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coated her eyes and a piece of him shattered at the thought he’d upset her to the point of tears. She touched his chest. “Good things don’t normally happen to me around the holidays.”
    He closed his eyes and tilted his head up, his own emotions threatening to get the better of him. “I know. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “Cornell,” she whispered, tugging on the front of his shirt.
    He met her gaze.
    “I like you a lot too,” she confessed and joy took root in him. It wasn’t I love you, but then again, Dani wasn’t exactly the type of woman who went around with sweet prose falling from her full lips. She was the type of woman who was more likely to be found cursing at someone with words and phrases that could make a person blush, than being poetic and declaring love for anyone or anything. He knew what she’d just confessed was huge when taking her personality into consideration.
    He couldn’t stop himself as he kissed her again. Their tongues laced and the next he knew, he had lifted her off her feet. He had no intention of taking her home so she could change. He’d not risk her changing her mind about him.  
    About them.
    Instead, he continued to kiss her as he walked her farther down the hall in the direction of the grand staircase. He carried her up the stairs, their mouths still joined. When he reached the master bedroom, he broke the kiss long enough to speak.
    “This is where you tell me yes or no,” he said. “And, Dani, I don’t just mean sex. If I take you to my bed, I’m going to claim you.”  
    She paled. “Claim me? Why would you want to do that? That would mean we’re together forever.”
    He couldn’t help but smile. “That is sort of the point.”
    “But, Cornell, you can’t claim me. I’m not a vampire. I’m not—”
    He kissed her forehead and set her on her feet lightly. If she wanted to go, he’d let her because he loved her and would never force her to accept him. “You are my mate, Dani. I’ve known from the second I laid eyes on you. That’s why I had Finn train you in my place. I was worried I’d lose control and lay claim to you when you were too young to know what you’d be getting yourself into.”
    “I’m not a vampire,” she whispered.
    “No. You’re not. But not all mates of vampires are vampires themselves,” he reminded her.
    “They are for the ruling vampire families,” she protested.
    He smiled. “My darling, the last vampires who have mated from the ruling families did so centuries ago. In fact, I believe my parents were the last to mate.”
    “You’re my boss.”  
    He nodded, knowing she was working through each point she believed should keep them apart. He’d done this so many times himself.
    “You’re a giant pain in the ass,” she added, making him laugh and her smile.
    “I am. Now. I’m going to leave this choice up to you.” He stepped back and motioned to the door and then the hall. “Stay and be my wife, or go and I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t like them, but I’ll respect them.”
    “Are you sure you want me?” she asked, sounding raw and emotionally bare.
    He knew she’d felt alone and unwanted for a very long time with all that had happened in her past. “Dani, I want you to be mine. I’m tired of trying to resist the pull to you. I’m tired of letting rules and regulations hold me back. You were born for me and I’ve waited too long in my immortal life to let another day go by without you in it fully.”
    The tears he’d thought she wouldn’t shed earlier let loose, trailing down her cheeks, breaking his heart. “I’d like that.”  
    “Then why the tears?”
    “This time of the year normally blows,” she said. “My family was—”
    “I know all about it,” he returned, bending and kissing her lips chastely. “Dani, I’m the one who made those who hurt your family suffer and pay for their crimes.”
    She gasped. “That was you?”  
    He nodded. “They had caused you and yours so