“Watching? Hardly. I’m going to participate.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes. I am. Because I want to drink you, Syrsee. And you like to be fed on, don’t you? You’re addicted to the pull already, aren’t you?”
I don’t know what to say to this. I mean, I’m definitely not addicted. Not yet. But I do like it. And this… offer of his. To drink me. I’ve got to admit, it’s compelling.
Not only that, I’m fantasizing now. Ryet on one side of my neck, Paul on the other. Both of them pulling the blood out of me at the same time. Just picturing it turns me on.
But it doesn’t have to be just a fantasy. I have them both, naked, right here in front of me.
I pull my shirt up over my head, forcing myself not to look at Paul. Then I slip my pants down my legs. Ryet opens his arms to me and I slide into bed next to him.
I’m acutely aware that Paul—naked Paul—is just inches away. But Ryet is kissing me now. His hands exploring my body, sliding up and down my thigh as his tongue twists inside my mouth.
Time skips, or something, because the next thing I know I’m lying on my back and Ryet is positioned over top of me. Paul is leaning in to my neck. I expect him to bite. Expect him to drink. But he whispers instead. “It’s him, see? It’s just him. And I’m here to remind you of that.”
Then his hand slides down to my thigh, gripping my leg as he pulls it open.
Ryet is between my legs now, looking down at me like he’s hungry. But I don’t mind. Because Paul is finally at my neck, his teeth grazing over my skin, and I’m waiting for the bite. Wanting it. And when it happens, I close my eyes just as Ryet slips inside me.
My back arches. The pull of blood and the fucking—it feels good. Both at once feels more than good. It’s glorious. I have them both and I suddenly realize, Iwantthem both.
Ryet and Paul.
This is when Paul pulls back and whispers in my ear. “We serve very different purposes. Learn to love us that way, Syrsee. And everything will be fine.”
I don’t know what that means. I don’t even care what that means because Ryet is thrusting inside of me, his movementshard now, more urgent. And I’m gripping him, my fingernails digging into the skin of his shoulders.
Ryet leans down, his mouth on mine, moaning things about babies, and all I can do is agree. “Yes,” that’s what I’m saying back. “Babies. Anything. Just keep going.”
Paul is sucking the blood out of me, but then I’m sucking the blood out of him.
This is what it means to be a vampire.
Sharing.
The blood, the sex, each other.
“You’re right.” Paul’s voice is right up in my ear. “That’s what it means. That’s what we’re getting ready for. The share, Syrsee. It must happen in your physical body, not just the spiritual one. But don’t worry. By the time that happens, you’ll be more than ready.”
A phone rings and I sit up in bed, blinking.
I’m not in some luxury hotel room having sex with Paul and Ryet. I’m in the cabin. Ryet is lying next to me, but he’s not a man. His black wings are long and leathery. His body is… well, bruised is the first word that comes to mind. But I’ve never seen a human with skin the color of a bruise.
This is when I remember the phone is ringing. But I only remember because it stops.
That’s when I see all the jars lined up on the nightstand nearest the door.
I let out a breath, feeling sick and both feverish and cold at the same time. I shudder, then lean over and press my hand against Ryet’s back. He feels the same. The black-blue skin feels like regular skin. But it’s very hot. Like that time in his cottage up in White River.
He needs blood. I don’t know what he’s been doing with those jars, but whatever it was, it’s not enough. He needs blood. And that’s my job here in this arrangement. So I don’t evenhesitate. I scoot up next to him—as close to him as I can get. “Ryet.”
“Hmmm.” It’s not a word, just a low rumble.
“You need to drink.”
He moves a little, aiming his mouth in my direction. And then he latches on to the side of my neck, making me wince from the force of his fangs. They feel different. Not little needle pricks, but more like the bite of an animal.
