Page 51 of Princess Broken

“Why not?” My teeth scrape my lower lip as my fangs prepare for a feed.

“Because if I fed you—” his shoulders rise and fall “—I’d need to fuck you.”

“Oh.” His words squeeze my entire body, especially the space between my legs.

There was no ‘want’ implied in his word choice, and definitely not in his tone. Flame said, ‘need.’ He’d need to fuck me. And it’s clear from his tone and expression that would be unacceptable. The last thing he wants, even if he’d need it.

Looking at Flame—his handsome face and muscled body, combined with the kindness he’s shown me, not to mention the few details from his past that he’s shared—I find myself hoping that the code is the only reason that sex is off the table.

There are other reasons that sex with Flame, or any of these men, would be a bad idea—very bad—and yet… I cannot deny it. I want Flame to want me. I want that far more than I should want to want it. I grin inwardly. That’s a lot of wants.

“What’s funny?” he asks.

Shifting my feet from the chair to the floor, I shake my head. “Nothing.” Flame’s ability to sense my feelings without my speaking continues to surprise me.

“Then shall we?” He raises his hand toward me. I slide mine into his, and his swallows mine whole. He looks down. “Want your shoes?”

I glance toward the high heels I kicked off before I sat. “I don’t think so.” As sexy as it felt, walking in heels is very much not worth the effort. Besides, I don’t want to look sexy when I go in for the feeding.

“I should change.” I tug down on the too short hem of the dress.

“No,” he says quickly, then clears his throat. “It’s red. It will hide any spillage.” Grinning, he meets my gaze.

I laugh and he does too. Spillage, as he called it, is unlikely—at least I think it is. Although I’ve only fed from Timur, I doubt the energy-giving act often turns messy.

My nerves accelerate again, wondering if Flame knows something I don’t. But his grin, the way he looks at me and the warmth of his hand around mine, all reassure me that ‘spillage’ was just a joke. And an excuse. Flame likes how I look in this dress and knows other males in this communal feeding room will too. Giving me more options to choose from.

We exit the brothers’ living quarters, and he drops my hand. I clasp mine together in front of me, trying to calm my nerves and perhaps hide some of my figure. I’ve always claimed to be adventurous, complained that I’d been isolated from the world for so long. I’ve always craved new experiences. It’s time to actually try one.

So why am I so frightened to try this one small thing. Something that vampires do every day?

I may not have ever fed from a vampire I don’t know, but I have taken blood from humans I did not yet know well. No human blood donor could last as long as I’ve been a vampire. But I did feed from the same human for years at a time, changing only when my chosen blood donor retired from service. Let’s face it. I’m not as adventurous as I pretend to be.

Be brave. Be brave. Be brave.

My diplomatic assignment in Philadelphia was supposed to be the first step of my new life. I may as well live it.

“Do you prefer a male or a female?” Flame asks me.

“To feed from?” I ask, stalling.

He nods.

With humans, I’ve only had females, who seemed less dangerous and more familiar. Easier. Plus, it helped me avoid any sexual feelings after.

“I’ve only ever fed from male vampires,” I tell him, using the plural and omitting that I’ve only ever fed from one vampire after my transition was complete: Timur.

He nods, and his expression shifts, but I can’t figure out what he’s thinking. Not as easily as he seems to read me.

“Well, let’s see who’s there,” Flame says. “If you want some advice before you pick, just ask.”

“Advice?” My heart pounds and bats scramble inside my belly.

“Who’s likely to be gentle—or not gentle.” He turns toward me. Our eyes meet and he shoots me a devilish grin. “Whatever you’re in to, just let me know.”

He’s not talking about the feeding. He’s talking about the sex that comes after.

Brave, Ana. Be brave. This is an adventure.

---