“Less shaky,” she admitted.
“Good. That’s B-negative blood. You’ll have to remember that one and compare to see what you like better.”
“Blood types taste differently?” she asked, staring at him in fascination.
“They do. You’ll see. They also vary between warm and cold. The best is direct from a human, but that won’t happen for a while.”
That idea rattled her a bit. Confused, she asked, “Why, Daddy?”
“Seeing you drink from someone else may take me a thousand years to permit. I’m guessing you’d rather I didn’t rip someone’s throat out because you were so intimate with them.”
“No. I don’t want you to do that. Well, unless they’re a bad guy. Then I really don’t wish to be close to them.”
“Your fangs serve two purposes. Drinking and killing.” He stopped and smiled at her. “Fangs up, Little girl.”
“Darn it. I’m having a tough time remembering not to let them down. Especially when we’re talking about B-L-O-O-D,” she spelled, hoping not saying the word would help her control herself.
“Elevator,” Marcus whispered. “Fixed.”
Carina’s tongue traced over her normal teeth. “That worked. I only have to picture something I hate?”
“I don’t know. Let’s experiment.” Marcus swatted her bottom.
“Hey! I’m being good.”
“Fangs.”
“Shit! Again. Ouch!” she yelped when her tongue whisked over her sharp canines. “Fucking elevator!”
“No fangs. I believe we’ve found a solution for you,” Marcus said with a fond smile.
“I can understand dealing with them when I’m around… red stuff, but why when you spanked me?”
“When I caress you, your teeth descend. Feeding and making love are both arousing activities. Spanking and sex appear to be linked in your mind.”
“Nuh, uh,” she protested vigorously, shaking her head as she avoided his knowing gaze. “Let’s focus on the real problem. I can’t fang out at the hospital. Someone will try to stake me.”
“There is a solution to that,” he suggested.
“What?”
“You never return. Is your job rewarding?”
“I detest it. Every minute I’m there, I hate it. I deal with the worst of the tangled messes. The employees are awful. They’re afraid I’m going to find out it’s their screwup. Meanwhile, the patients are struggling to pay sky-high bills.”
“Then you don’t go back.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “I have to earn money.”
“You don’t, really. You’re my mate and my Little girl. Taking care of you makes me happy.”
“I don’t want to be a leech. I like working.”
“Then, you can start with Darius. He needs help. He’s already impressed by your skills. If you flash your teeth at Nightfall, it’s no big deal. And you won’t have to wake up at five during the week.”
“I do hate to get up in the morning,” she agreed.
“You would need to quit your job at the hospital within the next ten years anyway. Remember, people tend to notice we don’t age after a while.”
