15. ASHER

FIFTEEN

asher

I pressed my lips to Catalina’s cheek and felt her smile. She lowered her head, clearing her throat. Pet was shy. Her reactions didn’t fail to enthrall me. Everything she did pulled me, and I couldn’t stop touching her. It was an addiction I didn’t want to be rid of. Her skin was silky smooth, and I wanted to curl into her body forever, which was a tall order, considering my immortality.

We’d slept well through the morning. It was close to sunset when she shot up like a bullet. I could tell because my limbs felt weighed down, but I’d managed to be aware of my surroundings. Any moment now, the automatic window panels to block out the sun during the day would begin to rise. Her knee dug into my side and I squinted to find her staring at me. The rapid thumps of her heart calmed down. It warmed my dead heart in a way it never had been. Pet was an anxious bundle, and she was usually so good at attempting to mask her fear. She made me feel things I didn’t know how to describe but all I wanted was to wrap her in my arms.

A temporary thing, I was sure. I’d never experienced desire anywhere near this level, but sex was sex. Even good fucking sex. I’d fuck myself out of this odd obsession soon. I’d already allowed her more liberties than I’d ever allowed a human. She’d slept beside me while I was utterly vulnerable.

Today would be a step forward in the search for Ren. She would enter Calliope’s den. I didn’t think the pretty human was prepared, but we had no choice. Coaching her a bit more about how she should behave in the lounge should have been priority last night instead of fucking her, but I hadn’t been able to help it.

My gaze dropped to her bronze neck and my cock tented the silk sheet. She already had me hard and primed for her, den lilla katten .

In my long existence, her blood was the closest thing to heavenly I’d ever encountered. I understood Tobias’s uncharacteristic draw to her. The way we were wrapped up in her was because of her delicious blood.

Biting her was an unmatched experience, she embraced it and loved it. Not in a way a blood-whore sought it out, or one of those fear-filled humans that always had to get their minds wiped by the end. She was different and my fangs ached to sink into her at all moments of the day. Even now I itched to sink them into her when I’d fed too much last night already.

I’d never lost myself the way I did with her. Never come in my fucking slacks that way either. Then she made me come twice in her slick cunt. Her little pussy squeezing me tightly. I was the first cock in her.

The memory sent a shudder down my spine. Even as a whore, I’d never been with a virgin. I wasn’t fixated on how many lovers my women had, nor had I ever cared. But a strange billowing in my chest when I sheathed my dick in her wasn’t something I could ignore and I’d lost control.

But it was only because it was her.

Then there was my reaction to our conversation before we fucked. An odd knot in my gut had been present since then. Another vampire biting her... fucking her... had nothing to do with me . As I could—would do the same. Unbound and free.

The knot tightened in my chest. It became easier to move as the weight lessened. I stretched my arms up and set them under my head. Catalina finally relaxed next to me in bed, slipping close to my side. Every time she was close it reminded me of the sunlight beaming on my skin. I struggled to grab onto the memory with each year further from my vampire birth. Or like the comforting heat from a fireplace.

“The clothing should be here today. I chose some outfits for you that will grab the attention of the vampire you’re going to seduce into taking you to the back.” Saying the words made me angry. I forced my fangs back in.

Catalina hummed and nudged her nose against my neck. My cock and throat tightened at the sweet movement.

My cock twitched and my fangs distended.

“Are you sure you’re okay to go in there?” Where was this coming from? There was no choice. Yet, I couldn’t stop the question.

Cat lowered guards I didn’t even know I had.

I gripped her hip and she smiled up at me, the shy tilt of her mouth drawing me in. Pressing my lips to hers, I swiftly moved back when my fangs ached with the need to bury them in her. If I drain her dry, I will not be able to savor her .

“Is there something specific I should be listening for?” I flexed my hand into her hair.

“Mentions of Ren. Or Crimson.” The corner of her lips tipped down.

The doorbell rang, it was an annoying echo at the back of my head. Catalina did not react. She’d not heard it.

“Asher.” I ignored Tobias’s roar. It wasn’t rare that he was pissed about something or other.

My eyelids slid shut. Right. I’d scheduled these take-out orders weekly so I could sneak some human blood straight from the source. Perfect time to get a feeding.

“Come with me, Pet.” I pushed to standing and held my hand out to help her up. She frowned, obviously leery about following me, but she slipped her hand in mine.

Her long legs peeked from the shirt I’d given her and the honey color of her skin caused my cock to spasm. Her hips swayed with every step and my fingers twitched to grip them. If I fucked her, I wouldn’t stop from feeding. I gritted my molars, accidentally nicking my lip. Newbie move. I left my door open and Catalina quietly followed me down the stairs, sending me a confused look.

Tobias glared at me and all I could see of Cat was her head tilting to the side and her long lush hair rustled down her back like an onyx waterfall.

A girl slightly younger than Cat stood at the threshold, her eyes wide on Tobias. Fascination sparkled in their depths, and it only deepened when she turned in my direction.

“Delivery for Asher Crimson,” she breathed, lifting the bag of cardamom buns I’d ordered. She licked her lips, her eyes trailing down my naked chest. Since the girl was here, I may as well top up so I didn’t have to feed on Catalina today before we headed out. I couldn’t have her passing out before then.

“Come here, sweets,” I purred. The girl blinked at me and her eyes unfocused. She moved forward, toward me, and stopped a foot away. She seemed vaguely familiar; she must be from the last time I’d had a delivery.

“Sweets.” I gripped her arms as she slid her hands up my chest. Catalina sucked in an audible breath.

“I-I’ll go wait in the kitchen,” Cat stammered and left the foyer. I’d hoped she’d wait for me. I frowned at her retreating back; spine straight as a pole.

Tobias shoulder checked me as he stepped past me. What was his problem?

My attention was dragged away from where Cat disappeared by the flexing hand on my shoulder. “Ah, sweets, tilt your head to the side a bit.” She immediately did as I ordered, and her eyes slid shut as her breathing elevated.

Compulsion didn’t work on Cat like it did on other humans. What was wrong with her that she could withstand it?

Why was I thinking of Catalina before feeding? My meal deserved my full attention.

Lowering my head, I paused near her neck. The scent of her skin made my nose wrinkle. There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with her smell, but it was overwhelmingly off, like it didn’t suit my taste.

It wasn’t the liquid sunlight I’d been surrounded by for the last few days.

I pursed my lips and gripped her wrist to my mouth, forcing my reluctant fangs out. The tip grazed the thin line of her skin. The paper-thin flesh housed blue veins running down her arm.

Nothing like Catalina’s. Her scent not only attracted vampires, but humans as well. Like that filthy human at the shelter.

The knot tightened painfully. Aggression lashed at my insides. I clenched my hands until blood dripped from my palms.

What was this emotion?

The girl whimpered in pain. I loosened my grip as she jerked away with pain marring her expression. Gouges graced her arm. Ten of them, all from my fingers.

“No noise.” I tsked.

Lifting my fingers, I licked my bloodied fingertips. I grimaced. That was disgusting compared to the delicacy of Catalina’s blood.

I sighed and tipped the girl’s face up, peering into the pained eyes.

“Forget everything that happened as soon as the door opened. You made your delivery and on your way out, caught your arms on a jagged gate.” She nodded and turned on her heel, closing the door behind her. I didn’t bother healing the slices in her wrist.

My loafers shuffled over the carpet leading to the living room where Catalina waited for me. A grin tugged at the corners of my lips. I was only away from her for a split moment, but I wanted back in her presence.

She perched at the edge of the diner seat, her arms crossed as she looked at her tapping foot engulfed in one pair of my slippers.

“All done?” The question sounded light and even. Her gaze didn’t sparkle with that happiness she’d had while nuzzling into my chest. Was she getting sick?

I pressed my palm to her forehead and it was rather hot.

“You’re coming down with something.” Panic squeezed my chest and the dead heart in my chest tightened. I knelt in front of her, peering into her eyes to look for any cloudiness. My prior training rushed to the forefront, something I’d never turned to.

My thumb pressed into her wrist to time her heart rate. It was accelerated but there were no other irregularities.

Her shoulders seemed especially tight and there was a little indent between her brows. I leaned over and smoothed it with my finger. Her brown eyes met mine, tension bracketing her mouth. She leaned away from me.

“Are you nauseous?”

Her eyes flitted to the side and she nodded tightly.

“We’re going to the lounge soon, but if you continue not to feel well, we’ll postpone it.”

Cat cleared her throat and nodded tightly.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, but I should go wait at home until you’re ready to leave.”

“Stay here, I’ll watch over you.” I trailed a finger up her leg. A shiver trembled her hand but she jerked her leg away from my touch, smiling tightly. My brows furrowed. What was wrong with her?

She shook her head.

There seemed to be anger to the line of her flattened lips.

I pinched her chin and peered into her eyes, but she refused to meet them.

“Are you unwell?”

Her chin tipped in a jerky head shake, and she finally looked at me. It wasn’t easy to read what she was thinking, but the irritation practically shouted from her gaze. I couldn’t understand where the swirling anger came from. Catalina’s temper had hinted out before, but she’d never released it, like right now.

“What’s wrong, Catalina?” I murmured, my mouth hovering over hers.

“Nothing.” She yanked her chin out of my grip, and my fingers curled at her absence. “I’ll see you later. I have to feed my cat and clean my bed.”

I trailed after her as she made her way down the hall, my shirt grazing her thighs. She didn’t even retrieve her clothing or shoes.

The door slammed after her pretty little ass and I frowned.