Evan.
Driiink.
I scan the room, and when I don’t see Evan, I close my eyes and search for his scent. It wraps around me like a cloak, pulling me toward the stairs. There. Mine.
Grant steps in front of me when I reach the landing, shoulders tense for a fight. “You in control?”
I say nothing, knowing that if I open my mouth, it’ll be to sink my teeth into his veins. I shove him aside, following that lemongrass scent up to our room.
Opening the door of our bedroom, I hear the shower running in our private bathroom. I let the door close with an audible click.
Evan runs out of the bathroom half dressed and eyes wild. “Jer—” he cuts himself off, then lets out a harsh curse the moment he sees me. His shoulders slump as he exhales.
The sight of him takes my breath away, and to my surprise the buzz in my head dulls to a quiet whisper. But the fire is still burning. Spreading through me like liquid magma.
Driiiink.
He doesn’t say a single word as we approach each other, eyes darting between mine as if searching for something. Fury and concern color his cheeks, and his jaw ticks like he’s trying to keep from yelling at me, yet the closer he gets, the more I see fear etched beneath the surface.His heart rate kicks up a notch, hammering impossibly loud in his chest. I can hear nothing else. Blood. Fresh blood.
Still, some rational part of my mind clings to one thing: He knows. Evan knows I thirst for him… and still he doesn’t back away.
I brush my knuckles over his cheek in the gentlest caress before lowering my hand to his neck. I rest my thumb over his pulse, feeling it thrum. The steady movement makes me lick my lips.
Drink.
Evan doesn’t move, waiting.
“I… need you.” My voice comes out strained. Parched. Unnatural. “I hunted, but…”
“I know,” he says softly. “It’s okay.”
When I don’t move, he steps closer, forcing my attention away from his neck. “Get in the shower and take me. Because after everything we’ve been through today, I need you too, Jer, but you just fucking ran out on me. Again.”
Guilt swarms me, but he clutches my side and begins pulling me toward the bathroom. “Come on.”
As we walk, Evan removes my shirt, then my pants. I barely notice when his hand closes around my bare cock, but somehow I undo his pants too. His breath hitches when my cold hand touches his skin, then he leans in to kiss me.
We step into the shower together, steam swirling up around us. I press him against the tiled wall, our bodies sliding together as if they were made for each other. My fangs cut his tongue, but neither of us stop, too relieved and too emotional to care. His intoxicating scent pulls me downward until my nose is pressed against his throat.
Driiiink.
Evan tilts his head, but he isn’t breathing. The only hint that he’s truly nervous.
Nervous, but fully trusting.
I kiss his skin, sliding both arms around him to hold him as any lover would. Fear lodges in my throat, my heart a steady rapid beat in my ear. I have been terrified of this moment. Afraid that when I finally drank from Evan, I wouldn’t be able to stop. Even now, with my fangs pressed against his skin, I’m not sure I’ll be able to. The pull is too strong, the burn too unyielding.
My gut clenches. Will this be the last time I get to hold Evan? The only time I get to truly taste him? What if I kill him?
Evan’s lips brush my shoulder in the barest of kisses. One hand glides up my back, as if encouraging me. How can he trust me so deeply, when I don’t even trust myself?
I do not deserve this man.
The fire burns even hotter when he kisses me again, his gentle whisper echoing the voice in my head. “Drink, Jer.”
Closing my eyes, I sink my teeth in.
Hot, sweet blood floods my mouth, overwhelming my senses. I tighten my arms around him as instinct kicks in. Flattening my tongue on his throat, I suck. Hard.
