A bath?I wonder.He’s really running the bathwater for me?
It’s enough to make me cry all over again.
“Millie, are you alright?” Gray returns holding a blanket. In a blur of speed, he kneels in front of me and wipes away my tears. Not once in any relationship have I ever had someone run me a bath. Or bring me a blanket when I’m on the verge of freezing.
“I’m fine,” I breathe, steadying myself. “I’m fine, just shaken up.”
He assesses me for a moment, and then, reaching for my coat, he asks, “May I?”
“Yes.”
Gray peels the coat away from my shoulders, then down over my arms until it’s completely off. My upper half is bare, but he doesn't seem to notice, or he doesn’t comment to spare me embarrassment. Coat off, he wraps the blanket around my shoulders and pulls it to my chin, careful not to bump the bite on my neck.
“Let me see your wrist.” He holds out one pale hand expectantly. From under the blanket, I slide the injured arm carefully into his waiting palm. He hovers over the torn flesh and examines it with a long, cold look. After what feels like an eternity, he brings his other hand to his mouth and bites down. The sound of skin breaking from his own bite sends shivers down my spine. I watch with horror and confusion as he brings the bleeding wrist to my lips.
“Drink.”
“Won’t I—” But he cuts me off with a warning look.
“I’ll take care of it,” he says sharply.
That makes my stomach do a flip. Drinking his blood the first time made my body hot with desire and need. It was painful too. One minute pleasant, the next I felt like someone was burning me at the stake. But Gray’s blood is sweet, the aroma of it drawing me in the way the smell of Gran’s homemade caramel used to. I take his wrist gratefully, sucking at the wound with a new hunger. I remember the taste of him now, how thick and syrup-like his blood really is. It isn’t Gran’s caramel, but it goes down just as easily.
“That’s enough,” Gray says, his voice hard. I draw myself away from his wrist and lick up the last of him from my lips.
I mutter a small, “Thank you.”
Gray nods, then takes me from the couch to the bathroom. Three times in one night? A girl could get used to being carted around like a princess.
In the bathroom, Gray leaves me on the edge of the tub and leans over to turn off the water. He’s so focused on his task that I can’t help but sit there in complete awe and admiration. He’s careful with me, so much so that I barely feel his hands on my ankles as he unfastens my shoes. Long, pale fingers adeptly unbuckle each strap. A blush warms my cheeks as I watch him work. It makes my heart pound.
“I’ll turn around so you can undress.” He takes off the last shoe and sets it aside. Before he can turn, though, I stop him.
“You can look,” I say. “I don't mind.”
His eyes brighten just a fraction, and while Dante’s terrified me, Gray’s don’t. He sits back on his heels and, with a deft nod, gives me the go-ahead to proceed. I stand on cold, shaking legs and let the blanket drop to the floor. All that’s left are my fishnets and booty shorts, which come away with ease. Gray is attentive to each one of my movements, but not in an inherently sexual way. It’s almost like he's waiting to see if I’ll collapse.
Thankfully, I don’t.
“This is nice.” I sigh, settling into the water. It’s the perfect temperature. Already I can feel it chasing away the cold from my bones. Along with the magic of Gray’s blood, I am completely at ease.
“Comfortable, sweet cheeks?” he asks after a long pause.
“Very.” I smile at the nickname. It’s sticking.
“Good.” Gray leans forward onto the edge of the tub, arms tucked under him. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“I was called in for a dance. Nothing unusual about that.” Looking back at it now, Kendra’s behavior was definitely caused by Dante or one of his buddies. “When I went in, there was a group of them. Three guys, two girls. They were all pretty handsy with each other, but I ignored it. Again, not unusual.”
Gray doesn’t move. He watches, listening intently as I speak.
“I went about my business as usual, and then shit kind of hit the fan.” In my mind I can still see the dead woman, slumped over the couch, while the vampire that killed her heckled me.
“Will you tell me?” Gray coaxes softly.
“It all happened so fast. One minute, I’m swinging around the pole, the next I’m being threatened. Bitten.” I sink further into the water and lift my arm above its surface. The wound is practically a scar at this point, with nothing left to indicate that I’d ever been bitten. I marvel at it, impressed by the speed at which his blood heals.
Only a matter of time before it hits me, I’m sure. With his blood comes the floating feeling, which I’m already starting to experience. Next, I'll plummet into the fire and unravel under the pain.
