The bond did not help. It hummed beneath my ribs, insistently tethering me to her—demanding proximity, demanding touch, demandingher.
And yet, proximity was its own torture. The closer I stood, the louder the hunger roared.
“Control,” I muttered to myself. “Restraint.”
I gripped the edge of the counter. The marble cracked beneath my hand.
So much for restraint.
The sound of voices broke my futile attempts at concentration. The women entered the kitchen—my tormentor and her queenly companion. Nadia fussed over a plant on the windowsill, humming off-key. It was a sound wholly unmusical and yet somehow exquisite. I felt something unfamiliar stir in my chest—a warmth that had nothing to do with blood.
Lena picked up one of Nadia’s notes from the refrigerator. “What’s with all these sticky squares?”
“Therapy homework,” Nadia said as she opened a bottle of wine. “I’m working on setting boundaries.”
Lena rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. The asshole teacher drama. You know, I still think a few threats and a nice nipple twist from your best friend would fix that.”
Nadia groaned. “That will not be necessary.”
I pretended not to listen, though every word registered.Asshole teachers.Boundaries.It sounded like her own kind had mistreated her. The thought ignited something protective in me.
Lena turned to me, eyes alight with mischief. “So, vampire boy, what’s your body count?”
I frowned. “I do not relish the thought of murder. I have only taken lives in battle.”
Lena’s mouth opened and closed. “No, no, I meant—how many women have you…” She turned to Nadia. “What’s a better word forfuckedwhen you’re talking to someone from the sixteen-hundreds?”
Nadia looked utterly distraught. “Copulated? Fornicated?”
My throat went dry. “But you saidbody count?—”
Lena cackled. “I was asking how many women you’ve fornicated with.”
I straightened my spine. “I am a gentleman. Such things are not discussed in the company of women.”
Lena scoffed. “Oh, things have changed, grandpa. Womenlovetalking about sex now. It’s self-care.”
I hesitated, unsure whether that was progress or collapse.
Still, her question lingered. Against my better judgment, I began to count in my head. There were lovers, yes—faces long gone to dust. Desire had been as transactional as power once, but that’s all they were. Fornication partners. Perhaps “body count” was the correct assessment. Before I could finish tallying, Lena held up a hand.
“Okay, we get it. You know your way around a woman’s body.” She smirked. “Am I right?”
I blinked, genuinely uncertain whether I was meant to answer.
Lena leaned in conspiratorially. “Nadia could use a few orgasms, if you’d like to oblige.”
Nadia choked. “Lena! Oh my god, are you serious?”
Lena only grinned. “Just saying. Tension’s tension.”
Nadia smacked her arm. “We’re going to watch a movie. Please excuse us.”
She crossed the room, brushing past me. Her scent hit me like a slap in the face. I leaned in before I could stop myself, breathing her in.
“Why do you smell so… delectable?” I wondered aloud.
She threw a slipper at my head. “Don’t stalk me. You’re literally lurking!”
