Page 75 of Accidental Blood Lust
“Thank you,” I murmur, leaning out the window to give Roman a quick kiss before Loch nudges me out of the way so he can climb through it instead of just using the front door. “Doyou want me to call anywhere for a reservation, by the way? You didn’t say where you wanted to go tonight.”
Roman grins. “Already taken care of. I made a call while Loch was playing dress-up with Cas. There’s a demon Auri had us do a job for last year, and he owns a restaurant in the city. Rooftop dining with an incredible view.” He grimaces at Loch. “Shit, is it insensitive to take a vampire on a date to a restaurant? I’m going to need to workshop some new date ideas that don’t involve food.”
“I don’t mind,” Loch assures him. “I can drink some wine without getting sick, and it’ll be nice just being with the two of you.”
“Okay, perfect. I am going to make a list of date ideas though.”
“We’ll work on it together,” I promise, not wanting Roman to feel like he’s responsible for all of the planning and heavy lifting in this relationship. I know he likes it, that he wants to take care of us, but we’re in this together. All of us.
He trots off to finish up in the garden, and I turn away from the window so I can get dressed while Loch sinks into my leftover bath water to quickly clean the dirt off.
“This is kind of sexy.” He waggles his eyebrows, scooping up a handful of water and splashing it on his face. “All this water caressed your gorgeous, naked body and now I’m soaking in it.”
“That is kind of sexy.” I bend over the tub to catch his lips in a slow kiss. “I still feel like I’m dreaming and I’ll wake up any minute, alone in my own bed with the two of us still broken up and Roman still stubbornly waiting for his fated mate to come along,” I confess.
“It’s not a dream. Need proof?”
I nod, my nose bumping against his. He smirks and sinks his teeth into my bottom lip, catching it with the tip of his fang just hard enough to draw blood. I gasp at the small shock of pain andthe coppery flavor that hits my tongue. Loch laps up the droplet of blood, and the wound heals almost instantly. It’s enough proof that I’m awake though.
LOCHLAN
It’safter nightfall by the time we’re all cleaned up and dressed. Roman uses the freaky demon teleportation power he got from Auri to bring us to an alley right next to the restaurant. I haven’t been to the city since I was turned, and for a few seconds all the scents and sounds are overwhelming.
“Yeah, the city isn’t my favorite either,” Roman says, reading the discomfort on my face or through our growing bond, I’m not sure which. “I think the view will be worth it though, and this restaurant is supposed to be incredible. It’s for supernaturals only. It has a glamour that makes humans see it as generic office space, and all the waiters are demons. They don’t have menus, they just read you and bring you your favorite food.”
“Like the dining room at Auri’s?” Jareth teases, and Roman huffs.
“Yes, but this will be even cooler because it’s on a rooftop in the city.”
“It’ll be amazing,” I assure him, patting his arm, then reaching for Jare’s hand. My senses are adjusting now, recalibrating to handle the barrage of information. One scent in particular tickles my nose and pings something in the back of my brain that I can’t quite place. It can’t be that important though, or I would recognize it, right?
We head inside the building and make our way up to the rooftop. The scent of humans and garbage and car exhaust is replaced by the tangy smell of magic and the sulfur scent of demons as we step out onto the rooftop. My nose twitches again,but I ignore it. I’m on a date with my mates; I don’t need to worry about weird smells.
I really don’t mind that I won’t be able to eat anything here, but even if I did, Roman was right, the view and the atmosphere more than make up for it. There are small lanterns flickering with blue flames hanging magically in the air above each table, and the sprawling city lights surrounding us in every direction.
A host greets us and takes us to our table.
“Rome, this place is fucking amazing,” Jareth whispers as we sit down.
“Good. I had to impress on our first date.” He grins at both of us.
That damn smell reaches my nose again, and even though I can’t place it, something in the back of my mind is starting to get nervous. Why? I frown and look around.
“Is everything okay?” Roman asks.
“Yeah, I just keep smel—” My eyes land on someone sitting a few tables away, his eyes locked on me with a menacing glint that tells me he noticed me long before I pulled my head out of my ass and saw him. “Shit.”
TWENTY-THREE
ROMAN
One minute I’m sitting with my two mates, admiring the view, and the next Lochlan is out of his seat and in defensive mode as two vampires descend on our table.
I get to my feet, throwing myself between the vampires and Loch, but they’re tricky, ducking and going around me.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jareth yells, joining me.
“You killed our prince,” one of the vampires yells, climbing up onto the railing to give himself a height advantage.
