Simon was about to respond when a woman appeared at Charlie's side. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with her blonde hair in that deliberately messy style and her dress too short for the season. Her friends giggled behind her, clearly responsible for whatever dare had sent her Charlie's way.
"Oh my god, you're adorable," she announced, sliding between Charlie and the bar. "Like a sad puppy in a hoodie."
Charlie went rigid. "I—what?"
She reached up and tugged at the hood's edge. "Are you hiding? That's so cute. Are you shy?"
"No, I'm just… personal space?" Charlie tried to step back but hit the person behind him. "Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean?—"
"Don't apologize!" The woman pressed closer, her hand finding Charlie's arm. "Confidence is sexy. Although the whole nervous thing is kind of working for you."
Simon watched Charlie's eyes go wide with panic. The vampire's gaze darted to the woman's neck, then away, then back to Simon with a clear plea for help.
"My friends think you're cute too." She gestured behind her, where three women were watching and laughing. "But I saw you first, so..."
"That's very... flattering?" Charlie's voice cracked. "But um…"
She leaned in, getting closer to his face. Her neck stretched right past Charlie's mouth. Simon saw the exact moment Charlie stopped breathing entirely, his whole body locking up like someone had flipped his off switch.
"You smell really good," she said. "Like... leather and something else..."
That was Simon's hoodie she was smelling. His scent on Charlie.
"I have a medical condition," Charlie blurted out, trying to lean away. "It's highly contagious. You should probably?—"
"Is it the kind where you can't kiss anyone?" She smiled, clearly thinking this was flirting. "Because that would be tragic."
Her fingers walked up Charlie's arm to his shoulder. Charlie's fangs—Simon could see it happening—started descending despite Charlie's visible effort to stop them. His mouth clamped shut so fast Simon heard his teeth click.
"Mmmph," Charlie managed through closed lips.
"What was that?" She leaned closer.
Charlie's eyes found Simon's again, desperate now. His whole face screamed 'help me' while trying to smile with his mouth firmly closed. The effect was demented.
Still with his mouth closed, he tried to speak. "I cad't—I deed to?—"
"Are you okay?" She actually looked concerned now. "You're breathing weird."
That was because Charlie wasn't breathing at all.
Simon moved.
"There you are, babe." He slid an arm around Charlie's waist, pulling him firmly against his side. "I've been looking everywhere."
The woman blinked, looking between them. Charlie made another strangled sound.
"Oh." Her face fell. "Oh, you're?—"
"Very taken," Simon said, his tone pleasant but final. "Have a good night."
She retreated to her friends, who immediately surrounded her with consolation and shots. Simon kept his arm around Charlie, who was vibrating like a tuning fork against his side.
"Breathe," Simon ordered quietly.
Charlie sucked in air like he'd been drowning. "Her neck was right there. Right there. She smelled like vodka and I could hear her pulse and…"
"But you didn't bite her."
