Page 30 of I Dated a Golden Vampire
“No.”
“You mentioned you could work from anywhere.”
“True, but in your mind, I am waiting for you to have time to spend with me.No friends.Just you and a computer.”
He huffed.“How do you know that?”
“You have that look about you.You want me to be a very expensive pet.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to be not alone.Regular visits with friends.I want friends.I haven’t been allowed to be just a person with a normal village around me.”
“I would be your village.”He stroked her back.
“And when you are gone, what then?I have seen at least four of your collection, and I don’t want to be the best bitch in the pack.”She said it calmly.
He stilled.“I see.I need them for blood.”
“Do you?Were you hungry or just eager to get to me?You took less than an ounce.”
He paused.“It is the habit of decades.”
“I am trying this new thing called self-respect.”She looked at him.“When it comes to my future, it is all about me.”
“I can provide for you.”
“I gather that.I am stupidly wealthy.I have invested wisely across the last decade or so.”
“How much do you consider stupidly wealthy?”
“Mid-nine figures.”
He grinned.“Really?No wonder you didn’t get excited at the casino.”
She shrugged, and he rolled.She put her head on his chest.“I always thought vampires were cold.”
“Myth and legend.Vampire is a class of drinkers only.You are right, though, I wanted you, not your blood.I wasn’t hungry at all.”
“If I left you with blood bags, you would have food for a year.Then the ladies could cuddle up to you without fear.”She grimaced.“Did not mean for that to rhyme.”
“You would just give me up?”
She leaned back and frowned.“I don’t have you.You are you, and I am me.I got an invitation to the casino, thought it was funny, and stupidly told you what I am.If I hadn’t said it, you wouldn’t have known, and I would have trotted back to the boat without you knowing anything.But I don’t get out much, and I was really uncomfortable dealing with an adult male active who was fondling two pets that I ran off at the mouth, and I just did it again.”
He nodded slowly.“So, you...”
“Have an enhanced sense of smell.Yes.The entire area reeked of sex, and I don’t like being in places like that.”She poked him in the chest.“And that is your place where you work and do whatever, so you can go right back there.”
He frowned and looked like he was getting mad at her.She felt her heart speeding up and tried to move away from him.He held her, and she breathed fast.The door slammed open, and water wrapped around them, pushing him away and pulling Cabree toward the door.
Cabree was being held and hugged by a column of water.Pria walked up to the naked and angry Denog.“Stop.Scaring.Her.She was assaulted by an active, or hadn’t you picked up on that?”
Denog froze, and Cabree bit her lip.They hadn’t discussed it, but Pria had gotten some hints.She was obviously intuitive, and Cabree felt like an idiot.She didn’t talk about it.Even Zera only had the broad strokes.
Cabree whispered, “I didn’t tell you that.”
Pria sighed.“I have seen the look in your eyes before, but the female attacked was a physical active, so she got away.I can tell you didn’t.”She looked at Denog.“Calm now?”
