Page 30 of Thirst

“He’s anxious, ain’t he? Thirsty as hell for your blood.”

“I guess so. I told him it’d take a couple days.”

As Nae walks silently, I send a quick reply to let Amari know when I'm off, and he responds in almost an instant.

“Okay, I guess it’s official,” I say. Nae looks at me but doesn't say anything. The same anxiety I see in her face is what I feel in my chest, but I’ve gone too far to turn back now. “He says it’ll take two days to get results, and he wants to link up as soon as it happens. He's scheduling his driver to pick me up. It’s happening. Two days from now, nine P.M. I'm gonna let a man pay to drink my blood.”

AMARI

Nineteen

“Akink? You told her it was a kink?”

“What other choice did I have?” I reply to Shawn, who’s in the front seat of the car as we drive it through a car wash. Water and colored soap splash across the windshield as the giant red brushes start to spin on the front and sides of us. Some sort of elevator music plays from speakers outside as flashing lights send streaks of red and green across our faces.

Shawn turns around in his seat so he can look me in the eye. “I don't know. But a blood play kink is diabolical, even for you. So she thinks she's being paid to let you drink her blood to satisfy your kinkiness? That’s wild.”

I let out an exasperated exhale. “I had no other choice. Oh, and I need that old bloodwork panel you had done a while back.”

“Ah. Practicing safe sex even though you can't catch diseases, but you want to give her peace of mind with my clean bill of health.”

“Right.”

“Ugh. Fine. What about all of that stuff you were saying about not wanting to Influence or lie to her because it felt wrong? Like she was too special to trick in any way?”

“How many times do I have to say I didn't have any other choice? I can't come out and tell her I'm a vampire who’s fixated on her because she just might be my fated partner. I can't tell her that I'm dying to feed, and that I desperately want it to be from her—that I was this close to biting her before Von interrupted us. I can’t tell her my blood isn't like a human’s, and that it would eradicate any sexually transmitted virus in no time. I can't say any of that, so I’m doing what I gotta do.”

“So let me get this straight. You told your possible Companion, who you're practically obsessed with, a bullshit story about some girl you dated that introduced you to the idea of blood play. You broke out this elaborate lie, then Influenced her into believing it was her idea to let you play out your kink with her.”

“Basically,” I say, looking out the window at the bristles dripping with soapy water. “I needed her to think that her desire to explore the kink with me was her idea. So after I told her the story, I Influenced her—told her that, just maybe, she’d like to explore the kink with me. When I released her, she ran with it.”

Shawn shakes his head as he turns around. “Damn, and here I was thinking you were ready to turn over a new leaf.”

“What new leaf?” I snip, feeling agitated. “There is no new leaf. I'm the same vampire I was before I saw her on top of that pole, so don't go thinking my heart has grown two sizes. I’m doing what I have to do, just like I've always done. You're lucky I'm even listening to you. The last time I listened to you, I let Von live. Now he's a thorn in both mine and Aaliyah’s side. I almost killed him. Again.”

“What?”

“He has a big mouth.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Yeah, well he ran it when Aaliyah and I were about to spend time together in the booth again. Started talking greasy, raising his voice as if I wouldn't tear his tongue out. So, I did a little time manipulation and told him how I really felt, then Influenced him into questioning his sanity after I released him.”

Shawn chuckles, shaking his head. “Damn. The good ol’ reality pause trick. I'm glad I'm on your team.”

“Yes, we’re on the same team, which is why you have to just trust me on this. It’s almost over.”

The car wash ends and Shawn pulls the whip up to a stop sign. He peers at me through the rearview mirror, his eyebrows raised. “I got you, but I have one more question. You say it’s almost over, but what are you gonna do once it is? What happens once you know for sure?”

I think about it, and honestly can't come up with an answer. All I know is that I have to keep going. At this point, I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

I look at Shawn in the mirror and shrug, shaking my head after I scoff. “Bruh, I have absolutely no idea.”

AALIYAH

Twenty

Isent Amari my address this morning. When he replied, all he said was that his driver, Shawn Martin, would be here to get me at nine o’clock sharp. Then, radio silence for the rest of the day. Considering that Amari works in a casino that is at its busiest at night, I'm sure he sleeps through most of the day just like I do. But when I sent the address, I wasn't able to get back to sleep. My mind is alive and vibrating. I can't believe this is about to happen. I'm going to be alone with Amari tonight. No Von. No bouncers. No security. Just the two of us at his place. Free to do whatever we want.