I snort. “Are you buttering me up so I’ll let you eat me?” Because there really is no other explanation. I’m a terrible friend.
Ned goes very still. “Maybe,” he says softly. “I wasn’t going to bring it up right now. But I’m not about to deny it to your face.”
Oh shit! I was not expecting that reply.
“No pressure. I’ll just lay my cards on the table,” Ned continues casually. “It would really make my life easier. Hunting is a pain in the ass.”
I stare at him. I think I need more whiskey for this conversation. Wordlessly, I hold out my glass. Ned refills it.
“Don’t the others help you?” I ask.
“Paranormal blood doesn’t go down too well. I need human blood.”
Oh, that’s interesting. I wonder why that is? Everyone seems so…I guess human is the wrong word. Not so different? Is that the best way to describe it? To me, the boys are simply people with unusual powers. It’s strange to think they are actually different on a molecular level.
“Pink, Brodie, Carter and…are human,” I say.
I was about to add Mal to that list, but then I remembered that the man who saved me from a violent pimp, and who is the closest thing to a father I’ve ever had, is actually a half-demon.
Fuck. My life really is all kinds of weird.
Ned takes a deep swig of his whiskey. “Vampire saliva has a sedative in it. One that also acts like an aphrodisiac.”
I stare at him.
“Vampire bites make you super horny,” he explains.
My mouth opens, but no words come out. I can see how that would cause all sorts of problems.
Ned gives me a strange look. “I figured since you were a sex worker, you might be okay with that.” He winces and then continues. “I don’t mean to sound like a dick. I was a molly-boy myself back in the day. A sex worker. What I meant was, I know that gig gets you good at separating emotions from fucking.”
“You wanna eat me and then fuck me?” I squeak.
“I need to feed. And then I’d take care of you afterwards because leaving you in that state would be cruel,” he clarifies.
I’m still staring. I can’t help it. I’m not capable of any other reaction.
“I’ll pay you, of course,” he adds hastily.
Silence falls around us. Thick and heavy. It is as if I can almost taste it on my tongue. Where on earth do I even start with unpacking Ned’s offer? It’s a lot. How do I feel about it?
I gulp down my remaining whiskey. The burn down my throat feels good. And you know what? Fuck it. Why not help Ned? It can be as simple as that. There is no need to pick holes in it.
“Fine,” I say.
Ned’s eyes widen. Then he grins at me. He refills my glass and we clink them together before downing them.
“Shall I come back tonight?” he asks.
I nod. And then laugh. Jesus fucking Christ. This isn’t even the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. And doesn’t that just say everything there is to say about me and my car-crash of a life.
Okay. Now it’s actually night time. I’m nervous. Ned will be turning up any minute. And despite that, most of my thoughts are still with Blue at the bottom of his pool. Lello has been down there with him for hours now and the kelpie promised to update me as soon as possible. There literally is nothing else I can do.
So I should be turning all my attention to the fact I’m about to be sucked on by a vampire. Probably in various ways.
A gentle knock on the door has me jumping out of my skin. Shit! I need to get my act together. Ned can’t know I’m nervous, that would be insulting and cruel. But hey, he can probably smell it or some shit like that. So whatever. Trying to hide my nerves is probably a lost cause.
“Come in,” I say, and my voice only shakes a little.
