Page 13 of Stranded with a Wounded Vampire

He shrugs. “It was like this when I arrived. I find it acceptable.”

“Why did you decide to move to this exact home?”

“The space of this human domicile is comparable to the family home where I was raised. The terrain is also comparable to the area where I lived on my own planet. I was raised in a warmer mountain climate than most of the rest of my species.”

I pull out a smaller pot to heat the spaghetti sauce and don’t even bother to add hamburger meat because I want the pure sauce. I glance over my shoulder and give him a smile. “You know this house looks a little spooky on the outside.”

“Spooky?” His brow furrows.

“Scary, intimidating.”

“Why?”

“It’s considered mysterious because not that many people have ever been invited up here and all the people who lived here in the past also lived alone, like you do. The outside is a bit dark. I think all it needs is a lighter coat of paint and a lot of bushes trimmed or taken out. Just an updating. Right now, it looks on the outside a little bit dilapidated. Which doesn’t match the inside, because it’s beautiful in here. I’m surprised, in fact, just how nice it is in here. It's also sparkling clean.”

“The upper floors and the two towers were dusty and moldy when I arrived. I hired some local humans to do some of the major remodeling of the bedrooms upstairs that needed updating. But I've imported cleaning bots and repair bots and they did most of the work. I brought them with me. I was surprised to discover that Justice and Hale had not brought any. I thought this would be a good technology humans would appreciate.”

I turn down the heat on both the pots so I can walk away for a second. “Oh, I want to see.”

He opens a large utility closet in the hallway behind the kitchen.

I walk inside and see a whole wall of “bots” charging in standby.

“They clean the bathrooms, can do the dishes and make beds. They put away clothes and the repair bots can also fix appliances or anything that tears or breaks down in the house.” Bruce turns one of them on and releases it and it whirrs to life and starts to work, busy cleaning the kitchen floor.

The cleaning bot is small and adorable. The repair bots are taller and more substantial. They are not intimidating at all and instead are almost like having the most expensive floor cleaner, on remote, if it was also like a pet at the same time. “Oh, these will be very popular.”

I feel a vibration from my phone and take it out of my pocket. My mom has already sent me five different texts. “Just a sec, I have to respond to my mom real quick or I’ll never have a moment’s peace.”

I wander down the hall, back to the kitchen and give her a quick update, letting her know that I can’t get towed until tomorrow, and Bruce is taking me in for the night.

I’m coming to get you.

No, you’re not. You can’t drive at night and the rain is making these roads dangerous. This isn’t an emergency. I’m safe. Stay home.

I’m sending someone else to get you.

No. Leave this alone. I’m staying here tonight and that’s my final decision.

You’re staying the night in that Korn’s mansion? Just the two of you?

Yes.

If he hurts you he’s as good as dead.

I roll my eyes. Mom, stop. It’s fine. I’ll text you tomorrow morning when the tow truck arrives.

Grr. She sends a mad face emoji.

I turn off my phone and tuck it in my pocket. Then I glance up and see that Bruce was gazing at my ass.

“I need another bag of backup blood.” He announces. In moments he opens the fridge and grabs a bag. He flips open the built-in straw at the top.

“Wait, are you going to drink that right in front of me?”

He pauses. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

I blow out a breath. “No, no problem. Carry on.” I need to get used to this. I feel more for him than a simple crush. In fact I could already be seriously falling in love with him, which started the moment we stood together in from of the pasta section. And if I follow through with this and basically marry this guy, our children would most likely drink blood on special occasions too. I cannot be grossed out by this.

---