Chapter 147
Chapter 147
ve stepped dude when she sat Ames through the sidelight, waiting to escort her to his place where they could spend time together batera vi hail to work. When she stepped onto the porch, something crunched under ber foot. She pulled back and found a dirty, weathered packet of cardig smushed against the top step, squished chocolates oozing out where her foot had landed.
Who kept leaving trash on the doorstep? Was this some kind of new prank? Was it happening to the neighbor*7 Annoyes, she kicked the candy in the ground and trotted down the steps in greet Amos.
He seemed distracted, gazing suspiciously at the gaps between neighboring houses, head tilted as if he were listening to something only he codd hear, When Chloe reached him, he broke his hyper–alert stance long enough to pull her in for a kiss.
Have any strangers knocked on your door lately p>
Chloe frowned. “I don’t think so p>
“Nobody angling to get you to invite them inside p>
Fear snaked down her spine. “Not as far as I know. Why p>
Amos let out a sigh. “I don’t like that the thrall keeps hanging around here. ”
“You said he’s trying to be by you p>
Amos was quiet for a moment. “I’m worried it’s you,” he finally said.
Chloe’s blood ran cold. “What p>
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into stride with him.
Chloe relaxed against him, accepting his promise. Of course he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Hadn’t he always lived up to his word?
Later that night at work, Chloe was halfway through pushing IV medication for a patient when a sudden realization struck her. She froze, the syringe plunger halfway depressed, as the garbage she’d been finding on the front steps flashed through her mind–jewelry, flowers, candy.
Gifts. They were all gifts–the sort a man gave to a woman he was interested in.
Maggi port line. She forced her mind back
A beep from the infusion pump jarred her back into the present, and she resumed pushing the medication into the to her work, shunting the thrall and his gifts into a dark corner of her brain where he could be ignored for
now.
When she got the time for a lunch break, she texted Amos. By the time she’d changed into her street shoes and walked already waiting at the door, his broad–shouldered silhouette visible through the frosted glass window.
to
the staff entrance, Amos was
She pushed through the door and threw herself into his arms, fastening her mouth to his in an urgent kiss. Amos held onto her, returning her kiss, but after a moment, he gently coaxed her back.
d
Ta
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a low voice. Whose tongue do I have to rip out? was the underlying implication, but Chloe was too wound up to care.
“I’m hungry. Can I tell you over food p>
“Of course p>
Amos took her to a cafe that wasn’t vampire–owned, but was frequented by human bloodmates due to its late hours. Over a muffuletta panini and hazelnut mocha, Chloe explained her theory about the thrall and the objects left on her porch. Amos listened intently, his expression growing grimmer with each word.
“What are you thinking?” Chloe asked nervously after Amos sat silently, staring in stormy contemplating out the window behind her.
“I’m thinking…” He sighed. “I’m thinking you’re right. He’s fixated on you, and he’s leaving gifts as a courting impulse p>
a
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Caught Naked By My Alpha Neighbor! Now I’m His–No Escape.
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Chapter 147
“Is that really hat p>
“It’s not good”
Chiese set her sandwich down, appetite lost. Amos urged her to eat more, and she tried to, but it was hard to force food down on a churning stomach–expecially when all Amos did was glower out the window like a man with a very personal vendetta.
When she’d stomached all she could, Amos walked her back to the hospice. At the staff door, he kissed her like he always did, but this time there was A slightly desperate edge to it
“Chloe,” he spoke softly, his lips brushing over hers. “I want you to accept my claim p>
Her eyes flew wide. He was finally asking! “Now?” she asked breathlessly. She had to get back to work, and by the time her shift ended, the sun would
be up.
“As soon as possible. With this thrall fixated on you, another vampire’s claim is your strongest protection. Even a rogue thrall wouldn’t claimed bloodmate p>
A wary edge cut into her excitement. “You want to claim me to protect me p>
“Of course,” he said urgently.
All her happiness instantly fizzled, replaced by hurt. She pulled away from him. “No p>
Amos stared at her, jaw clenched, expression stark. “No… forever p>
pursue a
“Not like this, Amos. Never like this.” She drew further away from him, reaching for her employee keycard as she turned towards the door.
Amos caught her by the shoulder, forcing her back around to face him. “What do you mean ‘like this p>
She took a breath, bracing herself for the deepening hurt that came with laying her feelings out to be trampled. “Like I’m some kind of obligation you have to look after. I want to be wanted. I deserve to be wanted.” It wasn’t entirely Amos’s fault, but those feelings had been building for a long time. She was sick of how her family treated her and exhausted by keeping her mother afloat–she wanted to be beloved and cherished, not a burden.
She pulled out of his grasp, reaching for the door.
“Chloe, wait. I p>
“I have to get back to work, Amos. I’ll see you on Wednesday.” She needed space before she could face him again. One day apart might not be enough, but at least it was something. She slipped inside, letting the door fall shut on his objection.
When her shift ended, the sun had risen. When she got home, Ma was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
“Kettle’s still hot,” Ma said as Chloe slumped into a chair across from her. “Rough day p>
“Yeah,” Chloe said, dragging herself back onto her feet to make a cup of mint tea p>
Ma got up to rummage in the fridge. “I’ve got an open pack of bacon. You want bacon and eggs p>
“Sure,” she said, trying not to sound too listless. “Thanks, Ma p>
Chloe ate in silence, turning her conversation with Amos over and over in her mind. Had she overreacted? Hadn’t she been waiting for him to ask? Shouldn’t she be glad he wanted to protect her?
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