Page 8 of Bitten By Chaos

“Yes,” Julian said, holding me steady by the shoulders. “But you may want to pick something less…tasty for the time being.”

A whimper escaped as I struggled against his hold, gentle yet firm enough to keep me from speeding away. The pity on his face fueled my fury to the point my entire field of vision was flooded with a scarlet filter.

“Charlotte.” He snapped my name at me like a command, and I growled in response.

“Are you going to order me to do it your way?” I challenged around my fangs, which felt like bones protruding into my mouth.

Julian sighed and released his hold on me. “I’d hoped you would simply trust me.”

I hesitated, but the hunger that had quickly turned to physical pain was as strong as the scent calling me. “I can’t stop it now.”

Instinct took over, and I barely registered my race down the hall to the double doors at the end. Julian’s palm slammed over the wood before I could rip it open, and he knocked with his opposite fist.

“Do not feed until you have permission. That is an order, as you say,” he whispered.

I glared as footsteps sounded and the door was thrown open. A handsome young man in his early thirties glanced between the vampires at his door with honeyed brown eyes, lips tilted up in an expectant smile.

“Julian?” he asked, deep warm voice as sweet and tempting as the blood pumping through his veins. “How nice to see you.”

“Merl, I thought you might be visiting when I heard who’d taken over.”

When I growled, both men glanced over at me as though they’d forgotten I was present. This human man was tall and muscled, but if Julian hadn’t commanded it, I’d have already ripped into him. That thought twisted my stomach yet was undeniable all the same.

“This is my fiancé, Dr. Charlotte Devaux.” Julian put a calming hand at the small of my back.

“She’s starving,” Merl observed, stroking his stubbled cheeks as though he were used to having a beard. “Newly turned?”

“Yes,” Julian agreed. “She…scented you.”

The man’s bright eyes lit in understanding as his bushy eyebrows rose. “Would you, uh, care to come in and have a bite?”

Julian grimaced as Merl laughed at his own joke. His eyes were almost as stunning as Julian’s, and there was something in them that spoke of wisdom that should have been beyond his years. Then again, if he were some form of supe, who knew how old he really was?

“Is that…permission?” I asked softly, glancing at Julian rather than Merl.

“Provided you are gentle. I shall agree to one feeding without payment,” Merl answered, ushering us inside.

Without preamble I pulled him toward me and stretched onto my tiptoes, even in my heels, to sink my fangs into his throat. Don’t hurt, I thought as I pulled at the blood that tasted almost as sweet as Julian’s. My fingers sank into the thick muscles of his arms, but I willed myself to be gentle as I moaned in absolute pleasure.

Oh gods, that was embarrassing. Why did I feel it between my legs? I clenched them tighter as I adjusted my stance and slowed my draw, trying to get myself under control. My fiancé, as Julian had put it, was standing beside me and absolutely knew exactly what my reaction was.

The thought stopped my meal before I normally would have. But the warmth in my fingers told me I’d had enough, thanks to Elsa’s teaching the night before.

I bit into my tongue and licked the wound, ignoring the shiver of heat that traveled down to my core yet again, then stepped away, releasing Merl and unable to meet his eyes—or Julian’s.

“Thank you,” I said softly as Julian pulled me into his side, letting me know silently that everything was alright. But it didn’t make it any easier to raise my gaze, and when I started to, I nearly choked when I saw the bulge protruding from Merl’s pants.

“No problem,” he said, rubbing his palms together. “Now, let’s have a more human style breakfast, if you wouldn’t mind joining me?”

Julian’s grip tightened around me. If I were human, it would have pulled me off balance. “We don’t want to impose.”

Merl laughed again—a rich sound. “That part isn’t the imposition.”

I bit down on the inside of my cheek and cringed at his words.

“I didn’t mean anything,” he said quickly. “I’ve seen many new vampires, and you, my dear, were quite civilized and gentle. But I expect no less from Julian’s mate.”

Finally, I found the courage to meet his gaze. Dimples made his smile seem even warmer, though I still felt something behind his eyes I couldn’t quite name. Inside, his blood warmed my body, sating my hunger, and buzzing as it traveled through my system.

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