Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“Yes!” Gideon shouted and then covered his mouth with both hands, eyes wide. “Every time Ryder gets all hover-y, I feel like I can’t take care of myself. I start doubting everything, and it drives me crazy. I thought that if I lived on my own for a while, I could build up my confidence. I could be stronger so Rafe, Ryder, and…even you wouldn’t worry so much about me.”
Philippe tapped his lips with his index finger as an idea began to form in his mind. He understood where Gideon was coming from, and he wanted to help the vampire gain the confidence he so desperately needed. There was a chance that Rafe was going to kill him for even suggesting this, but he was fairly certain he could convince his lover he was right about it.
“I have a suggestion.”
“You do?”
“What if you and Ryder rented a town house together?” he suggested, which earned him an immediate nose wrinkle of doubt. “Hear me out. The town house will be divided into separate apartments and outfitted with all of Winter’s daytime security. You’d have your own floor with a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, just like a regular apartment. You’d have your own front door. Same as Ryder. I think the only concession you’d have to make is there would have to be an interior set of stairs that connected your apartments. That way, you’d have your own space and if you had any trouble—night or day—Ryder could be right there to help you.”
“That sounds amazing,” Gideon said in a kind of breathless wonder. “Do you think Rafe would be okay with it?”
Philippe winced. “I think so, but there might be one other catch.”
“What?”
“He’d need proof that you’re hunting regularly on your own. Rafe worries about you taking proper care of yourself. I do, too.”
Gideon sat up straight, his smile wide. “I am!” Philippe didn’t hide his skepticism. He saw the pain in his gait as he crossed the room. “I swear, I am. It’s only been ten days since I last fed. Not that long.”
“Then you’re not drinking deeply enough,” Philippe observed. Gideon should be able to comfortably go two weeks between feedings, but if he wasn’t drinking enough when he did feed, it would cut that time.
The young vampire slumped on the sofa, dropping his back into the corner. “No. I’m still working on it. When I finally feed, I start getting paranoid that the person is going to wake from the haze or someone is going to see us. Or that some other vampire…” He stopped and sighed. “I’m trying. I swear I am. But if I knew this was the only thing standing between me and my own place, I know I’d get better at this much faster.”
“Then how about you strike a deal with me tonight?” Philippe leaned forward slightly, a grin spreading wide enough across his lips to reveal the points of his fangs. “You feed from me and get up to your full strength so you can hunt with confidence. I’ll talk to Rafe for you about the town house idea.”
“You’d convince him for me?”
“I would.”
Gideon seemed to hesitate, his eyes slipping up to Philippe’s neck and then hurrying away. The few times he’d seen Gideon feed from Rafe, it was always from a vein in his neck. It was intimate, and they’d had years to build up that trust.
Philippe unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt and started to roll it up to his elbow. “I think my wrist would be just fine, right?”
“Yes. Of course. But…are you sure?”
“I am. I want this for you, Gideon, and I’m always happy to offer my blood to make you stronger.”
He held out his arm, and Gideon surprised him by sliding off the sofa to the floor. He settled right next to Philippe, on his knees, and so gently grasped Philippe’s arm with both hands as if he were a fragile piece of ancient porcelain. When his fangs finally pierced his flesh, the pain was slight, and it was forgotten when a happy sigh whispered from Gideon.
Philippe had more than two centuries on Gideon. His age and power would provide him with a much-needed boost of strength and chase away old pains for well over two weeks. Hopefully, it would help to give him some new confidence when it came to hunting.
The dark head bent, the careful pull on his vein, the delicate hands holding him, they all blended to tug at his heart. There was something infinitely gentle and sweet about Gideon. Two things that had no business being in a vampire, but even after all he’d suffered, they could not be extinguished.
But there was also an inner strength to him, a will of steel. Philippe wanted to see him shining with new confidence and determination. He wanted to see him take what he wanted. And Philippe had a sneaking suspicion what he wanted was Ryder.