He nodded. “I’ll travel separately there and text you my hotel information. You can come to me at your leisure.”
Sneak away at the freaking Hunters’ Gala?
I guess that could work…
“Okay, fine. Then feed today so I only have to feed you once on my trip.” I didn’t really see an alternative.
Because I’d decided I couldn’t just let him starve, right? I already felt his crappy hunger symptoms and it sucked. I felt bad for leaving him like this for two days at a time.
“Aspen?” The way he said my name made my legs go a bit weak.
When I looked up, he stepped closer to me. “I never got to thank you … for saving me. For coming back each time.”
Sexual tension charged the air then, pressing against my chest like a tangible object. It was so thick I had to step backward in an effort to break it. “Yeah well … you’re decent,” I straightened my shirt, “and I’m not a murderer.”
That was a foggy statement but all I could muster.
He nodded. “So, we should probably exchange phone numbers…”
He pulled out his phone and I fumbled for mine. “Right.”
You’ve sucked my blood two times, so yeah now is a good time to get my number.
I put his number in my phone under,Random Dude From Bar, just in case he called while other people were around. I could play it off that I had a secret boyfriend or something.
“Here’s a key, you can quietly let yourself in.” He handed me a silver key to his apartment. “I have roommates, but they’re in Vegas right now. I’ll let them know about you though so it’s not weird.”
My eyebrows rose. Okay, that was probably a dig at my banging on his door while he was asleep, but whatever. Did I need a key to his freaking place? I dated Sterling for two years and didn’t even know his phone password, much less have a key to his apartment. Luka’s hand was outstretched still and it started to get awkward, so I just grabbed it from him and shoved it in my jean shorts’ pocket.
We stood there quietly, knowing he still had to drink from me.
“Did you get those vitamins?” he asked, honey flecks dancing in his blue eyes.
I shifted on the balls of my feet. “I’ll get around to it.” I shoved my wrist at him. “Might as well drink now, so I don’t need to worry about it tomorrow while I’m traveling.” I repeated my earlier statement, wishing he would just get it over with.
The day after tomorrow was a training session, and then that night the big gala. I’d have to pop over to his hotel in the morning so that there was no chance Maz got tipped off to his presence at the gala that evening. I was already stressed just thinking about it.
He nodded, stepping forward and grasping my wrist lightly in his hands. When he brought his lips to my skin, pleasure spread up my arm and into my chest.
I tried to suppress it, to push it back, but I couldn’t.
What is this?I’d been fed from before, and what they said in movies about it feeling all euphoric was kind of a lie. Vampires did emit a small amount of drug to make you feel good, but if you knew what they were, you also felt grossed out, a bit like an animal being fed from. This wasn’t that.
Thiswaseuphoric. This was yummy, this was…
Before I knew what I was doing, I’d stepped closer and tucked my body right into his, pushing my hips into his pelvis. He looked up at me, eyes flashing gold, hungry. But not for my blood. He stopped drinking, licked the wound, and never took his eyes off of me.
We were inches apart and I hadn’t moved back. I just stared into his eyes as bright copper threaded through them, and for some reason seeing my fresh red blood on his lips turned me on. It was like I’d claimed him, like he was mine.
I shook my head, repulsed at those thoughts, and it was like coming out of a daze. I stumbled back a few paces.
“Are you using compulsion on me?” I asked, bewildered.
He looked at me like I’d slapped him. “Never. I told you. I won’t do that.”
I placed my hand on my hips. “Why not? Why didn’t you just use it that night the Shadow Bloods attacked to make them go away?”
He scoffed, and I was very aware that the bastard still hadn’t put a shirt on. “It doesn’t work like that. I can use it with one person here and there, but a group, or in an attack … it depletes my energy.”
