Page 41 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

I pull out a bottle of vitamins, specifically made for women at my time of life. A little note is tied around it with a ribbon. ‘To keep your strength up on account of all the deviant things I intend to do to you.’

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Henrietta says, when I hand her the bottle. Elizabeth snatches it from her hold and mutters something under her breath.

“There’s something else,” I say, folding my fingers around another sleek, black, rectangular box nestled in the bottom of the bag. I pull it out, sliding out the internal tray. The second my eyes land on the item resting inside, I gasp.

No. He did not.

Inside is a beautifully detailed dildo that, from my recollection, is a replica of Dorian’s dick, piercings and all. Resting on top is a small handwritten card that says, ‘For when I’m not available. Orgasms are great for easing headaches.’

“What is it?” Henrietta asks, looking from me to the box and back again.

I quickly slide the tray back into the box, my cheeks heating like an oven on full blast.

Henrietta, ever the observant one, grins inanely. “Please tell me he brought you a sex toy.”

“No way,” Elizabeth chokes out, her eyes widening comically.

I nod, completely lost for words.

Henrietta whistles, then bursts out laughing. “That man is a keeper.”

“That’s just perverted,” Elizabeth remarks, shaking her head with disgust. After a moment of stunned silence, Elizabeth waves her hand at me. “Well, this is all very eye-opening, but you were about to tell us about Dorian…”

I nod my head. “Yes, right. Back to that,” I say, then proceed to tell them both everything, starting with my first encounter with Dorian, right up until what happened the other night. By the time I’ve finished, they’re both staring at me, eyes wide and mouths open.

“You’ll catch flies,” I comment.

“Well, damn,” Henrietta whistles. “That’s hot.”

“You think Dorian dismissing me after making me come in the front seat of his car is hot?”

“Well, not that part. That was kind of douchebag behaviour…” she says, flicking her gaze to the flowers. “But at least he sent you flowers, and a dildo to apologise. He did apologise, right?”

“Yes. He did,” I say, huffing out a breath.

“Well, that’s certainly better than ninety-nine point nine percent of men. I’ll give him that much,” Elizabeth concedes. “Then again, it’s pretty poor behavior to react like he did over a little blood if you ask me. Even if he did, you know, make you…”

“Come? You can say the word, Elizabeth. You won’t suddenly burn up in flames,” Henrietta remarks, smirking.

“It was so humiliating,” I mumble.

Henrietta reaches over the kitchen island and pats my hand. “Don’t you dare feel bad about what happens naturally. Besides, Dorian doesn’t strike me as the type of man who’d let a little blood put him off. I’m sure that wasn’t the reason he left so abruptly.”

Elizabeth scoffs.

“I know you don’t like men, Beth, but sometimes they’re worth getting to know if only to scratch that itch. We all deserve an orgasm or five-hundred,” Henrietta says. “Dorian certainly seems to think so too,” she adds, eying the rectangular box. I slap her hand when she tries to reach for it.

“I don’t dislike men. I’ve just yet to meet one that isn’t a disappointing prick,” Elizabeth says.

“And after what Edie just told us,” Henrietta smirks. “I know Dorian doesn’t have a disappointing prick.”

“Okay, okay. That’s enough. You know my story. What happened after Dorian and I left the other night?” I ask, moving the conversation to more uncomplicated grounds. Or at least that’s what I think I’m doing until I see Henrietta’s expression slip. For the first time in a long time, I see vulnerability in her gaze.

“Honestly, absolutely nothing,” she says, her shoulders slumping.

“Nothing?” I question.

“Nothing,” she confirms.