Mei shakes her head with glee. “Not gonna happen. I just built a beach house there.”
Everyone laughs, and where I was reserved before, I’m relieved that Mei is part of Callie’s life and subsequently mine now. She deserves a friend who isn’t also in love with her—or at least I don’t think Mei is.
While I ponder that conundrum, Callie pats the empty spot next to her, inviting me to sit. Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of close proximity and I need a moment away to get my head on straight. Feeding from her in the middle of the cafeteria because I’m having some self-control issues might have unwanted repercussions.
Running my fingers through her hair, I smile and say, “Give me a sec. I’ve gotta use the restroom.”
“Okay, don’t take too long,” she advises, leaning into my hand. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you not eating.”
Because I’m having bigger issues with a far more dangerous hunger.
I promise not to take long and then weave my way through the cafeteria to the boys’ bathroom. Once I’m inside, I find that I’m thankfully alone and head straight for the sinks. Turning on both taps, I splash cold water on my face, hoping it will help clear my head.
The hunger continues to ride me hard, my gums aching to release my fangs and sink them into Callie’s willing flesh. Saliva pools in my mouth just from thinking about the taste of her blood, but it only strengthens my resolve to tell her the truth about everything.
“I’m not going to let the past fuck with me anymore,” I announce to my reflection as water drips down my face. “No more being afraid of her or of myself.” A suggestive smirk takes over my mouth. “She might even like playing with the monster inside me.”
While I reach for paper towels to dry off my face, the door opens and two sets of footsteps click on the tile floors. When I see they are feminine heels, I release a tired sigh. Really? They are following me into the bathroom now?
Dipping into what remains of my patience, I say under strained politeness, “Whatever you think is going to happen isn’t. I’m not…” The words die on my lips when I look over and see it’s Gina.
Her pouty lips twist into a sweet smile, and with a hand covered in blood, she motions to the person next to her and enunciates like she’s speaking to a child. “Nolan, this is Callie.”
A gust of wind blows through the door and then snaps it shut. Suddenly, my head feels like it’s splitting in two and my vision blurs. I stumble back against the sinks to keep myself upright while I fight to stay coherent. Adrenaline floods my body as panic seizes my throat, choking off air to my lungs.
“Shhhh,” Gina murmurs, the hazy silhouette of her waifish form stalking closer to me. “I understand now. Being with one person goes against your nature as a vampire.”
The second blonde figure follows a step behind, her fuller hips having an exaggerated sway as she walks. While I fight to breathe, they each touch one of my hands, smearing blood on me from their injured palms.
Immediately, my vision clears, and I’m confused to see that itisCallie standing next to her. However, my confusion, along with my panic, quickly dissipates, unable to withstand the wildfire of hunger and lust that fills me when I look into her eyes.
She’s dressed in a way that leaves me hard and wanting to nibble on her for days—knee-length black coat opened to expose her short, baby pink crop top straining over her generous breasts, swaths of exposed flesh showing off her cute belly button piercing, a black schoolgirl skirt so short it barely covers her ass, black thigh-high stockings, and a simple pair of black Mary Janes. Sexy sweetness ready to be consumed.
Callie flashes me an inviting smile as she presses herself against me and leads my hand to her exposed hip. Getting back to an upright position, I meet her smile with a wicked one of my own and slide my knee between her legs. She releases a small gasp of pleasure.
Gina clears her throat, flicks her long black hair over one shoulder, and then presses against my other side. Her fingers make light circles over my chest, but I don’t seem to care, too lost in the need to feed and fuck.
“Callie and I’ve been talking,” she purrs into my ear. “We think you shouldn’t be sharingherwhen it’syouwho needs more.” Her hand slides down to my lower abs. “Don’t fight your nature. Take us both. We’ll fulfillallof your needs.”
I groan when Callie slowly pulls her hair back and tilts her chin to display her long neck. My hand slides to her lower back, and I pull her tight against me. Pressing my lips to her neck, I drag my tongue slowly up her throat. She shivers, her hands burying themselves in my hair as she holds my face to her flesh. Brushing my nose against the underside of her jaw, I find that she doesn’t smell quite right. There’s a fruity flowery scent, but something is missing—a part that usually turns me mad with need.
When I try to pull away, Gina grips my hand hard and commands, “Bite her now.”
Unable to resist my hunger any longer, my fangs slide out, and I pierce her sweet flesh. Except, her flesh isn’t sweet at all. The blood tastes of death, foul and muddy, but no matter how much I hate it, I can’t seem to stop drinking it down.
Gina’s hand moves lower and starts stroking me through my wool slacks. “That’s good,” she murmurs hotly. “While Callie feeds one need, let me take care of the other.”
A moan vibrates in my chest as I press myself into her hand, desperate for any release. Every part of me feels like it’s burning, my very being boiling. It’s too much but also not enough. I’ve been cold for so long that even though it hurts, I don’t want it to stop.
“You can’t come in here,” a gravelly voice insists from the other side of the bathroom door. There’s a pause of a muffled feminine voice that I can’t quite understand, followed by the first voice exasperatedly explaining, “Because it’s the men’s room, and you do not currently qualify. Besides, he’s probably just taking a shit.” The feminine voice has a few louder choice words, and he sighs. “Yes, fine. I will go check on him.”
The exchange distracts me enough that I begin to come back to my senses, my need to vomit crawling up my throat as the blood keeps falling down it.
The door slams open, and who I now recognize as Donovan shouts, “The fuck?”
“Get away from him,” echoes off the walls, the feminine voice full of an icy rage so dark that it’s like a battle cry to summon the furies of hell.
The two bodies pressed against me rip themselves away and stand like stiff mannequins waiting to be moved for display. The tang of magic hits my nose, followed by a gentle and soothing sensation against my burning body. Whatever spell was cast on me crumbles under the potent, raw magic flooding the room, and I now see the two figures for who they really are—Gina and Anastasia.
