I wake up feeling much better. Billy and I talked until I fell asleep last night, and I don't even remember how I got to bed. I'm sure he carried me.

I get up and stretch. There's a robe and a packaged toothbrush at the foot of the bed with a note.

Thought you might want to shower. Feel free to use anything you need.

After a nice, warm shower, I slip into the robe, and put my folded clothes on the edge of the bed.

Billy's already in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Good morning," I say.

"Good morning. Sleep ok?"

I nod. "Thanks for the robe."

"You can wash your clothes after we eat." He smiles.

"You didn't have to make breakfast."

"You need more food. You passed out yesterday, then let me feed. I want to keep you on your feet today. Mostly."

Mostly?

"What does that mean?"

Billy just shrugs, so I move to the fridge to get something to drink. I'm looking over the selection when Billy presses himself behind me. His teeth scrape over my neck, but I don't feel the sharpness of his fangs.

"I spent all last night thinking about how good you taste." He practically growls as his hands squeeze my hips.

The words send a shiver through my entire body.

"It's not all the same?"

"Most of the time. It's tangy. Metallic. But sometimes, if I share a close connection with the person, it's sweeter."

"How?"

"Don't know. Don't care. I'm just glad you agreed to do it again."

He closes his lips over my pulse, and I feel a small, sharp twinge. He licks at my skin, then presses his finger to it.

"So good."

"I thought you weren't going to do that for a few days?"

"I only made a scratch. Just a little trickle." He kisses the spot, then turns me around and wraps me in his arms. "Did you think about the other thing?"

"I haven't thought much of anything. I don't even remember falling asleep, or how I got to bed. Thanks for letting me use your guest room."

"I don't have a guest room."

"That was your bedroom?"

"Yep."

"Where did you sleep?"

Billy smirks. "Don't worry. I didn't take advantage. But it is my bed."

"And definitely big enough."

I think about the implications. He's had me at a disadvantage since I found all of this out. It's time to get back in the game.

"So, what you're saying is… I slept with my boss."

His already dark eyes get even darker.

"Technically, but not the fun way." I smirk, and his eyes land on my mouth. "You open to talking about that some more?" he asks.

"Maybe."

"I'll take maybe. For now."

We eat breakfast, and I laugh at how much he enjoys his food. I laugh out loud, so it draws his attention.

"What's funny?"

"You. You don't actually need to eat food, do you?"

"No."

"But you enjoy it so much."

"That's why I still eat. It's a pleasure."

He grins on that last word, and I know where that's going. I bring my dishes to the sink and turn on the water, but he pulls me away by the belt of the robe before I can even get my hands wet.

"Those can wait." He turns off the water. "'Maybe' isn't a satisfactory answer anymore."

"Answer to what?"

I smile and Billy growls as he lifts me from the floor. I panic and cling to his neck until I realize he's carrying me to the sofa. I try to slide off of his lap when he sits, but he holds me in place and kisses my neck.

"Billy?"

"Hmm?" His lips don't move from my neck.

"If I did want to go to the next step with you…"

He pulls away and looks into my eyes.

"Is it casual?" I ask.

"Do you want it to be?"

I lower my eyes. I've been attracted to Billy since I first saw him. I've loved him for the last two years. A part of me thinks he knows.

"No. I don't want it to be casual."

"Good. Neither do I."

"But you always—"

"I told you why. You're different. You know about me now. And…"

"And?"

"I actually care about you. It's why you taste so sweet to me. There's a connection."

"You know, I felt something like that with you once."

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"One time you put your hand at the small of my back to guide me out of a conference room. My entire body felt warm."

"Shit."

"What?"

"Let me see your back."

He tries to pull the bottom of the robe up, but I stop him.

"I'm completely naked under here."

Billy shuts his eyes and growls. "Fine, stand up and face away. Lower the robe to your waist."

I hesitate, but I do it. His thumb skims my back and I hiss with delight.

"Son of a bitch. No wonder you taste so sweet."

I pull the robe back on and sit next to him on the sofa.

"What's going on?"

"I know what meeting you're talking about. There was another vampire there."

"Really?"

Billy nods. "He kept eyeing you, so I touched you that way to let him know you were off limits." He wipes a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Vampires can mark humans. It's like a claim. It tells other vampires to back off. This human is protected. It can be sensed by other vampires."

"You marked me!"

"That's the thing. I didn't intend to. I've heard stories of deep connections, mutual attraction and feelings that formed such a true connection that the mark forms with just a touch."

I almost can't speak for a moment. "Are you telling me I'm some kind of vampire soulmate?"

Billy laughs. "No. It's not fated." He takes my hand and kisses my palm. "It's because we formed a connection working so closely together. A pretty strong one."

"So, I have an actual mark on my back?"

He nods. "Kinda like a white-ink tattoo."

"Of what?"

"My signet."

"I'm branded."

"Yeah."

He has the good sense to look guilty. I was getting mad for a minute, myself. Then I think about it again.

"That's… kinda hot."

Bill smirks. "Really?"

I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him closer.

"It's kind of like a hickey. Only better."

"Most women don't like hickeys."

"Women don't like visible hickeys. There's a difference."

"Are you telling me I can give you hickeys?"

Billy kisses my neck.

"As long as only you can see them."

He lays me down on the sofa and pulls the top of my robe open, exposing the valley between my breasts.

"You never wear anything this low cut, do you?"

"No."

His tongue traces along the edge of my breast where it meets my chest. It scoops at the flesh, then disappears back into his mouth. Then he kisses a trail to the other side.

"Even your skin tastes sweet."

"Billy?"

"Yes, delicious?"

"It won't be casual, right?" I really don't think I can do it."

Billy crawls up and presses a kiss to my lips.

"Do you really think we can be casual when my signet is branded into your flesh?"

I shake my head.

"No," he whispers. "You're mine."

I swallow hard and clear my throat.

"Shouldn't we be getting ready for work?"

"I own the company, and you're my assistant. I say we play hookey."

"We were prepping for an important meeting when you were…"

I can't even say the word. Billy presses a soft kiss to my lips.

"I know. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

I nod, fighting back a lump in my throat at the memory. "We should get dressed."

"I'd rather stay here."

He mouths at the fleshy side of my breast, and my eyes slip closed.

"So would I."

"Then let's stay."

I moan, but somehow find the strength to lift his head to look at me. His eyes are darker than I've ever seen them.

"This meeting is important for Anvil. Let's go and take care of business. Then we can play hookey the rest of the day."

"I'll go. You stay here and wait for me."

"What about—"

His lips cut me off. He kisses me so deeply that I swear I can feel the mark on my back grow warm.

"Stay here," he whispers. "I'll be back."

I run my fingers through his hair, down his neck.

"Are you sure vampires don't have a seductive influence?"

Billy laughs. "It's all me, babe." He presses a soft kiss to my lips. "All me."