Page 57

“It was terrifying.” I unwrap the blanket from my hand, then rewrap, glad that he’s not rushing to fill the silence with reassuring promises. “I’ve never been afraid when you bite me, but this was different. I don’t think he was going to be… careful.”

He says nothing. We both know I’m right. A vampire who’d feed without consent, who’d bite another vampire’s feeder… the chances of me being left alive were always slim. There was no way he was going to take care to minimise the damage from his bite.

“In my head, before, feeding was never a bad thing. It wasn’t an attack.”

His expression changes almost imperceptibly, but I know he understands where this is going.

“I don’t want that to change. I don’t want a bite to be a scary thing, but I’m worried that it will be.” I take a deep breath. “I can’t sleep, thinking about it.”

“You want to know now?”

I nod.

“You must say the words, Adam. I need your verbal consent.”

The biggest part of my worry lifts away, reassured by his insistence on giving me control of this interaction. To satisfy the lingering remnants, I ask, “Will you feed, Tristan? Please bite me.”

His lashes sweep down in a ridiculously long blink, shielding his eyes from me, but when they rise, his composure is undisturbed. “Are you sure? The stress of the evening⁠—”

“The stress is what I’m trying to get rid of,” I interrupt. “I want to go back to bed and sleep secure in the knowledge that that fucker was just a nasty blip in my life, and tomorrow I can get up and do all the things I’m used to doing. I can’t do that until I know that feeding doesn’t scare me.”

His mouth presses into a thin line. “You will tell me to stop if you feel even the smallest trepidation.”

“Trepidation,” I repeat, and a grin takes over my face. “Only you could unironically use a word like that in a sentence.”

“Adam.”

“Fine, I’ll tell you to stop if I feel any ‘trepidation.’” I let go of the blanket so I can make air quotes with my fingers. “I promise.”

Wordlessly, he holds out his hand for me to give him my wrist. I bite my lip.

“Actually…” When I hesitate, he drops his hand.

“There’s no rush for you to try feeding again,” he assures me. “I’ll be fine for another day or two, and then I can request a temp if necessary.”

Possessive irritation surges in me. He’s my vampire, and I can keep him fed, thank you very much. “No fucking way. But, uh, no, that’s not… I was actually wondering if you could, uh… bite my… neck.”

This time the change in his expression is unmistakable. His eyes darken, dropping to my throat, and his nostrils flare. He swallows hard, lips parting just enough for me to catch a flash of fang.

“The first time that happens should not be to prove something,” he rasps, but his gaze never leaves my neck. I wonder if he can see the thrum of my heartbeat there.

I shrug lightly. “I’ve been curious, but we don’t know each other that well yet, so I figured it would be better to wait. And then, tonight, I thought I’d lost my chance to experience it the way it should be.” I pause, and when his eyes rise to meet mine, I add, “I don’t want to wait anymore.”

The stillness of the night has nothing on Tristan as he wrestles with his conscience. I see it, the moment when he loses to his vampire instincts. He takes a shaky breath.

“You’ll stop me if⁠—”

“Yes. I’ll stop you.” I’m totally not stopping him unless I’m so scared I’m on the verge of pissing myself.

He nods. “Very well.”

Chapter 28

“Kneel beside me,” he orders, giving the velvet upholstery beside his thigh a single pat.

I push aside my blanket, not needing it with the thrill of anticipation warming me, and eye the spot dubiously. “Wouldn’t it be better logistically if I sit?” Me kneeling while he stays sitting is going to make the angle awkward.

He shakes his head, his black curls, loosened from their usual strict style, bouncing against his brow. “You’re less likely to get nervous if you have leverage and a height advantage.”