Dark Mate (MATE series) (16 page)

“
Oh, I am. I'm mad that
you're suggesting a cafe...”

“
I...”

“
...instead of your
place,” she finished with a hand on her hip.

He stared at her dumbfounded.
For a full minute, he just stood there gaping at her.

“
Are you saying what I
think you're saying?” he managed at last.

“
Yes, Gabriel. I...I'll
like to go to your place, tonight,” she answered coyly.

“
Tonight,” he
repeated breathlessly. “You want to come home with me
tonight.”

“
Yes.”

“
You'll stay, tonight,”
he said slowly, and Eva saw that he was holding his breath.

It made her heart clench. He
wanted her, so much. And he had been so patient. He never forced
her or pressured her. He had been waiting, waiting for her to come
to him.

Eva gazed up at him. “Not
just tonight,” she said softly. “Every night.”

“
Eva.”

He wrapped his arms around her
and pulled her to him.

“
Eva, do you know how
long I've waited to hear these words from you?” he murmured.

She smiled and rested her hand
against his chest, feeling the powerful thump of his heart. “And
was the wait worth it?” she teased.

“
Yes!” Gabriel
said emphatically. “You are worth it, Eva. You make me want
to be a better man. In fact, you've made me a better man!” he
declared proudly.

“
You!” She
punched his arm. “You have been watching too many movies! You
stole that line right out of...”

“
Yeah, you're right,”
he confessed with a grin. “I've been watching way too many
chick flicks. You know, I actually teared up at the last few movies
we watched. Remember when I asked to borrow your hanky? It was...”

“
...it was because you
spilled that can of fizzy blood down your shirt!” she snorted.
“It wasn't to dab away a tear, you big fraud.”

Gabriel laughed out loud. His
laugh was deep, hearty, and filled with pure happiness. It made
Eva's heart swell with pride and joy.

He beamed down at her, and
said, “You have made me so happy, Eva. So happy that I could
kiss you, right now.”

Eva rolled her eyes. “So
what's stopping you?”

Gabriel stared at her and she
saw the heat and hunger in his eyes. “Nothing,” he
growled.

Eva gasped as he grabbed her,
and lowered his mouth to hers. She gulped, expecting his kiss to be
hard, bruising and demanding. Instead, he brushed his lips gently
against hers, and kissed her softly, tenderly.

Eva's eyelids fluttered
rapidly, and she melted against him. He was sweet and gentle with
her, stroking her back, her hair, her face as he kissed her.

Gabriel held her and kissed
her for the longest time, his tall, broad body buffering her from the
cold night wind.

Eva gasped when she heard
someone cough loudly behind her. She turned to see two Enforcers
standing behind them. The Enforcers were on patrol, and their
expressions were straight and businesslike. The female Enforcer
raised a brow slightly at her, and her brawny partner glanced across
the street, surveying the area.

Eva blushed furiously, and
pulled Gabriel aside to let them pass. But Gabriel winked and called
out, “Hi Bryn. Hi Scott. It's a lovely night, isn't it?”

Scott chuffed under his breath
and walked away without replying. But Bryn turned and sniffed over
her shoulder, “Get a room.”

Gabriel laughed and his eyes
glinted. “We will!”

Quietly, Gabriel slid his arms
around her, capturing her in his embrace. His smile was sly and
wicked.

“
Tonight, I'm getting
you in my room, in my bed...” he murmured softly, seductively
in her ear, sending a delicious shiver through her body. “...and
I'm never letting you leave.”

“
We will be together,
Eva. Forever. I love you.” He kissed her and whispered,
“Forever.”

“
I love you too,
Gabriel,” she said, kissing him back. She gazed deeply into
his eyes, seeing the truth of his words. He loved her, truly,
eternally. He had done so much for her, for their future.

“
I love you. Forever.”

the end...

some time after the end...

Bryn sat alone at the corner
of the bar and scowled at the drink in her hand. It wasn't the
drink's fault. Widow's Bar served the real thing. They didn't water
down their drinks or sweeten them with chocolate or some other shit.
Just potent, undiluted blood, with a heady shot of hard liquor.

“
Rough night?”
Someone slid into the bar stool beside her.

“
Go away, Gabriel.”

Gabriel King laughed. “What's
wrong, Bryn? You're too young to be moping.”

“
Nothing's wrong. Now
leave me be.”

He nodded knowingly, and kept
right on sitting beside her in silence. He gestured discreetly and
the bartender slid him a drink.

Finally, she sneaked him a
sidelong glance and said, “I see Jett has taken off your
collar.”

“
Yup.” Gabriel
grinned. “Your man is one helluva guy!”

Bryn started to nod, then
caught herself. “He's not my man!” she huffed.
“He's...unreadable, unpredictable and downright infuriating!”

She took a gulp of her drink
“Is it because I'm a vamp?” she exploded, swiveling round
to face him. “Is that why he won't...” she trailed off,
and clamped her mouth shut. She blew out a hard breath.

Gabriel didn't speak for a
moment. Then he began casually, “You know, before she knew me,
Eva didn't have a single paranormal friend. She didn't date
paranormals, she didn't work with paranormals. She's in the NMPD,
the human police force. All her friends and family were human. She
might not admit it, but I think she had this invisible, impenetrable
wall around her. To protect herself and her world. And who could
blame her? I mean, look at me! But now, look at her.” He
gestured at himself. “Her mate is a vampire who runs a chain
of blood bars and employs collared paranormals, and she's friends
with all the girls at Widow's Parlor. Look at how far we've come.”

Gabriel smiled and raised his
glass. “It's good now. But getting to where we are now sure
wasn't easy. And trust me, being collared wasn't the hardest part.”

Bryn let out a small, lopsided
smile.

“
Eva and I had so many
walls between us,” Gabriel went on. “I had to smash
those walls down, one by one. Of course, kidnapping her wasn't the
smartest way to go about it.” Gabriel made a face, but he
didn't look too apologetic. “Well, a vamp's gotta do what a
vamp's gotta do,” he declared, straightening up.

Bryn shot him a look. “Are
you suggesting that I kidnap Jett?”

Gabriel spewed out his drink.
When he finally stopped coughing and spluttering, he wiped his mouth
and said, “Look. Jett heads the Enforcement Unit. He works
closely with vamps, weres, warlocks, demons, all kinds of paranormals
and humans. There are no walls...”

Bryn turned away and mumbled,
“That's what you think.”

“
Jett looks out for his
Enforcers, and—he protects you,” Gabriel said, looking
straight at her.

Bryn swallowed. She couldn't
refute that. He was right on that point.

Out of the corner of her eye,
Bryn saw Eva step into Widow's Bar. She was in her police uniform,
and she had her cap tucked under her arm. Her eyes scanned the dim
interior and she found Gabriel almost instantly. She spotted Bryn at
the same time and waved.

Bryn raised her glass to her
as she started to walk towards them.

Gabriel was already standing
up.

He clapped a hand on her
shoulder, and said quietly, “I did it. So can you. Compared
to me, you're younger and prettier, so you'll probably have an easier
time.”

They exchanged a look and a
wry smile.

But this is Jett we're
talking about, so...scratch 'easier time'.

Bryn watched Gabriel walk over
to meet Eva and gather her in his arms. He twirled her around, and
her joyous laughter rang out across the bar.

They were so happy together.
Bryn could see that they were crazy about each other, and they cared
very deeply for each other. She could see the love and passion in
their eyes, in the way they touched and held each other.

Gabriel tilted Eva's smiling
face up with both hands. His eyes glowed as he slanted his mouth
over hers. With a fierce kiss, he misted his mate away.

Bryn turned back to her drink.
She was happy for them, but seeing how happy they were made her feel
worse.

She downed her drink in one
gulp, and slammed the empty glass onto the counter. Swiping at her
mouth, she stood up.

“
Easier time, my ass,”
Bryn muttered. “Kidnapping is way easier!”

BLOOD MATE

(MATE series, Book 7)

COMING SOON!

About the Author

Natalie Kristen is a writer
who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark,
the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring
paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances.
She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and
writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to
follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest
news and updates.

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