Page 55 of A Vampire's Pain
“I hope they fit,” she said and handed them to me.
I took the clothes with a grateful smile.
“She is a little taller than me.”
Yeah, Valeri definitely had that sexy height. I loved it.
“It will be fine, or we will figure something else out. Her clothes just need a chance to dry,” I said.
“As if she will need them,” Lara just said.
I chuckled and winked at her, but then shook my head a little.
“She is different,” I said.
Lara nodded.
“I know. I see it,” she said.
“You see it?”
“You, I see you changing,” she said.
“I don’t know what it is, but I am so damn happy I have found her,” I told her.
Lara just smiled. She was so happy for me. Everyone here knew how desperately I had wanted to find a mate. I wanted to experience that deeper bond with someone and get this aching empty feeling to go away. I had always known there was only one thing that could make it go away and that was the bond. It was not unusual for some to feel the lack of the bond so deeply. It wasn’t many who did, but a few sadly felt the pain of it. I was one of those few people.
“You’re perfect for each other,” she said.
“You think?” I asked, sounding so damn excited.
“Oh definitely. You’re very different in some ways, but you just complement each other.”
“I really don’t want to scare her away though,” I said.
“Then don’t,” she just told me, making me laugh.
“Right …”
“You got this, Gabriel,” she said.
“I really fucking hope so.”
“Just talk to her about why she is here, and then figure out the rest then. Maybe she really told her brother the truth and he has decided to accept you for his sister’s sake,” Lara suggested.
I didn’t dare hope for that though. I just didn’t believe it could ever happen that Damon would accept me, and with how overprotective he was of Valeri, I just couldn’t see him ever accepting me as her mate. I didn’t say this to Lara though, because I was anxious about getting back to my mate. So, I thanked Lara and returned to my room, just as Valeri came out wearing only a towel.
Chapter 23
-Valeri-
I wasn’t sure if I should wait in the bathroom or if I should come out. Gabriel hadn’t really explained that part, so after I had warmed up, and used a little of his shampoo that just smelled so good, I couldn’t help but feel a jolt of warmth go through me as I smelled it, I wrapped myself in a towel and carefully left the bathroom. Just then, the door to the bedroom opened and I froze, but it was just Gabriel coming back. He stopped too, just as he had closed the door behind him, and his hungry eyes ran all over me, making me blush because I loved it when he looked at me like that. Like I was the only thing he could see. It made me feel adored.
“What are you doing to me?” he growled lowly.
My blush grew stronger, and my cheeks were on fire, while I slowly wrapped my arms around myself and placed one leg behind the other.
“I … I wasn’t sure if I should wait for you in the bathroom or not.”
