by CoraLee June
“And how are you?” I asked.
“I’m alright. I’ve arranged for another guard to take over the evening shift. I hope you don’t mind, but I really want to check on—”
“Betty. Yes, of course. I’m sorry for not thinking of it sooner.” I scratched the back of my neck while staring at his blood-stained shirt. “Go be with her. We are fine for now. She is safe.”
“Thank you, King Diego,” Rocky replied with a little bow.
“Please tell Betty that once things have settled down, we will have a promotion ceremony for her.”
Rocky blanched. “A promotion ceremony?”
“She saved the future queen’s life. She will be rewarded appropriately for her bravery and strength. I’m amazed she got free from those chains.”
Rocky looked down at the ground with a sly smile full of fondness. “She’s tenacious, boss.”
“That she is,” I replied.
Rocky left, and his replacement set up outside Drew’s apartment. After making a few phone calls, I made my way back into the bedroom where Drew was sleeping so I could resume my staring. The door creaked when I opened it, and she stirred on the mattress.
“Diego?” she croaked.
“Right here, beautiful.”
She ran a hand through her wild brown hair and sat up to look at me. There was a vulnerability in her gaze as she reached her hand out for me to take. I moved closer and threaded our fingers together, squeezing as if to prove to both of us that she was here. My, how things had changed. I never thought my life would be some completely intertwined with someone else’s.
“You okay? Need blood?” I asked before sitting beside her on the mattress. She shook her head and pressed her cheek to my chest while wrapping her arms around me. I held her close in the dark silence for a moment while stroking her hair.
“That was a close one. I really liked Claire.”
I’d known Claire my entire life; she’d been one of my best friends. Her betrayal was something that cut deep, but I would have to come to terms with that later. Right now, Drew needed me. “I’m glad you’re safe. Maybe Betty should be a general in my army.”
“You should have seen her. Watching Claire get beat up by a bleeding-out granny was…intense.”
I chuckled. Betty was unstoppable. “Are you okay?” I asked.
Drew huffed before pulling away. I stared at her soft features and beautiful eyes for a moment, waiting for her to speak. I’d been feeling a swirl of her emotions since her rescue but couldn’t quite pinpoint one dominant feeling. She’d been all over the place. Relief. Grief. Sadness. Anger. Happiness. Love.
Love was the emotion I clung to. I hoped she could feel my appreciation. My protectiveness. My care and concern. My…love.
“I love you, Diego,” she whispered. Those words were so special to me, but I wasn’t surprised by her declaration. She winced. “I know it’s cliché to say that after a near-death experience, but…I just wanted to tell you that. This thing between us is rushed and confusing. But I love you, Diego. I really do.”
It was like music to my ears. I’d never heard something so beautiful and pure. I was fine with her doubts. I could handle her needing time to fully absorb all of this.
But we would do it together, and that made all the difference.
I stared lovingly at her like a complete dumbass for a good thirty seconds, soaking in her declaration. “Uh, Diego?” Drew said, smirking. I knew she could probably hear my thoughts. Feel my happiness.
“Yes, beautiful?” I asked.
“Shouldn’t you say it back?”
I pulled her closer and kissed her neck. “I love you, Drew,” I whispered over her soft skin before licking a line along the throbbing vein there. “I love how strong you are. I love that you’re the most determined person I know. I love how you fight for everything you have. You stand up for people who don’t deserve your forgiveness and patience. You make even the hardest of hearts soften.”
“Aw, your heart wasn’t that hard. There was good hiding within you.”
I chuckled. “I was talking about Bitchy Betty.”
“Oh, well she’s not that bad either,” she teased. “But I don’t want to talk about Betty right now...”
Drew moved closer to me and slipped a hand underneath the hem of my shirt, running her palm over my abs. She tugged at the hem, and I shifted so that she could easily slide the shirt over my head.
She brought her mouth to mine and kissed me deeply. Her lips tasted so sweet, like strawberry Chapstick, and I grunted my protest when she withdrew them. My displeasure was replaced with anticipation that made my cock stir as she dipped her head to my neck and started trailing kisses down my bare chest.
By the time she reached the spot where my skin met the fabric of my jeans, my dick was at full attention. She took her time with that sensitive spot, driving me wild. She was teasing me with kisses, slipping her tongue down below my waistband and grazing my skin with her teeth.
“Drew,” I pleaded. She looked up at me with a devilish grin. I was seconds away from begging her to wrap her plush lips around my member when she unbuttoned my pants and slid them and my boxer briefs down enough to expose my length.
Drew kissed the tip and swirled her tongue around the head, flicking it back and forth on the underside of my shaft. When she took my full length into her mouth, I bucked beneath her. I reached my hand down and tugged at her hair. Watching her head bob up and down on my cock brought me right to the edge. I had to close my eyes and lean back on the pillow so that I wouldn’t embarrass myself by coming in thirty seconds.
It wasn’t working, she was incredible at giving head. Now I understood why she liked to brag about it so much, this woman deserved a fucking medal. “Drew,” I said again, this time to stop her.
“Hmmm…?” she questioned, her mouth still around my dick.
“I want to come inside you,” I told her and pulled her up toward me. I tore off her pink tank top as she clawed at the matching shorts. Thankfully, Drew slept commando.
I laid her down on the soft comforter and positioned myself on top of her. She opened her legs, and I slid inside of her. Her breath hitched as I entered her, and I moaned at her wetness. I pumped slowly, wanting to take my time with her, until she grabbed my ass and dug her nails in.
“Harder,” she demanded.
I thrust into her harder and faster until she arched her back and her muscles clenched around my dick.
Fuck, she felt so fucking good.
Once she came down from the high of her orgasm, I grabbed her hips and forced her to look me in the eye.
“Tell me again,” I begged. I wanted to come with love on her tongue.
She smirked and sent the message to me telepathically. I love you.
I started fucking her harder. “Say it out loud, beautiful.”
Her legs shook. She bit her lip, nearly piercing it with her sharp teeth. I love you.
I rocked harder and harder, not stopping until she was crying out and the words I ached to hear for the rest of my life were spilling from her lips. “I fucking love you, Diego,” she promised while shattering once more. Her orgasm sent me spiraling into my own. I was completely satisfied—and completely spent. I fucking loved this woman. This unexpected, beautiful soul. The most extraordinary woman I’d ever known was writhing around my cock and I was the lucky bastard that got to see this for the rest of my existence. When her muscles relaxed, I pulled out and collapsed beside her.
Drew laid her head on my chest and let her fingertips wander across my chest. I stroked her cheek and looked down at her, she was so beautiful. I was so lucky to have her, and I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure that she knew it.
“I love you, my queen.”
“I love you too, my king.”
Epilogue
Drew
My husband looked fucking good in a crown. It was an onyx ring around his head that complimented the ruby red throne he sat on. He was shirtless, an
d blood dripped from the edges of his mouth. I imagined straddling his lap and riding him into oblivion, but I hadn’t been feeling very well the last few days, and we had work to do.
Another flash of the camera made him scowl. “Are we done yet?” he asked.
“You still have three wardrobe changes,” Betty answered while picking up a pair of handcuffs and tossing them at him. “Twirl this on your finger, and give the photographer a smolder.” Her demand made me chuckle. Working with Betty was the best decision I’d ever made. She was brilliant, and her marketing brain was taking every nursing home by storm. She was determined to put a dildo on every nightstand across the country.
“I still don’t understand why I’m the face of your paranormal line,” Diego grumbled.
“Hold that look! That’s the smolder!” A couple dozen flashes of light went off as Diego scowled again. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Rocky chuckling.
“Wardrobe change!” Betty yelled before typing furiously on her iPad.
I sauntered up to Diego to help him off the throne. I was licking my lips and following the dips of his abs. Suck. My mate was hot. “You did provide the molds for this dildo. We have to have your face on the box. It’s literally named The Vampire King.”
“Do you think people will like it?”
“The photos?” I asked, confused by his question.
He blushed. “No, uh…” His embarrassment was adorable. I moved to sit on his lap, placing a swift kiss on his cheek as I did.
“Your cock will have women all over America screaming,” I promised him. His expression relaxed. Perhaps that was a weird validating comment coming from his wife, but he was seriously packing. People were going to love it.
“There’s only one woman I want to make scream,” he purred before shifting on the throne. His hard-on dug into me. Oh, my my my.
Betty reappeared with a hanger and something that looked like leather floss dangling from it. Diego and I turned to look, and I had to force myself not to laugh. “Nope. I’m not wearing that,” Diego said before standing up and cradling me to his chest. “In fact. You’re going to have to use one of the other thousands of photos taken today. Drew and I are going home. We only have a couple of hours until Ryan’s vampire hearing tonight.” I grinned. I couldn’t believe Diego was going to allow my best friend to turn into a vampire. He was going to sucking rock it.
“But I had a butt plug I wanted you to model!” Betty cursed.
“Not happening, Betty,” Diego called over his shoulder. He was stomping toward the exit with my laughing ass in tow.
“You can’t go five minutes without fucking!” Betty called. “NO WONDER SHE’S PREGNANT.”
Diego stopped. I dipped my brow in confusion. “What?” I asked.
“I can hear the second heartbeat from here. Listen,” Betty said with a smirk and a wave of her hand before turning around and heading back to the wardrobe room. “You’ve been working so hard you haven’t even noticed.”
Diego and I stared at each other, and the moment I tuned in, that second heartbeat was all I could hear.
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump.
Diego smiled. I…suddenly felt sick.
“Holy shit, you’re pregnant.”
A million thoughts ran through my mind all at once. What the fuck did you do with a baby? A VAMPIRE baby? My company just launched, too. Oh my gosh. Not to mention, my apartment was tiny. Would Yaz and Ryan be godparents? I’d never really thought about kids. I wasn’t even sure I wanted one.
“Here you go. Grabbed it during Rocky’s and my couples counseling with Eva. She had it on her desk.” I hadn’t even noticed Betty reappear. She thrust a book in my face, and I glanced at the title: What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Vampire.
“How long have you known?” I asked her incredulously.
“I had a dream a couple weeks ago that you had a little boy. Eva thinks I have the gift of sight.”
“A boy?” I asked while rubbing my stomach. Diego seemed to pick up on my unease because he held me tighter. “We’re going to have a boy.” Suddenly, I felt excited. A little boy. Would he look like Diego? Oh gosh, we would need to move to Diego’s place, it was so much bigger but would be a bitch to babyproof. What did baby vampires eat? Did they have fangs?
“We’ve got this, babe. I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he whispered in my ear.
Nausea rolled up my stomach, and I suddenly felt like I was going to puke all over him. I clawed at Diego to let me down, unable to get the words out. Oh suck.
Vomit shot out of me like an exorcism, barely missing him and splashing the floor with the pancakes I’d had for brunch. Diego gagged and nearly dropped me. I started to cry.
Morning sickness. I had morning sickness. No wonder I had been puking so much.
Well, This Sucks.
Seconds passed, and finally Diego started laughing. “What a sucking mess,” I croaked. He walked me over to a clean spot, and Rocky grabbed me a water bottle. Guzzling it down made my stomach churn. When I was done trying to eradicate the taste of puke from my mouth, Diego tucked a stray puke-soaked strand of hair behind my ear. “This is the best day of my life.”
I blanched. “I almost just puked on you.”
He pressed a palm to my stomach, and a single tear traveled down his cheek. “I have a family again,” he whispered, his voice full of adoration.
It dawned on me then that he was right. We did have a family. A perfect, small family. I had no idea what I was doing, but we would figure it out—together. “You’re changing the diapers,” I said with a frown.
“Anything for you, my queen.”
Thank you for reading!
Hey there! Thank you so much for reading!
Drew was hilarious but also really sucking cool to write. If you enjoyed this story, we kindly ask that you leave a review. Reviews are the lifeblood of an author’s career, and every star counts.
Have a happy day,
Carrie and CoraLee
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the support and love of our PAs, Christina Santos and Savannah Richey, as well as Christine Estevez with Wildfire Marketing.
We would like to especially thank Katie Friend and Claire Jones for beta reading.
We are grateful to all of those with whom we have had the pleasure to work with during this book. We’d like to especially recognize our editor, Helayna Trask. She always takes the time to dive into the worlds we create and make sure they are perfect for you all. We would also like to thank all the dedicated members of The Zone, The Gray Area, and Cora’s Crew. And finally, thank you to HarleyQuinn Zaler for this drool-worthy cover.
About the Author
CoraLee June is an international bestselling romance writer who enjoys engaging projects and developing real, raw, and relatable characters. She is an English major from Texas State University and has had an intense interest in literature since her youth. She currently resides with her husband and two daughters in Dallas, Texas, where she enjoys long walks through the ice cream aisle at her local grocery store.
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Carrie Gray is a new author who has enjoyed putting her own voice on the page and watching the story she helped create come to life. She grew up in Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and has not science-d since. She lives in the Dallas, Texas, area with her husband and son, where she has still not adjusted to the heat and wonders why people go outside when there’s perfectly good air-conditioning and snacks inside.
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