Page 10 of The Virgin and the Vampire

Kade is almost too gentle with me, touching me plenty, but with the delicate finesse required by a fragile doll, not a healthy twenty-one-year-old. I must say this year has gotten off with a bang. And he hasn’t fucked or bitten me again either, telling me, “You need to build up your strength. We’ll do both again mid-week, I promise.”

Ha! I fume to myself as I head into the first of the labs I’m supervising as part of my grad school work study. The whispers start as soon as the first girl catches sight of the diamonds. In the end I gave up on hiding them. I’m one of those people constantly pushing her sleeves up to her elbows so to suddenly show up dressed like a nun would invite just as many questions.

The amount of side eye I’m receiving makes my own face ache in sympathy. I make it clear with my steely gaze that any questions had better be concerning the assignment.

Then, to top it off, my sister has the nerve to invite herself over for dinner. She said that since Kade obviously won’t be joining me, she’ll keep me company and then take the opportunity to make sure I’m safe and looked after.

“Carina! I’m now old enough to drink legally and unattended. You do not need to come over here!”

“I’ll be there at six, sweetie,” she replies like she didn’t hear a word I said. Knowing Carina, she probably didn’t.

I get back to Kade’s house from my classes at 4:30. I must say my day is more efficient, living so much closer to the college. But I’m still swearing to myself as I rummage in the refrigerator for something that will convince Carina I’m not going to starve living with a vampire.

Kade wanders in around five and gives me a quick kiss.

“You know, I never did ask what you do with all your time when you’re not biting people. Clearly it’s lucrative…” I cast my gaze around the well-appointed kitchen which he never, ever uses.

“The money comes from four hundred years of investments. It’s amazing what compound interest can do in that amount of time. Mostly I assist Etienne with vampire matters at the club, but I’m inclined to become more domestic.” He nuzzles my neck, scraping my skin seductively with one fang.

“Doesn’t Etienne have a girlfriend?”

Kade snorts. “Him? He’s far too cynical. Besides, he’s arrogant enough to insist on only the best. And the best girl is already taken.” He lowers his mouth to mine, but before our lips can touch, he’s startled by Carina.

“Oh, my god. I had no idea you were so cheesy, Kade.”

She waltzes into the kitchen, holding a bottle of champagne aloft. “We might as well celebrate your birthday now, kid. Since my present sort of went sideways.” Her eye roll has Kade glaring, and any lingering jealousy fades into the distance.

Rather than disappearing as I’m sure my sister intended, Kade pulls up a chair between us while we eat.

Carina peppers him with questions, proving how little she knows about him in particular, or vampires in general.

“You are seriously only going to bite Gianna from now on? You aren’t going to visit the club at all?” She sounds beyond skeptical, but Kade nods firmly. “That’s how it’s done, Carina. A thrall isn’t a submissive or a servant. She’s a life mate.”

“You aren’t going to miss the flavors of other women?” Her tone implies Kade had better tread carefully. He winces, but responds quickly. “Do you wish that you had other suns shining down on you?”

He leans down to kiss my forehead. “Thank you for sending me to her.”

Carina grinds her teeth. “Did you tell Mom and Dad yet?” she asks.

I shake my head. “No, I thought we might drive over there in a week or two. It will be easier to explain in person.”

My sister grumbles but gives me a tight hug goodbye when she decides she’s seen enough and grilled Kade sufficiently about taking care of me. It’s kind of funny because she pretty much left me to my own devices when I moved out of the college dorms when I graduated at eighteen. Maybe because there wasn’t a man involved then…

The next night I convince Kade to feed from me properly. Naturally, he insists on fucking me first and who am I to contradict him? My body lights up in recognition when his hand slides between my legs. I’m more tired than usual the following morning, so I take heed of his advice to eat more than I wouldnormally. I can see that being the primary source of nutrition for a vamp is more complicated than I’d imagined. Still, I feel fine and like I made the right decision.

I’m no longer a bored bachelor and Etienne appears slightly annoyed by that fact.

“I’ll be here when Gianna is at the college but otherwise consider me on call,” I inform him, pushing up from the chair opposite his desk.

His aristocratic eyebrows gather together over his nose. “The girl seemed sweet, but she can’t be that fascinating a conversationalist.”

I stare at him, letting him know that I won’t be drawn into discussing her in any capacity except her health.

“Fine,” he sighs. Etienne hides it well, but he’s got a protective streak a mile wide. It’s why he started The Sanctuary in the first place.

“Good,” I echo back. “I’ll be back in an hour. I need to pick up Gianna’s new collar.”

“What was wrong with the old one?”

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