“Gabe slowly backed out of the kitchen, hands raised. "Wow. That takes family drama to a whole new level."Hayded stared at him."And I think I'll go to my room now." Gabe said.”

“This was it. And it was right. Perfect without the dinner, movies, and flowers, because how could you really plan something like this?You couldn'tDaemon sat back-A fist pounded on the door, and Andrew's voice intruded. "Daemon, are you awake?"We stared at each other in disbelief. "If I ignore him," he whispered, "do you think he'll go away?"My hands dropped to my sides. "Maybe"The pounding came again. "Daemon, I really need you downstairs. Dawson is ready to go back to Mount Weather. Nothing Dee or I are saying to him is making a bit of difference. He's like a suicidal Energizer bunny."Daemon squeezed his eyes shut. "Son of a bitch...""It's okay." I started to sit up. "He needs you."He let out a ragged sigh. "Stay here and get some rest. I'll talk-or beat some sense into him." He kissed me briefly and then gently pushed me back down. "I'll be back."Settling in, I smiled. "Try not to kill him.""No promises." He stood, pulled on his pajama bottoms, and headed for the door. Stopping short, he looked over his shoulder,his intense gaze melting my bones. "Dammit."A few seconds after he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him, there was a fleshly smack and then Andrew yelling. "Ouch. What in the hell was that for?""Your timing sucks on an epic level," Daemon shot back.”

“No." I backed up, running my hands along my hips. "You told me to not give up on Seth. And now you want me to?""I don't want you to give up on him," he said, voice taking on a pleading edge. "There's still hope for him, but only if you can truly reach him. And being the head of Seth's fan club isn't going to do it."I laughed then. "That was so you when you were... you know, around. You totally had a boy crush on him.”

“She's Awakening,' Aiden said, voice tight.'But the blood...' I heard Marcus move closer. 'Why is she bleeding?'I eased onto my side. 'I'm being tattooed by a giant, mother fu-' Another strangled scream cut of my words as a different type of pain settled in, moving under my skin. It was like lighting racing through my veins, frying every nerve ending.'This is... wow,' Deacon said, and I pried my eyes open. There was a whole audience by the door.'Get them out of here!' I screamed, jackknifing on the floor. 'Gods, this sucks!''Whoa,' I heard Deacon murmur. 'This is like watching a chick give birth or something.''Oh my gods, I'm going to kill him.' I could feel the beads of blood breaking out under my jeans. 'I'm going to punch him-''Everyone leave,' Aiden ground out. 'This isn't a godsdamn show.''And I think he's like the father,' Luke said.Aiden rose to his feet. 'Get. Out.”

“Hey,” I reached out and tapped the hand that rested next to my left leg. “you are--”The hand that I tapped reached up and clasped mine. I froze as he threaded his finders through mine. “I’m what?”Beautiful. Kind. Patient. Perfect. I said none of those things. Instead, I stared at his fingers, wondering if he knew he was holding my hand. “You’re always so….”His thumb moved over the top of my hand. The balm made his fingers cool and smooth. “What?”I looked up, and I was immediately snared. His stare, his soft touch along my hand was doing very strange things. I felt hot and dizzy, like I’d been out in the sun all day. All I could think about was how his hand felt on mine. Then, what his hand would feel like on other parts. I shouldn’t be thinking that at all.Aiden was a pure.”

“Kitten,” he growled roughly.I kissed him softly, sliding my hands into his silky locks, letting the pieces slide through my fingers. I tasted in him my own rising desire, my own need and heartache. Thrilling. Frightening. I pulled back.“Kitten,” he said again, voice strained. “You don’t get to do that and then stop. That’s not how it works.”I stared at him, my breath stalling in my lungs.“Not when you’re mine.” Daemon backed us up and slid down the wall, pulling me on his lap so I was straddling him. “And you’re mine.”

“Slowly he looked at me, and then he bent down, planting his lips on mine. The kiss was unexpected—deep and forceful. Stunned I just stood there as he pulled back, nipping at my bottom lip. "Tasty, Kitten." Then he spun, planted his right hand on Blake’s shoulder, knocking him back into a locker. “See you around,” he said, smirking.”