Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

NICHOLAS

W e fucked several more times that night, my need for Holly bordering on the insatiable. I knew it was the mating bond driving me to build an emotional bond with her, and I tried to keep my distance, but I feared it was too late. It was more than physical between us. I genuinely liked Holly, even the silly questions she asked. She brought joy and light wherever she went. She was the sun to my darkness, brightening my night, and I didn’t want to lose her.

Yet, I knew the day was quickly approaching when I would have to make a decision. Remain in exile from my family and stay with Holly, or return to my family and be at peace. I was tired from being on the road, alone, and hiding my nature. I didn’t have to hide from Holly, but what kind of life could I offer her in her world? And I knew she would be in danger in mine.

I would have to let her go. Vampires, while technically “out” in the world, were not really accepted and still faced persecution. Alone, I was more at risk, which placed Holly at risk. If I could bring her into the clan with me, she might be safe, but my clan had little use for humans. I couldn’t risk her life. I had to let her go.

Dawn was peeking over the horizon. I could feel the sun rising as lethargy seeped into my bones. I didn’t need to sleep when the sun rose, but I felt more tired. And, since I needed to feed, I was even more tired than usual. I closed my eyes, settling into the feel of Holly’s gentle stroking on my skin.

“You feel cold today,” she said, breaking the silence.

I opened my eyes. “What?”

“Every time we’ve slept together, you’ve been warm, almost like a furnace. But today, you’ve been cold.” She shifted her body so she could look up at me. “You need to feed, don’t you?”

I nodded, unable to deny the truth.

She laid her chin on my chest. “You intended to feed from Harold when you did the wood, didn’t you? But you didn’t.”

I shrugged. “He’s older, and his heart is not the best. It wouldn’t be good for him if I took his blood, especially with a storm coming. He needed his strength.”

She frowned, her brow furrowing. “You fed from the guys who chased us. Didn’t you take enough?”

I remembered their blood. It was polluted, and I hadn’t wanted to drink more than I had to. I grimaced but explained anyway. “Blood is food for us. Some of it is good, and other is more like fast food. And then there is polluted blood, with drugs or illness. Their blood wasn’t very good. It wouldn’t sustain me long.”

She pondered my words for a moment, while the fire crackled and snapped. “Would my blood be good?”

My gums ached at the innocent question, at what she was unknowingly offering. But I tried to keep an even expression, not betray by eagerness. “Your blood would be a five-course exquisite dining experience.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect that. I would have thought that you’d get a sugar high from all the pastries I eat. I’m not exactly into Michelin restaurants or anything fancy.”

I hugged her closer. “It’s not always what you eat.”

In her case, it was what she meant to me. The mating bond meant she was the one person designed to nourish me beyond all others. Her blood would be the sweetest addiction I would ever experience. One taste and I would be ruined for all others. Everyone else would be a pale comparison, if I could stomach drinking from another.

“Then you should drink from me.” I opened my mouth, but she rushed on before I could speak. “I need you fully prepared to defend me, and if you’re weak from not feeding, then you can’t protect me. This is really selfish of me.”

I scented her arousal rising, and I knew she meant her words, that she wanted me to feed from her, but it was just a means to an end. She was intrigued by the concept, eager for the experience. Her blood rushed through her veins, and my fangs ached to sink into her flesh, to taste the blood I could scent just under the skin.

She struggled to a sitting position and drew her hair to one side, tilting her head, exposing her neck to me, her body braced for pain. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

Oh fuck. I couldn’t resist what was so sweetly offered. I groaned and sat. “Never offer this to another vampire, or you’ll find yourself fucked and bitten in that order.”

Her eyes widened, and I laughed. “Yeah, I meant it. We’ll do this my way.”

I took her swollen lips in a gentle kiss. “Thank you for your offering. I promise it won’t hurt.”

She relaxed minutely. “I trust you, Nick.”

This woman. She was too good for me. I pulled her over me until she straddled my lap, my cock trapped between her legs. We leisurely kissed, her arousal growing as our tongues dueled. She tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer and began to rock over my erection, her slick pussy rubbing generously over me. My cock hit her clit every so often, and she gasped as I rubbed against her. I moved a hand between us to tweak her clit, and she began to move more frantically, her moans growing louder.

I lifted her enough to let my cock notch in her entrance, then she settled back down, my cock stretching her until I was fully seated. She began to move, rolling and rising on me, faster and faster, chasing her orgasm. I licked her throat, over her pulse point, tasting the sweat that lingered there and the hint of sweet blood just under the surface. As the flutters of her orgasm began squeezing my cock, I struck, my fangs sinking deep into her carotid artery.

She stiffened at the momentary flash of pain, and her orgasm hit at the same time. She screamed my name, her body clenching around me. My own release exploded, and her blood filled my mouth, the sweetest taste I had never had. I drank deeply, knowing I would be addicted to Holly, not knowing how I would let her go after this.

Finally, Holly slumped against me, her orgasm complete. I licked her neck closed and settled against the headboard, cuddling her against my chest. She drowsily kissed my chest.

“That was amazing. Does it feel that way for everyone?”

“Never.”

How could I let her go?

Holly

I relaxed, draped over Nick’s chest, completely sated and wrung out. Those last orgasms had done me in. I had expected his bite to hurt, and while there had been a momentary flash of pain when he first sunk his fangs in, it was quickly replaced by a pleasure so intense, I had almost blacked out. I never feared that Nick would get carried away or harm me. Instead, he’d given me more pleasure than I had ever experienced. Now I had to figure out what this meant.

Were we starting something, or was this a one night, convenience kind of thing? He needed to eat, and I was available? Heck, what did I want it to be?

Relationships had always taken a back seat in my life, mostly because I’d been so terrible at them. My schedule was too erratic. I was too busy. And most guys were leeches, always taking advantage. It was easier to be alone, but often lonely. After my grandparents died, I moved from their farm, selling it to pay their medical bills. I didn’t miss the town where I’d grown up. I never really felt like I belonged there. Maybe it was being raised by my grandparents, feeling like I had responsibilities, things I had to do that my classmates didn’t have. Leaving the town wasn’t a big deal. I had no ties once they were gone.

Spending the past few days with Nick had reminded me of what I had been missing, what I hadn’t even known I wanted. And I wanted more.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?” His voice was a rumble under my cheek where I rested on his chest.

My hand idly traced a pattern on his very impressive abs, outlining his washboard stomach. “Are you feeling a sugar high from my blood? I ate a lot of cookies last night.”

He chuckled. “It doesn’t quite work that way.”

I propped my chin on his chest. “You said it did for drugs.”

“Sugar isn’t a drug. Not in the same way as other chemicals. How are you feeling?”

His tone was sharper, his expression intense as he studied me for signs of distress. His concern warmed my heart. It had been so long since someone cared about how I felt. Tears pricked my eyes and blurred my vision.

“Holly? Are you okay?” Alarmed filled his voice, and he sat up, dislodging me.

I struggled to a sitting position. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

He gripped my shoulders gently and peered into my eyes as if he could read my mind. “Are you sure? Did I take too much from you?”

I laughed. “Take too much? Nick, you blew my mind. I’m going to need to stay in bed to recover all damned day.” I shifted on the bed, feeling the soreness between my thighs. “Well, I might need a long bath somewhere in there, too.”

He grinned, too satisfied with himself. “I can ask Mae to bring you something to eat to recover your strength.”

I rolled my eyes. “I certainly am not walking down there. I don’t want to face any of our neighbors after last night.”

He leaned back against the headboard, and I settled against him again, sighing and closing my eyes. “What happens next?”

He paused for a long moment. “We check out the weather reports and leave as soon as we can. I’m not convinced your friends aren’t hot on your trail. I want to keep moving. Besides, midwinter is in a couple of days.”

“Yes, your deadline for getting home.”

“My family is expecting me for the holiday, or at least hoping I’ll be there.”

I twisting my head to look at him. “Hoping or expecting? They know you’re coming, right?”

He had the grace to look abashed. “I haven’t exactly told them I was on my way. It was a snail-mail letter. I had no time to reach out. At least I’m on my way.”

It didn’t escape my notice that Nick had avoided the point of my question. So I had to be more direct. “Nick, what happens to us?”

He was silent for so long that I didn’t think he was going to respond. Finally, he said, “I don’t know.”