Page 130 of Bleed

I take another step, reaching up to sweep my hair away from the side of my neck. “Show me.”

His entire body goes rigid, gaze fixing on the exposed skin. “Beatrix.”

“Bex,” I correct. “You said you can control it.”

“I said I believe I can.”

“Then prove it.”

His eyes snap to mine. “No.”

I close the last sliver of distance between us, grabbing onto the front of his hoodie. “You said you want to bite me, so do it,” I grit out. “Show me you can stop.”

Something almost tortured flashes across his face as he stares down at me.

“Bite me, Eli.”

His hands close around my wrists. “I nearly killed you.”

“But you didn’t.” I tighten my grip on his hoodie. “So go ahead, Doc. Test your theory.”

I tilt my head, baring my throat, and something in his expression turns haunted.

“I’m not willing to test my theory with your life,” he grumbles.

“I’m not asking you to drain me.”

“You weren’t asking last time, either.”

The words hit like a slap, knocking some of the bravado out of me.

He’s right.

I remember trying to push him away as everything went dark, a tiny flicker of fear curling through my stomach. But it doesn’t change what I want. If anything, it makes me more certain.

My grip on his hoodie loosens. “Elliott,” I breathe, all the challenge draining from my voice. “I need to know, too.”

His eyes search mine like he’s looking for some hint of hesitation, some reason to refuse.

I don’t give him one.

Instead, I lift my chin, exposing my throat again. “Show me you can control it.”

His nostrils flare.

For several agonizing seconds, nothing happens. He just stands there, staring at the pulse beating beneath my skin while tension winds through every inch of his body.

Then his fangs descend with a soft click, my heart tripping over its valves.

Elliott’s eyes close briefly, like he’s already regretting this. When they open again, something hungry burns behind them, dark and intense but nothing like the vacant, mindless hunger I remember from the lab.

He’s still in there.

Still Eli.

One hand settles carefully at my waist while the other sides into my hair, his fingers threading through the strands before gently tipping my head aside.

“Use your safe word if you have to,” he murmurs.