Page 74 of Those That Defy the Realm

“Fine,” I reluctantly agree, sighing. I hate that I’m feeling weak, but traveling so much in a few days, and my busy schedule from the last couple of months, is finally catching up with me. I can feel sleep dragging at my consciousness as Claire moves off me. It’s as if my body knows it can finally rest now I’ve seen both my partners and am back in close proximity to my pack.

My female helps me undress, and I even let her help me unstrap my prosthetic. Rubbing my stump, Claire inspects the reddened skin around the socket.

“Has it rubbed?”

“Yeah, it’ll heal overnight. The ferry was so busy I had to stand for most of the journey, balancing on a boat can irritate it a little.”

“Would some more blood help?” Claire asks. I’d drunk a packet earlier, but I had noticed how I’d been needing more than usual recently.

“Probably, but I’ll be fine till morning.” I’ve just taken my leg off; I couldn’t be bothered to get another packet from the stocked fridge downstairs.

“Here.” Claire holds out her wrist in such a casual gesture I freeze. Well, my body freezes, my fangs immediately descend.

“I shouldn’t drink from you.” I’ve explained about mating bonds to both her and Ash. How I wouldn’t risk drinking from either of them when we spend so much time giving each other orgasms, I wouldn’t want to accidentally forge a bond.

“I’ve not come all day, and we are about to sleep. Surely it’s okay if you drink from me now and then fuck me in the morning.”

Her logic seems hard to argue with, she’s not incorrect.

“Just a little.” I take her outstretched wrist in my hand. “You’re sure? Have you ever fed a vampire before?”

“No, but if you suck on people without them knowing it can’t hurt that much, can it?”

I can’t help the small chuckle. “We tend to go for those inebriated with alcohol if we drink from a live source, numbs the senses.”

“But Rory told me you drank from the wolves all the time when you were in the Northern Isles.” It seems my girlfriend and leader are sharing more and more with one another. I’m glad to see their relationship is growing once more. I’m sure the last eighteen months tested it to breaking point.

“That is true. It’ll sting slightly but shouldn’t be painful. Not if the vampire cares at all.”

“Well then, I’m sure I’ll find it positively pleasant, you love me after all,” she says, giving me a rueful smile.

Fuck, I love Claire’s more playful side. It was so rarely seen because of how she constantly seems to question each word before she says it. Thankfully now, she seems confident enough to let it out much more frequently.

“I do,” I tell her and tug her closer by her wrist.

Lifting her arm, I place a kiss to the soft skin on the underside, right where her veins sit. Inhaling her scent, my fangs throb at the thought of tasting her. All the fantasies I’ve had rush over me, of me freely drinking from her veins, a mate bond already in place.

My fangs slip into her skin as she gasps. I don’t go too deep, just enough to pierce one vein, and I lift my teeth as soon as I get the first hit of blood.

Sucking gently, I only take a couple of mouthfuls before using my saliva to seal the wound with my tongue. Packeted blood is perfectly good for our needs but it doesn’t compare to the hot wet taste of fresh blood. Claire’s is rich, bold, and lingers on my tongue after I’ve swallowed. There’s a hint of woodland that I wouldn’t expect from a human, but the rush hits my body, and Claire is quick to lean down and kiss my lips as I release her wrist.

I keep my lips sealed, not wanting her to taste the blood, but she persists until I open for her. She swirls her tongue against mine, before brushing my canines. Even though they’ve ascended into my jaw, the regular length teeth are more sensitive and cause me to shudder.

“Sorry,” Claire says, pulling back. “I just needed to kiss you after that.”

“You don’t need to apologise for anything you do to me,” I tell her honestly. “I only resisted because I didn’t think you’d want to taste your own blood.”

Blood which was quickly sinking into my system and filling my own veins. The lingering warmth from the feed already working on my body.

“I didn’t mind it,” Claire replies with an edge of contemplation. “And I liked being able to provide for you in that way.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “Your blood tasted as delicious as I imagined.”

She blushes at the compliment.

We climb under the covers and wrap ourselves around one another, the softest sheets I’ve ever felt creating a cocoon around us. It feels so right, like we’re made for each other, two pieces that fit perfectly.

The only thing missing is our wolf shifter.