Page 30 of The Donor’s Dilemma

A cluster of humans loitered on the benches that lined the street. They had jeered and shouted at her when she arrived, the usual donor/slut shaming that she had become accustomed to. Now they fell silent. Watching the donors exchange goodbyes before heading to their waiting rides.

“Is that what he’s like at home?” Sienna asked, watching Theo. “All hot and brooding?”

Verity didn’t trust herself to answer as she took him in. He was hot. The suit always got her flustered but there was something about the crisp polo shirt he wore, buttons undone and sleeves tight over biceps she had never noticed. It heated her blood.

He was also brooding.

“Only when I’m in trouble.” Verity scowled and Sienna gave her a tight-lipped smile.

“Well, don’t have too much fun,” Sienna said, but there was something in her voice. A seriousness that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Was Sienna trying to warn her?

“See you next week,” Verity said, heading for the car.

Theo didn’t say anything as she approached, only opened the passenger door in silent command. It would have irritated her if not for the relief in seeing him. Thank the gods she didn’t have to wait until Monday.

He didn’t smile though. Didn’t offer a hand or warmth as she climbed in, no comfort. He was still angry.

Buckling her seatbelt, she watched him move around the car and… fuck, waving to Mike. Another reason for the other donor to hate her.

Theo slid into his seat, started the engine and pulled out, not saying a word. It only took a moment for Verity to realise they weren’t heading for her house.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To talk,” he said.

“Where?”

“Not far.”

So, she sat in silence, waiting, until he pulled the car onto a narrow lane on the edge of a country park and found a lay-by. It was dark outside, pitch black. No streetlights, no people or houses. Nothing.

“Where are we?” She couldn’t bring herself to be scared of Theo; she trusted him too much, but he was still a vampire. And she had disobeyed him.

“Lovers Lane,” he said and Verity cocked an eyebrow. “A bit on the nose but we need to make a point.”

“We do?” she asked and he turned to her.

Frosty blue eyes bore into her, cold in both colour and expression. During donation, Verity had become accustomed to being close to him, but this felt different, trapped in the car before him. Truly alone. “You want people to believe that we’re…”

“Having sex,” he finished, making the idea sound more clinical than passionate. “How about I talk and do questions at the end?”

Though framed as a question, it wasn’t. So, Verity nodded, lacing her fingers on her lap.

Theo straightened his shirt, settling in his seat, readying himself for an uncomfortable conversation.

“So, clubs like SubRosa…”

“There are others?” Verity asked, and Theo shot her a glare. Questions at the end.

“Yes, most cities have one or two. The point of them… do you ever go out for dinner with friends?” he asked.

Verity nodded, she used to. Now at most she’d get a takeaway with Cora after closing the cafe, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Well, that’s the point of the clubs. When we… feed, it’s something we are expected to feel ashamed of among humans. Something we have to do behind closed doors. Sometimes… it sounds crass and I apologise for that…”

“It’s okay,” Verity said, and she meant it.

“Sometimes we want to enjoy a meal with friends too.” He looked away as he said it, like it really was something to be embarrassed of.