Page 75 of Devour

“His teeth?” She snickered.

“His teeth,” I repeated, opening my mouth more and flexing my jaw to make my point. “Started over a year ago, but really picked up recently. Looked totally normal, though. Thought it was stupid human shit. I went over to visit him yesterday and… when he came into the room he just seemed… not totally him? Even smelled like… well…” I stopped and gestured back at myself. Still couldn’t say how he accomplished that, either, but I still smelled like him.

“Next he tells me I smell so nice and wants to know if I’m wearing cologne… which, no. I’m not. So then he gets all growly and horny, and I’m ashamed to say it took a few minutes for everything to click into place, but… he starts feeding on me. Which, admittedly, wasn’t terrible. I got plenty from it, too. And that part was also… so fucking hot, but you don’t need to hear all that…”

“I’ll save my questions for the end and that’s going to be my first one,” she teased. “Continue.”

“Right before we finished, this idea pops up about how he wants to eat me. And I mean, he wants it bad, but he doesn’t. Then everyone’s full and happy, and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what the hell just happened. He’s only inches from my face when he smiles at me and… he’s got fangs. Didn’t have those before. Not the last time I saw him—the day before. Maybe not even until after the feed. We stay in bed and he’s all sleepy and innocent and sweet after, but then it keeps popping up in the back of his mind. He wants to eat me, and he’s been thinking about it nonstop.”

“Could he even eat you?”

“You know, surprisingly, I don’t want to find out.”

“Solely from a physical advantage standpoint, do you think he could?”

“Yeah, absolutely. Dude’s always been bigger than me, but even when he had the control, I had the power. I knew I could rip him to shreds, so none of that bothered me. Then yesterday he pinned me in a few seconds flat and I couldn’t get him off.” Poor word choice. “Well, I mean, I did kinda get him off, but what I’m trying to say is, during the brief time when I wished to remove him from me, I could not.”

“You’re fucked.”

Gee, thanks for the insight, Gaia.

“When are you supposed to eat him again?”

“In a little over a week.”

“You think you can hold out that long?”

“Even if I could, this isn’t about me and controlling my urges. He wants to eat me. And he absolutely could if he tried. And wait, it gets better. We have a contract. Even if I go halfway around the world to get away from him, said contract is going to be helpful and poof me to wherever he is so I can eat him finally.”

“Rhory, I say this as someone who has seen a lot in her time. I’ve never come across anyone as fucked as you are right now.”

“Thank you. That is neither comforting nor helpful.”

“You’re welcome,” she said with a grin. “So… you accidentally somehow made another one of us. And he’s bigger, and he’s hungry, which means he also probably has that feral strength from wanting to eat, but he’s still a baby in comparison. You must have some advantages that you’re not considering.”

“I’ve been trying. It’s part of the reason why I messaged you.”

“For starters, do you think he knows what’s happening?”

“Probably, yes, if only because he’s been around me so much and for so long. Plus, mind link. And he’s still way better at tuning in and tuning out than I ever have been. And he’s incredibly sneaky.” Time for a long sip of coffee. “Despite this, I don’t think he’s considered that he could overpower me and quite literally tear me apart if he wanted. He’s still in a very human headspace otherwise.”

“What about the love thing?”

I glared. “No.”

“Does he know you love him?”

“Maybe… yes. Fuck, yes, he knows. But he doesn’t really believe it. He thinks I love him the way people love their favorite meal.”

“Does he love you?”

After a few minutes of quiet reflection, I came to a conclusion. “He wants to.”

“Wants to?”

“Yes, he wants to love me, but he won’t let himself and he intentionally shuts down those thoughts to keep me in the dark. Which, okay, to be fair, I’ve been reminding this guy for thirteen years that I’ll get to eat him one day, so he’s somewhat emotionally guarded.”

“Wonder why?” She rolled her eyes.

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