Page 70 of Bite Me

The wine was overpriced and mediocre, which was just as well because I barely tasted it. My senses were full of Eddie.

I could so easily get used to having him all to myself. I knew I was operating on stolen time, but as long as he was smiling at me, his voice bright and eyes shining, I was happy.

The happiest I’d ever been in my life.

They’d given us a corner table on the glazed-in patio. The sun had set, and the sky had turned purple. After a full day in the daylight, I could put away my sunglasses and let my eyes rest. And I could look at Eddie without feeling like my brain was on fire—but that hadn’t been just the sunlight. I needed to keep him close, and knowing I had one more day with him, I could let some of the tension go.

Eddie drank his wine, the plate in front of him empty. He’d all but inhaled the food. His cheeks were pink, and his eyelids heavy. After the blood loss and orgasms, even one glass could affect him, but I would keep an eye on him.

He glanced at me from beneath his eyelashes. “Can I ask something personal?”

“Sure.”

He hesitated, took a sip, and shifted in his chair. “Ideally, you must feed twice a month during adulthood, right?”

“It’s a minimum for most vampires, but many feed more often.”

“That means two people a month.”

“Yes.”

He nodded to himself, looking outside at the boardwalk and the darkening beach. I understood where his questions were headed and wouldn’t torture him by forcing him to spell them all out. He deserved to know.

“You’re asking about my sexual history?”

“Um, you don’t have to…”

“I’ve had sex with several hundred humans, and most of them were men or nonbinary people. I had a few relationships with people over the years, meaning I had a stable partner for sex and feeding during some periods of time. Only twice did the relationship last longer than a year. The latest was with Rory, a man I met at a dinner club downtown. He was witty and quick, and we laughed together a lot. I enjoyed spending time with him. I don’t think we were in love, but I wanted to be. It turned out he was in love with the venom, not me.” I added a smile, doing my best not to seem bitter.

Eddie studied me with a frown. “How long were you together?”

“Four years, give or take.”

“And this was…?”

“I haven’t seen him in three.”

“Oh.”

I could now recognize all of Eddie’s nervous signs: the fidgeting, the smoothing and crinkling of the space between his eyebrows, the tightening of his mouth, and his fingers dancing along the stem of his glass. Was there more he wanted to know but was afraid to bring up? He’d gone quiet, seemingly deep in thought.

“What about you?” I asked. “Any exes I should worry about?”

Eddie snorted out a short laugh. “No. My relationship history is unimpressive. One guy in the last year of high school. I’d just turned eighteen. He was older, and I think he had a bit of a virgin kink. It didn’t last long, but he treated me fine and helped my self-esteem. He… taught me stuff.”

I’d better not imagine things related to an eighteen-year-old, virginal Eddie and an older man.

Eddie finished his wine and set the glass aside. “My college boyfriend broke up with me when Mom got arrested. He told me he couldn’t afford to be associated with my family.”

I winced. “I’m sorry, Eddie.”

“At least he was honest about being a selfish jerk. I didn’t date after that. I had too much going on.”

“I can only imagine. Your entire world changed.”

But Eddie shook his head. “In hindsight, I’m kind of grateful for the experience. I have thought many times about who I would have been, had I remained in that bubble. I can get angry about what happened, and sometimes I still do, especially when Mom pulls one of her guilt trips. But I’m doing well now, and I’m proud of myself for finishing school and finding my way on my own merit.”

“You have every right to be proud of what you’ve accomplished. You’re brilliant.”

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