Chapter Seven
Hunting for the holidays
Dani rolled onto her stomach and smiled as Cornell’s scent enveloped her. He’d marked her, claimed her as his own, and she couldn’t be happier. When the day had started, she’d assumed her biggest decision would be whether or not to let Mimi keep decorating. Dani had no idea she’d end up with a husband.
A mate.
She couldn’t stop smiling. It was to the point her cheeks ached. She sat up slowly, his dress shirt buttoned haphazardly over her breasts. Her attention went to his room, and for the first time she actually looked around it, soaking in the sight of it all. Her husband was a fancy pants.
Husband.
The word made her smile.
He liked fine art, as proven by the amount of it hanging around his room. As Dani’s gaze slid to the floor-to-ceiling windows, she froze. It was nighttime. The curtains were not pulled. The lights in the room were on. That meant they’d put on a show for anyone in the neighborhood who happened to glance in from the street. Dani called upon her slayer speed and went for the light switch, flicking it off, bathing the room in darkness. She eased in the direction of the window and peered out, hoping with the late hour that most neighbors were in their homes. She was already “that” neighbor. She didn’t need to add to it.
Looking out, she spotted the head of the HOA standing across the street, holding a leash with his tiny dog attached. The man gazed up at the window, his mouth agape. The small dog moved up against its owner and then lifted its leg, peeing on its owner’s foot. The man never blinked or acknowledged his dog had just marked him. He was that swept up in the view.
Cringing, Dani thought about what he’d tell everyone in the neighborhood. About how he’d twist the events into something ugly. Hell, he’d probably have the rumor going nonstop that Cornell—the big bad vampire—had attacked the slayer girl and forced himself upon her. And how everyone should now hide their wives, and possibly children, because who knew what the vampire’s next step would be.
He was that kind of a slimeball, and he was filled with that much hate and ignorance. She wouldn’t put it past him.
Dick.
Arms eased around Dani’s midriff and she leaned back, happy Cornell had returned. With a mere touch, he made her heart flutter. Too bad the lightened mood and feeling of bliss had to be spoiled by the creeper who was still staring up at them. She pointed in the direction of the HOA president. “I think he got an eyeful.”
Cornell laughed and ground against her, his erection evident through the silk pajama bottoms he wore. “We could give him more of one.”
“He already hates me,” she said, her body responding to her mate’s, but her mind thinking over the show they’d already put on.
“He hates everyone who isn’t just as he is—blond, blue-eyed, and human. I believe there are words for his type,” said Cornell.
“Yeah, douchebags.”
“Ah, my wife, the resident poet of Oak Tree Ridge.” Cornell rocked their bodies back and forth gently, kissing her neck in the process. “He attempted to cite me for building a home with grounds that resembled a cemetery.”
“What did you say?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
Cornell flashed fangs. “I told him that for each citation I received, I would take a pint of his blood as payment for my time reading his nonsense.”
She laughed. “And it worked?”
“He has yet to walk on my property again,” said Cornell, turning her to face him.
“Speaking of your property,” she said with a smile. “I think your gargoyles out front would look kick-ass with wreaths around their necks.”
He laughed. “Well, they are your gargoyles now, so do with them as you wish.”
She paused, her mind wrapping around the fact they were now a single unit. “I’m guessing we’re going to live here and not over at my place.”
“I will live wherever you want to live,” he said, his lips on her neck again. “My home is wherever you are, Dani.”
“Can I hang out here and think it over before I decide?” she asked.
He nibbled lightly on her neck. “I vote we make love in each room of both homes to help us better decide.”
She smiled, liking that idea greatly. She glanced up at him. “I love that idea. And I love you.”
He winked. “I love you too.”
She hugged him. “Thank you for putting the happy back in my holidays.”
He kissed her cheek. “That reminds me. I will be right back.”
She caught his wrist. “Where are you going?”
“Hunting for the holidays,” he said, his voice lowering. “I plan to find the few who managed to elude us last night and teach them what happens when one harms my mate.”
Dani grinned. “As much as I love you, I don’t really need any more dead bad guys wrapped in bows. Right now, I just need you.”
He lifted her and she knew he was going to take her back to bed. Where she wanted to be. “That can be arranged.”
She smiled.
He tipped his head as if listening to something far off. “It would appear Mimi is making Finn drink hot cocoa. He’s cursing the Fae under his breath. Ah, she’s threatening to beat him over the head with a candy cane.”
“Yep. Sounds like our friends.”
THE END
About the Author, Mandy M. Roth
Mandy M. Roth is a self-proclaimed Goonie, loves 80s music and movies and wishes leg warmers would come back into fashion. She also thinks the movie The Breakfast Club should be mandatory viewing for...okay, everyone. When she's not dancing around her office to the sounds of the 80s, she’s busy writing sexy paranormal operatives.
To learn more about Mandy, please visit http://www.mandyroth.com
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Hunted Holiday: A Vampire Romance Page 5