“You.”Dennis picked one up and tugged its ends.“We have to tie you to something or you’ll run off and go on a killing spree.”
“At least you finally get to try her.”Sean laughed as Dennis glanced at me and smiled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”I asked nervously.
“He’s been dying to taste your blood.”
“But he tried it from my ankle,”I said.They either didn’t notice or didn’t care that they were thoroughly freaking me out.
Dennis laughed and dropped the chain.“It’s always better from the source.”He crouched beside me and brushed my hair aside.
I shivered as his hand ran along my neck.“You’re making me sound like an appetizer,”I muttered. I half expected him to tell me I was one, but Sean spoke up before he could.
“I’ll be back.”He turned to leave.
“Wait,” I called out, “can you drug the people or something before I kill them? So they won’t feel anything?”
“Sure.”Sean smiled like he thought I was the cutest, most naïve thing ever, before walking away.
I stared until he disappeared past the thick wall of trees.“I’m kinda scared,”I confessed. I leaned against the tree and pulled my good knee to my chest, wrapping both arms around it.
“Don’t be,”Dennissaid, taking a seat beside me.“I won’t make it too painful. I did forget to mention one thing, though. Vampires can’t have kids.” He paused when I gasped. “Is that okay?”
“Okay? It’s perfect! You already know I don’t want kids.”
“I know.” He shrugged lightly. “I wanted to double check before it’s permanent.”
“Can we do it now?” My eagerness was back. Permanent child repellent, here I come.
“Whenever you want.Sean won’t be back for a while.”
“I wanna get it over with.”I closed my eyes and waited, but the moment we touchedIshoved him away.“Sorry,”I opened my eyes,“that was a reflex. Try again. I’m ready.”I tried to relax, but ended up pushing him a second time. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry—”
“Are you gonna keep doing that?”He was already getting frustrated.“I can chain you up before, if that’s better—”
“No! Do not chain me up right now. That sounds awful. Can you just distract me or something?”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“I don’t care.Whatever works.” I straightened my leg and waited. Half of me wanted to get it over with, while the other half wanted to back out completely.
“Are you sure you want this?”Dennis asked.“I won’t make fun of you if you change your mind. No teasing or anything. This decision is forever. You shouldn’t do it if you’re not ready.”
“I’m sure.”I smiled as a thought hit me.“This is like a tattoo. Once you get it, it’s stuck forever.”
“Yeah. If you really think a tattoo is as important as your life.”He chuckled when I nodded.
“Okay, seriously this time. Distract me so I won’t keep pushing you.”I closed my eyes, tensing up when hepressed me against the tree. One of his legs was beside mine while the other rested between. And then, to my great surprise, his lips brushed against mine. I opened my eyes and broke away.“What’re you doing?”
“Distracting you.”His hands rested on my waist.“You said whatever works.”
“Oh.” I tilted my head. That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but I’d take it.“Okay. Carry on.”
I closed my eyes and let him kiss me again. This time I responded, leaning into him while our lips moved together. I let his hands roam freely, smiling into the kiss when his fangs nipped my bottom lip to ask for entrance. He deepened the kiss as his hands slippedup my shirt. I let out the tiniest noise of protest when he pulled away, but then he was kissing down my neck while his hands explored. I let him without a second thought—he was such a great kisser, I couldn’t even remember why we were here.
His fangs grazed the crook of my neck and I squirmed against him. He continued to kiss my neck, hands caressingmy chestwhile I ran a hand through his hair. I felt his bodyrespond as I let out the first quiet moan. His hands left my shirt as his fangs brushed my neck again, this time with a little more pressure. He took my hands and pinned them to the ground.
My eyes shot open when I remembered what we were doing—I let out an ear-piercing scream as his fangs tore into me. He held me down while I thrashed beneath him, kicking and screaming until he straddled me to keep still. I continued to fight against his strong restraint while my blood was drained away. Some time passed before I started to grow weak. His grip loosened once I stopped struggling.
