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“Hmm, I’m not sure; it feels wrong somehow.” Julian shook his head against my shoulder.

I laughed, not at him but at the situation. “I’m sleeping with a human I’m practically holding hostage and drinking his blood regularly, but you have a problem with me biting myself?”

“I suppose when you put it that way, it does sound funny,” he admitted.

I rolled Julian off my shoulder and settled so I could look down at his handsome face, my body resting lightly against his.

“As long as when you do feed, it can be like this,” Julian said, reaching up to touch me.

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want it any other way. But we have to be cautious. Or, rather, I have to be cautious. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. If I hurt you⁠—”

“You won’t,” Julian said, tugging me down once more.

Eventually, we got out of bed, and I repaired my bedroom door as best I could and secured the lock, which was miraculously unharmed, on the outside of the door. Julian had the combination and could lock me in when he left, primarily for my peace of mind. We didn’t make it much beyond the bedroom that night, and I fell asleep with Julian warm beside me for the first time.

30

VINCENT

When I awoke the next evening, Julian was still there, nestled in my arms. I opened my eyes and looked down. Julian’s head rested against my chest.

“Julian? Are you awake?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, his voice oddly flat.

“Did you stay here all day?”

“No,” he said, carefully easing himself out of my embrace so we could see each other. “I crawled into bed with you about thirty minutes ago, knowing the sun was setting. Vincent, you were so still. Like, too still. You didn’t seem to be breathing. It scared the hell out of me, actually,” he said.

I nodded. “I should have thought of that. Were you worried I was dead?”

“Okay, this might sound crazy, but are you dead? I never thought to ask.”

I burst out laughing. Julian looked so serious, so concerned, but I couldn’t help myself. “No, I’m not dead,” I said when I could breathe again. “But we do appear that way in our sleep. That’s probably where the stories come from. I should have warned you.” I pulled him a bit closer, my arm wrapped around his back. “How did I end up with my arms around you, if I may ask? I was not aware I could move while asleep.”

“Well, about five or ten minutes ago, you started, I don’t know, maybe twitching a bit, and then I could tell you were back. You reached out for me and pulled me close. I was so relieved; I didn’t even mind being held by a frozen, half-dead vampire.” He grinned.

“Julian?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a cat in my bed?” I asked. I hadn’t moved and couldn’t see him, but I knew Samson was at the foot of the bed.

“Maybe. Is that a problem?” Julian asked.

“No, it’s been a whole lot of firsts. It seems only fitting.”

“How did you know he was here? Did you smell him or something?”

“I can’t smell anything except your wonderful scent, with you so close, but I can hear his heartbeat.”

“You can hear heartbeats?”

“Yes, and yours is a bit fast.”

“Hmm, I wonder why?” he asked, rubbing his leg against mine. “But seriously, is your hearing really that good?”

“Yes, if I stay focused and avoid distractions,” I said, leaning in to nip at his bottom lip.