Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
When the kiss ended, Rei was sure all his bones were crushed to dust under the strength of Yichen’s love. He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to leave these arms holding him so very tight.
“Yes, the driver’s license is a fake, but you staying here with me finally feels real.” Yichen closed his eyes and barked out a harsh laugh. “I know it’s stupid. We’ve been making all these plans for you to remain here after the door closes. The sandstone with Huli’s blood. Keeping the heliotrope for your exclusive use. Even keeping all the other stones from the crown. All so you can be safe here. Plus, you have no desire to go back and claim the throne. I logically know these things.” He opened his eyes and those bright-hazel depths pierced straight through Rei’s heart. “But this utterly mundane and stupid thing tipped the scale for me. You’re staying. You really are going to be mine forever.”
Rei threw his arms around Yichen’s neck and snuggled even closer. “Yes. A thousand times, yes. Never in my life have I been so happy. Whether I have one more night with you, or a million, this is the only place I want to be. In the arms of my vampire prince.”
“I love you, Rei. You saved me so many times, in so many ways, over the years. Each time you did it, you risked your own life.”
An unexpected lump grew in Rei’s throat and his eyes burned at Yichen’s sweet tears. “Because when I looked at you, I saw someone so infinitely precious. I couldn’t let your light be extinguished from the world. My one thought was to get you home to your clan. They needed you. I didn’t dare let myself think I could keep you. That I could have this. I was never worthy of this.”
“You are. You have always been worthy. My prince is so brave, strong, and sexy.” Yichen leaned in close and placed a tiny kiss to the tip of Rei’s nose. “Most importantly, you are mine. No one will ever touch you again. No one will hurt you. No one will take you from me.”
Rei rubbed the side of his head on Yichen’s cheek, trying to swallow the happy tears. Never in his life had he been so cherished, so protected. Even as the fucking crown prince of all the fae he’d never had someone want to keep him safe just for the sake of him, not for what they could get from him.
“Yiyi, think of my heart,” Rei pleaded. “I can’t take these sweet words from you.”
“You’ll learn to. We have many years together, and I promise to whisper sweet words in your ear every night from now on.”
“I love you, Yiyi. You are my everything.”
Yichen turned his face to capture his lips in a slow kiss that had Rei’s toes curling. Gods, this man owned him, body and soul.
As Yichen ended the kiss, he kept his mouth brushing along Rei’s so he could feel his smile. “There is one little thing…”
Rei’s heart stumbled, and he pulled back enough to meet Yichen’s gaze. “What do you mean?”
Shifting to put more space between them, Yichen lifted his left hand, holding up the new driver’s license in front of Rei’s face. “This…does not mean you’re allowed to drive.”
“What?” Rei squawked. He planted both of his hands on Yichen’s chest and shoved the vampire. “That’s exactly what that means! It’s a driver’s license. It says that I’m allowed to drive.”
“You don’t know how to drive,” Yichen argued, laughter dancing among his words.
“Of course I do. You push the peddles to stop and go. Turn that big wheel in the middle to go left and right. Easy. Humans do it all the time.”
“Oh, Gods no. Just…no. There’s no way I’m letting you drive.” Yichen snickered as he sat up and pushed to his feet.
Rei was close on his heels, following him out of the room. He grabbed Yichen by the shoulders, turning him toward their shared room. “This is ridiculous. I can’t stand on the top of the car. I can’t drive the car. This is not what I imagined my new life in the human world being like.”
Yichen’s laugh echoed down the hall. “No driving!”
Whatever. Let Yichen and the rest of the vampires keep their cars. This life with his mate was already better than anything he could have dreamed of. They had to accomplish a few more things—starting with rescuing Li Xiang from the dragon—and he could have his happily ever after with his vampire.
“Teach me to drive!” Rei demanded.
“Not a chance.”
“I bet I can think of a way to convince you,” he purred as he closed the door to their room, shutting out the rest of the world.
Yes, this new life was going to be much better than being a prince.