Page 38 of Awakening the Dhampir

She hugged the same pillow I’d used throughout the night. Was she seeking me out? I strode to the right side of the wide mattress and assumed my human form. My blood wouldn’t change, but my human didn’t take up as much space. Besides, I doubted her tiny fangs would be able to pierce my demon hide.

“How do you want to do this?” Kenrid whispered. “Do you want me near her? Or do you want to see how much she can handle first?”

I stared at Lorna’s face, so peaceful in sleep. “Stay close to her. Let’s see how she reacts to my blood,” I replied just as softly. “I don’t want to traumatize her. She’s had enough of that already. If what we suspect about her hunger is true, she needs food more than anything else.”

“Then I’ll lay on her other side and wrap her in my magic,” he said.

“Good idea.”

It wasn’t a good idea. We should’ve been testing her, seeing if she could back off on her own, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of putting her through yet another challenge. Besides, she’d done really well being around me since she left Conrad’s estate. She couldn’t hide her desire, but she hadn’t acted on it despite the fact she had to be starving.

Kenrid’s idea about making our relationship public would eliminate her need to hide her longing for me. It felt good to be wanted.

I pulled back the blankets and crawled into the bed next to her. Kenrid did the same on her other side. I immediately felt his fae magic surround us. Lorna sighed, and her eyes fluttered open. She still held the pillow, the only thing separating her from me and only by a few inches.

“Good morning, little d’laej,” I whispered.

She smiled and yawned. “What does that mean?”

“If you do well with your next test,” I said, tugged at the pillow in her arms, “I’ll tell you.”

As she released the pillow, Lorna’s smile faded into a pout. “I haven’t even had a chance to wake up.”

I grinned. “I love the sleepy look on your face.”

Her cheeks flushed, as I knew they would. “You’re cheating again.”

“Most definitely.” I glanced over her shoulder at Kenrid. “I have an accomplice this time.”

The blush on her cheeks consumed her neck as she half-rolled over and saw Kenrid behind her. He wasn’t touching her, but he was very close. A ghost of a smile from him made her squirm. Maybe more had happened between them than I thought.

“And what is this next test?” Her voice was low and a little husky. A wave of desire filled the air.

I could only imagine what she was thinking, but I had to stay focused. “We need to see how you react to my blood,” I said. “But I won’t stop it from turning into something else if that’s what you want.”

Her head snapped back to me, her eyes wide. I wasn’t sure how well she could see either of us. The only light in the room spilled in from the common area through the bedroom’s open door. I had no problems watching her run her tongue over her lips.

“Kenrid?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Don’t let me hurt him,” she pleaded.

“I won’t,” he promised. “But I don’t think Damon needs my protection. You’re strong enough to do this.”

I glanced up at the fae. He couldn’t lie, so his words meant a lot. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one to think so. Lorna rolled over to face him and reached up to run a finger along his jaw. The tender look he gave her confirmed my suspicions about their time alone. They hadn’t had sex, but they’d talked about their connection. It looked like Lorna accepted him.

I wanted the same thing from her.

“Let’s do this,” Kenrid whispered, then pressed a kiss on her forehead.

“Okay.” Lorna scooted away from the fae and sat up facing me. “I’m ready.”

I propped my hand beneath my head and raised myself up on my elbow. Lorna looked down at me, and her eyes widened again. She must have realized I was only in a pair of blue jeans, leaving my chest bare for her. She’d seen my demon several times, but she hadn’t seen my human’s bare skin.

I smiled and said, “Yes, you can touch while I explain what’s going to happen.”

Kenrid chuckled, and Lorna’s hands covered her face.

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