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Those wide shoulders of his lift in a casual shrug. “Let’s remedy that. Where are your parents?”
It takes me a few moments to shift gears. “Um. My parents divorced when I was ten. My father lives in North Carolina and my mother moved to Long Island a few years ago. My grandmother passed and left her the house where she grew up.”
“That must have been difficult for you.” He holds my hand and traces a mesmerizing path around my fingers.
“They fought all the time. It was better they split up. Mom and I did fine and my father stayed in the city until I graduated from high school. They did the best they could.” I finally look him in the eye and see nothing but adoration in his bright blue eyes.
“I still think it must have been a trying childhood, but perhaps you’ll share that with me when you know me better.” He brings my fingers to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.
“What happened when Wentworth found you?” I know Oliver is an orphan, so there’s no point asking about other family.
Something so sad crosses his face, I wish I hadn’t asked. “I was at a state home in Maine after a failed attempt at a foster home. According to my records, I’d killed a pet. My memory of the incident is vague. I was very young. The people at the home were kind but afraid of me. I remember being hungry and little more.” His eyes have a faraway look. “There was a small window with bars but it was too high to see outside. I was kept away from the other children for obvious reasons.”
A tear rolls down my cheek and I brush it away. I have to swallow several times before I can manage to speak. “You must have been relieved when Wentworth came to take you away from there.”
Half a smile and his soulful gaze meets mine. “I attacked him.”
“Oh no. What did he do?” Why I should be afraid for Oliver when clearly, he survived the incident, I don’t know, but my heart races.
“He sent my caretakers away and let me feed. I don’t know how long I would have lived if he hadn’t found me. Perhaps forever, in constant pain of starvation.” He shakes out of the memory. “After that, he removed me from the home and brought me here.”
“Were you happy here?”
“As happy as someone like me can be. I wished to be normal, but eventually, I came to terms with my lot in life.” He shakes his head, stopping my next question. “My turn. Did you move to New York directly after college?”
“Yes.”
“Was that a happy time?” He pulls me into his lap and nuzzles my neck.
My body instantly responds with desire. I moan and arch my neck to give him access. I have no idea if I want him to kiss me or bite me, but I can’t help exposing myself to him. “I worked and made several good friends who are still a big part of my life.”
He kisses my pulse. “Any serious relationships?”
“No. I’m not a good girlfriend.” On the ride over I swore, I would not fall into his arms like I’m some crazed sex fiend, but if he stripped me naked right now, I wouldn’t stop him.
ChapterTen
Oliver
As she exposes her artery to me, I long to taste her. The thought that my bite is all she really wants keeps me from indulging.
Returning my attention to her statement about being a bad girlfriend, I study her. That can’t be true. She’s smart and beautiful. “What does that mean?”
Pushing from my lap, she adjusts her little dress to cover her cute bottom and puts some space between us. “I have a career that I like. I’m not the kind of girl who drops everything to be at the beck and call of some guy.”
“And that’s what you believe all men want?”
Closing herself off with crossed arms, she says, “Of course they do. Men want to be the most important thing. I don’t blame them. My turn. Have you had any serious relationships? You said you’ve traveled. Is there a woman in every country?”
“I have had many affairs but no girlfriends.”
She moves away another few inches. “And you drink the blood of your lovers. It’s how you survive?”
“Are you jealous, sweetheart?” I love that she might care for me enough to be protective, but I don’t see the point of such a useless emotion. “My bite is very pleasurable, as you know. Since all the affairs I’ve had until today have been strictly about giving and receiving pleasure, I generally bit and fed during sex.”
She cocks her head and her mouth twists. “And today was different, I suppose.”
I close the distance she’s put between us and lean over her. “Today was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never wanted anyone as I want and need you.”
