Page 39 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

Confused, I started to fly closer but thought better of it. “But I thought you said—”

“I did, and I meant what I said earlier. Lust and blood are too tightly bound to be unwound easily. I’m afraid they are a package deal. I’ve had relationships before, and it hasn’t been an issue. I’ve always had enough control that my partners were safe. But you are something . . . different.” Lucroy cracked his neck, twisting his head before settling. “It is difficult to explain because I have never experienced anything like this before. I have no desire to harm you, Peaches. If I did, I doubt either of us would survive the outcome.”

“You mean because I’m part of Sedrick’s pack?” If Lucroy hurt me, I had little doubt what Sedrick’s response would be.

“No, although I imagine Alpha Voss would attempt to rip me to shreds. He would not get the opportunity. Should I irreparably injure you, I would walk into the sun.”

I gasped, and my body fell to the floor like a stone. My legs jolted from the impact, and I ran to Lucroy. “No. Don’t say that. If something happened, I couldn’t stand the thought of you—”

“Hush.” Lucroy cupped my chin, brushing away the tears I hadn’t realized had fallen. “We will do all we can to avoid the possibility.”

I nodded, burying my forehead against Lucroy’s chest. “What do we do?”

“We take it slow and proceed as safely as possible.” Lucroy sounded so sure. His voice was calm, cool, and infinitely soothing.

“You have a plan?”

“My dear Peaches, I always have a plan.”

ChapterSeventeen

LUCROY

I’d woken this evening fully aware of what would happen tonight, or more to the point, what I hoped would happen. My den was immaculate. I’d made certain last night that my home was pristine before the sun’s appearance had forced me to bed. I was meticulously neat by nature. I’d been so in my first life, and my vampiric change had only accentuated that trait.

Peaches was on his way. He’d be in my home, my safe haven, soon. It was no small thing for a vampire to invite another into their sanctuary. I could count on one hand those I trusted inside my private space, two of which had passed long ago.

Last night, Leon and I’d endlessly discussed the sanity of my decision. It had taken time to convince him. In the end, the fact that I doubted my sanity if I didn’t pursue this path convinced him, or at the very least, silenced his protests. Leon was in favor of my pursuit of Peaches, but what I didn’t think he realized was what I truly intended, what I thought this would lead to.

I’d been slightly untruthful with Peaches last night. Although challenging and not nearly as satisfying, it was possible for a vampire to pursue an intimate relationship with another without blood being involved. I was old enough and had enough control that I’d managed it before. What I hadn’t lied about was my concern that I wouldn’t have that kind of control with Peaches.

But that wasn’t the only reason being able to tolerate his blood was important. I was honest when I said I’d never experienced this level of desire before, this intense want. I’d found others attractive and slackened my lust with them, but I’d never felt this level of need. I didn’t simply want to fuck Peaches. I wanted more.

I wanted to wander his orchard with him. I wanted to sit in the dark, holding him close. I wanted to hear his worries, soothe his concerns, and help fix his problems. I wanted Peaches to be happy, and I wanted the source of that happiness to be me. I wanted Peaches’s face to light up when he saw me. I wanted him to feel safe when wrapped in my arms. I wanted—

And that, right there, was the problem.I wanted.It had been so long since I’d desired anything or anyone with this level of intensity.

Beloveds were more myth than reality, but some vampires claimed to have found them. And those who did swear they could drink from no other when they found the one they would be with until the end of their days. I couldn’t be certain, but the more time I spent with Peaches, the more I envisioned this as our fate. If his blood was as toxic as vampire lore claimed, I needed to run as far away as possible or walk into the sun. Neither option held the slightest bit of appeal.

I checked the time. Leon sent Bree to pick up Peaches. Leon trusted Bree. I did as well. She was a little over two hundred and had petitioned to belong to my nest after starting her second life in a volatile, abusive nest. I’d taken her in, and Leon had helped rehabilitate her. Bree was loyal to me and worshipped Leon. She’d get Peaches here safely or die trying.

“Lucroy, Peaches is here. Open the door.” Leon’s voice came over the intercom, and I immediately typed in the code to open the steel double doors protecting my underground home.

One set of footfalls sounded. Golden pixie dust filtered through the open space of the stairwell, announcing Leon’s and Peaches’s arrival. Peaches’s feet were covered in his lavender pixie boots, the same lavender shawl wrapped around his shoulders. Hair flowed over his shoulders and down his back, and Peaches wore a hesitant smile.

“Lucroy,” Peaches softly greeted.

He didn’t move toward me. His head swiveled around the room, gaze taking in everything. My home wasn’t much larger than Peaches’s cottage. It was, however, darker. While Peaches’s cottage was cozy and rustic, my home was sleek and modern.

“How was your drive in tonight?” I asked Peaches, ignoring Leon for now.

“It was good. Bree was very nice.”

I glanced at Leon, hoping for more.

“Bree said everything went fine, no problems at all,” Leon assured me. Now that I had a better inkling of what Peaches meant to me, I’d grown increasingly concerned about his safety. I didn’t want him taking a rideshare any longer. I’d already begun making a mental list of those I trusted, both day and night, that could be available to take Peaches where he needed to go. I’d buy him his own car if I thought he’d accept the gift. And if he knew how to drive, which he didn’t. I’d heard Phil had recently gotten his driver’s license. Perhaps he could encourage Peaches to do the same.

“You have a very nice home, Lucroy,” Peaches offered. His tone indicated he wasn’t lying, but there was hesitancy.

---