Page 10 of Bleeding Love

What was more surprising was the fact that I wasn’t even thinking about her blood anymore. If someone had made me choose between sinking my teeth in her neck and sliding my tongue inside her warm cunt, in that moment, I would have chosen the latter.

I reluctantly withdrew my hand.

I was a monster…but not that kind. Still, this new development was definitely going to make things more interesting. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this excited. Or felt anything at all, aside from endless apathy.

My skin felt tingly from her warmth, and her intensifying scent was tempting me beyond reason. Before I could think better of it, I raised my finger to my mouth and licked it.

Sweet. Her arousal tasted almost as delicious as her blood, but instead of sating my hunger, it fanned it.

“What are you, little witch?” I murmured, resting my hand beside her head. I caged her with the other one, leaning closer until our faces were almost touching. She didn’t react. “What are you doing to me? Is it a spell?” She still didn’t reply, but the edges of her lips twitched as if she was about to smile. “It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, brushing my lips against hers. “You can’t escape, so I’ll find all the secrets you keep.” I slid my lips down her cheek, then her jaw, until my fangs grazed the tender skin between her neck and shoulder. She sucked in a sharp breath, but her spell remained dormant.

Smiling to myself, I pulled away, giving her one last glance before striding out of the room.

“...she stayed in her room, but we heard a lot of loud noises coming from there,” the maid reported as another one of the servants helped me get dressed. “We couldn’t get in. Jeremiah even tried taking down the door, but it wouldn’t budge.” Her voice cracked, and I almost grimaced at the scent of her fear coming from her. They all smelled of it now and as I thought about it, it was probably because they were used to being punished when failing to complete a task. To their luck, I was in too good of a mood to be bothered with that. “Then, she suddenly went quiet an hour before sunset.”

“Is she in her room?” I asked while the other servant adjusted my cravat.

“No, Master.” She shook her head. “She left her room shortly before you woke. I believe she is in the dining room now.”

“Good.” I nodded just as the second attendant stepped back and bowed his head. I glanced at my reflection one more time, then headed toward the door. “Prepare dinner for her,” I ordered before leaving my bedroom.

Making my way down the stairs, I listened for her. At first, I couldn’t detect anything, and a sliver of panic that she might have found a way out made me walk faster, but then her scent hit me, fresh and vibrant, brimming with unbridled anger.

I had barely stepped inside when something flew toward my head.

I dodged by instinct, barely missing the ax aimed at my neck. Blue flames were twirling around the blade and even without touching them, I knew they would be hot and cold at the same time. She was leaving nothing to chance, was she? If that blade had hit me, even if the metal hadn’t cut my head completely, the flames would have devoured my neck in seconds.

The ax had sunk into the wall, and the flames licked the wallpaper with hungry tongues. I smiled despite the rush of adrenaline coursing through my body. She was standing across the room, her magic giving her body a soft glow that made her seem wholly inhuman. She didn’t let go of her powers even when her shoulders slacked at the sight of her failure.

As our eyes met, her animosity spiked.

“And here I thought we were getting past the whole killing thing.” I sighed, dusting my shoulder. Her eye twitched, but she said nothing. I wondered where she got the ax from. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to hide the more dangerous weapons before she hurt herself.

I made my way toward the table, taking my usual seat before looking back at her.

“I’m famished. Come here.” I smiled, giving her a sign to sit beside me. I didn’t feel like staring at her from across the room, and after last night, the urge to be close to her, so I wouldn’t miss any of her reactions, was practically overwhelming.

She bared her teeth, looking like some feral animal. Her anger didn’t dissipate even after she stopped attacking. Was it because she failed to breach the ward again? I had warned her about that. She shouldn’t have raised her hopes.

“Fuck. Off!” she snapped, pronouncing each word with exaggerated slowness. “I won’t let you drink from me!”

I raised an eyebrow. When did I say I was going to drink from her? She eyed the chair I was still pointing at and I let my hand drop. I had only meant for her to sit there and wait for her food, but it looked like she misunderstood my intention. She wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t planning on doing that tonight.

I was just opening my mouth to tell her that when she snarled.

“Were you in my room last night?”

The question made me hesitate. How did she know? I made sure to leave no trace, and she hadn’t woken. Then how…?

My eyes lowered to her legs, one of her shoes poking underneath her skirt. The stockings. Fuck, I had been so preoccupied with her taste that I had completely forgotten about them. But the fact that she was asking me meant she didn’t know for sure it was me.

“Was I?” I cocked my head, and she narrowed her eyes. “I don’t recall. Is something the matter? You don’t like your accommodations?”

Her hands balled into a fist, then promptly relaxed. Squaring her shoulders, she banished her anger from her expression, looking only vaguely bored.

“As a matter of fact, I don’t. So be a good vampire and let me leave.” Her words came out calm, but the smile she gave me was all teeth. I chuckled, leaning back in my chair.

“And what gave you the idea that I am a good vampire, darling?” I asked, watching as cracks formed in her composure. Did my entering her room rattle her that much? Or did she realize I did more than just look around? I couldn’t smell anything other than anger from her, but I was sure it was there, hiding underneath. That desire her body had been leaking when she wasn’t conscious to stop it. “Is it because I allow you to live in my house and enjoy my protection? I assure you, it’s no thanks to my generous heart.”

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