"A lesson?" Her question is a whisper.
"Mhm," I murmur, leaning in until my lips hover at the shell of her ear. "A lesson in consequences."
My fingers slide slowly down her arm, deceptively gentle.
She shivers, but doesn't flinch or pull away.
"You lured me into a trap," I start listing her misdeeds. "You tried to stake me. And then you had the audacity to rob us after we rescued you, warmed you, and shared a drink with you."
She turns, just enough for our mouths to be dangerously close—one twitch away from colliding.
And fuck, it takes everything in me not to give in and taste her.
"I also saved you," she says.
"Yes," I respond, my voice rougher now. "That's the reason you're not dead."
My hand curves around her jaw, tilting her head back. I brush her hair aside, exposing her neck, vulnerable and soft.
Her breath catches. Her heartbeat spikes like a bird in a snare.
I smirk, dragging my lips along that tempting line of her throat. "Actions like these…" I breathe against her skin, "require consequences. Don't you agree?"
My fangs drop with a flicker of instinct.
"What… ah—" she whimpers as the tips of my fangs graze her skin.
Her whole body trembles, knees buckling. I wrap my arm around her, steadying, one hand spread across her stomach. I hold her tight against me, so she can feel what she's doing to me—my cock hard, pressing against her back.
She exhales, eyes fluttering closed. There's a tremor in her voice as she says, "You want my blood."
Not a question, but a fact—cold, bitter, and resigned.
She thinks that's what all this is about, that it's only her blood I want. She'd be right about most vampires.
But not about me. Not entirely.
She told us she was attacked. Drained nearly to death. The thought of it sends fury boiling through my veins.
I don't even know their names, and I already want to rip them apart. Slowly. One piece at a time. Keep them alive just long enough to regret every second. Because no one should've touched her like that.
I pull back from her neck slowly, letting the air cool between us. Her body is tenser now, spine taut as a bowstring.
"You think so little of me, sunshine," I murmur, voice a shade too soft to be safe. "And while you are sweet as sin, and gods, I'd love another taste, I'm not going to. Icould." I step back, tilting my head. "But I won't."
She blinks, thrown. "Then what do you want?" she asks, brow furrowing, guarded and wary.
I cross my arms over my chest, keeping my stance deliberately relaxed, like I'm not two seconds from dragging her back into my arms.
"I'm feeling generous tonight," I say with a mockingly solemn nod. "So I'll give you a choice. Two versions of how this could go."
Her eyes narrow. Distrust rolls off her in waves. Good. I like the game better when the prey knows it's being hunted.
"Option one," I say, holding up a finger. "You tell me the truth. Therealtruth. Why you threw that armband back. Don't give me the half-assed 'moral clarity' version. I don't buy it."
Her lips press tight. Jaw clenched.
"And the other option?" she bites out.
