9. Christos

9

CHRISTOS

I slump against the cabin wall, my strength ebbing away. The fledgling's attack took more out of me than I expected. Aria's eyes are wide, a mix of fear and concern etched across her face.

"I'll get you help," she says, her voice trembling.

"No." The word comes out harsher than I intend. "I just need to hunt."

I try to push myself up, but my limbs feel like lead. The wound in my side throbs, a constant reminder of my weakened state.

Aria's gaze flicks to the window and the trees beyond, then back to me. I see the moment realization dawns in her eyes. She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.

"You need blood, don't you?"

I freeze, caught off guard by her directness. "How did you-"

"I'm not stupid, Christos. I've seen things. Those men before... and now this." She gestures at my wound. "You're some kind of vampire, aren't you?"

I want to deny it, but the words stick in my throat. She takes a step closer, her scent washing over me. My fangs ache, desperate to extend.

"Take mine," she says softly.

The offer hangs in the air between us, electric and dangerous. My body screams for me to accept, to sink my teeth into her soft flesh and drink deeply. But I can't. I won't.

"Aria, you don't know what you're offering."

She moves closer, kneeling beside me. "I do. You saved my life. Let me save yours."

Her pulse thrums in her neck, and I want it. But this is a different kind of hunger… I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms.

"You don't understand. If I start, I might not be able to stop."

Aria reaches out, her warm hand cupping my cheek. The touch sends a jolt through my entire body.

"I trust you," she whispers.

The air between us crackles with tension. Her scent envelops me, intoxicating. I can hear her heart racing, see the slight tremble in her hand. Yet beneath the fear, there's something else. Desire.

I lean in, drawn by a force I can't explain. Her breath hitches as my lips brush her neck.

"Are you sure?" I murmur against her skin.

She nods, tilting her head to give me better access. "Yes."

I can't resist any longer. Please don't let me hurt her , I beg to Akeldama, to anyone. Please .

I've never bitten something without out Changing them or draining them, and I'm terrified. But I need to heal or I'll black out and kill her on accident. And I need to protect her.

Determined not to hurt her, my fangs extend, a weird taste flooding my mouth with it, and I gently pierce Aria's skin. She gasps, her body tensing for a moment before relaxing into my embrace.

The first taste of her blood is electric. It's unlike anything I've experienced before - rich, intoxicating, and alive with a vitality that surges through me. I drink deeply, feeling strength return to my limbs with each pull.

Aria's fingers tangle in my hair, holding me close. Her breath comes in short, shaky gasps, but not from pain. As I drink, I feel a strange sensation — something releasing from my fangs into her bloodstream. It's instinctual, something I've never consciously done before. But now that I'm focused on not hurting her…

"Christos," she murmurs, her voice thick with... pleasure?

I pull back slightly, searching her face. Her eyes are half-lidded, pupils dilated. There's no fear, no disgust - only a heady mix of desire and trust that makes my head spin.

"Are you okay?" I ask, voice rough.

She nods, a lazy smile curving her lips. "It doesn't hurt. It feels... good."

Relief washes over me. For the first time since I was Made, I'm not causing pain. The realization is staggering.

I return to her neck, lapping at the wound. Each swallow sends waves of warmth through my body, healing my injuries and awakening something primal within me. The line between hunger and desire blurs, leaving me dizzy with want.

Aria's hands roam my back, tracing the outline of my wings. The touch sends a jolt through my body. I growl low in my throat, pulling her closer.

As I drink, I'm acutely aware of every sound she makes, every subtle shift of her body against mine. Her heartbeat pounds in my ears, a steady rhythm that grounds me even as it threatens to sweep me away.

Aria's fingers dig into my shoulders, her body pressing against mine with an urgency that sends a shiver down my spine. "Christos, please," she begs, her voice a husky whisper that goes straight to my core. "I need you."

My body responds before my mind can catch up, pinning her against the cabin wall. Her heartbeat thunders in my ears, a primal rhythm that echoes the pulsing heat between us. I can smell her desire, taste it on my tongue, and it's intoxicating.

"Are you sure?" I growl, my voice barely recognizable. I'm hanging onto control by a thread, but I need her to be certain.

She answers by grinding against me, her eyes locked onto mine. "Yes," she gasps, "Yes, I'm sure."

That's all I need. My hands roam her body, tracing the curve of her hips, the softness of her skin. She moans, throwing her head back, exposing her neck. The sight of my bite marks on her flesh sends a surge of possessiveness through me.

I lean in, kissing the wounds, lapping at the few droplets of blood that well up. Aria shudders, her breath hitching. "More," she pleads, "I need more."

My fangs extend, piercing her skin again in a new place. This time, I'm more controlled, taking small sips, just enough to heighten her pleasure without weakening her. She cries out, her body arching into mine.

Her hands fumble with my clothes, pushing them aside. I help her, our movements clumsy and desperate. When we're finally skin to skin, I pause, taking in the sight of her. She's flushed, her eyes glazed with desire, her breath coming in short gasps. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

I lift her, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her arms loop around my neck, holding me close. I can feel her heart racing, her blood pulsing through her veins. It's a heady sensation, one that threatens to overwhelm me.

But I'm not lost to the bloodlust. Not this time. This time, it's different. This time, it's about her. About us.

I enter her slowly, carefully. She moans, her body adjusting to mine. I can feel her pleasure, taste it in her blood. It's a sensation unlike anything I've ever experienced.

With each thrust, I pepper her skin with bites, always careful, always controlled. Her blood singes through my veins, a fiery trail that sets my body ablaze. But it's not just the blood. It's her. It's the way she moves with me, the way she whispers my name like a prayer.

Her nails rake down my back, her body tensing. I can feel her climax building, her pleasure cresting. I want to push her over the edge, want to feel her shatter around me.

I sink my fangs into her neck one last time, releasing more venom. She screams, her body convulsing as wave after wave of euphoria crashes over her. The sensation sends me spiraling, my own release ripping through me with an intensity that leaves me shaking.

In the aftermath, we hold each other tightly, our breaths ragged, our hearts pounding in sync. Her blood hums in my veins, a warm, comforting presence that feels strangely... right. As I hold her, I realize that something has changed. Something fundamental.

But before I can put my finger on it, she stirs, her eyes fluttering open. And in their golden depths, I see a reflection of my own confusion, my own desire. My own need.

Oh fuck. I think I'm falling for a human.