He was excited to finish practice early. Zane had told them to take the rest of the day off. The others had been just as excited as he was. Zane was normally a hard-ass about practicing. Who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Bay planned to ask Ceri if she wanted to go to lunch with him. It was her day off. She didn’t get many of those and he wanted to make the most of it.

He could sense she was apprehensive to explore anything further between them. She was still attracted to him. Possibly even as much as he was to her. Ceri had been gorgeous before, she was unbelievably sexy now. All beautiful soft curves. He knew without a doubt that he wanted her, and he hoped and prayed that she felt the same way. He hadn’t tried to make any moves. Maybe today was the day. He wanted to push for something small, like holding her hand maybe. They had to start somewhere. He had to convince her that a real relationship was the way to go. It felt right to him.

It probably wasn’t a good idea to rush into sex. Although compatibility was important in any relationship, it wasn’t everything. Not by a long shot.

He needed to convince her there could be more between them. He was feeling more, at least from his side. The shared meals, the laughs. He touched her belly at any chance he got, still couldn’t believe he was going to be a father. He couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather have as his kid’s mother. Ceri was going to be an amazing mom.

Bay was going to suggest that they go into town. They needed a ton of things for the baby. Clothing, a stroller, a crib. He’d been doing some research on newborns. In less than three months the little one would be there, and they needed to be ready. After shopping, he would suggest lunch. He’d take Ceri somewhere nice ‒ he’d already booked a restaurant, just in case. Call him an optimist.

Bay couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He opened the front door, expecting to find her curled up on the couch with a good book.

His smile died instantly as his eyes locked with that asshole vampire. A smirk appeared on the male’s face. He had his arm slung around Ceri’s shoulders. His female. His! Ceri had her fangs in the soft flesh of Drago’s arm. She pulled back, her eyes wide.

That’s when he realized he’d growled. The sound low and fierce. Anger coiled in his belly. He’d made it clear that he was there if she wanted blood. Why was she taking from him?

The male’s smirk grew. His arm tightened around her in a possessive fashion.

Fuck that!

He growled again. He couldn’t help it. This asshole was getting on his last nerve.

“Bay,” Ceri said as he marched over to them. “Wait! What—?” she yelled as he grabbed Drago by the hair, hauling him to his feet.

“You don’t get to touch her, fucker!” he snarled, his voice deep and guttural. He wanted to pulverize Drago. Teach him a lesson once and for all.

Drago tried to punch him, but he blocked his fist. “She’s not yours,” the male retaliated. “You don’t deserve her,” he added with a sneer.

“Ceri is mine and it’s about time you realized that.”

Drago laughed. The asshole laughed in his face. Bay saw red. He punched the vampire…punched him hard. Not hard enough to break anything but it was close. The male would sport some bruises. Drago went flying, crashing into the dining room table. There was a crack as it splintered under his weight.

“Stop!” Ceri cried, grabbing his arm. “Don’t! I asked him to come. I asked if I could drink from him. If you’re going to get angry with someone, get angry with me.”

“I told you, you could drink from me.” It took everything in him to speak softly. “You don’t need this asshole.” He growled the last.

“This asshole happens to be my friend,” she snapped back, eyes blazing. Her hands moving to her hips.

Drago stood up, he was rubbing his jaw. He gave a shake of his head. “I think you two have a couple of things you need to discuss.” The male grinned.

Asshole!

Bay frowned. He hadn’t expected that response. Truth be told, he thought he was going to have to fight. His hands were still curled up into tight fists. His muscles bunched. Bay’s frown deepened as he watched the male leave.

“What the hell was that?” Ceri demanded. “I’m not yours. You’re here for the baby, not for me.”

“I’m here for both of you.”

She shook her head. “Like hell! If it weren’t for the baby, you wouldn’t be here. Admit it!”

“I haven’t been able to get you off my mind since I first met you.”

“Yeah, because you wanted a cure!” she yelled back.

“At first, I thought that was the case, but I was wrong. I couldn’t get you off my mind after I had been cured. If anything, it was worse.”

“Bullshit!” Her eyes were blazing. “That’s why you felt the need to go on one of those rut weekends…because you couldn’t stop thinking about me.” She looked pissed.

“My friend, Beck, had me over a barrel, I had to go. It was either I go along, or the Stag Run would be canceled. The Stag Run is very important for morale amongst the males.”

“I’ll bet.” She snorted. “And while you were there, you thought you’d just get in on the action.”

“You’re jealous. You realize that, don’t you?”

“Oh, please.” She made a face. “I’m calling you out on your bullshit, that’s all!” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“I missed you more once I was in Beachhaven. Everything reminded me of you, so I decided to head to our bar. I wasn’t having any fun watching the males pair off. I became angry because I pictured you moving on with your life and that’s when I decided to—”

“Find out if that blonde was blonde everywhere?” Her jaw was tight. Her eyes narrowed.

Shit! Why did she have to hear that? “I couldn’t go through with it. We left five minutes after that. I ended up putting her in the Uber ‒ alone. I headed back to my place ‒ alone. I didn’t so much as kiss her, let alone do anything else. I knew right then and there that I wasn’t going to be able to forget you. It didn’t matter how many weeks, or months or years for that matter, went by. I knew you would still be on my mind. Screwing someone else would make no difference. I planned on confronting you, I swear! Only, you were there first. You beat me to it. This happened.” He looked down at her slightly rounded belly. “Now you think I’m only here for our child, and that’s not true.”

Ceri shook her head, her eyes were wide.

“You have to believe me.”

“I want to believe you, but I’m struggling. It would be wrong of us to get together just because of this child. We would regret it.”

“It wouldn’t just be for the child.” Bay cupped her jaw. He let his thumb graze the side of her cheek. “I swear. Just admit you have feelings for me too and we can take it from there. One step at a time. As slow or as fast as you want.”

She finally nodded. Her green eyes so vivid. Bay leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. They were soft. They were amazing lips. As much as he wanted to devour her mouth, he kept it soft and tender, not wanting to scare her off. Then came the pinch as his tongue scraped one of her fangs. Ceri moaned. She pulled back, her fangs were long and sharp. Her eyes…beautiful. The green was tinged with red. She hissed as she sank her fangs into his neck. Bay grunted, his cock becoming rigid in a second.

Ceri gripped his shoulders, pressing her body against his. Pleasure surged through him. The need to rut made his eyes water and his jaw clench. She released him, her eyes were hazy.

“I want you,” she said, her voice laced with desperation.

Bay swallowed and nodded. They were good together. He needed to remind her of that. He gripped the bottom of her shirt and tugged it up. Ceri lifted her arms.

She was wearing a white, cotton bra. Her breasts were much fuller. “Beautiful,” he murmured as he cupped them through the fabric.

She pulled her tights down, looking as frantic as he was feeling. She was a thing of beauty. “So sexy,” he whispered as he pulled his own pants off. Admiring, the deep curves of her breasts and the roundness of her belly. The added softness to her hips.

Bay took back her mouth. This time he did plunder. He did devour and by the little noises she was making and the way she rubbed herself on his dick, he could tell that she was enjoying it.

Ceri could still taste him on her lips. This time she got all of the potency, all of the richness and none of the terrible burn. Her nipples instantly hardened. Her boobs felt full and tender. Her channel turned slick. There was this zing of intense need that rushed between her legs as she slid her fangs free.

She was aching. So ready for him it was a joke. It wouldn’t take much to finish her. Bay tugged on her bra, taking the straps down and freeing her breasts. His eyes turned hazy with desire. Bay leaned down, taking one of her nipples into his mouth and sucking softly.

They were sensitive, but it felt so darned good that she moaned. “I need you now.” She was panting.

Bay nodded. “I haven’t been with anyone else.” Then his eyes flashed with panic.

“Neither have I,” she blurted, seeing a look of relief cross his face.

Bay’s grip on her hips tightened, he turned her around, so that she was facing the back of the sofa.

Ceri put her hands on the chair back, using it as a purchase. She opened her legs, feeling him move between them. “Don’t want to harm you or—”

“You won’t,” she said, sounding desperate.

Bay rubbed on her clit a few times. Ceri cried out, then he slid a finger inside her. “Wet for me,” he murmured.

He lined up his cock, pushing inside her using slow, easy strokes. It only took a couple and he was inside her to the hilt. She whimpered, and he grunted. “So fucking amazing,” he ground out as he pulled back.

Ceri could feel he was shaking a little. He kept the thrusts slow and even. He reached around and cupped her breasts, then he slid a hand down her body, over her belly and sought out her clit. He kept his touch soft.

Ceri cried out. “More!” she groaned. “Please.”

Bay thrust a little harder, he picked up the pace. Groaning or grunting with each push. His finger stayed soft, slipping and sliding over her clit.

“Oh god! Oh yes…” She could feel everything pulling tight. She squeezed her eyes shut as the first waves of pleasure hit.

Bay grunted, thrusting harder. He rubbed her clit harder and faster as well. Her orgasm hit just as hard and fast. It had been a long time. Too long. Her body had been craving this male, not just for the past week but for months.

His big body crouched over her and he groaned long and deep as he gave in to his release. He finally slowed, closing his arms around her in an embrace. They were both breathing hard.

Now that she had come, she could think a little more rationally. “We maybe shouldn’t have done that.”

Bay pulled out of her, turning her so that she faced him.

“Of course we should have done that.”

"We let the need for sex cloud our judgment. It's clear that we're compatible. We're very attracted to one another. The sex is amazing but that doesn't mean we belong together."

“I love being inside you.” Bay’s eyes were locked with hers. “Love it! I know that I could fuck fifty females and not feel what I feel when I’m with you.”

“See, that’s what I—”

“Let me finish. I also happen to enjoy spending time with you,” Bay said. “I enjoy talking about your day. Cooking you dinner. I want to go shopping for the baby now. That’s why I rushed home. I booked us in for lunch at one of the fancy restaurants in town. They apparently specialize in barbecue. Thought you might like a steak or some lamb chops.”

He was being super sweet. Super thoughtful. “You’re not just saying and doing this for the baby, are you? Because I would never keep you from our child. You don’t have to—”

Bay shook his head. “I want to be with you. I have feelings for you. They’re real. I’m very serious about you and it has nothing to do with the baby. I planned on seeing you again, on convincing you that we should give us a chance. Now I have to convince you that I mean it but that’s okay. I’m fine with that.”

She felt her heart squeeze and her eyes fill with tears. The hormones, she was blaming it on them.

“Are you willing to try?” His eyes were filled with such hope.

“Yes. I am.” She smiled, it suddenly felt like a weight lifted.

Bay kissed her, hard and deep. He finally released her, pulling back. “What do you say we go shopping for a crib and diapers?”

“I say, let’s go in a half an hour.” She reached forward and palmed his cock. “It has been a very long time.”

“You come up with such fantastic ideas.” Bay grinned, looking gorgeous.

“I know I do.” She reached up and kissed him.