Page 19 of Pucking Vamps

I am so glad our clans are on good terms and she’s my best friend. Having her as a rival would make my life difficult.

“We are very compatible, yes.” That flutter of satisfaction rises in my chest as the words spill out of me.

“Good sex doesn’t mean anything,” she points out.

She is right, of course. To us, sex and blood are like nutrition and air to humans. Necessary to accommodate basic functions, but beyond that, nothing special.

“Then why ask such a pointless question?”

She gives me one of those unreadable looks, her eyes going a little unfocused as they roam my face. She seems to find an answer of some sort, humming in what could be either agreement or mockery. “No particular reason. Just messing with you.”

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t mess with me.”

“Aww, here you go again with the stick up your ass. No wonder you picked that pup to liven up your dull and gloomy sex life.” She shudders, hugging herself. “I can practically feel him vibrating.”

He looks mostly calm sitting there with his lesson on his phone, but I can sense the underlying buzz, too. The energy, the nerves, the adrenaline, the unrest. Whatever is on his mind is a lot more than him processing what he discovered tonight.

It piques my interest. His sense of self-preservation is… strange. It’s there, but it’s not as strong as it should be. Is he not afraid? Just because I said he’ll be safe if he behaves? A thrill crawls down my spine at the thought, concentrating in my core. Yes, that sounds so so nice for some reason. My dick swells, hardening as images of what a good boy he was last night flash in my mind.

“Ok. I get it. Now stop with this,” Annabel pants, her pale cheeks flushed and her eyes glazing over. “Leander, seriously, you’ll give me a no-hands orgasm just from the intensity of your dirty thoughts.”

“Get out of my head, then?” I suggest, glancing to the left as Mariah approaches us.

“It’s not like it’s a switch I can turn off! God, I’m so happy I can just feel thoughts and can’t read or see them yet, or I’d be popping a boner every time I’m around you.”

“You can’t pop a boner,” I point out helpfully, tipping my chin at her female form.

She waves me off. “Semantics.”

“What are you two bickering about?” Mariah cuts in, her signature frown in full force. Despite it though, she’s as beautiful as a star-covered night sky. The glitter across her black skin shimmers in the low candlelight, making her look magical.

“Planning our next trip out. Why? You decided you wanna join and have some fun like normal people do?” Annabel snaps, her bite stronger than usual.

I can’t blame her. She’s had a crush on the Kennington’s heiress since we were in middle school, but Mariah won’t even look her way.

“We are vampires, not people,” Mariah clips, carding her long-clawed fingers through her neat braids. “Leander. I spoke to your aunt the other day. Is it true that you will be picking a suitor at her ball?”

The pleasant hum feeding brought out in me vanishes with the reminder of my very pressing issue. If she knows about it, Auntie must really be set on marrying me off to someone in the very near future.

“I will consider some of the offers,” I say flatly, trying not to glare at her. Her clan sends a query at least once a year, so I am sure her name is on the list of candidates my aunt has picked out. Not that I have even looked at it yet.

She nods and flashes me a mastered smile, pretending she doesn’t notice my indignation. “That is wise. It is about time you started taking things seriously.”

My fists clench on my sides. I want to punch her. I am not impulsive, but she’s extremely adept at getting under your skin. I already had a shitty day dealing with my aunt, and more nagging is the opposite of what I need right now.

She continues though, droning on about vampire duties and clan strength and whatnot. A headache makes my temples throb as I nod and hum in agreement. I’ve had enough of this. I want to be somewhere else. But she’s older and I am younger and, as per vampire hierarchy, I need to be respectful. To uphold the reputation of the Adetu Clan while I fight a war on the inside so I don’t strangle her lean neck. In all honestly, I have no idea what Annabel sees in her.

A terrified shriek hijacks my full attention just as I am about to give into the urge and tell Mariah to fuck off. My focus zeroes in on Hayden immediately, cold shivers engulfing my body. His eyes lock with mine, startled and confused and pleading as Thomas, the one with the gift of shapeshifting, backs him into a corner.

He’s beautiful. The way his presence reaches out to mine. I can catch his scent even from here, the jasmine so unintrusive I wouldn’t have noticed it unless I knew what to look for. Which I do, ever since he walked by me at that bar. The whiff of flowers accompanying that vibrating energy and ambition packed in a big, powerful frame called out to me like a beacon of light in a dark forest.

So gorgeous and perfect.

I still, realization flooding me like a tidal wave. He’s the solution to my annoying problem. This attractive, fiery man that I want to worship again with my mouth and my cock.

Stifling down a smile as something clicks in place in my chest, I brush past Mariah. “Excuse me. It seems I am needed.”

“What’s your name? You are very pretty. I bet you have a huge cock. Can I blow you?” Thomas says, licking his sinful lips as he steps in and sniffs Hayden, whose back hits the stone wall.

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