Sigma by Annie Nicholas

flopped onto the couch next to him. “This evening sucked.”
    “You’re the king of understatements.” Sam held up the beer Tyler handed to him. “Here’s to surviving.” His friend clunked his bottle against his. Draining it empty, Sam set his bottle aside.
    Clementine’s gaze met his and his heart seized. She would be sent away, God knew where, maybe alone. Who would protect her? What if she forgot about him? He rubbed his chest but the ache was too deep.
    There were still a few hours of night left. Daedalus would set another coffin for her in his den. Pity she couldn’t sleep in his bed, but the sunlight risk wasn’t worth taking. But they still had those hours…
    “She’s too good for you.” Tyler sipped his beer.
    “Like you deserve Katrina?” But he agreed with his friend. Clementine was smart and brave. Would she be content with him?
    His friend and pack mate lifted his bottle. “Touche, but I’m willing to commit to her and be her sex slave as long as she wishes. What about you?”
    “I just met Clementine.”
    “Have you–umm…”
    “Fucked? Yes, not that it’s any of your business.” He folded his arms over his chest and glared at the floor. “I’m going to ask her to stay.” He said the words so fast he wasn’t sure Tyler heard.
    His friend went still. He’d heard. “I was just teasing, dude.”
    Sam gazed at the ceiling for a second. “I’d decided this before our little heart to heart.” He twisted to face Tyler. “She stood up for me against Daedalus.” Sugar was the only other person who’d ever done that for him, but what he felt for Clementine was so much stronger. She’d not only faced off with the Nosferatu, but she stood up to her master . Something he doubted she’d ever done in her hundred years of servitude.
    “And you both still have arms. Nice. Daedalus has been carrying a huge chip on his shoulder ever since Sugar was hurt.” Tyler flinched at his own comment. Even though he wasn’t responsible for the Asian pack’s strike, he still expressed guilt at not being home that day.
    Scratching his chin, Sam regarded his friend. He guessed in some way they all carried regret from that attack. He wasn’t alone in feeling like a failure. They’d all done their best to protect Sugar. He took a deep breath, the first in many months, and turned his attention to his possible future.
    Clementine.
    Bumping fists with his buddy, he rose to his feet and joined her in the kitchen. A whiff of her scent snaked around him and he inhaled deeply.
    She smiled as he approached.
    “I’ll show you where you’ll be spending the day.” He entwined his fingers within hers and whispered in her ear. “And my bedroom if you want.”
    Her grin became more inviting. “Show me.”
    He led her to the basement he shared with Tyler, Katrina, and Daedalus. His bedroom was the smallest, since he didn’t share it with anyone. “I’m surprised we have a spare coffin. It isn’t like we have any vampires who visit.”
    “Hmm…my master–” She cleared her throat. “Daedalus made the arrangements.”
    “He must have quite the foresight.”
    “He’s had months to prepare. He called me the night Sugar was hospitalized with orders. He knew I’d eventually make it to Chicago. The idea was for me to sneak out the information and bring it here. Not lead a high speed chase from the airport.” She shrugged. “He should have chosen someone else for the task. There are plenty of others with better skills who are still loyal to him.”
    Sam paused in front of his bedroom and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. “Doesn’t matter why, I’m just glad he did.” He drew her inside the room, where a queen-sized bed dominated the space. A few free weights lay scattered on the carpet by the bookshelf and a gaming console. Taking her hands in his, he tried to catch his breath. This was proving more difficult than he’d thought. What if she said no? His stomach rolled. He’d swear off females