Page 34 of Vampire Pack

"I feel it. I'd just rather get through the overwhelm together."

"I can see that perspective. I just don't feel the same way."

King nodded. "Alright. Well, physical therapy is nonnegotiable. Me going with you to it is also nonnegotiable. The game tomorrow isn't an option for you with the state of your shoulder, but technically, I could play."

My throat got a little tight, but I nodded. "I could sit in the team's box."

"I don't want you anywhere near other men," he said, matter-of-factly.

"I don't want you in a game while I'm sitting on my fucking couch." I gestured toward my apartment, the motion a little violent.

"Then I'll sit out."

I scoffed. "The game tomorrow is against the Claws. They fucked Yolden up last year. You have to play, just to knock out a few of their teeth. I can take Paige and Mallory into the box with me. They'd be fine to stay between me and any other men at all times."

"I'll think about it."

Something told me that was as good as I was going to get from him, at the moment.

I forced myself to nod. "Fine."

"I think one night apart is a fair request," he said. "We can figure out what to do about tomorrow night when we get there."

I blinked.

That was suspiciously easy.

"I'm going to need some of your clothes, to make that work. Your scent is stale on most of the ones I have."

"Fair." I agreed. Quickly.

Why the fuck wouldn't I? He'd just offered me exactly what I'd asked for, on a slightly more realistic scale than my original request.

"I need the old ones back, though. I'm running low right now." I usually texted him an order to bring them back, when my closet started to get really abysmal.

"I can manage that. Give me your phone." He held his hand out.

I reluctantly handed it over.

He typed in my code—I had no idea how he'd learned it—and pulled up the app I used for maps. It only took him a minute to save an address in there.

Then, he connected our phones, so we could always see each other's locations.

He also added something to his contact page, then added his contact to my favorites, so it popped up at the top of every list. Then gave the device back.

"Alright. You have my address, in case you need it. I put the code to my house in, so you have that, and instructions to find my room in case your nose fails you."

"My nose would never fail me."

"Doesn’t hurt to be prepared. I also want a phone call as soon as you start feeling any side effects from the bond. If you need to be close to me, you have to tell me. I won't feel that drive the same way you do."

"Okay." I agreed vocally, even though I didn't agree internally.

I wasn't just going to track him down and climb into bed with him if I wanted to snuggle. We were barely mates. I'd try to accept the bond, but that didn't mean I would dive into everything.

We went inside. King insisted on getting the door for me, and because my shoulder was still pretty sore, I didn't fight him on it.

Mallory was sitting on the countertop, stirring a pot of boiling pasta with one hand. She sketched in a book that was balanced on her thigh with the other. Her gaze lifted when we walked in, and she waved with her pasta spoon.