Chapter 18

D ominic

"There is one thing I wanted to talk to you about," I said, mustering the bravery to look across the center console at Trixie. "If you don't mind."

She'd insisted on driving when we left the apartment. I wondered if it'd had anything to do with my not-quite-offer to help her afford a new apartment. I'd seen the look in her eyes the minute I'd said it. The awful hesitation. Then I'd sensed the tiniest withdrawal from her afterward.

I took a breath. I'd been doing that more often, breathing voluntarily around Trixie. I wasn't sure if I was doing it to put her at ease, or if it was a newly developed nervous tic, or if it was just something that made me feel a little more human in ways I hadn't felt in decades. If maybe I wanted Trixie to see me as a living, breathing man instead of the vampire I was.

"Okay," she said cautiously. "You can talk to me about anything, Dom. You know that."

"Well, this isn't exactly my business." I glanced out the window, then back to her. "It's about your magic."

"My magic?" Trixie lowered her voice. "What about it?"

"I have someone I'd like you to meet."

"Thanks for the offer." Trixie shook her head. "But you've already done enough for me."

"Her name's Belinda. She's a mixed-species potions master who is very good at her job. "

Trixie's eyes narrowed. "Is this the woman responsible for getting me hopelessly jumbled with your reply to my hate hex?"

"The one and only," I said with a wince. "You have to admit, she's very talented at what she does."

"I'll say."

"Belinda is focused on love," I told Trixie. "It's sort of her thing. She voluntarily spends her days peddling love potions to mortals on Venice Beach, yet she's got immense power. What I think you might like about her is that she makes her magic work for her, and not the other way around. I think you could benefit from talking to her. It doesn't have to turn into anything if you don't want. Just meet her."

"Just meet her. Like it's that easy."

"One meeting. I'll set it up, you can see what she has to say, and then I'll back off and never mention your magic again. At least, not for at least a decade. Plus, I'll set up the meeting at Le Jardín."

"Le Jardín?" Trixie practically drooled at the mention of an elusive invitation.

I knew her weak spots. Mostly plants and caffeine. It was very powerful knowledge.

"Fine," Trixie caved. "I'll meet Belinda."

"You will?"

"Don't look so shocked." Trixie grinned at me. "You knew I'd agree the second you said Le Jardín." She faux scolded me. "With great power comes great responsibility. Wield my weaknesses wisely."

I looked at her, feeling the empty cavern in my chest swell with something that didn't feel so empty anymore. Trixie smiled out the front window, the hesitation between us evaporating. She looked as if she were absorbing the bright morning rays like a sunflower, the sun glinting off her hair like ethereal sparkles.

"I would never hurt you, Trixie," I managed gruffly, tensing at the way her neck was exposed in the sunlight. I gritted my teeth together, physically having to battle off a wave of bloodlust that hit me unlike anything I'd ever felt before. "In any way. I want you to know that."

She blinked at me, probably surprised by my erratic outburst. Hell, I'd surprised myself. But it was out there now, and it couldn't be taken back. We made the rest of the drive in a contemplative silence, both of us lost in our thoughts.

"What was that back there?" she asked softly. "Please, Dom, I want the truth."

"You do something to me, Trixie," I told her. "Something I haven't felt in years. The way I desire to be around you..." I shrugged. "It's like bloodlust, but something else entirely. Something more."

"Bloodlust?" Trixie contemplated. A tiny smile turned her lips upward, her eyes sparkled, and I could tell she was going to lighten the mood in a way only she knew how. "Dominic Kent, are you telling me that you want to eat me?"

"Eat you?" I balked.

"Drink my blood, whatever."

I swallowed hard. "I—hell, Trixie. I don't even know how to answer that."

"Honestly?" she prompted with a coy little smile .

I raised a hand, tucked her hair behind her ear. "On a serious note, I do want you to know I have my bloodthirst under control."

"I know that. Never doubted it." Trixie looked more carefully at me. "I've heard rumors that sometimes vampires bite their mates. You know, in a pleasurable way. Not to hurt them."

I hedged, then reluctantly nodded. "Yes, sometimes. It's a sacrifice, the ultimate sign of trust. It bonds two mates in a way that nothing else can."

"I see." Trixie nodded, as if the idea wasn't totally unappealing to her. "Don't worry, Dom. I've never doubted you. I trust you."

"I've never felt this way about anyone else," I admitted. "I'm not entirely sure what it means, but Trixie, I do think it means something."

Her eyes, so pure and sweet and trusting, looked up at me so round and filled with wonder, as if I'd told her something truly magnificent. As if she had no real idea how close she might be to real danger.

In two seconds, I could snap her neck, drain the blood out of her, crush her between my hands. And yet she looked at me so very trusting, completely open and vulnerable as she tilted her neck up. She tilted her neck just enough so I could see the veins working there, smell the tantalizing scent that was only Trixie. Like roses and earth and honey.

I didn't think Trixie could get any more damn beautiful, but when she looked into my eyes with complete honesty, something inside of my chest broke. Whatever I was feeling for this woman, it was growing rapidly, at a crazy, crushing pace. I didn't know what it was: love, fated mates, friendship. All I knew was that I needed to kiss her.

I drew my lips to hers, pressed them there—hard. I needed to kiss Trixie Gardens like my life depended on it. I was starting to think that maybe it did, because at this point, if I couldn't have Trixie in my life, I wasn't sure what the point was of being on this earth.

I was breathless when we pulled away from one another. Both of us wanted more, no doubt about it. But a parking garage was hardly the spot for it.

Trixie's chest heaved. Her cheeks were flushed. That sparkle was back in her eye.

"So..." she said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you think I'd taste delicious?"

"Good Lord, Trixie." I groaned, looking away so she couldn't see my amusement. "Don't tempt me."