Page 35 of A Vampire's Pain
“No one takes my mate from me,” I said and smiled at her.
She still looked at me so shocked, like she couldn’t believe anyone, maybe besides her brother, would ever want to lay claim to her like that, but I would. I would always want her for myself, and not want others to try and take her from me. It was my job to care for her and protect her now, and I would gladly take on those responsibilities.
“Still, I’m … sorry,” Valeri said and turned to Lara again. “I shouldn’t bring you into this.”
“I know what it is like when people tell you who you can and can’t love,” she said. “I really don’t mind, and I might not know you well, but you seem really kind Valeri, and Gabriel deserves someone like that.”
Valeri turned to me once again surprised, but I just smiled at her.
“Now, I’m going to tell your brother we went out and ate a little, had a few drinks, went around town, and then came back here. I mean it is a full day you get away from the house, right?” she asked.
Valeri nodded.
“Yes. 24 hours,” she said.
“Good then spent them well,” Lara said and winked at me.
I chuckled, shaking my head before Lara wished us a good night, and then walked away. Valeri slowly turned to me, and it was like her eyes had turned into stars or something. She truly looked starstruck.
“I love her,” she said.
“Ouch,” I said.
“What?”
“Those words are reserved for me!” I said.
That made her smile a little and shake her head at me.
“I can love more than one person,” she said.
I just sighed and crossed my arms.
“Now, where are we going?” she asked.
Chapter 15
-Valeri-
We were going into town. It seemed like Gabriel had planned a night a bit like what Lara had said she would tell my brother about, and I had to say … I was excited! I couldn’t believe I was really doing it, and I was sure Gabriel could sense how tense I was, but it was not because I was scared.
“Tell me whenever you are ready to end the night,” Gabriel said, as he turned his head to look at me and then slowly placed his hand on my knee.
I sucked in a breath, as I felt his warm hand on me, and I slowly turned to look at him, seeing his dark eyes show so much desire. I had never been looked at like that before … or I had, but it had been disgusting back then. It had been unwanted. I realized I liked being looked at by Gabriel like that. I liked the desire because it was true, I was attracted to him, and I did desire him, but I wanted more than desire. I wanted passion and love and comfort too. I wanted it all, and I was not going to settle, therefore I still found it hard to believe we were mates, but if it was really true, then I would find all those things with Gabriel.
“Not yet,” I teased.
He smiled a little, chuckling, and I couldn’t help but smile too. Soon, though we found ourselves in town, and Gabriel stopped at a restaurant, or … it looked kind of like one, yet we were not going inside.
“Mc … McDonald’s?” I looked at the sign confused, not sure what this was. “It’s a restaurant, right?”
He smiled and nodded.
“It is.”
“Why are we driving then?” I asked.
Gabriel seemed like he could barely hold back his laughter, and I was so confused.
