Page 29 of Beasts

“So I've heard. It's a very weird kind of friendship if you ask me.”

“Yeah, but who wants to be normal?” His hair is flopped and covering some of his eyes. I don't know why, but I go to move it out of his way so I can see him properly.

“I still don't really understand what happened.”

“Unfortunately, mermen are almost impossible to stop. If they wanna drown someone, they usually succeed. But last time when we tried to stop him and he knocked into me I ended up biting him. It was enough to render him unconscious. We figured that's just the best way to stop him.”

“So you dove in intentionally to stop him from drowning Hendrik, even though you knew it would make you sick?”

“Would you rather Hendrik just die?”

“Of course not. But I was…worried about you.”

“Did you just admit to being worried about a vampire?”I can hear the mockery in his voice.

“Hey, I came up here to comfort you, but I can leave.”

“No, I definitely would rather you stay.” He uses a lot of effort to push himself backwards, giving me enough room to get on the bed alongside with him. I'm not sure why it doesn't feel strange, but lying down next to him, even though we're not touching, seems like where I need to be right now.

“How long does it usually take you to get better?”

“A few days normally. Less if… doesn't matter.”

“Please talk to me. I swear I'm less freaked out about things than I used to be.”

“I'm a vampire. Blood makes me normal. The reason that I live away from my family is because I'm not very much like them. Where they might drink once a week, I might only drink once a month. Kane's blood…it makes me weak, and not myself. It's not easy to explain.”

“But no blood is gonna make you sicker for longer.”

“That is true. But I'll be fine. It's not going to kill me.”

“Oliver,” I begin not really sure where I'm taking this, “, I owe you a lot for saving me last weekend. I owe you because of what you had to do for me. So if blood is really what you need then why not take mine?” He inhales sharply before shaking his head.

“I know you haven't been told, but something you shouldn't do is offer a vampire blood. At the moment I have no syringes, no bags, and no needles, which means I would have to take blood directly from you and I'm not doing that.”

“Does it leave a mark?”

“Without meaning to sound crude, if I lick the wound afterwards, the bite marks will heal.”

“Then I don't see why not.”

“Amelia-”

“Oliver, I'm totally useless in this house.”

“You're already afraid of vampires. I don't want you to be more afraid.”

“You're right, I am afraid of vampires, but I'm not afraid of you.” For a few moments he just stares at me. He doesn't say anything and he doesn't move. Have I perhaps just suggested something that is completely wrong in this world?

“Close your eyes.” He says to me, and I oblige. I can feel him shifting closer to me on the bed. I'm lying sideways, so I assume when he moves his hand across my neck to move my hair out of the way, this is where he's going to do it. I'm trying my best not to tense up. The last thing I want is for it to hurt or to be uncomfortable for him as well. As he finishes moving the hair away from my neck, I can feel his hand trail down my arm and around my waist to pull me into him swiftly. But I don't feel his face on my neck. Instead, I feel the heat from his lips touch mine. He uses my startled gasp as an easy way to gain entrance, and I let him. Is he doing this for himself? To prove that he can handle it? As his free arm leaves my waist and goes up my back, he pulls me in closer to him.

His skin is hot to the touch but I’m enjoying his taste so much. The kiss is desperate and needing, as I feel his tongue explore the inside of my mouth. Pulling my arms out from between us, I wrap them around his neck, but he doesn’t break apart. This time, it’s different. This time, he really wants it. I’m feeling light-headed, like I’m forgetting to breathe. He pushes a knee between mine, splitting my legs and giving him the opportunity to spin me above him before rolling back on top of me with my legs spread either side of him. I let out a stifled yelp, but it just seems to rile him up more.

Suddenly he pulls away from me, leaning up on his hands. I take my hands away from his neck. Was it too much for him? “Sorry.” He says to me, puffing and trying to catch his breath. “I…shouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation like that.” Although he is strong, if I wanted to resist, I certainly could have tried. But it seems to me like he only stopped for my benefit. Maybe he doesn’t know I want him to keep going?

“So you’re feeling okay right now?”

“If you’re asking if I have the sudden urge to do something violent, no. I’m fine.”

---