Page 111 of Vampires of Eden
How much does he like me?
As I lie here with the fire of my nature pushing against my chest and groin, I wish with my whole heart that he’d kiss me. I know he has issues with purebreds that he’s working through, butto feel him a little closer right now… For him to accept me that way…
I wouldn’t ask for anything else in life.
Just this one moment.
Just one kiss.
“Why is it,” he begins slowly, “that you’re only bold toward me when you’re not in your right mind?”
The rosy, wishful haze in my head clears a bit as I blink, confused. It’s so quiet and his eyes are intense. I feel as if I’m swimming in them. Like floating in a sea of twilight clouds.
“What?” I ask.
“You only say and do bold things when you’re inebriated, somehow. You licked me when you were delirious and half starved. Now this. Why?”
The silliness swells in my chest and I chuckle. “Because I don’t have the courage to say or do these things when I’m in my right mind.”
Another pause. But this time, Daniel frowns. Before I can blink, he sits up and there’s a sharp flick of pain against my forehead.
“Ahhh—thefuck?” I squeal, bringing both of my palms to the sore spot between my brows. I rub, nursing the skin there as my eyes water. After a moment, my curiosity wins out and I open one eye since they’ve stopped glowing.
Daniel stares at me, but his expression is forgiving. “Find the courage.”
He takes hold of my wrist to pull one palm from my forehead, then lifts, leans and kisses the spot where he wounded me. The softness of his lips to my skin nearly sets my eyes ablaze once more.
When he hovers over me again, we’re practically nose-to-nose. “Good night,” he whispers.
I can barely breathe the words because hope and yearning are lodged in my throat. “Good night…”
Daniel pauses, as if considering, then thinks better of it andstands straight. He leaves my room and closes the door behind him.
Alone, I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling and swallowing my emotions. Something fragile within me wants to crumble, but I shut my eyes tightly and fight it off.
“Find the courage,” I tell myself, repeating the phrase over and over until I pass out and my dreams are filled with vivid and familiar images. Scenes I’ve witnessed once before—a long, long time ago. Like déjà vu.
A full moon reflected in black water and shining through billowing curtains. Slow passing clouds in an indigo autumn sky. Dark green shadows all around.
A feisty, intelligent and melodic man with eyes like pools of lilac fog stands before me and my nature whispers softly but insistently. Resolute.
We want him.
Westillwant him.
CHAPTER 25
Daniel
I’m so proud of myself.
That golden vampire man told me that I reminded him of a nocturne. That my essence was, quote, “Rhapsody on a moonlit night.”
Goddamn.
But I stood my ground, didn’t I? Because even though his speech was unquestionably the most romantic and poetic thing that anyone has ever said to me, I know I deserve even more than that. I want him to say those things to me when he’s lucid. Not whispering sweet nothings or licking me when he’s high. Refusing to face me and this undeniable pull between us when he’s sober.
I’ve already played the part of someone’s shameful secret once and I’m not doing it again. At his core, truly, I believe that Alexander is the opposite of Josefina. This situationfeelscompletely different. Even still, I have to stand up for myself, because if I don’t no one else will. I learned that the hard way.
