Page 12 of Another Curvy Girl and Grumpy Vamp

He doesn’t seem to care. “You should have one,” he insists. “I’ll buy it.”

I wave him off, but he steps up to the counter anyway, ordering the float for me. I protest again, but he just shrugs. “I haven’t enjoyed food in… longer than I can remember,” he confesses, his voice quiet. “It’s one of the things I’ve lost over time. Along with the ability to enjoy blood—I need it to survive and there are a lot of options but…” His eyes flicker with something darker, something ancient. “The vaccine took even that away. That’s the price we paid for eternal sunshine.”

I take the float from him, stirring the straw in the frothy root beer, more focused on what he just said than the treat in my hand. “So, you don’t… you know… drink anymore?”

He shakes his head. “No. Not unless it’s given freely. But the vaccine has dulled even that desire.”

“That’s a lot to give up.”

He nods, a shadow crossing his face. “They say if you find your One, it comes back—the hunger, the pleasure of food, the taste of blood. But… I’ve never found her. I’ve stopped looking.”

My heart twists unexpectedly at his words. “You don’t believe you’ll ever find her?”

He gives me a small, humorless smile. “Like I said, there’s always a price to pay for everything.”

I sip my float, unsure how to respond to that. So, I just let it sit. Maybe I’m not the only one who understands what it means to sacrifice, to give up things for a future that may or may not ever come. “I get it,” I say softly. “About paying a price. My dad… he’s a quarter werewolf. Not enough to transform or anything, but enough to make him possessive as hell. Especially when it comes to my mom.” Baden listens intently, his eyes never leaving mine. I can feel the curiosity there, but he doesn’t push. He just waits for me to continue. “He treats me like an extension of her sometimes,” I admit. “Like… I’m just another way to keep her close. It’s taken me years to figure out that he loves me too, but in his own way. It’s just… it’s suffocating sometimes, you know?”

Baden’s lips press into a thin line, his brow furrowing. “How does he deal with your job, then? The ride-share thing?” I give a half-hearted laugh. “He doesn’t know. He thinks I’m a dispatcher for Pick Ups. It was easier that way, for everyone. My mom suggested it—she knows how hard it is for him.”

“And what do you think will happen when you find a mate?” Baden asks, suspiciously flat.

I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “I don’t plan on finding one. Mates make you crazy. Look at my dad. I don’t want that. I don’t want someone who’s with me because biology or magic makes them stay. I’d rather be with someone who chooses to stay, even if it means they could leave.”

Baden’s eyes darken, his gaze searching mine. “Even if that someone could be unfaithful?”

I meet his gaze head-on, standing firm. “Yes. I’d rather live with that possibility than be with someone who’s only faithful because they’re forced to be.”

There’s a long pause, the weight of my words hanging between us like a thick fog. But then, Baden straightens, his eyes glinting with something sharper, more playful. “Speaking of being forcedto do something,” he says, his voice lighter now. “One last round?”

I grin, grateful for the shift in tone. “Sure. But this time, you get to pick.”

His smirk returns as he gestures toward the shooting gallery. “Something a little more familiar." Flashing lights and electronic noises fade into the background as we approach the shooting gallery. There’s a certain thrill that wafts between us now, something more tangible. Baden picks up the rifle with the ease of someone who’s done this before. My eyes eat up the way his muscles move, the precision in his grip. It's not hot. Not at all.

“You’re in trouble now,” I say with a teasing grin, but there’s a part of me that knows I’m the one who’s in trouble. The game begins, and within seconds, Baden’s firing with deadly accuracy. Each target drops without hesitation, and I barely manage to keep up. He’s in his element and damn it if that isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. “Not bad,” I admit, aiming for a target. But before I can take the shot, he steps in closer, his body pressing lightly against mine. His hands move to adjust my grip, and I freeze, the heat of his breath ghosting over my neck as he leans in.

“You’re holding it wrong,” he murmurs, his voice a low sends shivers down my spine.

“I know how to shoot,” I manage to say, but my voice comes out breathless.

“Not like this,” he whispers, his lips brushing the sensitive skin just below my ear.

The next shot rings out, hitting dead center, but I barely register it. All I can focus on is the feel of his hands on mine, the warmth of his breath, the way his chest presses against my back. And then, without warning, he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my neck, inhaling deeply as his lips linger against my skin. My pulse explodes, and for a split second, I wonder ifhe’s going to bite me. But instead, he whispers, “You don’t have to worry. A bite doesn’t have to draw blood. Sometimes… it’s just for pleasure.” My breath hitches, and I feel the temp between us spike to a dangerous level. “For fun,” he adds, his voice like velvet.

The game’s lights flash around us, but all I can focus on is him—his voice, his touch, his temptation. The tension between us buzzes in the air, as sharp and electric as the arcade lights flashing around us. My pulse is still reeling from the pressure of his lips against my neck, his words lingering like a dark promise. For a moment, I don’t trust myself to move, to breathe. But I manage to pull away—break this spell he’s weaving. I force a laugh, stepping out of his reach and giving him a playful shove. “I think I’ve had enough of ‘fun’ for one night,” I say, trying to keep my tone light, even though everything inside me is still spinning.

Baden watches me with those piercing silver eyes, his expression unreadable. “As you wish.”

I grab my bag and head toward the door, my heart thumping as I try to shake off the lingering heat. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at your car,” I call over my shoulder, not waiting to see if he’s following. The night air hits me like a slap in the face when we step outside. The cool breeze does little to calm the inferno swirling inside me, but I need space—physical space between us. Baden falls into step beside me, silent as we make our way back to the parking lot. I lead him to his car, and for a second, I expect him to say something. Maybe a thank you, maybe a parting remark about the night. But he just stares at me, his expression darker than it’s been all evening.

“Goodnight,” I mumble, already turning back to my car before he can respond. I pull out of the parking lot, my mind racing, trying to make sense of the feelings that are churning inside me. I head towards the one place that still makes sense—my campus.The library is stays open late and I maybe able to get some work done. But just as I turn onto the road, I glance in my rearview mirror and see it.

His car.

Following me.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my heart thudding. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe he’s going the same way. But when I pull into my school’s library parking lot and park, he’s still behind me. The headlights of his Bugatti flash as he pulls into the spot beside mine, and my blood runs cold. Nope. This is not happening. I slam my car door shut and march over to his before he can even get out. My hands are shaking, but my voice comes out stronger than I feel. “What the hell are you doing? Are you following me?”

Baden steps out of the car, his movements slow, deliberate. His eyes lock onto mine, and there’s something primal in them, something that sends a shiver down my spine. “Yes.”

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