I hate it, but I also love it.
I love him.
But I’ll never be able to tell him that. I know this—what Adrien and I have—one day it’ll have to end. Because one day, we will meet our mates—that’s why we’re here, at R.I.S.E. Academy, in the first place. Well, that’s whyhe’shere. I’m pretty sure my mother keeps me here so she doesn’t have to deal with my bloodheat and my “dishonorable” desires. Plus, keeping me here means I won’t spill the beans about her affair. I’m the only one who knows about the fact she’s been sleeping with not one, not two, butthree men in the castle. Two knights, and a stable boy. I heard through the grapevine about her pregnancy, the one she announced right after my father’s death, if only to try and save face and pass off the heir as my late father’s. But I know the truth, and she feels threatened because I know. I’d never do something like that, after all she’s my mother, and I know not everything is black and white, especially when it comes to our bloodline. But all that matters to my family is perception. Which is why Wyatt was chosen to be the heir instead of me, even though we’re technically twins and I’m two minutes older than he is.
I push back against Adrien, taking as much of him as I can. The bloodheat haze blankets me, taking over like it usually does; altering everything about me and turning me into someone else.
“Fuck, you feel so good, Wes,” Adrien murmurs against my neck as he thrusts into me until he’s bottomed out completely. His hand on my cock pumps me as his mouth finds my neck, his fangs grazing the flesh there.
I hurry to wrap my hand around my cock, not wanting to leave any evidence of what we’re doing. I much prefer to do this in our dorm, but sometimes when the bloodheat hits, I don’t have the luxury of planning. Which is how we ended up in this closet in the first place. It was the closest place that provided enough privacy, and I’d be lying if I said I hated this—the sneaking around.
It’s kind of hot, at least when I’m in the middle of my bloodheat. But after the heat evaporates…
I don’t want to think about that. I can’t.
All I can do is give myself to the curse that plagues my blood and enjoy what little comfort I can from the man I wish I could truly call mine.
I come without warning into his hand.
I suck in a breath as he licks my neck, his fangs pressing just the slightest against my flesh.
“Do it,” I moan as my cock continues to spurt its release. Somewhere in my hazy lust, I think this is more than usual. I’m not complaining though, because right now, I feel too good to care. Adrien nips at my neck, licking over my throbbing neck vein as his fangs press harder against my taut skin and I can feel the faintest trickle of blood rushing to the surface.
“Bite me, baby,” I whisper, my voice full of lust and need. “Make me your mate.”
Adrien pulls back his fangs and buries his face against my shoulder, muffling his growls as he stills. My eyes flutter shut as my head falls back and euphoria hits me. I feel the trickle of blood, dripping down my flesh, feel the warmth of his cum filling me, dribbling down my seam as he continues to lazily thrust into me as he comes undone.
“No,” he whispers, and I can hear the trepidation in his voice.
And that is the moment I realize I did not think the words as I usually do. I said them. Out loud.
Shit.
“Adrien…” I breathe his name, and he grunts, letting upon my throat as he removes his hand from my cock. He pulls out of me quickly. Too quickly.
Guilt and sadness fester in my chest, a sharp pain to my heart.
Rejection fucking sucks. It never gets easier.
Sometimes, it gets worse.
“We’ve talked about this, Wes,” he says and I close my eyes, trying to catch my breath. I’m acutely aware of the way my body is both trying to keep and expel his cum.
The cool air kisses my exposed flesh, like a cold bucket of water. I hear the buckle of his belt and the vicious voice in my head rears itself once more.
You are so fucked up, Wes. You know better. What the hell is wrong with you?
“I know,” I say as I open my eyes and bend down to grab my pants and underwear that are pooled around my ankles.
Shame and guilt hit me all over. “I didn’t mean it. It was just a heat of the moment thing. You know how my bloodheat is; I say lots of shit I don’t mean when I’m in heat.”
It’s a lie and we both know it, but when I turn to look at Adrien, at his warm chocolate brown eyes and painful expression, I know it’s better to believe the lie.
“Yeah, right. Of course. Bloodheat is a bitch,” he says, and just like that, the expression of pain disappears, shifting to one I know well. Adrien smiles at me, the return of his cocky smirk and carefree attitude eradicating any evidence of the vulnerability I’d just witnessed from one of the cockiest vampires I’ve ever known.
“Seriously,” I say as I buckle my belt. My blood feels hot still, my skin flushed and tingling, my thighs still slick with his spend.
It takes everything I have to look back at him and smile—to act as if what is between us is nothing more than just sex.
