Page 40 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“Would you like something else, hun?” Marcy asked, and Verity realised she was frowning.

“No, of course not. Looks lovely,” she said, moving to sit beside Marcy and grabbing a pastry.

Charlie arched an eyebrow.

“Lie?” Marcy asked, and Charlie nodded.

Verity snorted. “Not fair. I tell Theo off for that.”

Theo agreed.

Charlie still watched her though, waiting for her to elaborate so she rolled her eyes and said, “My best friend has a café not far from Valesons. They took a lot of her customers.”

“Oh,” Charlie paused. “Which one?”

“Corner Café. It isn’t fancy, but she does good food. If you wanna go you need to make it quick though, she might have to shut shop soon.”

“Oh, no,” Ed said. “I think I know that one. It’s so hard for independent businesses these days.”

A murmur of agreement spread but Verity didn’t want to bring the mood down, so she asked, “How did you and Charlie meet?”

They both grinned and Charlie launched into the story. He was a lawyer and Ed was an assistant to the opposition. Charlie won both Ed and the case.

More champagne arrived and they ate and drank and talked for what felt like hours. Ed and Marcy told Verity tales of near misses, of almost being caught with their vampire other halves, Charlie defending himself while making little canapés for whoever would eat them.

The early days of Marcy and Elliot’s courting sounded quite eventful. Elliot saw her one day, just walking down the street, and fell for the “temptress” on the spot. Marcy took some convincing but thirty years later, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

Thirty years? The woman sat beside Verity, laughing and chatting, didn’t look a day over forty. Maybe she had one of those expensive skin routines. Or… maybe she drank Elliot’s blood? She looked the picture of health either way, and Verity wasn’t sure how to frame such a question.

She looked to Theo, finding him deep in conversation with Elliot. From what she could hear Elliot was apologising for not being a better friend, and Theo was having none of it. As the apologies turned to memories and the two started to relax Verity felt the last bit of tension melt away.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Marcy whispered in her ear. “Funny, isn’t it? He could drink a hundred bottles of champers, and it wouldn’t do a thing, but he still needs a glass to open up to a friend.”

Verity nodded. “Isn’t that all men?”

Marcy received a kick from Charlie and Verity realised that he hadn’t argued because he had his teeth in Ed’s wrist. They were sitting on the couch together, vampire holding his human in a loving embrace as he fed.

The sight should have shocked her. Havenshire taught them such things were private, to be kept behind closed doors, but once the initial surprise passed all Verity saw was a couple who cared deeply for each other, sharing a meal. Wasn’t that what Theo said the club was for?

Marcy met her eye, assessing her, waiting for a reaction, but when Verity smiled Marcy gave her arm a squeeze and stood.

“Elliot, stop stealing Theo away from his girl,” she demanded, heading over and nudging Theo to move.

His eyes met her then. Dark. Hungry.

The moment he stood Marcy slid into his seat and Elliot wrapped his arms round her, pulling her back against him and nuzzling her neck. But Verity watched Theo as he stalked towards her, ready to devour his meal.

Her heart thrummed, breath catching, as he sank down beside her on the floor, wrapping an arm around her as they leaned against the couch. He held her so close. So precious.

He pulled her in and whispered, “You don’t have to?”

Her wrist raised to him in answer and he took it, laying a soft kiss to the tender spot peppered with bite marks before looking at her. Lips so close she could kiss them, he grazed his fangs over the spot and her body tensed.

Music drifted through the room, a male voice singing a slow passionate melody and under it, growls. Not just Theo, but Charlie and Elliot too. A room of predators, feeding on their prey.

Then he bit, his gaze holding hers. Blood touched his tongue and his nose twitched. The fire in her veins connected them, one being pouring life into another as his cheek hollowed and he sucked, far harder than normal.

Her hand found his shirt, eyes rolling at the exquisite pain and she stifled a moan. The rumbling in his chest travelled through her fingers and he sucked again.