Page 7 of A Taste of Bliss

My grin grows. “Well, then I’m doing something right.” We continue up the stairs. “Probably time to get ready for your ceremony, isn’t it?”

CHAPTER THREE

BLISS

“When wasthe last time you had sex?” my sister asks, eyebrow raised as she twirls a straw around her drink.

And here I thought our first girls’ night after so long would beawkward.

The EDM music is thumping so loudly that my glance around the tables nearby ours is unwarranted. But even if no one did overhear us, red creeps into my cheeks, and I roll my eyes at Amelia.

I met Reese and Amelia at my aunt’s house—which I have only been back to a handful of times since moving out—to get ready for our girls’ night. Amelia and I weren’tnoton speaking terms, but things haven’t been right between us for quite some time. As we got ready together in her room, the chill slowly started to thaw and we fell back into old patterns; for example, Amelia constantly butting into my sex life—or lack thereof.

“This is what you want to talk about?”

“It’s a valid question,” Amelia continues, completely ignoring my humiliation. She looks to Dericia, and I shoot a warning glare at my best friend.

Dericia shrugs and smiles at me and Amelia. “I’m not getting involved in a sisterly fight, especially not a succubus sisterly fight.”

“I’m not talking about this,” I tell Amelia, wishing I had ordered a stronger drink.

Amelia picks the straw out of her glass and points it at me, droplets of her Sex on the Beach cocktail flying onto the tiny table we’re seated at. “You look tired, and I want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”

I search around for anything to change the subject but come up empty. “You and I both know, taking care of ourselves doesn’t power us up. If it did, I wouldn’t be so tired all the time.”

“Why doesn’t that recharge you again?” Reese asks. “It’s still sexual energy. It should count.”

“It needs to be other people’s energy,” Amelia explains. “Just how a vampire can’t feed off their own blood.”

Reese makes a face like the stars should make an exception for me.

“So you’ve gotten no dick recently, then?” Amelia asks, returning to my oh-so-favorite topic.

Dericia snorts and I shake my head, letting loose a sigh that is quickly swallowed up by the music.

“No, I haven’t.” It’s been a while, a long while. I’ve stuck to… uh… slightly less intimate options, and usually only in emergencies. Maybe my sister is right to be worried.

“We should find you a guy tonight, then,” Dericia says, starting to scope out the club. I put my hand on her forearm to bring her attention back to the table.

“Please, no. I don’t do one-night stands.”

“Bliss, you’re a succubus, a single one,” Amelia explains, as if I don’t know this already. “You have to be open to one-night stands. For your health. Plus, they’re sexy as hell.”

Dericia nods enthusiastically, swinging her long braids over her shoulder, as she goes back to looking for cute guys. “What about that one?” She points at a tall blonde jock type with lots of muscles who’s hanging out with a group of friends.

“Definitely not her type, Reese,” Amelia says, almost spluttering in concern. “My sister is not going home with someone who peaked in high school. We should have gone to a different club.” She sighs.

“This club is great,” Reese stresses, shooting a warning look at Amelia.

I look down at my drink, putting both my hands around it. We came to this club in particular because we all knew we wouldn’t run into anyone from the metal scene—well, besides Amelia and Dericia. The crowd they hang with is pretty great, but ever since my breakup, I just haven’t really found it in myself to hang around in that circle. It’shisspace, and I have to avoid it at all costs. Facing him again just isn’t something I can do.

“You know, I actually love this song,” Amelia says, downing the rest of her drink and hopping off her barstool. Her black minidress slips up further than is probably decent, but she doesn’t rush to right it. My sister could be in this club completely naked and still walk around like she owns the place.

Dericia follows suit, reaching out her hand to me. “Come on, Bliss. We’re gonna go dance and find you a sexy man to take home.”

“I’ll agree to the dancing,” I reply, taking her hand and hurriedly finishing the last little bit of my drink. She hauls me out onto the dance floor alongside her. Amelia already has most eyes on her as she moves to the center of the dance floor. Her long, pale legs draw male attention quickly, and soon the three of us find ourselves surrounded by a few different groups of fae men.

Amelia, recently topped up on power, is a magnet. But even though I haven’t fed in a while, I still possess some of that same allure, and Dericia, with her huge chocolate eyes, flawless warm sepia skin, and long braids that hit the slope of her ass, has her own captivating presence. So between the three of us it almost seems like every male in the club is making their way towards us. Dericia and Amelia smile at the attention, knowing it means more options for them and—they hope—for me.