Page 37 of The Vampire’s Prey

Anguish rips through me. All this is because of me? I stumble backwards, catching myself on the door.

"Free of me? You wish to be free of me?"

I shut her back in and lock the door behind me. My stomach churns. Leaning my head against the door, I hear her soft cries. They tear at my heart. I can feel hers breaking as well.

I run down to the kitchen and grab a bag of blood from the fridge. Ripping it open with my teeth, I drink my fill then drink some more. I cannot allow myself to be distracted at all. I am on the edge of the precipice with my princess; I can feel it. One false move, and this growing dream will shatter.

Rummaging about, I realize that most of my food is meant for a much heavier meal. I can remember what it was like to go days without food then get sick when gorging afterwards. Instead, I opt for a glass of milk. Something that can fill her stomach, but perhaps not weigh too heavy.

As I make my way back to the door, I firm up my resolution to make this woman mine. Even if I have to kill her demons for her, I will make her my queen. By the time I go to open the door, her cries have slowed to sniffles. Smiling gently, I hand her the milk.

Her eyes narrow as she studies the glass before taking it from my hands. "What did you do to it?"

Laughing, I walk over to the tub and begin filling it with water. "Why do you think I would taint the milk? Do I actually need to drug you to get you to do my bidding?" I look over at her and wag my eyebrows. She blushes and looks down again, but I manage to catch a small smile forming at her lips. "I want you to get something into your stomach. Milk is all I have right now. I will order something more for later. I was hoping for our first meal together to be something delicious and ornate, but I supposed milk will have to do for now. I don’t want you throwing up my amazing cooking."

"Wait," she tilts her head to the side. "You cook?"

Shrugging, I lean down to check the temperature of the water before turning both faucets off. "I may do well for myself, but I don’t have a huge staff at my disposal. I live here alone with a housekeeper who comes once a week and a companionable cook with a sharp tongue who stays with me in the house at night but goes home in the morning. Oh, and an assistant to help me with my affairs in the daytime.

"But why? Why cook if you're not going to eat?"

I pin her with a stare. "Why do you think I wouldn’t eat?"

She has the good sense to squirm under my glare. Maybe now she will admit that she suspects I am a vampire. I’m certainly not going to out myself. Not until I know I can trust her.

"What I mean is, every time I was working at the bar, you were there. So, why cook if you're just going to head somewhere else?"

Sly minx. Very well, two can play at that game. "Up.” She hesitates for a brief moment before standing in front of me. "It’s a bar. One doesn’t go there to eat. Merely to drink and make bad decisions. Besides, you’ve worked there, do you really consider that pub food a decent meal?"

Her lower lips juts out adorably. "I've seen people eat there. Hell, I've served people eating there."

I smile down at her. "That may be well and true, but I don’t eat at bars.” Looking her up and down, I smirk. "At least not food."

Scowling, she shoves at me, but I grab her hand instead and bring it up to my lips. Even in her current condition, I want her with an aching passion. Her skin is still as soft as I can remember. I let my tongue lap at the healing cuts on her hand, keeping it firm in my grasp, even as she tries to yank it away.

"I don’t know why you need to harm yourself because of what we did. I wouldn’t trade anything about that night."

"Wouldn't you? I'm pretty sure you would have had someone much more meek and docile. Sorry, I don't fit the bill."

Smirking, I pull her up flushed against me. "If I wanted meek and docile, then you're right. I probably would have gone with any number of women. But I didn’t. I chose you."

She closes her eyes and lays her head on my chest. I can feel the weight of her emotions. Wordlessly, I gather her back into my arms and climb inside the large tub. As I settle in, I sink down so that the warm water rises up to her hips. She sighs and snuggles in tighter against me.

"Maybe not tonight, but we will need to talk about what happened at your apartment.” I feel her stirring against me, but I just gather her tighter.

Minutes go by and neither of us say a word. Evangeline is the first to break the silence.

"My mother and father were kind and loving parents. They read me stories every night; tucked me into bed with a kiss. At least that's what I remember. I was six when they died."

"My poor pet," I murmur, kissing her temple. "How did they die?"

Her whole body stiffens against me. Should I have not asked that question?

"They were on a hunting trip. I guess the monst-animal was too big for them. I don't know all the details. I just know what my adopted family told me."

I clutch her closer, trying to get her to relax again on me. After a few moments, she finally yields.

"The Family is very religious. I'm religious, too, I guess."