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I shrug off my jacket, hanging it on one of the hooks next to the door. “Excellent,” I say, meeting her gaze. “Thank you for your assistance.”
She catches her lip between her teeth and nods, her pulse ticking unevenly, then offers a wide smile. “Oh, of course! Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to make your visit more pleasant.”
Nodding, my lips curl into a hint of a smile as I turn away from her, walking toward the sitting area. The air is filled with the faint scent of lavender and vanilla, and my shoes make barely any sound on the soft beige area rug on the floor.
The door clicks shut as I lower myself onto the couch and let out a slow breath. This place is a little much for me, but coming recommended by Marcel, I know it’s good. Plus, I need to feed. It may as well be from a willing human who is being compensated for her… donation instead of some unsuspecting human off the street. The act of feeding was something I used to enjoy. I relished in the feeling of overtaking my prey, bending them to my will, and taking their life force to make myself stronger.
A shudder ripples through me, and I blink hard. That was a very long time ago. I was a different person then, under the thumb of the monster who created me. She was also the first woman I ever loved.
I growl low in my throat, shoving away those thoughts and clenching my jaw before I realize a small red-headed woman has slipped into the room.
Her wide brown eyes flit around, and she stammers, “I’m sorry. Should I come back?”
“No.” I force my expression to soften. “Please come in. I apologize. It’s been…” I stop myself, then repeat, “Please come in.”
She closes the door and approaches slowly. I see the hesitation in her gaze and the uneven beat of her heart. She’s wearing light gray scrubs as if she’s about to give me a massage.
I shift closer to the edge of the couch, resting my hands casually in my lap. “Have you done this before?” I ask, attempting to put the young woman, Jackie, I recall the receptionist mentioning, at ease. It’s been too long since I fed, and all I want to do is tear into her throat, but I can control myself. I can make this experience enjoyable for her.
The tension in her shoulders fades a little, and she smiles. “Oh, yes. I’ve been in the service of vampires for many years.”
That has my brows lifting. She doesn’t look much older than Emerson. “How many years?” I ask as she walks around the glass coffee table in front of the couch and sits next to me, angling her body toward mine.
“You think I’m too young,” she says with a smile. Her pulse has returned to a normal pace; she’s becoming more relaxed around me.
I lean against the back of the couch, resting my arm along it as I turn to face her as well. “How oldareyou?”
She purses her lips. “How old areyou?”
A surprised laugh escapes me. “Ah, come on. I asked you first.”
It’s her turn to laugh. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
I shrug. “Guess.”
“Based on your comeback, I’d say you can’t be much older than twenty-five.” Her voice takes on a flirtatious tone, and the predator in me latches on to it before I can stop myself. I might have the self-control to keep myself from killing her, but playing into this game we’ve started is another story.
“Hmm. Take that and multiply it by five and you’ll be a little closer.” I shift toward her, snaring her gaze. Her breath hitches before I say, “Your turn.”
Her eyes stay locked on mine. “I’m twenty-seven.” She collects the hair from her neck, pulling it over her shoulder. “But people have always thought I was younger.” She shrugs. “Must have something to do with my genes. Anyway…” She moves closer and turns her head, exposing her throat. “Whenever you’re ready.”
The moment my eyes land on the pulse in her neck, my fangs spring forward and my throat burns so intensely, I’m reaching for her, sliding my arm around her narrow waist and pulling her closer in a matter of seconds. My nose grazes her neck first, making her shiver against me, and I inhale before sinking my fangs into her carotid artery. Blood flows into my mouth, the hot, metallic taste exploding on my tongue. My eyes close, and I drink deeply, warmth trickling through me as I regain my strength. Her heartbeat slows, and she leans into me more, but I don’t stop. She moans, and the sound goes right to my cock.
My eyes fly open, and I pull away from her, standing and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I’ve had more than enough for now, anyway.
She slumps against the back of the couch, her eyelids fluttering as blood runs down the side of her neck. Shit. I should have healed the bite marks. Too late. I’m already backing toward the door, grabbing my jacket and shrugging it on. I reach for the door handle, but stop myself, letting out a ragged breath before walking back to the couch. I pull Jackie forward and drag my tongue along the small puncture marks, sealing them. When I pull back, her eyes are still closed and her lips are curved into a content smile. She’s been at this a while, which likely means she’s addicted to this feeling. The headiness, the feeling of floating… I remember it all too well.
I lift my hand to her face, tucking a bit of her hair behind her ear. “Take care,” I murmur before heading for the door again. This time, I don’t hesitate. I leave the room, closing the door behind me.
Luckily, Emerson isn’t at the desk when I walk through the reception area, so I slip back outside without further interaction with her.
My strides are hurried. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I need to keep moving. I haven’t been that affected by a feed in a long time. On the precipice of losing control—and being aroused by it. I could have done anything to that girl, and she would have let me—my venom would’ve made her think shewantedit, even if she truly didn’t.
I pick up my pace, weaving through people on the sidewalk. If the street weren’t so busy, I would have used my vampire speed to get the hell out of here by now.
Trying to blend in among the humans can really be a pain in the ass sometimes.
4
