Page 89 of Destined to Fight

“If we make it through this, I’ll do my best to make all yer dreams come true.”

“No pressure.”

He walked to a table at the side of the room and poured a couple of fingers of Scotch into two glasses. He brought them back to the bed and handed one to her.

“I dinnae remember the last time I met a woman who liked Scotch.”

That brought a smile to her face. “I’ve never been one for the sweet drinks. I like the more complex flavors that come with high-quality spirits. What’s the point of it all if you’re just getting a buzz? It’s the artistry in the process that makes it unique.”

He gave her a crooked smile and raised his glass. “Slainte.”

She followed suit. “Slainte.”

Kade downed his Scotch entirely, and Kelly took a couple sips.

“You should enjoy it more instead of gulping it down.”

“Circumstances, lass.”

Indeed, she thought.

“I’m going to bite yer neck. It’s much less sensitive than yer wrist when it comes to pain. It’s more dangerous if I lose control, though.” His face was plastered with hesitation.

“You’re not going to hurt me, Kade. I know you won’t.”

He ignored that. “It’ll only hurt for a few seconds, then the venom will numb yer neck and ye willnae feel any pain.”

She nodded, unsure what to say.

“I think it would be best if ye take my blood first, so ye have extra strength to counter my feeding.”

Kelly nodded again. She’d read all about vampires, how they fed, what it meant, how much blood they would take, etcetera, etcetera. She’d just never expected to go over the details with Kade.

“Are ye all right, lass?”

His eyes held concern when she met them. “I’m fine. Just feels like I’m watching a scene in a movie unfold. I don’t feel connected to…this. Whatever this is.”

“This is a first for both of us. I promise, I willnae hurt ye.”

“I’ve told you, I know that.”

He gave his crooked smile again and took the glass from her hand, setting it on the bedside table.

Placing his hand behind her neck, Kade eased her back to lie on the bed. He crawled next to her and lay at her side.

“I’m going to let ye take what ye need this time. I won’t pull away from ye.”

He brought his wrist to his mouth, using his fangs to pierce the skin there. Then Kade brought his wrist to Kelly’s mouth, and she held it there with both her hands, suddenly overtaken with a thirst for his blood.

The spice in his blood warmed her throat as she swallowed. She sucked hard at his vein, pulling from it with an animalistic hunger. Some part of her questioned what was happening, but a larger part told her this was right—to embrace what she would soon become and let go of her past.

Kelly found herself sated after taking what she needed, the same way she would with any other hunger or thirst. She didn’t know how much time had passed or how much blood she’d taken from Kade, but the need within her died down and became satisfaction.

She let go of his wrist and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her breath came fast and shallow as her body processed the power in Kade’s blood. Her fingers tingled, but she tried to push the sensation away.

He gave her a minute to collect herself, waiting for her to calm.

“Open yer mind, lass.”

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