Page 76 of The Huntress
Chapter Twenty-Nine
NEEDS
Callieawoketopitchdarkness, leaving her wondering what had disturbed her. She shut her eyes, drawing in a deep breath as she assessed her body and her surroundings. Exhaustion saturated her limbs, her mind, dragging her will to the depths of no return. She couldn’t muster the energy to raise her hand. Just thinking of doing it had her yawning.
From the bed beneath her, sun-drenched sheets and a spicy scent engulfed her. She could smell Gabe, and she wondered how Stavros had managed that detail. She rolled onto her back and groaned as every muscle protested. She remembered suffering like this once when Captain had enrolled her detectives for martial arts training. Her calves had taken the brunt of it despite the muscle relaxants prescribed.
“George?” she whispered with her throat grated. The pattering of tiny feet along her arm and onto her chest had her opening her eyes to focus on her friendly rodent. “There you are, sweetheart.”
His coat gleamed, and an aura of happiness strobed off him.
“What has you in such good spirits?” She smiled, wishing she could lift a finger to stroke his tiny head. He scampered closer to rub his cheek along her chin. “Love you too, buddy.” She chuckled.
Raising an aching hand to cup him, she struggled into a sitting position.
“Do you think Gabe’s still searching for us?” She asked the question aloud but her voice dwindled as the room’s features penetrated her mind.
It looked like Gabe’s room. Had Stavros been there before, and knew it well enough to replicate it to this extent? A shiver rippled through her, reminding her she was in pain. The thought of that man staring at them while they slept wasn’t a pleasant one. It would explain a lot, though, like how he had perfected Gabe’s scent. Even the door was in the correct spot. It opened on silent hinges, and her breath hitched. She clutched George to her chest as she bit down on her lip to smother any reaction on her part.
The bare-chested man who stepped through the door had disbelief, hope, and bright joy warring for supremacy in her heart.
“Gabe?” She silently begged the Lord to let this man be him and not a Stavros-illusion.
He flicked his fingers, and the room brightened, slow enough to allow her eyes to adjust. Gabe stood there in nothing but black silk yoga pants hanging low on his hips, revealing his Adonis belt to her hungry gaze. Golden light played across his torso and pebbled nipples. She admired the bared length of him, skimming over the dazzling smile curling his sensual lips. Arresting her attention was the expression in his gray eyes. Joy, gratitude, and affection were easy to discern, for they echoed within her.
“I wanted to be here when you awoke.” His voice thickened with emotion.
“I wasn’t alone.” She stroked George’s neck.
“I can see that.” He chuckled before clambering onto the bed to tug her into his arms. His embrace tightened as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck. She burrowed into him, relief draining her tension, pouring lethargy through her limbs. She was grateful he was careful not to crush George, but being in his arms meant she was safe, home.
“I can’t express how happy I am to have you home.” His muffled words echoed her thoughts. “How are you feeling? Hungry? Thirsty? Whatever you need, Callie.”
She lifted George to her shoulder, then rested her palms on Gabe’s chest, relishing the velvet heat of him. “I’m thirsty, and I could do with a rare steak.”
“Callie.” He leaned away to cup her cheek. “As a youngling, you need blood.”
“I know, it’s just that I’m craving steak. Besides, the only blood I’d drink is yours. Oh, and about that…” She sat up and glared at him. “When were you planning on revealing your deceit?”
“What deceit?” His expression was one of innocence.
The consummate actor, the freaking suckblood.
“That you’ve been converting me every time we fucked? It’s my decision, Gabriel. Mine!” She shoved him back so she could scramble away from him. Sitting still and berating him trembled her body with pent-up energy.
“I didn’t decide on a date or time. Sharing of blood is part of a vamp’s sexuality, and I hoped doing it this way would be the least painful for you.” He rested against the headboard, folding his arms behind his head, and crossed his ankles, as if her furious tirade wasn’t justifiable.
“Right, you deceived me to help me. How noble of you.” She paused her pacing to glower.
“Callie, what truly upsets you?”
“Every time you do something like this, it shakes my trust in you. What if I died during the conversion? You tell me Val is fine, but I haven’t seen her in a while. If I died, it would be without bidding her goodbye.”
“The slower the conversion, the higher the success. I’d never jeopardize your life. You must know that, otherwise, why claim you? Besides, Leo’s bringing Val over tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she squeaked, gulping past the lump in her throat.
Gabe sighed, uncrossed his ankles to slide off the bed. He circled his arms around her as if she wasn’t furious with him.
