“But I what?”
“You’re like a feast when I’ve been surviving on scraps for decades.” His confession was raw, honest in a way that made my chest tighten. “It’s part of why this is so dangerous for me, Archer. You’re not just sexually attractive. You’re literally addictive.”
The admission hung between us, heavy with implication. I could see the vulnerability in his expression, the way he was waiting for me to run now that I knew the truth. Instead, I found myself leaning into his touch, craving more of that connection he’d described.
“So when you fed from me,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than intended, “what did it feel like? For you, I mean.”
His pupils dilated, and I caught the flash of fangs as his lips parted slightly. “Like coming alive again,” he said. “Like remembering what it felt like to be human, but better. More intense than anything I felt when I actually was human.”
The honesty in his voice, the way he was looking at me like I was something precious and dangerous all at once, made heat flow to my cock. I understood now why he’d been so conflicted, so determined to push me away. I wasn’t just a student he was attracted to. I was a source of sustenance unlike anything he’d encountered before.
“Is that why you kept trying to stay away from me?” I asked. “Because you were afraid you wouldn’t be able to control yourself?”
“Partially.” His thumb traced along my jawline, the touch sending electricity through my entire body. “But also because the more I fed from you, the more I wanted. And wantingsomething that much, needing someone that intensely makes me vulnerable in ways I haven’t allowed myself to be in centuries.”
I could hear the fear beneath his words, the way this connection between us terrified him as much as it drew him in. But I could also see the longing in his eyes, the way his careful control was fraying at the edges just from this simple touch.
“What if I want you to need me?” I whispered, surprised by my own boldness. “What if I want to feed you, to give you whatever you need? And then you make me feel good in return?”
His hand stilled against my face, and for a moment I thought I’d said the wrong thing. Then something shifted in his expression, something hungry and desperate and almost reverent.
“Archer,” he breathed, and the way he said my name made my knees weak. “You have no idea what you’re offering.”
“Then show me,” I said, pressing closer until I could feel the cool air that surrounded him mixing with my own body heat. “Teach me what it means to feed a vampire. What it means to be yours.”
The last word slipped out before I could stop it, but I found I didn’t want to take it back. Because that’s what I wanted, wasn’t it? To belong to him in some way, to be the source of sustenance and pleasure that no one else could provide.
Valen’s control barely held as he forced his hand away from me and took a step back.
“Come to my house tonight,” he said. It wasn’t a question. “And cloak yourself so nobody sees you. Be prepared to stay the night.” He took another step back, turning away from me. “Now get out of my office before I lose control completely.”
I stood there for a long moment, letting the excitement wash over me. Then, still behind him, I pressed a soft kiss to the back of his neck before heading for the door.
“See you tonight, then.”
Chapter 17
Archer
Istraightened my collar for about the hundredth time and fussed with my hair a bit more in the mirror. For some reason, I just couldn’t get it to look the way I wanted. And of course it would be uncooperative on the night that I wasfinallygoing to Valen’s place to spend the night. I wanted to look handsome for him, not like some frumpy college kid. I wanted him to know that I was taking this entire situation seriously.
Just when I was about to start fussing with it again, there was a knock on my dorm room door. I paused, wondering if I should ignore it. I didn’t want anyone to know I was leaving. In fact, I planned on casting the invisibility charm before I even left the room.
“I know you’re in there, Archer,” I heard Amelia’s voice say through the door. “I can smell the cologne from here.”
I sighed and walked over to the door, opening it to find my sister leaning against the frame with her arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face.
“Going somewhere special?” she asked, pushing past me into the room without waiting for an invitation.
“Maybe,” I said, closing the door behind her. “What do you want, Amelia?”
She turned to face me, and I could see the concern beneath her teasing expression. “I want to know what’s going on with you. You’ve been different lately. Distracted. And now you’re getting all dressed up to sneak out somewhere.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “This is about that vampire professor, isn’t it?”
I felt heat creep up my neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit.” She sat down on my desk chair, spinning it around to face me. “You took my advice, didn’t you? About rebelling against Mother and Father?”
There was no point in lying to her. Amelia had always been able to read me like an open book, and besides, she was the one who’d encouraged me to pursue this in the first place.
