But he takes a long suck before I can stop him. I gape as he licks his lips. Surely, he can’t think it tastes good! He laughs at my expression of horror.
‘Mine’s tomato gazpacho.’
‘Oh.’ I laugh in relief. ‘You had me worried for a minute there.’
‘Drink up,’ he urges.
I take a sip. The blood is warm and velvety smooth and slides down my throat like tangy molasses. I groan aloud.
‘Oh my god, this is perfect. But it tastes like you ...?’
Damian grins. ‘I had a little help from Elliott. I said I wanted to make you a surprise dinner, and he took a donation from me after work and stayed for a coffee.’
Those two are getting along like a house on fire.I suck up another mouthful of blood, watching Damian through narrowed eyes. ‘Should I be worried about this buddingbromance of yours?’
He frowns. ‘It’s not like that. He’s cool. But it’s more about having a human to chat to, especially at the flat. Having him there makes me feel less nervous, especially with Sadie constantly staring at my neck.’
Oh dear. Well, he’s going to have to know at some point.
‘Elliott isn’t actually all human,’ I say slowly.
Damian pauses midsuck. ‘What?’
‘He’s a thrall—Sadie’s thrall, to be exact. They’ve been together since 1983.’
A droplet of red gazpacho lands on the white tablecloth from Damian’s abandoned straw. But it’s not a good time to mention it. His eyes are round. ‘What’s a “thrall”? I mean, I know generally what it is. But how does it work here?’
‘She keeps him on a leash. Well, not literally. But when she clicks her fingers, he jumps.Hester and I don’t like the way she treats him, and we’ve tried talking to her about it, telling her to turn him. But she won’t listen.’ I shrug helplessly. ‘She seems to like the control. Perhaps she’s worried if she does, he’ll start lording it over her. She hasn’t had good experiences with men in her life. So I understand it, but I still feel sorry for Elliott.’
I know I’m sharing too much, but Damian seems to have recovered remarkably well and is listening without freaking out, which is a good sign.
‘So Elliott’s literally stuck in the 1980s?’ he asks.
I nod.
‘Wow, his obsession with Duran Duran now makes a lot more sense.’
‘Yeah. He was their roadie when they became famous, so understandably, he’s a big fan ...’
I didn’t think I could blow Damian’s mind, but by the way his jaw slackens and his eyes glaze over, I think I just have.
He drags a hand across his face. ‘Fuck me sideways.’
I finish my drink with a flourishing slurp to change the subject.
‘That was delicious, thanks.’
But Damian’s frowning and looking anxious.
‘I don’t want to be a thrall,’ he blurts out. ‘If you turn me, I want you to do it properly. I don’t want to be stuck in limbo like Elliott.’
Oh, so that’s what he’s worried about.I take his hand and squeeze it. ‘I will. I’m not Sadie. Besides, you’re not suddenly going to start ordering me around just because you’re a male vampire. I don’t think we work like that. Our dynamic feels different.’
Damian nods. ‘I can’t say what I would or wouldn’t do because I don’t know. But if I do start acting like a dick, just bite me and tell me not to be an arsehole.’
I giggle at that.
‘Um, also, can you explain a bit more about how ... how turning someone works exactly?’ he asks, his cheeks flushing the same shade as his half-finished gazpacho.
