James' lip curls at the nickname but he doesn't push it.

"Why?"

He will, however, push that. Because really Cooper, the idea that you're going to be the grand exception to the rule of thumb tonight is...hard to swallow. Luckily, he has a fairly decent relationship with another vampire who isn't in town - to his knowledge.

It's enough to make him stand down a smidge. But he doesn't leave the doorway.