“Continue.” He prompted again.
"There are rumors that Pittsburgh was originally founded by a coven of vampires that were looking for a place to live. They also say those same vampires still exist beside us today. Some claim that there are werewolves in the woods and in the hills that surround the city." Shae continued to stare, but Torin'sface remained unreadable. "The vampire myth is a strong one. People talk about it, but everyone pretends to not believe it.”
“Do you believe it?” Torin reached up and ran his finger over the scar on Shae’s throat and saw him close his eyes and release a soft moan in response. Realization comes slowly and spreads across Shae’s lovely countenance like a wave.
“You bit me.” The words were soft but not fearful.
"Yes." Torin ran his tongue seductively over his lip, and again there was that flash in Shae's eyes. He wasn't scared, he was excited, and that excited Torin. He bent and kissed the scar, and Shae leaned into him.
"What are you telling me, Torin?"
“I think you know what I’m telling you.”
“Vampires exist in Pittsburgh.”
"They weren't the founders of this city, but they've been here a very long time." It was then that Torin focused on his vampire, and he rose to the surface. His eyes reddened, his face hardened into stark angles, and his teeth sharpened to fin points. The hand that held Shae's also turned to hard, angular muscle like his face, and his nails lengthen dangerously. The look was fearsome, but Shae did not back away or panic.
“You’re a vampire.”
“I am.”
“Hadden Center is vampires?”
“Hadden Center is a coven.”
“Is it your coven?”
"I don't belong to a coven. I am not from Pittsburgh. I was born in Savanna, but I have lived in many places."
Silence fell between them for nearly five minutes. Shae remained calm and seemed to be processing the information. Torin felt for him but also wanted to keep the conversation going. He wanted to get all the information out and dealt with.
"You work alone, you live alone, and yet you saved me and brought me here. I know I'm not crazy when I say that there is something here." He pointed back and forth between them. "I feel connected to you, and the longer I'm with you, the stronger that feeling becomes. I can see that you feel the same or at least you're feeling something if not as intensely as I."
"There is definitely something between us, sweetheart, and I feel it just as intensely as you." Torin made himself clear. "You are my beloved, my Fated match, my predestined life partner, and you are fast becoming the heart of my soul." He moved closer and then gently brushed his lips against Shae's, and he opened for him and kissed back.
This was perfect. He explained the meaning of beloved and the importance they hold in the lives of their vampire. Shae listened and nodded but did not speak until he was finished.
"Fate chooses for you?"
"Bonds are eternal, and Fate brings together perfect matches. She didn't make me, and she didn't make you, but she knew that we would be great together. She inspires the union, but she does not create the bond. We must create and grow our bond and build our lives together." It was a lot, considering the day Shae had already had, but this was important, and their bond needed to move forward.
"How do we create the bond?" All good questions, but Torin wasn't sure if he wanted to get into all the details right now. He smiled and just told him.
"Sex creates the bond I spill in you and feed from you, marking you, and our bond ignites."
“Didn’t we just do that?”
"Yes and no. I bit you first and then spilled inside you. The bite must come simultaneously with the climax." Fuck this was a hell of a lot of information and way too much explanation for Torin's liking.
"You weren't sure if you wanted to keep me?" That was unexpected, and Torin turned on him with a tense scowl.
"I was hot for you from the moment I saw you, Shae. Even before I realized you were my beloved, I thought you were sexy and gorgeous. I didn't bond immediately because I thought you'd want a say in the process. I wanted you to know what was happening, and I needed you to want it." That precious, overwhelmed expression was back, and Shae kept blinking his eyes.
"Let's leave it there for now," Torin said and wrapped his arm around Shae's shoulders. "Give it time, you'll understand, and our connection will help you process it's part of the whole bonding thing." Shae nodded but did not comment.
He picked up Shae’s glass. “Let me get you another one of these.” He said and headed to the kitchen.
“Yeah, good idea.”
