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“Yes,” he said, turning his head away from me to bare more of his throat.

The gesture pushed me over the edge, and I came, thrusting deeply as I sank my fangs into his throat, waves of pleasure washing over me as Julian’s blood filled my mouth. My bite had Julian following me, crying out as he spilled over my hand and onto his abdomen.

I quickly removed my fangs after only a single mouthful, healing him right away. Then I cleaned him up with my shirt and stretched out beside him. He was quiet, but a small smile played on his lips.

“Vincent?”

“Yes?”

“You wanted that too, right? That wasn’t just for my sake, was it?” He sounded so unsure it nearly broke my heart.

Rolling toward him, I cupped Julian’s face in my hands and kissed him thoroughly, taking my time. “No, that wasn’t just for you,” I said, needing him to believe it.

“My lips tingle,” Julian said, smiling. “And a lot of other places, too.”

I smiled back. “Yes, it’s one of the hazards of kissing a vampire, I’m afraid. It will wear off soon. But I could stop if it bothers you?”

In answer, he pulled me down and kissed me again, biting my bottom lip with his teeth.

Later that night, just before dawn, Julian walked me to my room. We exchanged goodnights, and I closed and locked the door. For the first time, it felt wrong to have a locked door between us. I didn’t like that Julian was out there while I was in here, but I saw no immediate solution.

Lying in bed, I felt an overwhelming urge to have Julian beside me, to know he was safe. It nearly drove me out of bed to find him, but I held back. I’d lain with many humans over the years, yet none had stirred such feelings in me.

Other worries began to plague me. I told Julian I would take him anywhere he wanted as soon as the snow cleared, and I meant it. I would not confine Julian here with me, but the thought of parting from him made me uneasy. The snow still clung to the ground, and it would be weeks, if not months, before it cleared. I wasn’t sure what would happen when it finally did. I wanted to do what was best for both of us, but I didn’t know what that was.

Before I closed my eyes, I promised myself that no matter what, I would prioritize Julian. I would make sure I did right by him. Julian deserved that and so much more.

28

JULIAN

Istood in front of the bathroom mirror late the next afternoon. I slept most of the day, but the sun was still up, and the window lit the room enough for me to see the bruises on my neck clearly. I couldn’t help but smile as I examined the proof of what had happened the night before. I had certainly gotten what I’d been asking for—and much more. Not only had Vincent fed from my neck, but we’d also slept together. I had bruises in several places on my body, but the initial bite on my neck was the most tender. Vincent had been careful despite the urgency of the feeding. I didn’t feel dizzy or weak. Aside from the bruises, I actually felt fine—good, in fact.

Being with Vincent was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, yet somehow familiar. I felt at ease in a way I never had with anyone else. It was strange; in the arms of someone strong enough to break me in half, I felt less vulnerable than ever. Something about Vincent made me feel utterly safe. Completely protected. Maybe it was a vampire thing, a tactic they used to ensnare their prey. Like Vincent’s striking good looks or his mesmerizing gaze, whatever it was, he seemed to be doing it without realizing. Deep down, I knew I should be concerned. After all, I was the prey. But the truth was, I didn’t mind. I wanted more.

The only thing I feared was that Vincent would regret what we’d done. I had no illusions about how much Vincent had wanted me in that moment. I was now certain of that. But Vincent had resisted it for so long that it had become a habit. The thought of rebuilding those walls and falling back into that routine made me feel nauseated. I didn’t want last night to be our only time together. I didn’t want to revert to what we had been before—trapped in the same house, carefully circling one another in a kind of dance. The thought soured my good mood.

A noise from the bedroom told me the water I was heating was ready. The kettle bubbled on the small stove Vincent had installed in the corner of my room. I had been annoyed when he dragged the thing home, but I had to admit it was a significant improvement in my life. Not only could I sleep in a warm bed, but I also had a way to heat water without going to the kitchen and using up our gas. I retrieved the steaming kettle and filled the bathroom basin. By adding cold water until it reached the perfect temperature, I could bathe with a warm washcloth. It felt luxurious and was definitely worth the effort. I moved carefully over the tender spots, remembering how I’d acquired each one.

Dressed in layers, I planned to spend the last hour of sunlight outdoors. I tried to get outside at least once a day. Even if I didn’t have a reason to, it felt good to soak up the sun’s warmth through my skin, and I knew it benefited me both physically and mentally. However, the sky was gray that day, and it looked like it would snow. A lot of snow from the past month still lay on the ground, and if it snowed again, I wasn’t sure how long it would take to clear it. That thought cheered me a little. I wasn’t ready for whatever awaited us when the snow melted, regardless of what happened when Vincent woke that evening. If I could keep us both there for a year or more, that would suit me just fine. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see people again, but I was still reeling from all the changes. I wasn’t sure I wanted any more just yet.

I walked along the pond’s edge on a path I’d formed from my daily strolls. The landscape, even cloaked in snow, was becoming familiar. I recognized the rocks jutting from the frozen water, the trees bordering the property, and the mountains overlooking it all. I returned to the bench by the pond’s edge as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The sky cleared, revealing a sunset of bright orange, pink, and red. It reminded me of the sorbet I’d enjoyed as a child. I would probably never taste it again.

My thoughts about ice cream were interrupted by a crash from the house. I bolted upright and rushed to the front door. Vincent was calling my name. No, screaming my name, his voice terrified. Alarm shot through me, and my heart raced. When I opened the door, everything was quiet. I didn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. I glanced at the rifle resting against the wall next to the door. I almost reached for it but left it. What good would a gun do against something that could frighten a vampire? Leaving the door open, I made my way toward the back hall, tracking snow from my boots across the living room floor to find out what it could be.

29

VINCENT

The next evening, I was out of bed before the sun had fully set. This was highly unusual, and I immediately began scanning for more serious symptoms. After two hundred and fifty-plus years, anything new shouldn’t be taken lightly. Yet as I paced my room, the sluggishness of rising early was tempered by a growing panic and the echo of a single thought: I needed to get to Julian. I needed him now. I wasn’t even craving him as I feared I might. No. My urgency to reach him was something else entirely, setting off alarm bells of a different kind.

Why was this happening? Why would this happen now? In all my years, I’d never experienced anything like this. I was unprepared for how it would make me feel, how powerful it would be. I was reacting to Julian as a mate would, after only one night together.

But no, I thought, it wasn’t just one night. I’d loved him for some time, and as that thought took shape in my mind, I knew it was true. I loved him. I wasn’t sure what this meant for us. If I was right, there was no way back for me.

What had I done?

Julian had made it clear he wanted me, wanted a physical relationship, but we’d never discussed romance or anything longer-term or more serious. It was increasingly likely that the complications I’d feared from us coming together were unfolding in ways I hadn’t anticipated, with consequences that could be more significant, at least for me.