Page 46 of Hot Blooded
I have no idea where Mrs. Potts has hidden herself away, no doubt far away from the drama of the evening. I always knew she was a smart cookie. Wish I could say the same for myself.
“We need to talk,” Reign says, voice dark.
“I have nothing to say to you.” I turn for the stairs, but I’m stopped suddenly when Reign wraps his hand around my elbow, denying my escape. My heart is in my throat, and I feel weak, overcome with conflicting emotions. I want to leave, to flee what feels like his betrayal, but I also desperately want to stay and hear him say something—anythingthat will make sense of this situation.
“This is how you satisfy your cravings when I’m away?” I hurl the words at him with so much force that he physically reacts, taking a step back and releasing my arm.
I expect a quick retort—for him to make some excuse, maybe tell me that Alastair brought the woman here, or that he’s needed to feed. Instead, he surprises me by hanging his head.
“Tressa,” he begins, calmly, “I didn’t touch that woman.”
“I saw you, Reign,” I remind him. My voice is filled with my anger.
“I drank from her, that’s true,” he concedes.
“Why?” My voice comes out as a weak croak.
His expression looks somewhat puzzled. “Because, I need it to survive. It’s not something I thought would bother you. How do you think I’ve been eating since we met?”
I scoff, my resolve faltering. “I don’t know.” I fold my arms protectively across my chest, not ready to let it go. Yet, a tinge of unease swims inside me. Am I overreacting? I don’t think so… I was hurt by what I saw. I can’t deny my feelings.
"Does it hurt your feelings, when I drink from another human?” A mix of pity and humor dance in his gaze.
“It does, very much,” I admit.
Reign softens, caressing my upper arms by trailing his fingertips over them. “I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know you would return tonight. I’m sorry that you had to see that. Can you forgive me?”
I lift my face to his and meet his eyes. He looks sincere in his apology, but this is not a situation I ever expected to find myself in. I have no idea about the protocol.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “This is all so confusing.”
“Do you want me to only drink from you? That would not be wise, Tressa.”
“I don’t know, Reign. That just felt very intimate.” The dimly lit room… his brother being pleasured right there on the sofa. Alastair is a playboy, and I’m an idiot. But I’m not sure what to think about Reign’s actions right now. And Lena and Alastair? That’s something I’ll have to unpack later.
“I’m sorry that he brought those women here.” He touches my throat with his knuckles, lightly rubbing my skin. Tingles of awareness pulse through me. “I missed you. Please, come talk to me. I want to hear about your trip. How did everything go?”
Against my wishes, I release a slow exhale, and just like that, all my earlier anger dissolves. I missed him too. “It was okay,” I say.
Reign pours me a glass of red wine and draws me a bath in his huge master bathroom, and he starts to draw conversation out of me. The tub can easily fit two or three people. I wonder briefly if Reign ever uses it for that purpose. He fills it with steaming water and lavender bubble bath. It smells wonderful, and coupled with the wine, I’m sure it will have a calming effect on me.
He averts his eyes while I remove my clothes and then sink into the depths of the water, the soapy bubbles nearly reaching my chin.
I stay in the tub for far too long—until the water is barely lukewarm and I’ve drunk two glasses of wine. But what can I say? When the company is good, I’m happy to sit here forever. But I realize it’s late and I’m tired from travelling today. Not to mention the emotional turmoil of dealing with my mother’sestate and then coming home to find Alastair indisposed and Reign partaking in a blood ritual I’d been foolish enough to not realize he obviously does with other people.
I let out a long yawn.
“You’re tired,” he says simply. “Come.” He holds out a large fluffy towel and I stand, allowing him to wrap me up like a child.
And as he dresses me in sleep clothes and tucks me into bed, I realize how thankful I am that I have him to come home to, even if tonight has been a bit rocky.
Chapter 25
Reign
I take Tressa to dinner at the town’s nicest steakhouse. I figure I have some making up to do for my behavior while she was away. Although to be fair, I have to drink from someone, and I’m not sure it can be her. When it comes to Tressa, I don’t know that I can stop when she hits her limit.
Although her anger is appealing, will she really want to be my sole source for blood? I’ve heard of such arrangements, I believe she may be able to meet my needs. But I’m not sure it’s wise. I’ve crossed so many boundaries with her. She’s my employee after all, and now I’m trying to woo her with dates. Setting her up as my blood source? The thought is appealing and stressful in equal measure.
