Ji-Su wondered why mixing the blood in water was necessary. “Can I take directly from you?” he asked.
Raul stopped and looked at him in surprise.
“Yes. If you want to.”
“I want to.”
Raul gave him a pleased smile as he took the blade and sliced the pad of his thumb open. Blood welled up—the metallic tang of it scenting the night air. Ji-Su took Raul’s big hand in both of his own and brought his thumb to his mouth. He looked directly into Raul’s glowing eyes, wanting that connection in this important moment. “I love you,” he said before he pressed his lips to the cut in an open mouth kiss. Then he began to suck.
At first Raul’s blood tasted like copper in his mouth. But as the liquid rolled over his tongue, the taste shifted to something hot and powerful—like he’d sucked on a cinnamon candy. He sucked again, pulling in more of Raul’s blood while maintaining their intimate eye contact. Twice more he sucked at the cut. He released Raul’s thumb with a pop and licked his lips to make sure he caught the last drops of his lover’s blood.
“Was that enough?” he asked.
Raul nodded. “It was.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a gust of wind kicked up at their feet. It swirled around them, pushing their bodies even closer together until Ji-Su could feel Raul’s heart beating against him. And then... he heard it too. A strong, steady beat that seemed to echo in his own chest. As he listened, a warm, sparkling sensation shimmered over his body from head to toe, and then the separate beat of Raul’s heart settled within him until he could no longer distinguish it from his own.
“Your heartbeat. It’s inside me,” he said in wonder.
“That’sourheartbeat,” Raul said with a tender smile. “Our hearts are tied together now. Our lives connected. As long as I drink from you, you won’t age or die.”
Ji-Su pressed a hand to Raul’s chest. “We’ll give each other life.”
“That’s right,” Raul agreed before he picked Ji-Su up and kissed him. “I’m never letting you go,” he said once he pulled back. “You’re mine now.”
Happier than he could ever begin to describe, Ji-Su wrapped his arms and legs around Raul, holding on tight to his loving, gentle giant. “You’re mine too. And I’ll never want you to let me go.”
