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Carver nearly started to drool.

Now that Carver knew that he could feed from another vampire, his options had opened up. He didn’t know how he’d go about it but drinking from a vampire would be way better than having to take from his friends.

“It’s okay.” Dante smoothed a hand down his back. “It is all going to be okay now. I’ve got you.”

Carver was having a hard time figuring out Dante’s angle here. Or why Dante was being so nice to him. This wasn’t how Carver had imagined their night would go. Sure, playing a little for Dante had been the plan but the feeding, the gentleness, all of it confused Carver.

Drawing Carver into the bathroom, Dante gave his hand a squeeze when Carver nearly tripped over his own feet. The space was just as amazing as the rest of the house and Dante’s suite.

Different shades of gray covered nearly every surface with hints of black and gold running throughout. The towels that hung from hooks and bars were red and fluffy. The lights were low as Dante lit candles around the tub. There was an almost romantic feel to the space. The large tub sitting off to one side was filled to the brim with water and bubbles as steam rose.

Carver forced his body to relax. He might as well enjoy this experience. This was a luxury that Carver had never and would never engage in again.

They reached the tub and Dante turned Carver to face him. Slowly, Dante started to undress him. Carver hissed as Dante pushed his shorts and underwear down, causing the dried cum to snag on the short hairs around his pelvis.

“Sorry,” Dante said with a wince of his own.

“It’s fine,” Carver replied quickly. He didn’t want Dante to stop. Later Carver would worry about these weird feelings bubbling up inside him. Tomorrow was soon enough.

“There.” Dante kicked Carver’s clothes away. “Now let’s get you inside the tub.”

Carver held on to Dante’s arm as he stepped into the tub. The hot water felt so fucking good as it covered his foot, ankle, and below his knee. The small house that Carver had purchased after years of publishing his best-selling books would be hard to return to after this one night. And Carver loved his house. This was like taking a vacation in a five-star resort.

As he sank down, the hot water and bubbles covered him up to his shoulders and Dante leaned over him. Carver couldn’t help but looking up at Dante in wonder.

Dante’s scent had changed again. This time something spicy and sharp.

“Can I ask you something?” Carver hated the way his voice shook. He shouldn’t be so nervous. Obviously, Dante wanted him there. Wanted Carver. The plan was working. Dante didn’t know what Carver was up to.

“I don’t want you to fear me,” Dante said. “Ever.”

And that! How did Dante keep doing that? There was just so much that Carver didn’t know. He hadn’t had anyone to ask before. Maybe Carver could get more than just revenge. Some answers would be real fucking nice. “How did you know I was afraid?”

Dante settled on the wide lip of the tub. It was like the seat had been perfectly made for him. Maybe he’d had it designed that way and Dante brought boys home all the time and bathed him.

It was shocking how strongly jealousy coursed through him.

“The same way that I know whatever thought you just had made you extremely jealous,” Dante said softly.

Carver could feel the way that his eyes widened. That was impossible! How? “Can you read my mind?” He was fucked. So fucked. Dante would rip his throat out.

“And now you’re terrified,” Dante said.

He started to shake. This had been a horrible idea. Carver was going to die! He’d thought that his life was over and he could at least get some revenge on the monsters that had done this to him. Now Carver realized he wanted to live. Even if it was a half-life without sun, or food, or the things that he used to love.

“Calm down.” Reaching into the bubbles, Dante found Carver’s hand and pulled it out. He blew off the bubbles before kissing the back of Carver’s hand. “No one here is going to hurt you. I won’t allow it.”

That didn’t make sense though. Dante was a monster. The leader of the monsters.

“To answer your question,” Dante said, “I can tell by scent. Haven’t you noticed how powerful scents are now?”

Slowly, Carver nodded. He just didn’t understand them.

“Learning to recognize scent is one of the first things that a sire usually teaches their child.”

“Sire as in the vampire that turns the human?” Carver guessed. Dante was very interested in Carver’s sire. Since Carver hadn’t come up with a believable lie that wouldn’t get him busted, he needed to avoid that subject. His curiosity was really going to kill him one day.

“Yes. A sire is fully responsible for the child that he turns and is required to see to their every need. And they should protect their child at all costs.”