I kicked it toward the wall and padded over to the glass shower, opening the door and stepping in. I twisted the water valve toward the heat setting and settled in under the stream of water, changing from cold to hot within seconds.
It was mesmerizing to watch the red, brown, and black grime slip down my body and swirl down the drain with the soap suds.
Ilost count of how long I stood under the rivulets, scrubbing my skin raw with the bar soap on the ledge. I washed my hair five times before my scalp was remotely clean again.
As I stepped out of the shower, I caught sight of my shape in the foggy mirror and wiped it with a towel. My breath caught in my throat. I could see each pore, and in every strand of hair I could see at a level of detail I’d never seen before.
Holy fuck. Is that me?
Strands of silvery gray in my irises split apart at a diminutive level, replacing the blue they’d been my entire life. My face was heart-shaped as always, but my cheekbones were higher, lips fuller, eyes rounder, and my face structure was more defined. My complexion was perfect,too fucking perfect. There was no redness, no blemishes, and no undereye bags.
As my gaze trailed down my body, I couldn’t help but notice how smooth and creamy my skin was. I was pale before, but my skin tone was now almost pearl white.The swell of my breasts were bigger than I remembered and perkier with my usual light pink nipples pebbled in the center.
My stomach wasn’t completely flat but had defined abs framing my core, and my thighs seemed slender and toned. My lady bits looked the same, recent wax intact. My ass had rounded out more as well, which was exciting since I had none to begin with.
I snatched up the hairdryer lying on the sink, flicked it on, and preoccupied myself with drying my hair. Its white noise helped clear the fog from my mind.
I mean, a vampire? What the actual fuck?
I guess this meant I wouldn’t be going back to work. Working at the local hospital in our small town as a phlebotomist was fun at first. I worked with my mom and my friend, Emma. But a year and a half into the job, I fell complacent.
I’d started dating my older brother’s best friend a couple of months ago. Corbin was sweet, stable, and loyal. He was a three-sixty from my abusive, psycho ex, Travis. I’d dumped the jerk almost a year ago, and life had only gotten better since.
But, my relationship with Corbin was far from award-winning. The only award he’d be winning would require a new category forWorst Fingering by a Clit-Oblivious Boyfriend.
The only part of my small-town life that was exciting was my cat, Jax. My father left him for me when he left our family after I was born. Much more than lap cuddles, he'd follow me around the house and take to meowing away if I wandered a little too far.
Something inside told me I was meant for more than the little life of Emeraldsville, Alaska. But nothing prepared me for being turned into a fucking vampire—not that I was upset about it. Being a vampire seemed to have its perks. For instance, were vampires monogamous?
Not that I care or anything.
I switched off the dryer and set it back on the sink and stared back into the mirror. My eyes widened a fraction. My straight ginger hair had transformed into a vibrant crimson red that tumbled down to my lower back in glossy waves. I swung it back and forth from shoulder to shoulder and ran my fingers through the silky strands in awe.
A smile appeared on my face, and I zeroed in on my canines. They looked perfectly normal, unlike Blaise’s when he’d ripped open the blood bag.
My stomach twisted as the burn in my throat pulsated. Thinking of the blood revealed my two sharp fangs, and I winced as my gums made room for them. “Hunger must not be a pleasant feeling.”
“Not at all, Poppy,” Blaise’s teasing tone mocked from the other side of the door.
I made my way to the door and rested my hand on it, fully aware of my nakedness. “Um, could you maybe get me some clothes? I forgot to grab them on my way in.”
“Starkers?”
“Excuse me?” Even with his sexy accent, I had no idea what that meant.
“Nude. Are you nude?”
“Yes.”
He made a humming noise. “And you’re not comfortable enough with me yet to let me see you nude?”
I rolled my eyes. “Says the guy who let me marinate in grime for two weeks instead of washing me?”
He let out a snort. “Consent is key, Poppy. I’d much rather have you begging for me to see you starkers.”
Fantasies of Blaise naked popped into my mind, but I pushed them away. I had more important matters to tend to at the moment. “Could you just grab the clothes?”
“I already did. Open the door a crack, and I’ll hand them to you.”
