Free Flynn, Joyee - My Feisty Kitten [Purrfect Mates 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) by Joyee Flynn

you.”
    “You’re so sure of that?” he asked me as he tilted his head, as if questioning that I meant it.
    “Without a doubt. He’s never acted like Conley and Marc,” I answered, feeling weird we were talking about Aaron as if he wasn’t standing right there. “He’s being so patient with all of this and not trying to force anything. And I know how hard it is for him to not claim you.”
    “You feel what Sasha felt?” Imogen asked Aaron, his eyes going wide.
    “Not exactly,” Aaron hedged and then took a moment to collect his thoughts. “The longer I don’t claim you, the more insecure, possessive, and crazed I get at times. The pull to make you mine is strong, I know you’re my mate, but I can wait until you’re ready. I won’t get sick like Sasha would have. It’s simply like I’m dying of thirst all the time because for vampires tasting you is just as important as having sex.”
    “I’ll never let you drink from me, Aaron, even if I can get past the rest of this. I’m sorry. I just won’t let that happen. I’m not food. My blood is addictive and can send vampires into a crazed state. If you want me to leave, I will, so maybe being around me won’t make it so bad.”
    I went to say something, but Imogen shook his head and walked away again. As much as it killed me, I could give him some time to collect his thoughts if that’s what he wanted.
    “It’s not about being food,” Aaron whispered in defeat as we headed over toward bathroom fixtures and tubs. “I mean, yes, I need blood to survive, but you don’t have a problem with me drinking from you. I’m old enough that I don’t need that much blood. It just brings us closer.”
    “And it’s fucking hot,” I moaned and slid my hand over his ass. I got the desired effect when I saw him smile. “Could you bite and not drink to claim him?”
    “No, the drinking his blood is the important part,” he answered with a sigh as he scrubbed his hands over his face in frustration. “It’s the literal taking his life essence into mine and his giving himself to me completely that ties us together when having sex. That’s what binds us.”
    “We’ll figure something out,” I said gently and then changed the topic to redoing our bathroom. But for the first time since we’d all met…I wasn’t so sure. Everyone has lines in their lives that they won’t cross or allow others to cross. This was Imogen’s, and who were we to say that was wrong?

Chapter 6

    We ended up spending way too much money and getting more than we could possibly get done even with weeks of constant work on the house. But then again, it was good that we were all so excited.
    Imogen ended up finding us again after he calmed down and helped pick out the tile for the master bath. We had our purchases loaded up in the truck, including one garden tub with jets, a shower stall, a vanity, and on and on. Then we went and bought about half the garden section for Imogen. Okay, so maybe not that much, but close enough.
    “I’ll start on the water heater,” Aaron said after we got back home and started unloading.
    “Then you’re going to come help us, right?” Imogen asked hesitantly. I didn’t blame him, the drive home had been full of brutal, silent tension. I wanted to pull my hair out, and I just felt like I was the idiot in the middle of all of this. The whole situation sucked.
    “I can do that,” he answered as he picked up the huge box for our extra-large water heater. He was strong enough to lift it easily, but it looked funny since the box was an awkward shape.
    He didn’t sound as excited as he had been before, but I couldn’t say I blamed him. While he did that, we marked off a huge area that Imogen wanted for the garden. Then we got to tearing out the grass, which was mostly weeds, before putting in the small fencing.
    “We’ll have as much hot water as we want for our showers when we’re all done today,” Aaron said about two hours later when he came back