very comforted. At the same time he began to wonder why he was making such a big deal out of this. His internal arguments were equally strong for both sides of the matter.
“Look, it’s not that it was horrible or anything. It’s just... new. And sort of uncomfortable, sure. I mean, this is a first for any Goliath.” He paused, rubbing at his wrist. “But hey, I thought I would have a meltdown and I didn’t. Frankly, I should probably stop being a total baby about this.”
'If only to preserve what little dignity I have left as a warrior.'
“But if I’m going about this wrong and I should be swooning or something right now, I can.”
He dramatically raised his hand to his forehead and pitched back on the couch. A wave of dizziness hit him and he grimaced.
“Or, you know, I can just not move for an hour. Ooooh, head rush.”
'No, not horrible at all. I just backed you into a metaphorical corner to make you do something you didn’t really want to.'
Mouse wished she could turn off the thoughts in her head. It sounded too much like something Max would say, and she really wished it would stop. She tried to focus objectively on what he was saying, but it was difficult.
When he fell back, her eyes widened. She shook her head, a silent laugh startled out of her. Shoulders shaking, she got to her feet, urging him to put his legs up on the couch and placing a hand to his chest to indicate he should stay where he was.
He grabbed her hand before she could pull away and gave it a reassuring squeeze and a kiss to her knuckles—something he’d seen done in a movie once—which made her feel immeasurably better. She went to the kitchen and made the only kind of comfort food she could share with him. He may not have figured it out, but the tea she drank helped suppress her appetite.
She returned shortly with black tea liberally laced with honey and lemon, pressing one into his hands and cradling her own cup against her chest. Mouse had an idea while she was in the kitchen, remembering something Analie had told her.
She settled on the edge of the cushions by Christoph’s stomach, lifting up her tea to sip with one hand, hiding her uncertainty, the other creeping out to brush through his hair. There was only a smidge of possession in her touch.
Christoph had been about to take a sip of his tea when Mouse started up with the head scratches. Well, almost, but close enough. Lord only knew how she knew that was his kryptonite, but he wasn’t about to complain or ask questions. He smiled contentedly and closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.
It may not have been the happily ever after of his dreams, but if he got this every time she bit him, he would be perfectly fine with it.
The End
* * *
Thanks for reading!
Find out more about Mouse, Christoph, Royce, and the rest of the gang in the H&W Investigations Series, starting with HUNTED BY THE OTHERS.
Jess Haines, USA Today and international bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, is a displaced New Yorker who writes about vampires, werewolves, and other bitey creatures of the night from her home in the Tampa area in Florida. She loves coffee, chocolate, good books, bad movies, and has a menagerie that includes exotic birds, cats, sugar gliders, and a fiancé who is obsessed with Weird Al Yankovic. She's best known for the H&W Investigations series (starting with HUNTED BY THE OTHERS) and Blackhollow Academy series (starting with SMOKE AND MIRRORS). SILENT CRAVINGS is a standalone novel set in the Other-verse; there are many more stories by Jess involving this world, and even some of the characters in this book. Join her newsletter for free reads and find out more at www.jesshaines.com.
E. Blix is a California native who enjoys the vampire-repellant sunshine. She enjoys writing about and drawing supernatural beasties, and preparing for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. SILENT CRAVINGS is her first novel, and is the product of a great deal of speculation, sugar, and shared “what-ifs” with Jess.
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