Was this bloodlust, or something deeper? I’d never experienced the former, so I had nothing else to compare it to, no way of pinpointing what this powerful attraction was.
With Scotty splayed out in the chair in front of me, I couldn't think. All I knew was instinctive attraction. I wanted his body. Was it my alpha instincts triggered by his omega scent? Was it his human blood triggering my vampiric thirst?
Was it something else?
Whatever it was, it was nearly impossible to resist. But I had to restrain myself. I would never fall to Carnassial's level. In spite of my newfound spike in desire, this was still a consensual, safe club. My sister made that very clear whenever I expressed my doubts. I never thought that I'd be the one remembering the rules.
Scotty was new. I had to take it slow. Hold his hand and walk him through it.
Scotty leaned back into the chair as I loomed over him. His dark eyes were bright and alert. His heart rate picked up, thumping blood beneath his fragile skin. I shuddered. It was right there.
I forced my focus onto something else. My gaze trailed down his body and landed on his lower half. His legs were pressed tightly together and he wore stiff jeans. I withheld a scoff. I wished he'd worn a revealing pair of pants, or even none at all.
Goodness. Where didthatidea come from?
I tore my gaze away from his crotch and looked instead at his face. His round cheeks and mussed hair were adorable. I wanted to reach out to stroke him, but of course, I recalled the rules.
"May I touch you?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, sounding a bit surprised.
My body hummed with want. Even the innocent act of running my fingers along his face felt illicit.
I restrained myself, not yet allowing any touch until we'd done the groundwork. In my eagerness to indulge in Scotty, I'd almost forgotten what he said earlier about not knowing the safeword. Keeping my hands off him was like forcing a pair of powerful magnets apart, but it had to be done.
"Scotty, listen carefully," I said.
The way he perked up melted my icy heart.
"Your comfort is my top priority," I continued. "The last thing I want is to hurt you or make you feel unsafe."
Softness fell over his expression. It was like he'd never heard those words before.
"Um, is there a certain word I'm supposed to say if I want to pause?" Scotty asked.
I liked that he was asking questions. I was proud of him. Was it strange to be proud of an omega I'd just met?
I brushed my doubts aside, allowing myself to dissolve fully into this moment.
"There isn't a single defined word, unless you'd like to pick one," I explained. "In general, we use the lights system."
"Oh! I know what that is. Spencer explained it to me."
A tinge of jealousy sparked inside me.
"Spencer?" I asked.
"He's the friend who was supposed to come with me," Scotty said with a sigh. "When he said he wasn't coming, I almost didn't enter the club at all, but I didn't want to chicken out."
Spencer didn't sound like a very good friend, but I suppressed my irritation.
"There's nothing wrong with knowing your limits," I said.
"Hmm... Yeah. But I was curious, so I didn't want to back out." Scotty smiled. "And I got to meet you, so that was nice."
My train of thought was interrupted by his sudden compliment.
If I still possessed human blood, my face would've flushed. Alas, I was a vampire so there was no outward signal of my reaction.
