Page 44 of Feral

“More than anything.”

He visibly shivers, tilting his head back slightly to reveal his elegant neck. “Then do it. I want you to.”

“Gods. Are you sure?”

“Do I seem unsure?”

“No, but it’s very possible I’ll become addicted to you, obsessed, once your blood coats my tongue. And an obsessed vampire is quite a handful.”

He smiles subtly. “I’m not worried, Hale.”

My mouth waters as my gums throb. “Thank fuck.”

I slide my hand up his neck, inhaling his crazy sweet scent, which smells like all my favorite things. His blood pulses loudly through his veins, tempting me further. I kiss his skin first, delicately teasing him before I rear back and bare my fangs, then sink them into his flesh.

Yannis tenses and gasps softly, gripping my shoulders, but then he relaxes. His blood floods my mouth, thick and sweet, and I realize my worries were valid. He tastes like paradise. As I feed, visions of us making love earlier flit through my mind. I’m tasting his memories.

“Hale,” he murmurs. “Oh fuck, Hale. This is wild.”

I know it doesn’t hurt him. Just the opposite. His body warms beneath me and his cock swells again as he rubs our bodies together. His fingers find my hair, tangling around my locks as he repeats my name over and over like a prayer.

I’ve had almost too much, so reluctantly, I pull away, licking the wound and catching the remaining droplets on my tongue before resting my head on his collarbone.

As his essence flows through me, my body tingles and vibrates in a way it hasn’t before. I feel my strength growing, my mood lifting even higher. He’s renewed me. All the gods, Yannis was meant for me.

I am stunned.

“Hale?”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay? You’re shaking.”

Lifting my head, I search his beautiful face and concerned eyes. “I am…” What? Staggered? I think I’ve found my fated mate. How do I tell him that?

He tilts his head. “Was it okay?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “It was incredible. Such a gift. Thank you.”

“You’re happy then?”

“Very happy. How do you feel? Weak? I took a lot. It was difficult to stop.”

“I feel fine. Good. Kind of horny again. Is that normal?”

“In our case it is.”

“Our case? Is it different with other vampires?”

I nod. “Yes.” I can barely contain my joy. “You’re sure you feel good? Strong?”

“Yeah, good. I thought I might be a little woozy, like after you donate blood, but I feel…” He pauses, glancing around for a second. “Strong. Rested.” He smiles. “And turned on.”

It’s true then. It has to be. The amount I took should have affected him differently. He should need some time to be restored again, but it’s the opposite. No other mortal has reacted this way to me before.

“You sure you’re okay? You seem a little different.”

I wrap my hands around his. “It’s an honor to be given such a gift. Blood is life for a vampire, and when given freely and with affection, it’s all the sweeter. I am different. I’m better.”

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