Page 98 of The Donor’s Dilemma

Other than a flinch when he bit, Verity didn’t react, only held him like her life depended on it. Held him as tightly as he held her.

The bite was swift and he pulled away for the briefest moment, just long enough for her blood to perfume the air and prove that the deed was done.

“See? How was that?” Gerald asked. Theo didn’t know if he was asking him or Verity, but they both ignored him. He started talking to Viv again, both laughing as if they hadn’t just pushed Verity and Sienna into feedings they didn’t want.

The second eyes left them, Theo started trying to heal her. It hadn’t been a minute and if he hurried maybe the scar wouldn’t be too bad. He hoped that was the case at least as he held her, pretending to feed while soothing the inflamed skin.

When he looked back up Sienna still sat with Abe, curled into him and playing with the buttons of his shirt as she asked about his trip. Harris stared into his empty glass, looking like he might club Abe with it at any moment. Everyone else chatted and laughed without a care in the world.

Everyone but the girls. They looked better, colour returning to their cheeks, less murderous and terrified, but still not happy.

“I didn’t mind, you know,” Verity murmured against him. She had wriggled into the crook of his arm, ear to his chest and staring at the door. “If Abe was hungry. Me and Sienna, we could have flipped a coin.”

Coin.

His head lolled back as he stared at the ceiling and thought.

They hadn’t been in the room for long, the others probably intent on staying for hours, drinking and eating and being their elitist, obnoxious selves. But Verity wanted out, so they were going. Now.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” he said, willing coldness to his tone but keeping quiet. A vampire would be able to hear a skipped heartbeat, hearing a whispered argument wouldn’t be a problem. “You know, everything I do for you, a bit of gratitude wouldn’t go amiss.” He squeezed her thigh, begging her to play along.

Wide-eyed, she looked up at him. “I am grateful.”

“Grateful enough to offer yourself up like that?”

“But he asked and I…”

“Come on, Theo,” said Abe, toying with the fabric of Sienna’s dress. “No harm done.”

Harris scoffed but didn’t say anything, swirling the empty glass.

Shaking his head, Theo stood, putting Verity on her feet and holding her arm as she stumbled. “We’re done for tonight.” He shot Abe a look of pure contempt before guiding Verity to the door.

“It was lovely seeing you again, sweet Verity,” Abe called. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Fuck off, Abe,” Theo muttered, pushing Verity through the doorway, not bothering with goodbyes.

Verity slumped against the wall before the door even closed, hands covering her face. Stepping forward, Theo gently pushed her hands down so she could see him tapping his lips, signalling to be quiet. “I can’t believe you just said that,” he said, loud enough that he heard a couple of giggles from inside the room. Let them laugh.

Holding her nose up, Verity sniffed and wiped at her damp cheeks. “Well, I can’t believe you’re being such a dick,” she snapped.

The quizzical tilt of his head made her shrug. Even in a fake argument she’d call out his bullshit.

“Home. Now.”

Shaking his head he wrapped an arm around her and led her out.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

They could almost be freckles, or perhaps spots? Either way, at first glance the new twin scars at the junction of Verity’s shoulder and neck weren’t obviously fang marks. Considering the effort Theo put into soothing the tiny wounds it was a wonder they scarred at all.

Adjusting her t-shirt, she examined her reflection in the mirror behind the laptop. Unless she turned her head, only one of the marks was visible, making it even less likely for anyone to realise what they were.

He’ll know that you were mine first.

At the time the words had meant little. All her lust addled mind could think about was Theo, about finally taking what her body had demanded since the very first bite. Now, after thinking about little else since getting home, she cared even less about what someone else might think. She liked Theo, she really liked Theo, and she didn’t care what anyone else thought about it. As Elliot said, just because he wasn’t human anymore, didn’t mean he had lost his humanity. Theo was just another person, biologically changed but not as different to her as some might think. She wanted to be with him, and if anyone didn’t like that, it was their problem, not hers.

Her phone chirped and Verity looked down to find a text from Theo. She tried not to feel disappointed.