He rolled to the side, keeping them joined as he took her with him. “Well?” he breathed, sounding spent and winded. “How did I do?”
“A plus,” she whispered, barely conscious. “A plus.”
* * *
“Married life definitely agrees with you,” Muriel said, hugging Jessie.
“Yeah. You should try it sometime.” Jessie glanced toward the car where Brandon was talking to Matt and looking decidedly unhappy.
“Maybe someday,” Muriel murmured. “We’ll see.”
“You sure you won’t change your mind?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Mythic is great. I’m just not sure it’s for me, you know? But I’ll definitely be back, even if it’s just for a visit.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
After one last hug, Muriel pulled away and walked toward the car. She hugged Matt, then Brandon, before getting into the car and driving away. Matt stalked back up to the house, but Brandon simply waved and walked away in the other direction.
“I’m going to miss her,” Jessie said as Matt pulled her into his arms.
“I know you will, baby. But she’ll be back.”
“You sound pretty certain of that.”
Matt glanced at Brandon’s retreating figure. “Never underestimate the lengths a man is willing to go to for his mate.”
Jessie exhaled. “So it’s true.”
Matt nodded. “But it’s for them to work out. In the meantime, I’ve got something else to keep your mind occupied.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“A test,” he said with a grin. His big hand pressed at the small of her back, pushing her back into their house. “Seems only fair if I have to take one, you do, too.”
“Hmmm,” she said, trying to hide her grin as she took off up the steps. “Did I ever tell you what an excellent student I am?”
Thanks for reading Matt and Jessie’s story
You didn’t have to pick this book, but you did. Thank you!
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Abbie
If you liked this book...
... then check out this excerpt from the my standalone paranormal romance, Vampire Unaware...
Green eyes the color of perfect emeralds turned on him, flashing in the moonlight. “What are you saying? That he made me a vampire, too?”
Brendan said yes, but Jason was shaking his head. “Not exactly.” As Brendan opened his mouth to argue, Jason put his hand up. “Obviously, you have acquired some vampiric traits – enhanced speed, a taste for blood, intolerance to the sun – but you are not fully vampire. Your heart still beats in your chest, and you have no fangs.”
Morgan ran her fingers along her teeth, testing his claim. The fact that she did not take his word for it was irksome, but understandable. He would have done the same in her situation.
As she was pondering that, Brendan said, “What did I do wrong?”
Jason glared at him. “Let’s see. You drank from a human when forbidden to do so. That was your first mistake. Unfortunate, but completely understandable given the situation. Then you gave her your blood to ease her pain and, I imagine, your guilty conscience. Again, unfortunate but understandable. But allowing her to live? To remember? That is more than unfortunate, Brendan. That is unforgivable.”
Brendan had the good sense to look ashamed. “Yeah, I get that. But why isn’t she a vamp now?”
Jason studied her as if she was a bug pinned to his desk. “Could be any number of things. My guess? Your blood wasn’t enough to effect the change – neither in strength nor quantity. As a youngling, your blood has the power to heal and enhance, but not to actually create.”
Morgan gasped and went down to her knees as her legs suddenly gave way. Both men spared her a quick glance, but continued to talk over her head.
“So what does that mean?” Brendan asked. “I have to give her more?”
Morgan made a choking noise.
“Brendan,” Jason said, his voice calm and reasonable like that of a parent explaining why they couldn’t take the puppy home from the pet store, “I know you like her and want to keep her, but that may not be the best thing.”
“So what, you just want to do a mind-wipe and send her back out there among the humans?”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” Jason said, genuine regret in his voice. “Her body chemistry has been permanently altered by your blood. Even if we erase all of her memories, she would be living proof of our existence. A simple blood test would reveal anomalies, and we cannot allow that to happen. You know that.”
“So what are our options?”
“We either convert her fully, or...”
Jason didn’t need to say the words. Morgan’s eyes grew wide with understanding; Brendan got a pained look on his face.
“I think we need to ask her what she wants,” Brendan said.
Jason looked down at the girl on the ground, and felt a twinge of sympathy. Her eyes were wide again, swimming with unshed tears as the reality of the situation crashed down upon her. Become a vampire, or die.
“I don’t even eat meat,” she whispered to no one in particular. “I could never...” That’s when the first tear fell.
“It’s not so bad,” Brendan said, crouching down. “Once you get used to it.”
She turned disbelieving eyes his way. Jason once again picked up her innermost thoughts: horror at the way she’d bitten that farmer’s arm; how she’d been violently sick afterward, realizing what she’d done.
“Isn’t there another choice?” she asked softly, her voice thick.
“I’m sorry,” Jason said, meaning it. Despite his irritation with the situation, he had to admit she was a brave little creature. Without meaning to, Brendan had damned her the instant he’d given her his blood. It didn’t matter that his intentions had been good. Rules were rules for a reason, and now they were forced to pay the price for the compassion of the boy’s lingering humanity.
“It is what it is. You must choose.”
Big green eyes looked at him. She swallowed hard and chewed her bottom lip as she considered her limited options.
Finally, she straightened her shoulders and looked directly into Jason’s eyes. “I’d rather die than be like you.”
Praise for Vampire Unaware:
“An author who has a sense of humor and doesn't rely on sex and violence to make a great paranormal story. The characters are nice and humanized. It's a love story that relies on good writing and not shock value. A good old fashioned love story with a little extra. Well done.” ~ Amazon Reviewer Gail
“Wonderful writing that pulls you along. Believable characters. Well-paced action. The story grips you right from the start.” ~ Amazon Reviewer Ann
About the Author
Abbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know...
Also by Abbie Zanders
Contemporary Romance
Dangerous Secrets (Callaghan Brothers, Book 1)
First and Only (Callaghan Brothers, Book 2)
House Calls (Callaghan Brothers, Book 3)
Seeking Vengeance (Callaghan Brothers, Book 4)
Guardian Angel (Callaghan Brothers, Book 5)
Beyond Affection (Callaghan Brothers, Book 6)
Having Faith (Callaghan Brothers, Book 7)
Bottom Line (Callaghan Brothers, Book 8)
Forever Mine (Callaghan Brothers, Book 9)
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Celina (Connelly Cousins, Book 1)
Johnny (Connelly Cousins, Book 2)
Michael (Connelly Cousins, Book 3)
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Five Minute Man (Covendale Series, Book 1)
All Night Woman (Covendale Series, Book 2)
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The Realist
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Celestial Desire
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Letting Go (02/15/17)
Time Travel Romance
Maiden in Manhattan
Raising Hell in the Highlands
Paranormal Romance
Vampire, Unaware
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Black Wolfe’s Mate (written as Avelyn McCrae)
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Faerie Godmother (Mythic Series, Book 1)
Fallen Angel (Mythic Series, Book 2)
The Oracle at Mythic (Mythic Series, Book 3)
Wolf Out of Water (Mythic Series, Book 4)
Historical Romance
A Warrior’s Heart (written as Avelyn McCrae)
Wolf Out of Water: Mythic Series, Book 4 Page 12
