Page 26 of Reaper's Revenge
She shakes her head. “No, nothing. Whenever I asked, she always said he was a soldier passing through, and after their short romance, she never saw him again.”
I nod. Exactly as we’d thought. I hate to be the one to tell her this, but I’ve held back enough as it is. “Bones and I think he is a vampire.”
“A vampire? But why?”
“Because you aren’t just another turned vampire. You see, for you to go through the change without drinking any blood, and only from a small scratch with maybe a drop of venom, you’d have to be a half-blood.”
“What’s a half-blood?”
“Exactly as it sounds, you have one vampire parent, your father. My drop of venom never should’ve fazed you, or altered your body in any way, but it immediately set off the change. Not only that, but when a vampire turns, they’re in a lot of pain for many days as the venom fights everything inside of them. You showed up here looking like a vamp who’d gone through the change years back, not merely a day or two.”
I lead her into the bedroom, continuing, “Not only that, but you are unnaturally strong. You were able to fight and hold off Veronica, a sire who has been around more years than any of us in the club. The only way you’d be able to do that is if you were born a half-blood.”
“So, now I’m a vampire. Forever?”
I nod. Pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Yes, darling. Forever.”
“Where does that leave us?” She finally works up the nerve to ask, but I could sense she’s been thinking about it from the moment we’d stepped into the shower. I should’ve addressed it sooner, but she needed to know just how sorry I truly am for stealing her choice from her on becoming a vampire. I would never hurt her in any way, especially turning her against her will.
“You are mine, Athena. I could feel it in the marrow of my bones from the first time I laid my eyes on you that you were meant to be mine. I guess the real question is, how does that make you feel? Do you feel anything for me?” I can sense her emotions just as I do with my brothers, only hers are so much stronger. I’m guessing it's because she’s my mate, and our souls are now tethered for eternity.
“Of course, I feel something for you. I feel too much, Reaper. I don’t know how to explain it, and the sensation inside me only seems to have gotten stronger over the past few days.”
“It’s the change.”
She nods. “I like knowing I’m yours and you’re mine. It brings a sense of peace inside me, in an unstable time otherwise. As for turning me, you keep apologizing as if you had a say in the matter.”
“I did. I took away your choice. It was my fang that initiated the change.”
“You’re wrong. Weren’t you listening to yourself when you explained that my father was a vampire? That I was already born a half-blood?”
“Of course, but…”
“No butts. I was obviously meant to be this way. To be a vampire.”
“You had the gene. It was carried over from your father, but it was my venom that made you change.” I try to make her understand how serious this is for me, how it breaks my heart to do this to her.
“Exactly. I already had the gene for my entire life. Honestly? I’m glad it was your venom that made me come into my full potential, and not someone else. It feels wrong somehow, like their venom wouldn’t be right for me. Does that make sense?”
I nod. “Yes, more than you know. There’s a reason for it. We’re not just compatible, we’remates. Fated to be together, my soul is tethered to yours for the rest of our lives.”
“Mates?” She whispers, her eyes growing wide as she takes in the severity of the term. “What does that mean?”
“The world chose our two souls to be a perfect match. I will never love another like I love you.”
“Already,” she breathes the word nearly silent, but I still hear it with my heightened senses. “Y-you love me already, and you’re not just saying it. I can feel it in my heart, like an explosion of warmth, making me feel worshipped. It’s the only way I can explain the sensation.”
I nod. “Yes, that is my love pouring through our bond.”
“I love you, Reaper, so much. Thank you for being the one to turn me. It’s an honor to have shared that with you. Knowing my mate is the one to change me meanseverything. I’d have wanted you to turn me anyway, once I found out about you. I only ever want to be by your side.”
“Christ, Athena,” I mutter, my gut twisted up with emotion for her. How did she know those were the words I needed to hear to finally forgive myself? “Please tell me I can make love to you? I’ve thought of it every night since I first tasted your pussy. I want to feel you wrapped around me in every way.”
“Yes, please, Reaper. I need you; my body craves your touch all over,” she sighs, shifting from the edge of my bed until she’s lying in the middle of it, naked and waiting for me to taste her.
Her body is a feast for my eyes, as I drop my towel and take in her nakedness. She’s stunning, all pale flesh and curves. Vampirism suits her in many ways, making my mouth water with the thought of finally biting her. With my towel gone, I kneel on the bed and then crawl toward the middle, moving between her spread thighs like a man parched, finally about to gorge myself on a stream full of sustenance.
The scent of her sweet, enticing arousal fills my nostrils, making my fangs ache with need as I stare at the wet slit between her pussy lips. “I’m going to taste every delicious inch of you,” I promise, my voice gravelly, laced with desire.
