Page 19 of Into The Light

“Do we just do it here? Is there like, a special room?”

I flicked my wrist. “Here is as good a place as any if you’re comfortable.”

She raised both eyebrows. “I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable in this situation, but I don’t think a change of room is going to change that.”

Smile. I reminded myself.

When I did, I could see the tension in her face soften. It pleased me to see her warm up. Jenny’s happiness had meant nothing to me as I fed on her over the last five years, but seeing Emilia happy moved me. I liked it.

“Here will work just fine. Come. Sit by me on the couch.”

Emilia looked to me and then her glass of wine. “Liquid courage,” she said before she downed it in a huge swig. The act made me smile. This time it came naturally. That didn’t happen to me often. She was certainly amusing.

“Let’s do this.” She hopped up and slipped beside me on the couch. I heard her pulse speed up as it thrummed through her veins, and my fangs begged to spring forth. As I leaned closer, her eyes met mine. They were blue with a hint of brown rimming the iris, like a warm sunset glistening off the ripples of a lake. Blues and greys swirled together in a dance that pulled me into their depths. But sadness crept across me when I saw the fear flash through them a moment before they fluttered closed. I didn’t want to cause her fear. Though I didn’t understand why I cared, I only wanted to bring her joy.

She tipped her head, exposing her long, creamy neck to me as she pinched her eyes tight. My gaze fell to the vein that whisked the nectar through her body and caused my fangs to pop before I intended. The sound made her jump, and I heard the deafening drumming of her heart speed to racing.

I couldn’t blame her for her rising terror. Most donors reacted the same way their first time, but soon I hoped her fear would subside and I could enjoy the sweet tang of her fear-free blood. Fear tainted blood and gave it a taste like soured milk. Like a wine that hadn’t been allowed to breathe. Some vampires needed the fear to feel powerful, in control. I was powerful and in control and didn’t need to control a weak human to prove it. I preferred to drink my blood like one would sip a fine, aged wine. It was worth the time and the money to eliminate the fear and sip the sweet, pure juice from the vein. Even though fear coursed through her now I was certain I would still savor every last drop that tantalized my tongue.

I slipped my hand along her neck, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. The warmth of her skin invigorated me as I leaned down. Her body tensed when I slid my hand behind her head and lowered my readied fangs to the skin burning below me. Her flesh gave way as my fangs slid inside, and she gasped and grasped my shirt, clutching it tight.

The first drop of blood touched my tongue. Her sweetness slid down my throat, and my body pulsed with ecstasy as I bit down harder. She gasped again and clutched me tighter. Never had I tasted anything so pure, so complex, so intricate. Her blood flowed into me and awakened my every sense, stirring something deep within I had never felt before.

I could almost feel her life force blending with mine, and the sensation brought on a euphoria I’d not yet experienced in my centuries on this earth. Though I knew it was time to stop, my fangs remained deep within her neck as I begged them to release. Despite the frantic pleas of my mind, my body, my primal urge, refused to let go. I heard her whimper. The sound of her distress rocked me back to my senses.

Don’t hurt her. Please, don’t hurt her.

It took all my resolve to slide my fangs from the depths of her skin. She gasped again as I withdrew. Leaning back I studied her with concern. Had I gone too far?

The two red punctures on her neck began to close. Her eyes blinked open and found their way to mine. But this time the fear in her gaze had gone. In its place resembled something akin to bliss.

“Are you all right?” I asked, surprised by the question I didn’t remember asking anyone in centuries.

A slow, dazed nod tipped her head up and down. “That was... I don’t even know what that was.”

“I didn’t hurt you?”

“Only at first.” She started to regain her senses, her lazy speech speeding back up.

“Good.” I blew out a long breath. At first, I only wanted to ensure she had a good experience so she would stay and supply me with that liquid gold, but now... now I wanted to know she’d had a good experience because I wanted her to be... happy.

She reached up to feel the holes on her neck, but they were gone. “Cool,” she said as she looked at her bloodless fingertips. “But how?”

“Our fangs puncture flesh, but our saliva repairs it.”

“Incredible. That was... I don’t know what that was, but it’s a deal.” She looked up at me, no question or fear left in her eyes. “Five years. Five million dollars. I’m in.”

A smile tipped the corners of my mouth. She returned it. Something resembling joy, I think, rippled through my core.

“It’s a deal,” I responded with an outstretched hand. She grasped it and we shook.

“And I get to keep the clothes. And shoes.”

“As many as you want.”

“Holy shit, this is crazy. I need more wine.”

A glance to the bar showed the almost empty bottle. “Mark!” I shouted toward the kitchen.