Page 21 of Vampire Pack

"Name one time that I gave you an order you actually followed."

He was silent for a moment.

A long moment.

"That doesn't mean I'm incapable of it," he finally said.

I lifted an eyebrow.

"If you came to my place, I would be more comfortable letting you take charge. Your friends wouldn't have to leave, either," King said, glancing down at the depiction of us that still showed on his phone's screen.

"You live with Jude and Hollis," I pointed out.

"In a house that's much bigger than this apartment, with significant upgrades for privacy."

I'd never seen their house, but I got the feeling that it was massive. Vampires were very particular about personal space. And they could definitely afford whatever they wanted, so I knew the place was probably nice.

"Going to your house would imply that this is serious." I gestured between us with a finger.

"You threatened to kill me if I fuck anyone else a few minutes ago. That implies a level of seriousness."

"It implies possessiveness, which is different than seriousness. You can't remember ever following a single order I've given you, so how serious can we be?”

He worked his jaw back and forth. "Me preferring to be in control doesn't change the situation."

"It defines the situation. Really being together would require us to be partners. We're not partners. We're enemies who fuck. You make the rules. I give in to your rules, and regret it afterward. That's why this isn't happening." I gestured between us again.

"That's why you don't want to have sex again? You think I have all the control?"

"Yes."

He narrowed his eyes. "I recall asking you to go on an actual date with me at least once a month, for the past five years."

My forehead creased. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Yorkie," he said, his voice darker than usual. "If I had all the control, you would've gone on those dates. We would be dating. Not just fucking. Yes, I have most of the control when we fuck, but outside of that? You run this show."

I stared at him for a little too long.

Or maybe a lot too long.

He adjusted my ice pack again.

"You want me?" I finally asked. "As more than just… this?" I gestured between us.

"Yeah. I really fucking do."

I sat back in my chair, not even slightly sure what to do with that.

The fuck buddy who had spent the last five years preventing me from accidentally sealing a mate bond with him wanted to be more than fuck buddies.

That was… a lot.

Damn.

CHAPTER FIVE

carmen