Page 8 of Hot Blooded
Longing.
Loneliness.
Desire.
“This is delicious,” she says, swallowing a bite of soup. The delicate working of her neck shouldn’t excite me, but a dull ache forms in the base of my throat. I’m suddenly craving something much different than the food that’s been placed before me.
I have a question about my attraction to Tressa. And that question is—what the fuck?
“Mrs. Potts does wonders in the kitchen,” I manage.
Tressa clears her throat, looking unsure. “And you… eat, I see.”
I chuckle darkly at her naïveté. “Yes, I eat.” The caloric intake from food alone isn’t enough to sustain me, but I do maintain a somewhat regular diet. Truth be told, eating is a bit of a nuisance, but it is one of those things I occasionally force myself to do, if only to please Mrs. Potts.
Food is the last thing on my mind right now.
Unfortunately, the mouthwatering human is not on tonight’s menu.
Pity.
Chapter 5
Tressa
I exhale one long shaky breath. I survive dinner, but only barely. Being in Reign’s presence is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I feel a sharp throb deep within my chest as his eyes lower to my throat. And maybe it’s because of my past, but the confusing emotions that twist and dip like a merry-go-round are more than I can handle.
I retreat to my bedroom, and am pacing the floor when a knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.
“Miss Porter?” It’s Mrs. Potts on the other side of the door. For a moment I imagined it was Reign, and I had no idea what I’d do or say.
I cross the room and pull open the door.
“We need to talk,” she says urgently.
I nod and let her inside. I sit down on the edge of the bed while Mrs. Potts takes a seat on the bench across from me. Her look is one of worry, and deep lines are etched across her forehead.
“Something…unexpectedhas come up, and Reign needed to go out for the evening.”
I have no idea what that means, but I nod again. “Okay.”
“And I wanted to check in on you, see how you were feeling.”
Did she sense that the dinner was an uncomfortable and electrically-charged disaster?
No? Just me?
I could practicallyfeelhis hunger and arousal. It had pulled between us like a primal urge.
All the breath in my lungs leaves in a long sigh, and I rise to my feet to begin pacing again. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure this is going to work. My being here.” Despite what I’ve told Libby about all of this being not a big deal, I sense that I am dead wrong.
Mrs. Potts works her lower lip between her teeth. She looks nervous, worried even.
I gesture to the hallway. “He’s a…” I can’t even say the word. Just like I can’t look directly at him without forgetting how to breathe.
“Yes,” Mrs. Potts murmurs softly. “But he’s really not so bad once you get to know him.”
“B-but,” I sputter. “He’s a real vampire.”
