Page 23 of Feral

“Sweet. I know just the place. A few blocks over is a known pimp hangout. You in?”

My gums throb with anticipation. “I’m in.”

Chapter 8

Yannis

As I enter my apartment, there’s only one thought playing on repeat in my mind.

Vampires exist.

And not just vampires. All kinds of things I’ve always thought were nothing but folklore and Hollywood fantasy.

I kick off my shoes and shuffle to my bedroom, peeling off my t-shirt along the way. I’m not sure why I’m not freaking out about this discovery. Far from it. For some reason it makes sense in a way. Everything feels otherworldly and strange inside Lair, and now I know why.

And then there’s Hale. Part of me wanted to take him up on his offer to come up, but then what? I feel good around him, warm and safe, but it’s more than that. I’m curious.

What would it be like to date a man? Is it the same as finding a woman you like? Do you just ask them out? Or do I look him in the face and tell him I’m kind of interested, but I’m not sure what to do? He seems like the kind of guy to take the lead, but do I want that?

In the bedroom, I get out of my jeans and collapse on my bed with just my briefs on. The scratchy sheets and thin comforter remind me of my brief college stint, but I wasn’t about to blow through my meager savings on expensive bedding.

I wonder what kind of bedding Hale sleeps on. I bet it’s soft. He seems like a luxury kind of guy. Or maybe it’s just because now I know how much older he is. He’s had longer to get his shit together. He has a cool job. Yeah, he’s probably doing alright for himself.

Rubbing my hand over my stomach, I stare at the ceiling, trying to imagine what working at Lair will be like, especially now that I know who the customers are. Seeing Rhett in that state, eyes glowing, fangs visible, and those claw-like nails around the man’s neck… A shiver moves down my spine. It was both fascinating and slightly terrifying, and at that moment I knew without a doubt that everything Hale told me was true.

And now I’m part of it. Pretty sweet. Kind of scary.

It seems I should be more worried about bitey vampires than Mafia guys, but after witnessing the incident at the club, I can’t make that make sense. As long as I’m on their good side, I choose the vampires.

I can’t lie to myself and say I’m not interested in the donation program. Seriously, what would it feel like to have another person bite into your skin and drink your blood? Does it hurt or is it like when you give blood at the clinic? Hale’s warning bounces around my head, but it doesn’t stop me from closing my eyes and imagining it.

First I attempt to conjure the face of a pretty woman, or that actress I like, but very quickly I imagine Hale instead, looking like Rhett did with sharp teeth and glowing eyes. He leans in, inhaling as his lips brush the skin of my neck. My body reacts, flushing with heat, but the most surprising reaction is how my cock twitches with interest.

Opening my eyes, I blow out a breath. Great. Now I’m fantasizing about a guy who I apparently would like to star as the Lestat of my fantasies. Super. That’s totally normal behavior for a guy who thinks he’s straight. Speaking of Lestat, I might be too keyed up from the evening’s events to sleep, so I slip out of bed and into the living room, where I sit on the couch and turn on the TV. Watching fictional vampires might not be the best way to fall asleep, but it’s all I’ve got right now.

I wake up still on my couch, the TV on and playing some kind of commercial for hair loss treatment. After I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes, my brain quickly reminds me that in a few hours I get to start working at Lair and see Hale again. A smile tugs at my lips.

I hop up, heading for the shower with a bounce in my step. This opportunity gets me out of the house, puts some money in my pocket, and gives me a chance to meet people. Even if some of them aren’t exactly people. What are the proper pronouns for a demon or siren? I’ll have to ask about gender expression etiquette there.

Snorting a laugh, I crank the shower to full blast. It takes way too long to get hot. While it heats, I brush my teeth and study my reflection. I look a little pale. It’ll be summer soon enough though, and I can get some sun.

In the shower, I stand under the weak spray. That’s one thing I miss about the farm back home. We had the best water pressure. No apartment I’ve lived in since has come close to measuring up. Weird thing to be homesick about.

Shifting to wash my hair, I let my thoughts wander wherever they want to go. I’m not surprised when they go right back to Lair, conjuring all the unique things I witnessed last night, and the fierce warning in Hale’s voice as he confronted that Mafia guy. He’s not a huge guy, but his presence is larger than life.

Closing my eyes, I let the water rain down on me, recalling the way Hale looks at me like he can see into my soul and touches me so gently like he’s afraid I’ll break. I allow my imagination to run wild, and images of Hale dragging his hands down my chest flash through my mind.

In my mind’s eye, Hale grips the back of my neck, whispering something I can’t hear, moving closer…closer…closer… Until our lips meet. His kiss isn’t gentle at all. He’s no longer afraid I’ll break. Our tongues tangle, and I succumb to the feeling of a man’s kiss.

My body tingles, pulling me from the fantasy long enough for me to recognize my reaction to it. My cock swells and my nipples harden. My hand seems to move of its own accord between my legs, gripping and stroking my shaft. I grab the soap, slicking my cock with one hand and fisting it with the other. With my head thrown back against the cool tiles, I invite the fantasy back, breathing harder as imaginary Hale trails kisses and tiny bites across my flesh.

It’s his hand stroking me, expertly, exactly the way I like it, because somehow he just knows how to get me off. Tension builds and I’m torn between sweet release and wanting this to last to see what happens in my mind.

When fantasy Hale reaches behind me, playing with my hole, I gasp, following the motion in real life and touching myself in a way I never have before. Fuuuuck, it feels good. His lips find my neck as he presses against me, bumping his cock into mine as he explores my body.

In my mind, the sexy man is a vampire too, though he hasn’t told me that. His eyes glow like Rhett’s did, his lips parting to reveal sharp fangs.

I’m fisting my cock furiously now, barreling toward the edge at a speed that leaves me lightheaded, and when I allow my brain to take me as far as it wants, I imagine Hale, sexy and confident, biting into my neck.

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