Humans who knew what he was didn’t drop their guard around them. There was nothing sweet. Or soft. It was all seduction, then realization, fear, and hate. Regret, sadness, anger, loss.
Never anything eager or welcoming. Sweet. Soft.
Something in him ached, and not from the cold.
“So, all we have to do is combine the two things she poured the hot and cold into, and we’ll be fixed!” Penny concluded in triumph. She gave a painful swallow. “And if that doesn’t work, we beat her up.”
“You beat up, I’ll cheer from the sideline and bring Gatorade.”
“Sounds good.”
“Well, we’re combined already. I’m holding you against me,” Brax pointed out. “It doesn’t seem to be doing—”
“No science classes, either? Two things touching are not combined. You have to know chemistry. You have to put two elements together, mixing them until you can’t tell one from another.”
“If this leads to us having some sort of Frankenstein-esque event with your sewing machine and a kitchen knife—” Brax warned.
“No! I think I just need to swallow you.”
Brax didn’t dare to move. After a second, he whispered, “What?”
“You know. Your cum would be in me. Cold into hot. Hey, presto. Plus, I just really want something long and cold in my mouth.”
“Jesus Christ.” Ow. Saying the name of any holy being hurt him—but the sting was surprisingly muted tonight.
“I mean, wecouldpray that it works...”
“Penny, I’m not going to—”
“Don’t worry!” Penny swung herself off the bed and grabbed the paper again. “I’ll just add it to the list!”
“But, sweetheart, listen to me. Listen to what you’re asking for.”
Penny shook her head. Her green eyes were losing their clarity the longer she held herself away from him. “Make me colder. Help me think. I’ll help you, too. What do you need?”
Her. I need her. No, Iwanther. What do Ineed? Blood. Warmth. To stay alive.“Blood, but that can wait.”
A long, slow, solemn nod. “I don’t have any. I mean, in me, yes, but you shouldn’t bite me.” She blinked. “You’d get hurt. It’d feel like a big shark bite or something.”
“Are you telling me that the only reason you’re not feeding me is to protect me from my own curse?”
“Pretty much.”
“But if I wouldn’t get hurt, and I didn’t take much—”
“You need it. The truce is about what you need.”
“I can live without food for a bit. I need to warm up. There. That’s what I need.”
“I can do that.” She held out her arms to him. He hesitated, then let himself be cuddled into her embrace.
“Good job. Nice, cold vampire. Pretty spider vampire.”
“Pretty? Spider?”
“Shh.” She absently kissed his ear and nuzzled her cheek into his.
“I think we should wait to try your suggestion. Maybe just a kiss would work,” Brax whispered.
