, because having Soren fixated on Danny’s older brother was just asking for trouble. “I’m actually in need of a big, strong man to accompany me outside for a smoke,” Soren continued. “King Gabriel, was it? I think you’ll fit the bill.”

That surprisingly seemed to take the wind out of Gabe’s sails. Roman watched as he stared, gobsmacked, at the blond man in front of him. “It’s just—it’s just Gabe. And I’m a doctor. I don’t smoke?” It came out like a question. He was looking into Soren’s eyes like he was hypnotized. “You shouldn’t either. It’s, um, bad for you.”

Did that make him stupid? Putting so much trust in a man—a vampire—he’d just met? Probably. And that should almost definitely worry him. But for whatever reason, it didn’t. Just further proof you’re a dummy, dummy.

Gabe had immediately backed down, mumbling about everyone going home and getting some sleep. Danny had never seen him so easily intimidated by anyone. He’d seen his brother hold his own with men built like linebackers, yet this svelte blond supermodel of a vampire seemed to scare the living daylights out of him with no effort at all. Was it petty of Danny to find that hilarious?

My demon has been dying for another taste of you since we healed your shoulder. We both think you have the most delicious blood in all creation.” Oh. Well, that was…nice? How weird was his life now, that he was feeling proud over a vampire he barely knew calling his blood delicious?

“Oh, there are many more places than simply your neck to bite, sweet boy.” Danny had a sudden horrifying thought and couldn’t help but glance down at his dick. Roman burst out laughing, a deep, rolling sound. “No, not there.”

Danny wondered if the vampirism contributed to that flawless physique or if Roman had been that way even as a human. Either way, he gave a little prayer of thanks to whatever higher power was clearly cosmically rewarding him for being such a good boy.

He still didn’t know how to bring up the subject at all. How did you ask a man so full of humanity to give that humanity up for you?

“You…crochet?” Danny fought back a grin but couldn’t quite keep the smile out of his voice. Soren arched a golden eyebrow at him. “What—needlepoint isn’t ‘creature of the night’ enough for you?”

Danny wasn’t sure how they went from strangers to some sort of fated mates situation in the blink of an eye, but surely boyfriends should have been somewhere in between. Right?

“I can’t just not work, Roman.” “You can though, actually,” Roman insisted, eyes intent on Danny’s. “Like Soren said. I can provide for you. Be your…vampire sugar daddy, was it?” He tilted his head in question. Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh.

Roman licked lazily at the bite mark on Danny’s neck and found himself wishing he didn’t have to heal it. Wishing he could leave a permanent mark on his mate’s milky skin. A sign of their bond. A sign of ownership.

“You really shouldn’t get worked up in your condition. Your body needs to heal.” “That bastard!” Gabe shouted. It seemed they were back to yelling.

“Want me to kiss your mate goodbye for you?” Soren teased. In the most even, pleasant voice he could muster, Roman replied, “Touch him and I rip your heart out of your chest, mon ami.” “Noted, you beast.” Soren snorted.

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t have any blood orgies while I’m gone.” “What’s a blood orgy?” Soren sounded disturbingly intrigued. “I don’t know, it just sounds like something you’d do.” Soren’s grin flashed again, more unhinged than ever. “It does, doesn’t it?” See? Disturbing.

“You want to know if your person could still be out there. I get it. But if you kill me before Roman gets here, he’ll kill you, and you’ll never find out for sure.” “If I kill you, and it turns out they’re not real, I’ll be glad to let him.” Luc said the words so quietly Danny almost didn’t catch them.

“He took away your choice, Danny. You were not yet ready. You needed more time, and he took that away from you.” “He did.” Danny nodded. “That was very rude of him.”

Danny wriggled in Roman’s lap, immensely pleased with himself. He was such a good vampire mate already. He was going to be fucking amazing at this.

“I think my demon wants to come out and play with your demon. And by play, I mean fu—” Roman’s hand covered Danny’s mouth. Spoilsport.

“You think that monster has a mate out there?” Roman was staring at Danny in disbelief. “People marry serial killers in prison all the time. A lid for every pot, right?”

He was already hard, and he couldn’t help thrusting himself against Roman slightly, trying to get some friction. And then, to his astonishment, he could feel his fangs popping out. Did he just pop the vampire version of a boner?

Roman suppressed a smirk at the memories of his fierce little mate drinking from his neck while riding him. He’d later claimed Roman tasted like “the best candy in the world, sprinkled with crack on top or something.”

“Tell me again why we can’t just nuke it?” Danny asked. Roman turned to him in horror, and Danny laughed out loud at whatever expression was on Roman’s face. “Oh my God, Rome. Is the aversion to microwaves a French thing or an ancient thing?” “It is a matter of taste thing, little heathen.”

“I mean, I don’t love the thought that I’m on a liquid diet for the rest of my life, but you’ll still make me French toast sometimes, right?” Danny looked up at him with hopeful eyes. Drinking human blood for the first time and his first concern is for the possibility of future French toast.