Page 70 of Last Shot at Love

Pulling back the covers, he settled me on the mattress before joining me. His strong arms wrapped around me, cuddling me against his chest.

I wished I could give in to my body’s need for sleep, but there was something I needed more.

Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat. “Cerulean? Could you call room service and have them send several vampire blood bags here?”

Leaning his head back, Cerulean stared down at me, his brow creased in confusion.

“I’m a vampire. I lost a lot of blood when my skull cracked and burned through my reserves trying to stay alive,” I tried to explain. “Until I get blood, I’m not going to be able to finish repairing the damage to my body.”

“You could have fed while I swam. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” Cerulean looked devastated.

“Cer, you had no way to know. Drinking from you during sex is one thing. It’s erotic. But I’m not going to use your body to feed.”

“Why? I want to provide for all your needs, whether they are sexual, emotional, or physical. Plus, surely my blood is better for you since it is fresh.”

I hesitated. It would be easy to drink from him… and so much more enjoyable. The thought of gagging down bagged blood made my bruised stomach ache.

“Where would be the easiest place for you to feed? My wrist? My neck?” Cerulean was already scooting down in the bed, lining my mouth up with his neck.

“Cer…” I whispered, still fighting the urge to accept what my mate was offering me.

“Please. I wasn’t there when you needed me today and I’m struggling to deal with that. Let me take care of you.” Cerulean’s voice cracked, and his eyes shimmered. “Let me feel needed.”

I’d been so focused on what I’d gone through, I hadn’t thought of what he’d experienced.

With a nod, I pressed my fangs to his neck and pierced his skin with surgical precision. I couldn’t stop my moan of delight when his sweet, spiced blood poured into my mouth and ran down my throat.

While I fed, Cerulean rubbed soothing circles on my back. Snuggling deeper into the heat of his body, I closed my eyes and tried to commit every sensation, scent, and taste to memory.

As his blood mixed with mine, my body began to heal at a startling speed. The static in my ears quieted, and within a few minutes, it had disappeared. The throbbing fire in my broken wrist eased with each delicious gulp of Cer’s blood.

I wasn’t ready for the feeding to be over, but I didn’t want to take too much from my mate. When the pain eased from my body, I slowed my sucking. Just enjoying being with my mate and taking the love, heat, and blood he was offering me.

Tears burned my eyes before sliding down my cheek to drop on his arm tucked under my head. I’d worked hard for every good thing in my life, but Cerulean had walked in and accepted me without question.

He hadn’t made me earn his love.

He’d freely given it.

“Let it out. Crying is good for the soul,” Cerulean rumbled.

Pulling my fangs from his neck, I licked the wounds to clot the blood. He held me close while I buried my face against his neck and sobbed.

I released all my pent-up anger, terror, and betrayal. My heart grieved for the family I no longer had, and the nightmare I’d just lived through.

Once I drained all the negative emotions, I clung to Cerulean and wept. I cried over his tenderness toward me even when I’d been cold. He’d come to the resort to fall in love, and I’d treated him like he was little more than arm-candy.

“I never asked your last name,” I said between sobs.

“It wasn’t important,” Cerulean reassured me.

I leaned back so I could see his face, not caring that I was an ugly crier. “Cerulean, it should have been important to me. I should have asked your siblings’ names and your favorite color, if you like music and if you have a hobby, but I was so focused on my needs, I couldn’t be bothered. I was selfish.”

“Stop being so hard on yourself. You are a survivor and have learned to take care of yourself. Beryl, you’re strong, and that is nothing to be ashamed of! You knew what you needed from a partner and tried your hardest to be overly generous in return.”

“But we claimed each other, and I still didn’t know your name until Lapis said it in the restaurant!” I covered my face, filled with shame.

Cerulean chuckled. “Because I was keeping your body busy with things far more important than last names.”

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