Lena didn’t even look up from her phone. She was scrolling, sipping wine, the picture of serenity. “You’re spiraling. And I’m here for it.”
I glared at her, half-dressed in a black tee and red polka-dot skirt, thrifted blazer waiting in the wings. My combat boots sat on the floor like emotional support animals.
Then I saw it.TheLittle Black Dress. The one you only wear when the world might end or when you wanted to make a man rethink his entire existence.
“I can’t wear this,” I muttered. “It’s too much.”
Lena sat up. “It’s perfect. It’s classic. It’s hot. That vampire is going to lose his ancient, immortal mind.”
I snorted as I pulled it on. “You say that like it’s a good thing.”
“It’s the best thing. Sit. I’m doing your hair.”
I obeyed because she’s bossy and also because my executive function had officially clocked out. She curled my hair into soft waves, then stepped back and grinned. “You look like a Bond girl who reads poetry and collects ethically sourced candles.”
“That’s weirdly specific,” I said, lining my lips in the mirror.
Lena took another sip. “It’s accurate.”
“What if this is all in my head?” I asked quietly. “Like, what if he doesn’t actually want me?”
She didn’t even blink. “What, the centuries-old vampire asking you on a date after passionately defiling your body multiple times? Yes. Clearly a fever dream.”
I burst out laughing so hard my eyeliner wobbled.
When the laughter died, I sighed dramatically and flopped onto the bed. “Lena…”
“Oh no,” she said. “Is this going to be graphic? Should I get a snack?”
I whispered, “He took me to the promised land.”
“Come again?”
“Yes, I did. My spirit left my body. I think I astral projected. I hovered above the bed. I saw my ancestors watching from the clouds. I saw my future children clapping. I saw a mailman walking his route and I whispered,you’re doing amazing, sweetie,before floating back down.”
Lena wheezed. “So… he was good?”
I nodded solemnly. “He wasbiblical.”
She raised her wine glass. “To the dark lord who knows where the clit is.”
I laughed so hard I rolled right off the bed, hit the rug, and just lay there wheezing like a dying accordion.
Eventually, I hauled myself upright, applied perfume to my wrists, slipped into black heels, and stared at my reflection. My pulse was going a million beats per minute.
“This is a mistake,” I said. “I look like I’m trying to seduce a vampire.”
Lena grinned. “You are. Own it.”
So I did. Or tried to.
I walked down the stairs, every nerve buzzing. Cristian was waiting at the bottom, in dark slacks and a henley that fit him too well to be fair. His hair was slicked back, his collar slightly undone. He looked like temptation with good posture.
When he saw me, he froze. His pupils widened, his body went still, and then—swear to God—he bit his knuckle.
“You are,” he said, voice low and reverent, “the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He stepped closer, eyes dark. “You will be the end of me, Nadia.”
My knees almost gave out. “You clean up okay too. Excellent, really.” I stammered on. “Super, super hot. Fuck, I’ll shut up now.”
