The guy went lax in my arms as soon as my fangs perforated his skin, a freeze reaction to my assault. Taking another sip, I noted the faint chemical aftertaste. He was taking some kind of medication, but nothing that stood out to me. At least he wasn’t on a cocktail of drugs.
I took my fill, drank until the gnawing in my stomach ebbed away, then licked the wound clean to close it up, shuddering as the satisfying metallic taste of his blood was replaced by sour sweat.
My stomach rebelled, the blood threatening to make a reappearance, but I pushed through, waited until the wound had closed completely, then shoved the guy out of the alley.
“Go home. Nothing happened. It was just a bad dream.”
I had no idea if he believed me. Most people did. It was just more convenient to think of a vampire attack as a bad dream rather than reality.
As soon as his footsteps faded into the distance, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and squeezed into the doorway of that pizza place to avoid getting it wet.
Finn: You made me addicted to that stupid tea. Now I’m thinking about walking fifteen minutes through freezing rain just to get a cup.
Finn: Care to join me?
I laughed, wiping my mouth with the sleeve of my jacket. I could still taste that guy’s sweat on my tongue.
Sure. I think it’s only fair since I’m the reason you’re addicted to tea now. Want me to pick you up or meet you there?
I didn’t care either way. I just needed to get this fucking taste out of my mouth sooner rather than later.
Finn: Let’s just meet there. I already called an Uber. If you get there first, order a cup of tea for me. Your choice.
Something fluttered in my chest, satisfaction spreading through my body. He trusted me to pick something he’d like.
Well, it seemed I had to run so I could make sure I got there first.
I’d pick the best, most perfect tea for Finn.
Chapter 14
Finn
Was I completely out of my mind?
I eyed my phone, the conversation I’d just had with Eric a couple of minutes ago still glaring at me, making something in my gut twist. I couldn’t shake that weird, uneasy feeling that something was off.
Yet here I was, about to meet up with himagain. My survival instincts were apparently as low as my iron levels had been when I’d been hospitalized.
I cracked a laugh at my own joke, then grabbed my hat and a scarf. I didn’t even need to look out the window to know it was freezing outside, the way my radiator was banging just to keep the temperature in here halfway tolerable was a dead giveaway. Oh, how I wished for a modern apartment with a thermostat, but alas, here I was. And I’d happily continue living here for atleast another year or two if it meant I could start adding to my savings. Well, more like start a savings account in the first place.
My phone dinged, informing me about the arrival of my Uber, so I hastily grabbed my bag and headed for the door. Unease tightened my stomach upon opening the door, my eyes immediately checking for notes, but the wood was blissfully empty. No yellow Post-its, no handwritten letters.
Relief hit me like a freight train, and for a moment I dared to hope that my stalker might have switched their attention to someone else. After all, if he really did have a medical fetish of some kind, I was probably boring to him now I was getting better.
But… what if my getting better was making him mad?
I shuddered at the thought as I hit the elevator button.
He wouldn’t hurt me just to be able to take care of me, would he?
No, that’d be crazy. Then again, stalking someone wasn’t exactly rational behavior either.
I entered the elevator, glancing at myself in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, the bags under them almost as dark as they’d been before I’d been hospitalized. Damn. What a single night of tossing and turning could do to my recovery.
Shaking my head, I raked a hand through my hair, desperately trying to get the unruly strands under control.
If I arrived at the café looking like death warmed over, Eric would probably call an Uber and get me back to my apartment immediately.
