Page 72 of Incurably Cupid

I nodded, chugging my water, then left the glass in the sink.

Mesmer came in then, saw me, and made a beeline for me, pulling me into his arms. “Welcome home,” he said, kissing me. He kissed me for quite a long time until I pulled away with a grin.

“You missed me.”

“Always,” he said fervently, kissing me again, then showering sweet little kisses all over my face until I squirmed away from him, laughing.

He chuckled and took my hand. “You ready for Draven to annihilate everyone again?”

I groaned as we locked the door behind us and started up the path to the main house. “No! We need to all gang up on him this time!” I turned, eyeing my very handsome gargoyle mate. “What are we playing tonight?”

“TV Clue.”

I threw my head back and groaned again. “We’re doomed. Maybe Dice will beat him this time. She almost had him last week.”

Mesmer smirked and shook his head. “My money is on Roarke. I think he’s just been toying with Draven, letting him feel secure before he takes him out viciously.”

I bit my lip, pondering that. “Yeah, I could see that. They keep exchanging looks across the table. I haven’t been able to figure out what those looks are about.”

“Do you want me to narrate them for you? Because I have a good guess,” Mesmer said, laughter dancing in his gray eyes.

My wings fluttered with happiness, nearly lifting me off the ground. I loved it when Mesmer narrated his boss’s thoughts. Draven didn’t appreciate it as much, but Mia and I died laughing every time. “Yes!”

Mesmer cleared his throat.

“This look should make it very clear, even to your feeble little brain, that I’m humoring you, little vampire.”

“I see. Is that what you’ve been doing these last ten games—humoring me?”

“Your fragile self-esteem needed the wins. I was just trying to keep you from crying like a wee bairn.”

“Bring it, Lizard.”

I laughed. “That sounds exactly like them.” He’d done their voices perfectly. We were quiet until we rounded a bend, passed the sunken pool on our left, and made our way to the front courtyard.

“We need a telepath.”

Mesmer shook his head. “It won’t work. He’s an ancient vampire. It’s hard to breach their minds.”

I growled. “I hate losing!” I suddenly had a brilliant idea. “We need to give him a negative handicap.”

King Draven opened the villa door himself, letting us in with a smile, and said, “I’d be willing, but Roarke will want one as well.”

“I’ll wantwhat,you pasty vampire bat!” Roarke growled loudly from the living room, clearly also eavesdropping on our conversation.

I turned to Mesmer and couldn’t help but laugh because he’d captured their personalities so perfectly. He smiled mischievously and waited until we were alone in the entryway again before he pulled me into his arms and kissed me, and I melted into him—just like I didevery single time.