Free Suckers Bite Back (San Francisco Vampires #5) (Vampires of San Francisco series) by Jessica McBrayer Page B

don’t have to come in.” Overprotective much? Why do I keep finding these alpha males?
    “Okay, but you’ve been warned,” I say.
    “Yes, I have. So don’t worry about me.” He grins and kisses my cheek and we part ways.
    I quickly text Sebastian back before he has a hernia.
Just fine here. On my way home now. Are you going to be home tonight?
Lil
Glad you are fine. Yes I will be home. Do you want to talk?
Sebastian
Driving soon, will talk when home
L
    I walk through the cherry wood doors fifteen minutes later to a relieved Bast. He smiles when he sees me and I give him a tentative smile back. I see him visibly relax at seeing it. We are making baby steps.
    Then Nico steps out from behind him and wraps an arm around his waist and glares at me.

14 AIDAN
    When we arrive at the base of the Tetons, Manda opens one eye and then the other. Almost like she is expecting something scary. She’s adorable. When she sees me smirking at her she slaps my arm making me laugh.
    “At least you warned me. I have to admit it was kind of cool. Aidan, just smell this fresh air. Oh goodness, look at those mountains. They are so beautiful. You brought me to my favorite spot, Jenny Lake. If we’re lucky we’ll see some moose.” She grabs my hand and tugs. “Come on, daylight’s burning.”
    I laugh but let her lead me forward to the trail head. We study the different trails and pick the longest one. When we reach the peak of the trail I summon some food for her and we stop for a rest. We’ve seen moose, elk, many birds and a black bear from a distance.
    “Don’t you want any, Aidan?” Manda asks holding out a blood orange.
    “I don’t eat food, love. Other people’s energy is my fuel. That’s the best way to describe it. It’s more like their auras. Yours is pure and honest and beautiful. Truly delicious, so I’m being well fed.”
    “Like a parasite then,” she says, not unkindly. Her biology mind is kicking in.
    “More like a symbiotic relationship. I give back.” I had never thought in those terms before.
    “Interesting,” she says. She bites her bottom lip when she is thinking something through. I already know that about her. I wonder if she even knows.
    “Are you full? We have a way to go and it’s nearing dusk. The grizzlies are bound to be out. Be prepared. If we run into one, I’ll just pop us out of here.”
    “Okay, that’s handy.” She smiles and places her hand over mine. “Thank you, Aidan, for a magickal day. Truly, I can’t imagine a better way to have spent today.” She sighs. “I guess this means that it’s ending though. Let’s make the trek down.”
    When we stand I pull her to me and look into her eyes.
    “It doesn’t have to stop here you know,” I say.
    “Aidan, it is very complicated and I have an extremely busy schedule. I travel extensively.” She reflects for a moment. “It is magickal but I’m a pretty level-headed person – usually.”
    “What better boyfriend to have than a djinn who can travel all over the world with you?”
    She raises an eyebrow at me.
    “Let’s start with dating before you move yourself into the boyfriend status.”
    “I can deal with that,” I say. I let out the breath I had been holding. I worried that I was pushing it by saying the boyfriend thing so soon but I am so new to this.
    “You look so nervous, Aidan. Relax. I like you a lot. But it’s too much too soon. I just want to take it slow to make sure it lasts if it’s supposed to,” she says as she trails her fingers down the side of my cheek. My whole body shivers.
    “Are you seeing anyone else?” I ask.
    “No, you?”
    “I was seeing someone not too long ago. I’m still friends with her. It’s complicated but we are no longer together. There’s another guy and I have moved on.”
    “Sometime you’ll have to tell me what exactly “complicated” means to you. Let’s just keep it casual until we know each other more. Okay?”
    “Sounds great. And I will explain