Page 31 of Vampire Lee

“Bedside table lamp?”

No. Dillon shook his head. “Leaves dark corners.”

“Fuck, babe.” He looked around. “Maybe that blindfold would be a good idea after all.”

Babe? Dillon stared at him—not looking into his eyes, but at his chin, which was higher than he normally went. “I don’t have one.”

“I’ll cut you a deal then.”

“A deal?” There was no point in cutting deals. Lee could do whatever he wanted to him, and they both knew it.

“Yes, a deal. We turn off the lights, and I’ll talk. I’ll talk and talk until you fall asleep. Then you’ll know where you are.”

“It’s when I wake—”

“I’ll talk then too. I’m likely to wake before you do, at least if you’re screaming like you did yesterday.”

Waking up from a nightmare in the dark and having a vampire talk to him wouldn’t calm him in the least. “Fine, turn off the lights.”

Lee didn’t move. “Somehow, I get the feeling you don’t like the deal.”

Dillon huffed. “Perceptive.”

Lee chuckled. “I’ve got you, honey. Promise.” Then the lamp clicked off way sooner than it should have if Lee had moved at a normal speed. The bed dipped. “Am I allowed to be on my back or do you want me turned away from you?”

“Does it matter?” Dillon tried to keep his voice neutral, but it came out sulking.

“Now, now. Do you know what would be best?”

“No.”

“If you came here.” He held out his arms as if to hug him.

“No.”

Dillon was almost certain Lee was smiling.

“I won’t bite, and I won’t look into your eyes.”

“Right.” Dillon huffed at the absurdity of what he was saying.

Lee grabbed his wrist and pulled. Dillon struggled, but it was of no use.

“See here.” Lee pulled him close, placed Dillon’s head on his shoulder with his face almost buried against his throat, then he wrapped an arm around him. “No eye contact and nowhere near my teeth. You’re safe.”

Dillon couldn’t breathe. His heart banged so hard in his chest; he feared something would break. Soon Lee would bite him, hold him down and fuck him, or make him feel things he didn’t want to feel. Images spun in his head, memories, nightmares, shattered snippets.

“I told my boss I was dating Rei.”

Dillon sucked in a breath.

“It was weird. I was prepping for the night, slicing lemons.” Lee moved his hand up and down Dillon’s back as if he was too distracted to realize he was petting him. Dillon would bet money he was fully aware of what he was doing.

“We never talk about our private lives. I know nothing about her, and she knows nothing about me. But she asked if Rei and I were living together.”

Rei? Why was he talking about Rei?

“I almost told her we were only pretending to be dating. I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t think she’s in on the fighting ring thing, and…I don’t know, but why would she mess with my life? I’ve worked for her for five years.”

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