Free Stalking Dead (Vampire Hunter Book 2) by S.C. Reynolds

was possible. They certainly suited him.
    “Why don’t you lie down? The bed is big enough for two.”
    Well, yeah, but you’re huge and muscular and sprawled out across the entire thing!
    “You can rest your head on my shoulder,” Lucas said. “Unless you don’t want to,” he quickly added.
    “Oh, no, I want to,” I said hurriedly. That sounded so awkward.
    I tried to control my voice, make it sound normal. “I am tired. Not that I can sleep, but it wouldn’t hurt to rest my body, relax for awhile.”
    I crawled into the bed and scooted next to Lucas, placing my head in the crook of his arm. Impulsively, I slung my arm over his chest before I could think about what I was doing.
    It felt right . I couldn’t stop myself from running my hand along his chest, taking in the bulging muscles.
    I looked up at Lucas. His eyes were closed but he was smiling. I watched his chest move up and down with his rhythmic breathing. I thought he must have fallen asleep, when he leaned down and kissed my forehead. I turned my face up towards him, wanting to again feel his soft lips against mine.
    “Aurora,” he whispered my name, leaning down to kiss me. This time it was gentle, sweet. Not like the last time, that feverish kiss we’d shared. I kissed him back. Both kisses were nice.
    I could tell Lucas was tired. He pulled away. “I could kiss you all night. I really could, but I have to try to sleep this off. It’s miserable, feeling like this. Wanting to go out and murder innocent people. But it helps having you here.”
    I smiled. “After tonight, I don’t blame you for needing to sleep.” I snuggled deeper into his arm.
    I thought that was the last I would hear from Lucas, but a few minutes later he said my name again.
    “Yes?” I asked in surprise.
    “I want you to know, no matter what happens, you’re not just another case to me. I really care about you. I just thought you deserved to know it.”
    And with that confession, Lucas was out like a light.

Chapter 23
    The next morning I got out of Lucas’ bed before he woke up, being careful not to disturb him. I wanted to fix myself up before he saw me. If that’s even possible. I probably look like hell after last night.
    But I was pleasantly surprised when I saw myself, considering. My bun had come loose and my hair was a disheveled mess; I looked like the ‘before’ picture in a hair ad for frizz tamer.
    I fixed my hair as best as possible and walked back to Lucas’ room. He was awake now.
    “Good morning,” he said.
    “Hi. How are you feeling today?”
    “Better.”
    “Should I unlock the handcuffs?” I asked.
    “I think so,” Lucas said slowly. “It’s morning now. I couldn’t hunt in the sunlight, even if I wanted to.”
    “Do you?” I whispered.
    “Yes, the urge is still there,” he admitted. “It’s lessened, though. But I’ll be okay now, thanks to Henry. I couldn’t say that if he hadn’t have shown up when he did.”
    I unlocked the handcuffs. Lucas stood up and stretched, rubbing his wrists. “That was brutal; I’m going to be sore all day.”
    “What a night,” I said.
    “I can take you home now,” Lucas offered.
    “Whenever is fine.” I shrugged. “I’m in no hurry. I spend all day at Henry’s house anyway.”
    Truthfully, I was hoping for more time with Lucas. I really wanted to ask him about what he’d said last night, but I was scared that today, as the effects of the blood faded, he either might not remember – or worse – might not feel the same way.
    We walked into the front room of the house.
    “You can stay here today, if you’d rather,” Lucas said.
    “Cool, I’ll just hang out for awhile, until Henry gets back from school.”
    We sat down on the couch.
    “So, do you think Thomas and Bartholomew are going to come looking for you today?” I asked worriedly.
    “I’m going to make some phone calls; see what I can find out about those two. I’m guessing whoever originally hired my agency to kill you