Page 24 of Midnight & Memories

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but let’s get out of here and go to my place so we can talk. I have questions, and I don’t think I should ask them here.”

“Certainly.” He said as he reached for his coat. “Let me drive you.”

“I can drive myself,” Poppy said as she wobbled off her barstool.

“Looks like that shot and the beer hit you already. Please let me take you home.”

“God, this is embarrassing!”

He placed his hands on both of her shoulders.

“Don’t think of it that way. It’s not every day you find out that your lover is a—how did you put it? Oh, yes! A bloodsucker—that was it.” He said with a wry smile.

They were quickly back at her place. Poppy went to the fridge and got out a bottle of wine.

“I could use another drink with my burger. Would you like a glass, too?”

“Sure.”

Poppy opened the bottle and filled two long-stemmed wine goblets with a cabernet.

“What’s it like? To have to drink blood, I mean?” She asked as she handed him the first glass she poured.

“It’s a lot like drinking a glass of red wine. Each person, just like each bottle, is different. Some have sweet notes, and others are dry.”

“Do you have to kill in order to feed?”

“No. That’s a myth that Hollywood likes to continue to spin. The fact is, I can drink from someone, and they’d never know it. Sure, there have been the occasional rogues that kill someone from taking too much. But most vampires that have gone that route only kill murderers and pedophiles. However, most of us never cross that fine line. We don’t want to expose ourselves to humanity.”

“Oh? So, I guess it doesn’t hurt?”

“Not at all, as you now well know. You may have assumed I’d given you a hickey, but I was actually stealing a taste.”

Ridge’s lips spread into a devilish grin as his eyes glowed. At first, Poppy assumed the candle flame was playing with Ridge’s hooded gaze. But when she looked again, they were turning a reddish-orange color. Poppy took a sip of her wine and placed the glass on the coffee table in front of her. She then closed the distance between her and Ridge and sat next to him. Their knees sent off heated electricity as they touched.

“Drink from me, Ridge.”

Ridge’s eyes widened.

“Poppy, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I—I just told you I’m afraid I might not stop.”

“I don’t believe that. I am positive you can. You’re not a monster, Ridge. Because if you were, you would have sucked me dry the first time you met me.”

“Poppy, it’s not a good idea.”

She leaned into him. Her lips were a breath apart from his.

“I’m not frightened, Ridge. Not in the least. Please?” She asked before her lips crashed onto his.

Chapter Fourteen

RIDGE

Ridge balled his fists in an attempt to squelch his desire to drink from her. Of course, she wasn’t making this easy for him. Her soft lips caressing his cheek and feathering down his neck had all of his senses and urges personified. But the worst urge of all was wanting her blood again. Giving him permission was the last thing he wanted to hear from her. She didn’t realize what she was saying, and he knew it. And because of that, he wouldn’t do it, no matter how much she begged and how hot her lips were against his. He just couldn’t do it.

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