Page 46 of Nosfer-Meet You

Juliette and I return to the salon before the sun rises, our steps lighter than usual. A future together. I can finally see it in my mind’s eye. And then a plan begins to take root.

Chapter 26

Juliette

LOVE TO SEE YOU TRY

Despite the lovely evening we had, I cannot get the thought of Scotty’s poor little sister out of my mind. The world is filled with monsters. My maker was one. My mother, also a monster. The Helsing who murdered Scotty’s sister, another. Which begs the question: Who decides who is worthy of protection? Who is permitted to live in common society. Who is allowed to kill, and who is not.

Scotty’s sister didn’t do anything wrong. Yes, she was a predator. But she hunted humans for sustenance, not out of sadistic pleasure. The men she was with might not have hurt her, but there are plenty of men just like those two who have harmed women like Harriett. They hunt women for sport to feed their own egos, gain status, and exert power over those they deem inferior.

Harriett hunted to fill her belly and survive another night. They were not the same … were they?

When my mind races like this, it’s impossible to fall asleep. I’m used to sleeping alone, so adjusting to Scotty’s body next to mine has been interesting, to say the least. Not an unwelcome adjustment, of course, but it’s different.

Scotty rolls over on the mat and drapes his arm over my middle, pulling my back to his chest.

“Why are you still awake?” he murmurs. It must be at least seven in the morning by now, yet my eyelids are not heavy.

“I don’t know,” I lie. There’s no reason to concern him with my ruminations. Normally, I would drag myself over to my crate. Get my feelings out on the canvas. But with Scotty here, there’s no way he would leave me alone in peace. There’s also a part of me that likes that he wouldn’t.

He sits up beside me and stretches his neck from side to side, cracking it. “Ugh. So fuckin’ stiff. We need to get a real bed down here somehow,” he mutters.

I raise an eyebrow. “A bed. Down here? You do realize the only way down here is through the manholes? And those are small and round.”

“Mattresses come rolled up nowadays, anyway,” he says, staring down at me with sleepy hooded eyes. Gods, he is adorable. And, for whatever reason, he’s chosen me. I will never get over that, no matter how long we’re together.

“Do they, now? Perhaps we should move,” I say, and re-position myself to lean against his shoulder.

“Perhaps we should,” he agrees. “Pinecrest?”

I nod. “I’d be interested in seeing it. As you said, it isn’t safe here in Sugardove City anymore. It would be good to have a change of scenery.”

A big smile splashes across his face. I’ll never tire of seeing him smile. Scotty’s happiness is infectious, filling me with the same joy. In fact, who needs sunshine when I have him to fill me with it? He cups my cheeks and presses his lips to mine. We linger there for a long while, fingers clasped together until I am no longer sated by kisses.

I run my claws through the short strands of his hair and smile when his eyes roll back.

“Fuck, how do you do this to me every time, Jules?” he murmurs.

Feigning ignorance, I tilt my head to the side and say, “Do what?”

He isn’t buying it, and pulls me into his lap. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Scotty peppers my throat with kisses, then drags his fangs along my flesh. I shiver against him and wiggle my hips from side to side. His throat hitches. I love it when I get a physical reaction out of him.

“Like that?” I taunt.

“Excuse me, lass, but are you actually teasing me right now?” Scotty runs his hands up my sides and cups my breasts, pinching my nipples over top of the fabric of my dress. “I’ll have to teach you a lesson, I think.”

I tilt my head back to look up at him and grin, flashing him my fangs. “And I’d love to see you try.”

Chapter 27

Scotty

MINE, MINE, MINE

We undress each other in rushed, groping movements, not caring if we tear something in the process because I can just mend the clothes later, anyway. Once we’re finally naked, Juliette surprises me by wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me against her chest. Against her bare breasts, so pert and round with dark nipples, perfect in every way. Nosferatu or not, she’s hot and beautiful and … and all mine. Forever. Or for as long as she can stand me. Whichever comes first, I guess.