“I do.”

“We’re going to survive these stupid Vampires hunting us, get to safety, and then our lives will return to normal. We had sex because we only had each other to turn to. That’s all.” Keep saying it. Maybe one day I’ll even believe it if I keep telling myself that.

He smiled. “Little human liar.”

She had pride. Maybe his was injured because she wasn’t in tears, pleading with him to mate with someone he thought of as flawed and weak. He did have a superiority complex. She refused to feed into it. “Everything I’ve said is the truth. What part isn’t?”

“I wouldn’t have fucked just any human. You mean something to me, Glenda. And you’re as drawn to me as I am to you.”

Damn you, Veso. Stop saying things like that. It only hurts more. Is he trying to break me? See if he can make me cry? I refuse. “It was just sex. It meant nothing.”

He chuckled. “Liar.”

She glanced down his body. He really had a great one. Plenty of women went to bed with guys for their looks, just to have casual sex. “You’re muscular and really hot. You look like a regular guy. That’s all. I forgot what you are.”

“Another lie. You rode on my back after I shifted. That’s not something you’d forget, even in passion. Yet you still got naked for me and accepted me inside your body.” He lifted his upper body all the way up but didn’t let go of her ass, holding her in place with his hips firmly pressed between her thighs. He placed his free hand on her stomach. “My sperm could be breaching one of your eggs and implanting my child inside you right now. We should mate.”

Pregnant? Glen balked at the concept. Memories of something a friend went through a few years ago surfaced. May had gotten knocked up by her boyfriend, they’d gotten married, and it had turned into a nightmare. John had pretended to be happy at first about the baby. Later, he’d resented the hell out of being tied down by a wife and kid. He’d slept around with countless women, taunting May with his affairs. They’d eventually divorced but she’d watched May’s life spiral into pure hell. That would never be her.

She bucked her hips and grabbed at the bedding, trying to get out from under him. Veso let her go and she separated their bodies. She sat up and scooted away on the bed. “No. It was one time. I’m sure I’m not ovulating. I had a period recently.”

“When?”

“I don’t know!” She snagged the covers, jerking them up to her chest to cover her body.

“Lower your voice.”

She’d forgotten about the danger outside, solely focused on the one indoors with her. “I lost track of time while I was being held but life couldn’t be that messed up.”

He stood, totally naked as he kicked off the boxers around his ankles. “So you refuse to become my mate?”

She stared into his eyes and saw anger there. “A minute ago you were debating about if you wanted me for a mate or not. Now you’re asking me? What made you decide? Is it because the lowly human didn’t beg you to mate? Is that what you were expecting? Get over yourself.”

He turned away, showing off his muscled ass. He had a great one. She also spotted some red scratches on his upper back, realizing she must have put them there during sex. They weren’t bleeding at least.

“Get some rest, Glenda. I’ll be downstairs.” His voice came out harsh; it was clear that she’d made him mad.

He strode over to the ladder, avoided looking at her, and climbed to the lower floor.

Glen lay down, curled into a ball, and hugged the blankets she gripped even tighter. He was angry but she felt torn up inside.

What if he was right and he’d gotten her pregnant? She’d been an idiot to say yes to a quickie with him. He was just so hot and she’d wanted him. The consequences hadn’t even entered her mind.

It was his fault for licking her thighs and brushing his nose against her clit while doing it. He had turned her on and made her ache. He’d been the one to insist her thighs needed healing.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else. Everything would seem better in the morning. So far no one had attacked the cabin. They might survive through the night again without being found.

She pushed away any thought of Veso and focused on her breathing. In and out.

* * * * *

Veso woke with kinks in his neck from sleeping on the too small couch. He’d dragged a chair over to the end of it and shoved a pillow on the seat to accommodate his longer legs. He stood and stretched, staring at the tiny cracks along the sides of the closest covered window. Hints of light showed through. Morning had come.

He used the bathroom and then climbed the ladder as quietly as possible. Glenda slept in the center of the bed. She lay buried in covers but one foot and hand stuck out, besides part of her face. He carefully covered her limbs to keep her warm and walked to the edge of the loft, jumping down. The human in the closet made a noise and he listened, hearing light snoring.

He walked to the front door and unbarred it, peering outside. No movement caught his eye and he inhaled, not scenting Vampire. They must have completely avoided the cabin during the night. He closed the door, barred it again, and walked over to the cell phone. It was time to call his clan. He dreaded it but he couldn’t avoid it any longer. His father had to be worried. His friends were probably out searching for him. He also needed help getting Glenda back to his territory before nightfall. The Vamps wouldn’t dare go after her there, now that they’d already invaded once. The clan would be on high alert.

Glenda had rejected his offer to mate her. He’d messed up by sharing his thoughts of the pros and cons of mating with her and she’d thrown them in his face. Her words replayed in head. A minute ago you were debating about if you wanted me for a mate or not. Now you’re asking me? What made you decide? Is it because the lowly human didn’t beg you to mate? Is that what you were expecting? Get over yourself.

He ground his teeth together and tried to cool down. He was a VampLycan. She should be flattered that he wanted her. He had so much to offer. Then again, maybe he didn’t. His future with the clan would be uncertain with a human mate, as would any chance of others taking them in. She’d be in constant danger from Vampire nests and Lycan packs if they had to live in her world. He’d fight them all off but he’d be doing it alone with no backup.