31. REN

THIRTY-ONE

ren

The door creaked, allowing some light into the room I was being held in. I remained still, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I would continue to rot unless Calliope let me the fuck go. The bitch wouldn’t kill me, of that much I was sure. We shared too much history . . .

My eyes shut at the blinding light and someone stumbled into the room, thudding on the metal floor. I squinted to see her fall to her knees, her long hair whipping over her face and hiding her features as the door shut and encased the room in pitch black.

“There was no need to be so harsh,” a lilting feminine voice muttered, and cloth rustled as she brushed at her clothing. There was no light in the space. It was sealed to perfection. My chains rattled as I crossed my ankles.

The girl sucked in a breath, and the room was so insulated I could hear her heart racing from where I sat. I leaned my head back, the chains rattling with my movement, and waited for the sacrificial lamb to move.

Calliope must know I was deteriorating. With the thirst gnawing at my insides, I was bound to rip her apart. My meal moved and wafted a fresh wave of her scent toward me. The small bit of blood in me sped to my cock.

My cock hardened and my fangs exploded from my mouth. Just a little closer and I could drag her into my arms . . .

“Ren?”

She knew my name?

Something hit my shoe and a soft body slammed into my chest.

My body went taut. Palms settled on my shoulders, they felt tiny as they grazed my bare chest through the frayed, torn shirt. What was she doing?

Touching me so easily. My cock throbbed along with my fangs. Hunger burned through my veins.

If it was a trick, I’d draw it out as much as I could. I savored playing with my prey.

“You’re Ren, right?”

I grunted in response, and she exhaled like she was... relieved?

“At least this wasn’t for nothing.” I was even more confused than when she’d first called my name. And I didn’t like it. Confusion meant lack of control. “I know I’m acting like a stage-five clinger right now, but I don’t like the dark.” Her fingers flexed on my arm and she pressed herself closer to me—so trustingly.

She exhaled shakily. Warmth radiated from her body, and I ran my tongue over my fang.

I lifted her higher onto my lap so her thighs spread wide against mine. I wrapped my hand in her long hair. “You’re hurting me.” Panic coated her words, exciting me more. Her small hands pushed against my face and I winced when she poked my eye.

“Oh, that was wet. I’m sorry, was that your eye?” she cried out. My teeth clicked tightly together. The human was ruining everything.

I yanked her long tresses to drag her throat to my fangs. She desperately shoved at my chest, but it was no use. With an explosion of breath, she lunged at me, sinking her blunt teeth into my shoulder. I froze as her teeth buried harder into my skin.

She bit me.

Fisting her hair, I pulled, but she held on, her teeth sinking in harder, to the point that she broke skin. Her mouth suctioned at the wound and my cock twitched. I groaned, my hips twitching up toward her ass resting on my lap.

What . . . ?

Her sweet smell warmed my senses and her presence became a thing I could mentally feel, not just physically. So much so that I could practically taste her. Fuck, she’d taken my blood and my brain was so fogged from lack of nourishment that I hadn’t had the presence of mind to stop it.

As she lifted, she dragged her tongue across my throat and my cock twitched, forcing my hips to grind up again. “I know you must be hungry, but please be gentle,” she murmured, pressing her neck to my mouth. What the fuck was this girl? Her hand shook against my chest.

I struck, sinking my fangs deeps into her skin, sucking the savory blood into my throat—the searing, blistering hunger abated. Lessening the burn.

Her arms lifted around my shoulders, but she couldn’t get them around properly since she was small. Blood spread on my tongue and the taste seeped into me. She was divine. The best thing I’d ever tasted. Wagashi, mochi, dorayaki . . . every savory dessert I could have conjured from my childhood. Food I had not tasted in so long, the taste that had faded since my vampire birth centuries ago.

I tightened my hold when she tried to move, but she just readjusted her position, spreading her legs so she straddled me more comfortably. My dick thickened painfully and I groaned, grinding up between her splayed, straining thighs.

She gasped and moaned, meeting my grinding thrusts. Her fingers speared into my hair and I tensed. I hated having my hair touched, but the feel of them melting into my scalp was gentle, and I clasped her tighter.

My biceps flexed around her waist as we ground against each other, savoring the increasing pleasure. My balls drew tight, needy and aching to release.

If I wasn’t shackled... If I had her splayed before me, I would litter her skin with bites. She tasted succulent and I wanted more. I pressed my fangs into her harder, opening the entrances in her neck so more blood could freely flow into my mouth.

A moan ripped from my chest and I balled her hair in my hand, arching her back. She cried out and I blanked. Blood. I wanted it. I wanted her.

Her little fingers flexing on my arm shoved at me. This taste deserved to be savored, so she would not die today. I’d already taken more than was safe, her shoves were weak and she swayed. I groaned as I laved my tongue across the large punctures I’d created and licked the taste from my lips.

She trembled and buried her head in the crook of my neck. My cock twitched at the feel of her breath on my flesh. Wetness spread on my skin and she sniffled, holding me tighter.

What the fuck was wrong with this human? Why was she grabbing onto me like this?

“I’m scared, Ren.” The warbling tone punched my stomach and I ground my teeth at the uncomfortable pressure crawling up my ribcage. Her sleep-filled words were ended by a soft snore as she cuddled closer, her face resting on my shoulder.

What the fuck?