“Wine?”
“Uh, sure, I guess.”
“And you need something to eat now, no?”
“Orfeo.” I slide on my socked feet into his path, flattening one hand against his fridge and the other atop the shiny kitchen island. “What the hell?”
His quirks a brow. “You need to be more specific.”
“What the hell did I miss?”
He clears his throat, fixing me with a look down his nose. It’s almost professorial. “When a vampire drinks a god or goddess’s blood, their bond becomes supercharged. Both in the moment and after.”
“Supercharged?”
He rolls his eyes, settling his gaze on the light fixture behind me. “When a vampire and a human swap blood, they become connected. If they are in love, it can intensify that bond—almost codify it—but when a vampire drinks the blood of a creature that is its natural superior?—”
“Like a goddess,” I offer meekly. Calling myself that feels absolutely ridiculous. Like I should be sipping down colloidal silver and braiding hemp into my hair.
He nods. “There is no need for blood to be swapped. Once the vampire drinks the blood of the goddess, their connection becomes a pact. It is not like an oath of servitude, it’s more carnal. It is like lust, love, infatuation, all after smoking…how do you say?” His mouth turns down into a compact little frown. “Crystal meth?”
“Oh.” I grimace. “Fun.”
“This is all alleged, eh. I’ve never…” He flutters his lashes. “Indulged.”
“And if a goddess drinks a vampire’s blood?”
“I can only assume that it would further solidify their bond. It might bring their spirits closer together.”
“Got it.” I get out of his way and head back to the living room area, tidying up my makeshift bed by the fire, folding the blanket and putting the pillows back on the couch. I sense that Orfeo still has something else he wants to say so I lift my eyes and offer him a tense smile.
He’s fidgeting with a corkscrew. “You like the Sardinian white,sì? Or would you like to try a red? I have something called Jesus’s Tears?—”
“Just say the thing you actually want to say.” I cross my arms over my chest, making my way back toward him. “I don’t know why you’re being so cagey.” I stop myself from adding:You ate me out in public, dummy, I thought we were past being shy.
“Your blood when in contact with my skin would take on a sort of…dazzlingquality. Like gold.”
“So, if you drank from me right now, we would know immediately…”
“Hence their vulgarity.”
“Right.” Heat prickles at the tips of my ears. “Because when a vampire drinks someone’s blood, things usually turn sexual.”
“Turn?” He fixes me with a dry look. “They are, inherently. There’s a reason we like the termbloodlustso much.” I shift closer to him, watching his Adam’s apple move up and down the column of his throat as he wets his lips and swallows. I can’t see if his fangs have extended, but I feel my body reacting to him and his words. My nipples tighten under my sweater, a distant ache flares deep and low in my belly.
“How is it you seem so…in control of yourself?” I ask. “Compared to other vampires, I mean. Is that offensive? Sorry.”
“I choose to be this way,” he says quietly, stepping closer to me. “Because I respect humans and their culture. I long for my humanity, for all the small things that made my heart pound.”
“Oh.” It escapes me, more a noise than a full word. “That’s why you’re so…” I swallow. The last time we were this close, the situation unraveled. Got out of control, frankly. “Generous.”
“Yes,” he rasps. “I am a giver.”
Memories of my dream come flooding back to me. Of Orfeo’s body underneath mine, of him between my hands, in my mouth, on my lips…
My face and neck are hot. Maybe from his proximity—but I know I’m blushing. “Me too, I think.”
He hesitates then lifts a hand, splaying his fingers over my collarbone, pulling a gasp from me. Slowly, he grazes the back of his hand up the length of my neck. I tremble under his touch, eyes fluttering shut. I tilt my head to the side and he drags hisknuckles back down, over my throat. When his touch skims my pulse, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.
