Delaney wanted to tell him everything would be all right, but platitudes weren’t going to cut it. “I can understand why you’d be hesitant to plan a future with another woman, but if it’s her decision to go through the process and she understands the risks, then what’s wrong with that?”

No answer.

“It’s too late, you know.”

He looked at her. “For what?”

She took a breath, hoping her confession might bring him around. “For me to stop what I’m feeling for you.”

A muscle in his cheek twitched. He stood. “We need to go home.”

And just like that, the conversation was over.

Hugh had done more than enough talking for one night. Delaney made a little small talk in the car on the way home and tried to engage him, but when he didn’t answer, she went silent. He wanted to think and she understood that he needed some time to deal with her confession and his memories and get his head straight.

Before they arrived home, she’d fallen asleep, reminding him that she was still very much human. He parked in the garage, then carefully opened her door, lifted her into his arms and carried her into the house.

She turned into him, snuggling her face against his shoulder. He fought not to kiss her, not to bury his nose in the bend of her neck and inhale her fragrance, not to indulge any of the urges that he no longer felt he had the right to. He’d shut her off after she’d declared she had feelings for him.

There would be repercussions for that. She might leave after all. And he would have to let her go because responding in kind, even if it was the truth, would only end up hurting her more. He couldn’t offer her a future. Not the kind of future it seemed that she wanted. One that might lead to her willingly undergoing the process of becoming his vampire bride.

He carried her into her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. Her cat was nowhere to be found, but she’d left her door open. No doubt Captain was exploring the house.

Hugh tugged her boots off, trying not to wake her. He thought he’d managed it until, as he stood at her bedside, studying the woman he was undeniably falling for, she murmured his name.

“Hugh.”

“Shh. It’s very late. Go back to sleep.” He sat on the edge of the mattress and brushed her hair off her face. He hadn’t turned the lights on, but he didn’t need them to see how beautiful she was.

“Are you mad at me?” Her voice was a sleepy whisper.

“Mad? No. Not at all.”

“You weren’t talking to me.”

“I didn’t know what to say.” Or how to say it, or how to explain what a mess his head was.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No.” Emotion clogged his throat. Damn it.

Her hand found his. She slipped her fingers through his and held on. “Then what are we going to do?”

“About?”

“Me. Falling in love with you.”

He sat very still, unable to think or move or process. “Delaney, you can’t—”

“Too late. I am.” She released his hand and rolled to her side. “Don’t worry,” she whispered, the tiniest sob clinging to her voice. “I’ll get over you. Eventually.”

Anger at his own inability to respond finally took hold of him. He had to say something. “Delaney…” Sweet, beautiful Delaney.

She rolled back over, squinting at him.

He knew she couldn’t see him in the dark the way he could see her. “I cannot ask any woman to risk her life for me. You must understand that.”

“You’re not asking me. If we get to that point, I will either make that decision or I won’t. But it will be my decision. Why can’t you understand that?”

“Because…” He swallowed. “Because I am a fool.”

She smiled and even in the dark room it felt like he’d been granted a moment in the sun. “Good thing I have a soft spot for foolish men.”

He bent his head to her stomach, the earthy scent of her leather top mingling with her sweet fragrance. Losing the presence of her light and joy in his house was an unhappy thought. “Don’t leave me.”

Her fingers threaded through his hair. “I can only stay if you promise not to shut me out anymore. I know I’m only human but—”

“No.” He lifted his head and turned his face to kiss the inside of her wrist. “Don’t say you’re only human. There’s nothing wrong with that. With who you are. Nothing at all. I won’t shut you out again. Will you stay?”

She nodded. Then smiled. “Can you see me? That I nodded?”

“Yes.” He slid his hands to her rib cage, his emotions raw and lying on the surface of his soul. “You scare me, Delaney.”

“I scare you?”

He tugged her closer. “The way you make me feel.”

She put her hands on his shoulders, her voice still breathy but very awake. “Which is?”

“Vulnerable.” He kissed the soft curves of her body that spilled over the edge of her leather top and was rewarded with a small purr of pleasure. “Predatory.” She was warm and delicious. His mouth found the hollow of her throat. Her fingers dug into him. “Protective.”

She arched beneath him, sighing.

Each kiss brought him nearer to her mouth, but he teased her, refusing to come closer than the line of her jaw or the corner of her lips. It was the kind of torturous pleasure he’d never indulged in with any other woman beside Juliette, preferring to keep those relationships as emotionally unattached as possible.