Page 16 of Shut Up and Bite Me

“Does it feel differently that way?”

She nods. “For an unwilling human, the pain can be excruciating and never-ending during the feeding. The rejection triggers a venom in our fangs to release into their blood, and that’s what hurts them and paralyzes them in place. But it’s against our rules to feed on anyone who doesn’t want it.”

I’ll make sure that when that time comes, I am thinking only positive thoughts because I definitely don’t want to fucking find out what her venom feels like.

I chuckle. “Vampires have rules?

She rolls her eyes. “There’s a lot you don’t know about my world, Greyson. Look, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. But I want to go home first. Get you settled in, and then you can ask me anything.”

“Your home?” I ask.

I didn’t realize that this arrangement included staying with “my chosen.” Although the idea of being in close proximity to Vivian doesn’t sound like too bad of a requirement.

“You will have to live with me for the next two weeks. It’s part of the agreement.” She opens her mouth again like she has something else to say, but her lips close instead before she adds, “If you’re not comfortable with all of this, you can leave. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

This is insane and the craziest thing I’ve ever done. But I’ve also never felt moreright. Like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Grabbing her hips, I slide her up until she’s positioned against my growing hard-on. I can’t help it. The way she feels on top of me…I want her to stay there forever. “Oh, I’m all in. We just have to stop at my apartment first so I can grab some clothes and stuff.”

I blink and she’s gone, like she teleported across the room. She’s now leaning against the wall casually, like she’s been waiting on me.

“Are you coming or what?” she asks, biting down on her bottom lip, smiling.

Standing up, I stalk over to her and slide my hand in hers. “One thousand percent.”

Opening the door, I let her lead the way as we step through the threshold, and I realize that she was right—my world will never be the same.

He didn’t run screaming. He didn’t try to attack me or drive a stake through my heart. Those are all very positive outcomes from the conversation we just had. It honestly couldn’t have gone better, in my opinion.

You might think that immortality would make you more patient, but that is not the case for me.

Greyson has been in his apartment for ten minutes, and it’s taking more willpower than I’d like to admit to not go in there after him. But maybe that’s my selfishness. I want him in my home, at my whim. Maybe it just has to do with the fact that I’m hungry, starving really, and desperate to taste him. But also that I know he will be safe inside my home, where no other vampire would dare to enter without my permission.

Closing my eyes, I focus my listening behind his apartment door, my curiosity getting the better of me.

I recognize Greyson’s voice immediately. “Steven, I don’t have time for your bullshit right now, dude. I need to get going.Eat whatever the fuck you want of my food, although it’s not like you’ve ever asked before. Just please, for the love of god, stay out of my room. It’s the only part of this place I care about. Or just go to bed already. It’s like 2:00 a.m. right now.”

His roommate, Steven, laughs, and based on where his voice is coming from, he’s in really close proximity to Greyson. “I’ll do my best. Where are you going anyways? Did little Greyson finally get a girlfriend?”

“First of all, nothing about me is little. Secondly, I may have allowed you to walk all over me before, but that’s done. Thirdly, it’s none of your fucking business. Get out of my way.”

“Yeah? Who is she? Is she waiting outside for you? I’dloveto meet her,” he says with disgusting emphasis.

I take this as my cue.

Moving with hyperspeed, I rush into their apartment, race across the room, and stop directly behind his roommate as I lean up on my toes, placing my hands on his shoulders.

“She’s right here,” I whisper into his ear.

He jumps out of his skin and whips around. “Holy shit! When the fuck did you get in here?” He takes a few calming breaths before looking down the length of my body as a gross smirk lifts his dry, cracked lips. “You’reGreyson’s girlfriend, huh? Don’t waste your time on him, baby. Take a ride on me instead.”

Holding his stare, I decide instead of that offer, I’ll make one of my own.

I feel the power stretching from deep within my core, out from my body and straight into his, wrapping around his mind and sinking into every cell like a chokehold he won’t be able to shake loose.

My words are now his command. “Close your mouth and sit on the couch. Five minutes after we leave, you may return to your normal self.”

He nods once, blinks hard, and turns, walking toward the couch without a word.

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