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I removed my hand and cleared my throat. “I’m fine. Come. Upstairs.”

I had a responsibility, which was how I justified it.

Cristofer texted later that day—while Ensley was at work and I slumbered in his bed—to let me know that his plane would arrive the following day, Wednesday, in the afternoon, which meant our rendezvous would happen in under twenty-four hours. It also meant I had no choice but to cave to my desires.

Such a travesty to subject myself to a yearning I’d been barely able to control for a week. When did I start lying to myself? When did I stop caring and start craving? Where did my long-held morals go? The disgust? The repulsion? Part of me was relieved to have the choice taken away. Still, another part felt guilty at the pleasantly rising bubbles of anticipation.

For half a heartbeat, I considered going elsewhere, feeding on a stranger and keeping it impersonal, but the mere idea disgusted me. It was a betrayal.

Dictating the course of our evening, I planned a nice meal for when Ensley arrived home. Never had I taken such a keen interest in the internet or technology as after I discovered a love for cooking. I could find any recipe in the world within seconds. I could order food from a local supermarket and have it delivered, saving myself a brutal daytime excursion for ingredients. Seeped in misery for four hundred years, I never knew these pleasures could exist, or how gratifying the sense of humanity could be.

My skills, left much to be desired, but Ensley never complained about the finished product. What he didn’t like was dining alone, or rather, not having someone to share the experience with. I would have given my left arm to partake but was sadly relegated to observer.

That night on the menu, Ensley would enjoy grilled sirloin, spinach and walnut gnocchi, and a zucchini and red pepper salad with a light vinaigrette. I’d allotted one glass of wine and a hearty fruit salad for dessert with chunks of kiwi, strawberries, bananas, and oranges. Every item was explicitly chosen with Ensley’s health in mind.

I, on the other hand, would sup on him. My mouth watered in anticipation.

Attuned to his arrival, I poured a glass of wine and put on soft classical music the instant I heard the Jeep pull into the parking space behind the building. The lights had been off all day, and since the sun went down, I’d drawn the blackout curtains aside, letting in the night. Quite the opposite of what a typical human might do.

With Ensley’s imminent arrival—he was on the stairs, climbing slowly—I closed the curtains, for his benefit, and lit the few candles, arranging them around the flat. The soft yellow glow was a compromise that didn’t assault my senses and allowed Ensley to see.

He entered and paused as he noticed the display, gaze trailing the delicately lit loft, ear cocked to the velvety music pouring from the speaker system. A smile formed as we locked eyes.

“Welcome home, love.”

“I think you’re a hopeless romantic.”

“Suppose I am. Is that a complaint?”

“Heavens no.” He dropped his keys and a stack of folders on a table by the door, kicked off his trainers, and shed his coat.

As he approached, he spied the carefully prepared meal, artfully plated and waiting. “Damn. A guy could get used to this. Is that steak?”

“It is. How was your day?”

“The usual. Dany left the office early, so I spent most of the afternoon being lazy and texting with the guys. I haven’t been on a dungeon run in weeks, and they’re afraid I’ve quit. I assured them it was only a small break. DnD tomorrow?” He raised hopeful brows. “I canceled last week since I was miserable after visiting Mom, and the week before that I forgot all about it and wasn’t home when they showed up. I owe them.”

I thought of Cristofer’s arrival and figured if Ensley was busy, it would allow us time to confer. We could visit the mansion, and I could show him the eyot and all that was in store.

“It sounds like a wonderful idea. You should catch up with your friends. Don’t let my presence stop you. I’ll make myself scarce. Besides, I have business to attend. Cristofer will be here tomorrow afternoon, and I need to catch him up properly.”

Ensley’s face fell. “Oh. I thought you’d join us.”

“Waging war against fictitious monsters hits too close to home. Especially since I’m the enemy.”

“Don’t say that. You’re no different than the rest of us.”

“We are worlds apart, love, and you know it. Besides, show me a single instance when your fabled vampires aren’t on a mission to destroy humankind, and I will happily roll your dice and play your silly game.”

“It’s not silly.” But it must not have been a battle worth waging. Ensley let it go and admired the table and single place setting. “It looks incredible. I only wish I could share it with you.”

I bussed his cheek and guided him to his chair. Once he sat and I tucked him nice and close, I clasped his shoulders and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Do away with your sulk. You won’t be dining alone tonight.”

The message was clear, but to drive the point home, I skated my lips down his neck until my mouth rested over the ideal point of entry, where his pulsing artery sat close to the surface. I grazed my tongue over the spot in question, tasting his skin and savoring the hitch of his beating heart as his adrenaline spiked.

“Oh,” he breathed, tilting his head to the side.

My teeth ached and saliva filled my mouth. Dancing the edge of ecstasy, I extended my fangs and scraped them carefully over his soft and pliable flesh. “Not now,” I whispered. “You need energy. I can’t have you collapsing from weakness.”