Creature of Habit (Book 3) (24 page)

"Can I drive?" she asked, laughing again, too excited about the adventure in front of us.

"No," I said forcefully, using my height and weight as an advantage to get the keys back. Plus, I kissed her senseless, knowing it made her weak in the knees.

"Please?" she begged, batting her eyelashes and shifting her hips.

"Not. Going. To. Happen," I replied again, picking her up and playfully throwing her over my shoulder. I deposited her on the passenger side, before walking around and sliding in behind the wheel. Amelia covered my hand with hers and smiled happily, excited about our night. Pulling her hand to my mouth, I kissed the tips of her fingers.

I hated to be a downer or a buzz kill or whatever it was called, but before I left the curb, I stopped and said, "I'd tell you to buckle up, but you're invincible. But remember, out there, you have to be careful. I know you think I'm being stupid and over protective but you're the only one I have. The only one I’ll ever get. I won’t risk it.”

Amelia's eyes dimmed a little but her smile stayed the same. She shook her head gently. "I love you, Grant Palmer, and it would take more than an army of fledgling vampires to take me away from you.”

~*~

The anger that boiled under my skin was familiar, although it had been some time since I had experienced it due to my absence in this side of my life. The idiot in front of me swayed with intoxication, his eyes sliding in and out of focus.

"See that girl over there?" I pointed to the small redhead on the ground, crying. Her shoulders shook from the sobs, her face was covered in dirt and tears. Amelia crouched next to her, speaking softly in her ear. The girl's heart had pumped with fear and adrenaline, but had slowed from whatever it was my wife was telling her.

"You came this close"—I made a gesture of size with my fingers—"to ruining both your lives."

"Dude, I don't know who you are or what you think was happening, but that girl was totally into me," he said defensively, waving his arms around as though that helped his case. “She wanted it.”

Amelia and I had a quiet night. The bars weren't busy and the thieves must have been turned off by the threat of rain. That was until we heard a muffled squeak, and I followed this moron's aggressive words across the parking lot to a dark corner behind the cars.

He'd had his hands tight around her upper arms and his tongue down her throat. Both reeked of alcohol but she was whimpering under his assault and the signals coming off their body told me this was all wrong. We broke up the activity, and the girl's eyes grew wide and thankful before she burst into tears. I looked helplessly at her, trying to form the words to make her better, while refraining from ripping the neck off the guy who did this to her. Like always, that had been the worst part of the night. Not dealing with the predators but the victims. The difference was that before I even had the chance to react, Amelia swooped in and took control. I almost stopped her, worried she couldn't handle the proximity to the girl or the rapid pulsation of the blood under her skin, but she shot me a look of compassion and understanding. I realized once again how Amelia was truly my better half.

I’d watched Amelia all night, her small frame no longer awkward, but confident and assured. Right now she whispered words of comfort into the girl's ear, until her hands no longer shook and her breathing evened. I mused over the reality that Amelia was strong and her skills were the opposite of my own. I never thought about that before. That the goal of a happy marriage and life together were to bring out the best in one another and to bring strength to cover the other’s weakness.

I walked the idiot next to me over to the street and waved down a cab, shoving him inside with a final threatening whisper. After the car turned the corner, the two women walked over, and Amelia deposited her in the next cab that traveled down the street.

Once she was gone, my hands found Amelia's hips and pulled her close. I kissed the top of her head and said, "Thanks for that. I had no idea what to say."

She laughed lightly, pressing her weight into my chest. "No, I'm sure you didn't."

I wove my fingers through hers and noticed how late it was, or early, the darkness already fading from the sky. "I apologize for worrying so much. You exceeded my expectations. You always do."

Amelia pulled my hand to her mouth and kissed the top. "I know you can't help it. It's how you show you care. It's unnecessary, but it's also why I ignore you." She smiled devilishly and tugged me towards the car.

The Plymouth was parked alone, down a side street waiting under a street lamp. I stopped and leaned my back against the passenger side, spreading my legs so Amelia could move close. She traced her fingers over the design on my shirt. "You know, that was kind of hot, watching you get all ’Batman’ on that guy."

I pushed one of her wayward hairs that never stayed in her ponytail over her ear and smiled at her reference, because she was so incredibly silly and so thoroughly mine. Plus, I never realized the extra bonus of patrolling with a woman; it was incredibly arousing and I seriously needed to get her back home. Now.

I eyed her a little and quirked an eyebrow, "So, if I'm Batman does this make you Robin?"

She reacted like a vampire, pushing my chest with her hands, making the metal behind me creak under the force. Amelia placed her hands on her hips and huffed, "No. I'm not Robin. I'm not your sidekick."

"Alfred?" I asked, trying to get a rise out of her, but moving away from the car all the same. I couldn't have her destroying my baby.

She was back out in the street with her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm totally Batgirl," she declared, her blue eyes flashing. Vampire Amelia was still easier to taunt than human Amelia, even after three years, and it made every day of my life better.

Amelia was irresistible when she was angry.

In less than a heartbeat, I was on her, picking her up so I could kiss her mouth evenly, and gripping her by the back of her soft leather pants. "Batgirl works for me," I said into her mouth, carrying her back to the car.

Before I opened the door she nuzzled into my neck and asked in a super soft, seductive voice, "Now that I'm officially part of the team, can I drive?"

I groaned but laughed and said, "You never give up do you?"

``Amelia shook her head. "Never. That's how we got here today."

I stared at this woman—my woman—perfect and pale in the yellow light of the street lamp. I considered everything we'd gone through in the last three and a half years with amazement. I never knew life could be so full and rewarding. I never knew I could have peace and contentment. I definitely never realized that having a mate that fought back and drove me to the edge of my sanity every day would make me the most gloriously happy immortal in the world.

I sighed and held up the keys, letting them sway in her face for a moment before she realized what I was doing and snatched them out of my hand. Amelia scrambled to the driver’s side and jumped in happily.

Resigned, I slid in the passenger seat and leaned back, smiling when Amelia squealed in delight over the roar of the engine and braced myself as she shifted into gear.

Tonight proved that together we were ready for anything. Our family. Work-by-day, vigilantism-by-night, it was all one more day, of one more blessing of my eternal life with Amelia Chase.

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Thanks & Stuff

I did my big thank you for COH after book 1. All those words still apply. Reworking COH has been a strange but awesome journey. Something I’m very glad I did. It was the right thing for me at the right time and I appreciate all the assistance along the way.

If you follow my blog (angellawson.com) you’ll know that being a super-star has never been my MO. That’s hard for some people to accept, but it’s my reality. I just want to write, share my stories and make it worth the time and energy I spend away from my family. Otherwise I’m happy to sit in my cave, reading zombie novels and thinking about the next story I have to tell. Readers and supportive friends have made this possible.

Special thanks goes to April and Vanessa for doing the dirty work on the beta reading. LV for listening to me all the time (regardless of topic). Vagabonda Reads, Teresa and her blog, Two Girls With Books, Autumn @ Paperdolls and Audrey @inkandpage. Alicia for talking and walking it out. Rochelle for amazing mental support and inspiration. Tami for her awesome cover and promo work. Jan for being a great cheerleader—always. I’d also like to thank the girls from the Secret Worlds collection and Happily Ever Alpha. Being part of those collaborations has made me a better writer and business person.

Oh and AG, because who else am I going to talk to for 4 days each week about how mad The Walking Dead makes me? And cats. And Dramonie. And you know…whatever.

(I just missed like 80 people and feel like an ass. Just tell me I’m an ass and we’ll share Colton Haynes pictures in apology—also Val for pointing out I misspelled Hanyes the first time. Jeez.)