Page 123 of Blood and Bonbons

My pulse skipped even as I took a step back.

“Please, Everly. Allow me to care for you,” he said. “I will never harm you. I only want to help.”

His smooth tone wrapped around me, encouraging me to agree. I wasn’t sure if I could trust that urge, though, and glanced at Vena.

She was giving Cross the same oh-shit look I had been. Her gaze met mine, but after a brief hesitation, she nodded.

When I looked at him again, his eyes were the same–black surrounded by an intense network of slightly pulsating veins. He should have scared me. I should have wanted to run, but something about Cross made me believe that he only wanted to help.

Now and always.

“Are you using mind control on me?” I asked.

“I will never use mind control on you. You have my word.”

“Ev, you’re bleeding a lot,” Vena said softly.

“I can make it stop,” he said. “Please. Trust me.”

When I nodded, he gently took my hand and lifted it away. The veins around his eyes pulsed a little faster as he brought my arm to his mouth. The feel of his lips on my skin sent a jolt of awareness through me. As did the gentle suction over my wound.

“Are you feeding?” Vena demanded, hurrying around the counter. “You said you’d help.”

He tore his mouth from my skin and turned his head toward her. I couldn’t see his expression, but whatever Vena saw had her stopping in her tracks with wide eyes.

His mouth returned to my skin, and I felt that gentle suction again.

What had he said about feedings? That donors often found it euphoric? I could see why. His fingers caressed my skin as he gently held my arm. Add to that the way his head was bent near mine, it felt like a lover's embrace. I lifted my other hand to run my fingers through his hair until I saw the blood on them.

Another whimper escaped me, but the feel of his tongue swiping over my cut distracted me. It stung the first time, but each stroke after hurt a little less until it felt like he was only licking my skin.

When he finished, he took my hand and licked the blood from that too.

I watched the black slowly fade from his eyes as he collected every last drop. My skin tingled once he finally released me, and I finally understood why feeders didn’t run away from their vampires. The experience was seductive, and having Cross’ singular attention made me crave more. What would it feel like to be fully possessed by him? To allow him to feed from me, knowing I would be marked as his forever?

A shaky exhale escaped me.

“Did you feed from me?” I asked, knowing I was heading down a complicated path.

“I only took enough to be able to heal you,” he said.

“Okay,” I managed. “Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Does that mean I can move now?” Vena asked angrily.

Cross turned toward her, and she immediately marched over to him and hit him in the face. Not some girly slap but a wicked punch years of training had honed. Cross moved from the force of the blow, but there wasn’t a hint of injury as he looked at her.

“Vena!” I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from him with a worried glance at him.

“He fucking controlled me.”

“I do apologize for the use of force, Vena. However, I believe the situation warranted it. Why did you risk Everly after promising me you wouldn’t?” The deadly warning in his voice extinguished her indignation, and she flushed a deep red.

“Blur was attacked last night,” I said. “During the chaos, I saw Sierra’s fairy tattoo. It matched the one the fairy at Miles’ apartment described.”

“We came over here to ask her about it, but she flipped out and started throwing knives,” Vena said. “We didn’t think we needed you in order to question a human.”

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