Page 28 of Blood Sugar

“Look, Sadie,” I began, the words jumbling together in my mouth. “I did a lot of our baking already today, so after you feed, we can work on items for the Pumpkin Festival. It's only a few days away now.”

“The festival that was my deadline for learning to bake,” she said, nibbling at her bottom lip as she watched me warily.

Reaching out, I brushed my palms over the sides of her arms. “You’re safe. No longer conditional employment. And I’ll write you a paycheck on Friday, okay?”

“Great, thanks. Okay, we should get to work.”

“Blood first,” I said.

She opened her mouth, and I knew she would argue that she didn’t need it. Reaching out, I brushed my palms over the sides of her arms.

“I need to know you’re fed. You already agreed daily for the time being.”

Crossing her arms, she let her breath out in a long sigh. “Fine. Where do you want me to bite you? Wrist again?”

She held out her open hand, crooking two fingers to draw me closer. A wave of heat rolled through me, and I had to steady myself.

Her luscious mouth curved into a smirk. She thought she knew the effect she had on me, but she had no idea how profound it was.

Slowly, I closed the distance between us. Instead of offering my wrist, I gripped her hips and pulled her with me as I eased myself against the nearest counter. Legs wide, I rested my lower back against the cabinet, bringing me down closer to Sadie’s height.

Her smirk widened into a devastating smile, displaying those beautiful fangs. “So, not the wrist?”

Instead of answering, I tipped my head to the side, baring my neck. She licked her lips, and it sent sparks down my spine. My body tensed as she stepped between my legs and rested a hand flat on my chest.

“Are you sure about this?” she murmured.

Scowling, I locked eyes with her. “Sadie, I want you to bite me. Take all the blood you can drink. I want to know that you’re full and healthy.”

“Fine, fine. You just like being bitten,” she said, grinning at me. With a nervous little giggle, she leaned against me, her breasts brushing my torso as she lowered her lips to my neck.

Her breath ghosted over my skin as she hesitated. My hands squeezed her hips, encouraging her.

The first brush of her lips on my skin was electric. Even though this was our third time, the feeling was still a shock. It wasn’t the venom. It was Sadie. And I knew in my bones that if she wasn’t a vampire, just a human or a witch or anything really, I would still want her. We would still have this connection.

Her lips pressed firmer, and then a pair of fangs pierced my skin. The small prick was replaced with a rush of chemicals through my blood. A warm, fuzzy feeling enveloped me, like all my good memories distilled into a feeling of joy and belonging that was injected right into my veins. My muscles relaxed, and my hands moved without conscious thought, trailing from her hips up to her waist, pulling her against me so our bodies were flush.

Her hand cupped the other side of my neck, while the other gripped my shoulder hard enough her nails pricked my skin. She took a long draw of my blood, her lips suctioning over the bite. I could imagine her lips closing over a very different part of me, and I groaned.

At the sound, her nails dug into my skin, and I barely repressed another groan. She felt so perfect against me.

“Goddess, I want to kiss you so bad.”

She didn’t answer, her mouth occupied with drinking my blood. I needed to stop talking, but I couldn't help myself.

“You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen,” I slurred. Maybe the venom was having a bigger effect than I realized.

Sadie shifted her weight, grinding against me without meaning to. Or maybe she meant to. Either way, it felt fucking amazing.

“I need you, darling,” I confessed.

She stiffened under my hands, and I cursed myself for letting my mouth spew out my thoughts without any regard for the consequences.

Her tongue brushed over the punctures, cleaning them up. Releasing me, she leaned back, blinking at me. Her magenta eyes roamed over my face.

“Rowen, I know the venom makes you—”

“I’m sorry,” I cut her off. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”