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“Don’t do that,” he whispers.

“Do what?”

“Justify something bad happening to you because you’re embarrassed about it.”

“I’m not embarrassed, I’m just…” I look away when I can’t find the words to describe how I’m feeling.

Maybe I am embarrassed?

He makes a strange, almost choked sound, and I look back at him, noting he’s even paler than normal. His eyes are closed, and even his lips are turning a weird shade of white. He’s still hot though.

I place my hand on his arm, and he opens his eyes. “Felix, you need to eat,” I say gently. “Just let me feed you. Even if it’s only this once.”

He swallows, then sighs. When he nods, I blow out a breath of relief.

“Just this once,” he says.

I pull him toward the bed. I sit down, ignoring the box the toy was in that’s bringing back memories of him using it on me because that’s not what I need to be thinking about right now.

He sits beside me, and we both settle in to face one another.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Just try not to move, and…” He swallows hard. “And try not to make any noise.”

Well, that’s a weird request, but okay.

“Don’t move, don’t make a sound. Got it.” I nod firmly. “I can do that.”

He leans in, but I press my hand to his chest. “Wait, you’re not going to kill me, right?”

He smirks, shaking his head. “No, I won’t kill you.”

“Okay, because I really meant it when I said you can only have what I don’t need. I don’t want to die.”

“I promise you will not die.”

“Is it going to hurt?” I drop my hand from his chest.

“For a second, but then…” His jaw clenches and he looks away. “Just focus on not making any noise. It’ll make it easier on me if you’re quiet.”

“You won’t even know I’m here,” I say as cheerily as I can, but then realize how stupid that is because, obviously, he’ll know I’m here… he’s drinking my blood.

I pull my hair away from my neck and tug it around to the other shoulder, then move closer to him and turn so I’m at a better angle.

Felix slides his hand along my neck, stroking my jaw with his thumb as he settles it on the opposite side of where he’s going to bite.

He leans in, and I hold my breath as I feel his brushing along my neck, the warmth causing goosebumps.

I hear his deep inhale, hear what sounds like a small growl, and I brace for the pain.

“Just once,” he whispers quietly. I don’t think I was meant to hear it. And then there’s the sharp pinch. The pain lasts all of a second before it turns into something so much better than I ever could have imagined.

I thought staying still was going to be easy.

I thought keeping quiet was going to be a walk in the park.

Turns out, both of those things are so far from possible, it’s almost laughable. The pleasure seeps into my neck and travels through my body, settling low in my belly.