* * *
When Ryan came back out of the bathroom, he paused to admire the sight of Grace asleep in bed. So vampires did sleep, or did something like it. His lips twitched as he took in the way his red flannel shirt enveloped her curvy little body. Maybe it was his inner caveman talking, but he loved seeing her in his clothes. It made him feel like he was caring for her. Granted, she was a vampire and could take care of herself, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to try. He couldn’t get the image of her hurt and bleeding out of his mind. He felt compelled to protect her, throw himself in the path of danger, even if it put his life at risk.
It probably should have shocked the hell out of him to feel so protective of her, but it felt so natural. That had to be the true mate thing at work. He
