Page 39

After thoroughly relaxing in my coconut and cocoa butter bath, I emerge from the tub refreshed and ready for my night of doing absolutely nothing. I moisturize, dress in one of my comfy short pajama sets, slide my feet into slippers and make my way to the kitchen for lemon Oreos and almond milk. My pasta at lunch was so filling, I’m not craving any real food.

A half sleeve of Oreos and two episodes of 911 Nashville later, I’m comfortable, stretched out on the sofa, wrapped in a throw that still smells like him. God, I’m hopelessly addicted to this man. All thoughts of moving too fast and second guessing our connection have vanished. Noab obliterated them with his intention, consistency, and love.

Love…that’s exactly what this is and I’m hopelessly in it. He owns my heart and I have full confidence that he won’t abuse or hurt it. Loving a man who considers me in every-freakin-thing is easy and I love that for me.

Deciding I’ve eaten entirely too many Oreos, I sit up and close the flap. When I reach for my empty glass, I go still at the sound of the front door opening and closing almost the same moment it opened.

Who the fuck?

Noab is at work.

He didn’t communicate that he was coming home.

Instinctively, I make a beeline for the fireplace poke. If it’s a robber, he’s in for a fucking fight until Noab gets here. Before I can reach the poke, a tall vampire who looks very similar to mine dashes in front of me, then smiles.

“Damn, shawty. Don’t try to kill me,” he says then laughs. The resemblance is uncanny. They have the same jawline, nose, and eyes. The differences are minor. His skin is more mocha than Noab’s, his frame more on the thinner side and about a half a foot shorter than Noab but still taller than me. “Before you call out to my brother, let me introduce myself.”

“Amadi?” I question, although it’s crystal clear.

“Oh, so big bruh talks about me?”

“He told me about you but he didn’t say you were coming over tonight,” I admit.

“I pop up when I want. It’s been a minute because I’ve been busy, but I see he’s been busy too.” He smirks then just walks off. My eyes trail him as he walks to the kitchen then I follow him to put my Oreos back in the pantry. He grabs two of Noab’s blood bags and quickly downs both. “He needs to order more. My little situation shit ended and I’m going to need a stash.”

If Noab has money, shouldn’t he? All my life I was told that vampires were wealthy. Being with Noab proves it. He’s just not boisterous or flashy with his money, but what’s understood doesn’t have to be spoken.

“You don’t order it?”

“Nah. He usually keeps enough but I guess he doesn’t need it now,” he says, then looks me up and down. “He has in-house⁠—”

“In house what?” I snap at his innuendo and he laughs.

“I’m just fucking with you, Enani.”

He knows my name.

“Noab would fucking kill me if I piss you off. You got that nigga out here being a lover boy. I know exactly who you are. Oh, he made that shit very fucking clear. You’ll get used to me,” he says, then flashes the same endearing smile as his brother.

“You almost got cursed the hell out.”

“Oh, I saw that shit in your eyes, but chill, for real. It’s all love. We fam. I’m just your little brother now.”

Noab is over a hundred and eighty years old, so there’s no telling how old Amadi actually is.

“So now that we know who each other is, how long are you going to be here?” I question.

“Shit, I’ve probably been here too long already. You’re here, but he’s not. When it’s our true mate, no one is given absolute trust. At the end of the day, little brother or not, I’m still a man alone with his mate. My time is up. Watch this,” he says, then holds up one finger. He waits a few seconds before a smug grin spreads on his face. “Five, four, three⁠—”

As he counts down, Noab enters my thoughts. Beautiful, are you good?

I’m fine, I assure him.

Tell Amadi’s ass to stop fucking with me. He’s blocking my words. He needs to leave my damn house.

Looking at Amadi’s mischievous facial expression, I communicate, He’s leaving.

“Nice to meet you, sis. I’m gonna leave before that nigga crashes through his own door,” Amadi says, then leaves just as fast as he came. The door slams in less than five seconds and I just shake my head, smiling.