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A KISS

EDDIE

I watched my roommate paint mascara on her lashes with an enviably sure hand. Sheri did everything with confidence. She screwed the cap on and dropped the tube into her make-up bag, then adjusted a pin in her hair, the corner of her lips curving up. She looked amazing, and she knew it. Me? I just wanted to peel off those tight jeans she made me wear and cower under a blanket.

“I’m not sure about tonight,” I told her. “It’s been a rough week at work. I’d really rather chill at home.”

She waved her hand in the air, making a blah-blah gesture at me without even looking my way. “Your weeks are always rough. You’re coming with me, Eddie.”

Sheri was a nurse but earned good extra money as a plus size lingerie model. Not only did she have impeccable skin, big perky boobs and a gorgeous round ass, but she had perfected that sexy, come-get-me smirk that made people of all genders stare at her with confused longing.

Tonight, she wore a frilly skirt and a decadent corset straight out of a burlesque show. She ran her tongue over the thin gap between her front teeth—even that looked hot on her—blew herself a kiss in the mirror and palmed her tits.

“I look like a snack.”

She would be a snack, alright. A four-course dinner if she’d get her way.

“Why is it called a dinner club when they serve no food?” Aaron asked. He didn’t lift his gaze from his computer screen.

Sheri rolled her eyes. “Is he joking, or is he really this clueless?”

“The human guests are the dinner, Aaron,” I said.

“Oh. That makes sense.”

Aaron was the lucky bastard who got to stay at home. Sheri never tried to drag him out, only me, which was unfair—and my own fault for being a pushover.

“Sheri, I’m tired. Maybe I’m coming down with something.”

She glared at me as she fiddled with my hair.

“Don’t give me those puppy dog eyes. You’re going.” She patted my cheek. “I’m ovulating. I need to get dicked.”

“Why do I have to come with you when you’re going to drop me as soon as you find someone?”

“I can’t go there alone. That would give out desperate vibes.”

“Because dragging your nervy gay roommate with you is cool as hell?”

“I’m introducing you to the scene. Showing you the ropes. I’m cool.”

“I don’t want to be shown any ropes,” I muttered.

“Stop whining. You promised, Eddie.”

I did promise her, and I deeply regretted it.

“And change into the shimmery top I gave you. Not only do you look hot in it, but I need to make it obvious you’re not my date.”

“Eddie can dress as butch as he wants,” Aaron quipped from behind his computer. “Nobody will ever mistake him for a straight man.”

“Shut up,” Sheri told him.

Aaron was right, but I wore the skintight purple top anyway. Like I said: pushover.

“This is gloomy as hell,” I hissed.

My friend laughed. “It’s atmospheric. Loosen up.”

The long, assessing look the towering bouncer had given me by the entrance still unnerved me. The club decor only added to my unease: dark-red curtains, black velvet wallpaper, and candlelight… Very gothic, all of it.

“Why does it look like a horror movie set? I thought the vampiric community was trying to move away from those stereotypes.”

“I like it. What do you want to drink?”

“Anything aside from a Bloody Mary, thanks.”

She snorted an unladylike laugh and leaned on the bar counter, blatantly ogling the muscly bartender. He was hot. Playful smile, nice hands, powerful chest… He wore a simple white T-shirt, leather cuffs on his wrists, and piercings in his ears. His aura said, “I fuck like a demon but won’t call you the next day.” Way out of my league and probably straight.

He moved toward us, and I saw the subtle clues in his features, his gestures, and the metallic hues in his irises. The bartender was not human.

“Hi there. What can I get you?”

“Hi! Aperol spritz and a negroni, please,” Sheri said.

“You got it, beautiful.” His warm golden eyes went straight to Sheri’s ample cleavage and lingered even as he reached for the cocktail glasses.

As the bartender prepared our drinks, his hands moved distinctly faster and with greater precision than a human’s. It looked impressive and a little disturbing—a subtle reminder that he was the predator while we, humans, were the prey.

There was someone on a podcast I’d listened to last week who joked that vampires would be incredible surgeons if more of them could be convinced to do the job. Obviously, dipping their hands in fresh blood and human tissue for hours without the possibility of taking a bite was too distressing for most.

The bartender handed Sheri the card machine, and she blipped her phone above it.

“Thank you,” she sang, and the bartender winked at her.

“Where do you want to sit?” I asked, eyeing the booths. Most were occupied, but I saw two empty ones near the back.

Sheri threw me an annoyed glare. “I’m not hiding this body in a corner. Let’s stay by the bar.”

I sighed and followed her to a couple of stools in front of the beer taps. When I climbed on one, my feet dangled like a child’s. I hooked them around the legs and sipped my Aperol.

“How does it work, anyway?” I had to speak directly into Sheri’s ear over the beat coming from the speakers.

“I guess it’s the same as cruising at a gay bar.”

“That doesn’t narrow it down for me, cherry pie.”

Sheri glanced at the ceiling, as if asking higher powers for patience. She did that a lot with me. “Jeez, Eddie, how can you be so confident about your work and so hopeless in any other social situation?”

“I’m confident about the things I know how to do! This?” I circled a finger in the air. “No idea. If you leave me here alone, I might cry.” Okay, I was exaggerating, but only a little.

She looked at me with her unique mix of empathy and condescension and sighed. “It’s all about eye contact. If you’re not interested, you look away. Hold their gaze long enough, and they might come over to talk to you.”

“And then?”

“There’s some sort of code,” she said dismissively. “No biting when the prey is drunk, no full-on fucking in public, stuff like that.”

“But people are getting bitten in here?”

“Well, duh. It’s a dinner club.” Sheri craned her head and smirked. “There’s a couple having fun in the booth right behind you. The dude is gorgeous.”

“But…”

“Relax, Eddie. Nobody will drink your blood without your explicit consent.” She patted my cheek and wrapped her plush lips around the black straw in her drink. Her eyes scanned the room while I kept mine on her and my glass.

It didn’t even take ten minutes. Sheri was in the corner booth with a dashing older gentleman, and I sat by the bar alone, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

I would have left already, but Sheri asked me to stay for half an hour in case her conquest turned out to be a creep.

“One more for you?” the bartender asked.

I exhaled. “Sure. Why not?”

He smirked and picked a glass. “First time at a dinner club, eh?”

“It’s that obvious?”

“Nah. You’re fine.”

Ice clanked into the glass.

“The guy over there has been checking you out.”

Bewildered, I spun around on the stool. “Who?”

Then I remembered that I was not supposed to make eye contact if I didn’t want to hook up with anyone, but it was too late.

Pale golden eyes locked on mine, like jewels shining from under thick dark eyebrows with deep lines between them. He had the most perfect cheekbones I’d ever seen. At first, he was frowning, which made me feel strangely helpless even though he sat across the room from me. Then his lips curved with an ageless, sardonic smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and suddenly, my stomach plunged.

Evolution, boy. You’re programmed to find him attractive.

Breathless, I turned back to the bartender, gazing at him as if he could save me. From what, I had no idea.

“I’m not here as dinner. I just came with a friend.”

The bartender shrugged. “He’s coming over.”

“Shit.”

“Chill, my dude. You say no, and he’ll leave you be.”

Okay. That’s easy. Just say no.

“Hello.” A deep voice with velvety undertones.

The bartender set my drink down, and before I could do anything, the man next to me flashed his phone.

“That’s on me.”

The bartender raised his eyebrows at me. I said nothing, too stunned to protest.

The stranger paid for my drink and settled on Sheri’s stool. I fixed my gaze on the shelves with bottles behind the bar. My heart was fluttering around my ribcage like a hummingbird.

“My name’s Russel. Can I have yours?”

“Eddie,” I piped up.

“Nice to meet you, Eddie.”

In my peripheral vision, I noticed the offered hand. It would be rude not to accept a handshake.

I glanced at the vampire again, and the room seemed to grow quiet around us.

I couldn’t look away. His eyes were changing color, gleaming like liquid metal. His hand wrapped around mine, broad and surprisingly warm.

Russel had a neat, short beard and a thoughtful forehead with just enough lines to make him look mature and interesting. I’d always liked older men—and if I could ever afford a therapist again, they’d have a field day with that. But of course this guy didn’t age the same way a human would. There was a sprinkle of salt at his temples, yet his skin was impeccable and his lips smooth. Broad-shouldered but lean, he looked powerful and agile, with a sort of quiet strength in his posture. His cologne wafted toward me, and he smelled like a forest in the spring.

He stroked his thumb over my wrist, and I realized I was still staring at him, holding his hand.

“Oh. Sorry. I…” I pulled my hand away and dropped my gaze.

“You’ve never been here before, have you?”

“A friend dragged me with her. She’s the redhead over there…” I gestured aimlessly behind me. “I’m not here to…um. I’m not here as food. Sorry. Was that offensive? I don’t mean to be offensive.”

I could feel his gaze on me like a laser beam. When I peered at him from the corner of my eye, he was smiling softly, his eyes roaming the side of my face.

“Nothing offensive about being on point,” he finally said. “Your friend seems to be having fun.”

I glanced back at Sheri and almost swallowed my tongue. She was draped over the guy’s lap, kissing him like mad while he inched his hand up her skirt. I promptly looked away.

Russel cocked his head to the side. “Do you mind my company? Am I making you nervous?”

“No. No. It’s okay.”

I waved my hand around and almost knocked over my drink. Russel steadied it with his superhuman reflexes, and I blew out a breath.

“Yes. I’m nervous as hell,” I admitted.

“This is a safe space with hard rules. Even if I wanted to do something against your will, I wouldn’t dare do it here.”

His blatant acknowledgment of the danger he posed made me feel oddly safe. “No, that’s not…”

He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

“Attractive men make me nervous,” I blurted. “You’re attractive.”

His smile widened. “You’re the most beautiful man in the room, Eddie.”

I scoffed. I worked in communication, and I knew a line when I heard one. He saw me as easy prey. And even so, my heart thumped faster and my cheeks heated from the compliment.

For heaven’s sake, could I summon at least some of my workplace confidence? Just imagine he’s a new client. Because that’s not weird at all…

“Do you come here often?” I asked, loud and clear, without the slightest stutter. I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back.

“No,” he replied. “I don’t like dinner clubs.”

That didn’t make sense. “Why are you here then?”

His smile grew sad. “Because I need to feed.”

“Do you need to drink blood every other week?”

“More or less, yes.”

“You sound like it’s an inconvenience.”

Russel raised his eyebrows. “I don’t have to pretend with you, do I?”

“Pretend what?”

Smiling to himself, he shook his head as if something had occurred to him and he dismissed it. “Depending on who I’m feeding from, it can be a chore, bland, or pleasant.”

Drinking blood led to sex. I knew that . It was the point of dinner clubs—a mutually beneficial exchange between humans and vampires, a compromise honed by centuries of tension. It was a little disturbing to hear Russel call sex a chore—did he fuck people just because he needed to feed from them? That sounded miserable.

“You’ve gone quiet. What are you thinking?”

“Sorry. It’s just that…” I moved the straw around the melting ice in my glass. “Nothing.”

“What? Tell me.”

“You don’t like the sex part? You just need the blood?” I could feel my ears growing hot. My blush must have been visible from space.

“I love sex, Eddie. I love getting my dick sucked and fucking a guy’s tight hole. Coming inside a man with the taste of his blood in my mouth is the best feeling I know. But some men are less enticing than others. Only rarely, when I’m really lucky, do I meet one who’s irresistible.”

I stared at him with my mouth open. His words made my stomach clench and my pulse go haywire. My brain conjured a picture of me on my knees with Russel’s dick in my mouth. How did vampire cum taste? Did it contain the same aphrodisiac as their saliva? He must have seen me going all red in the face—did it affect him? My blood, close to the surface…

His eyes seemed to glow, gold turning to lava. He parted his lips, and I glimpsed his pearl-white teeth. His nostrils flared.

Abruptly, he looked away and gestured around.

“This place is much cozier than the posh clubs in the business district.”

“Oh. I wouldn’t know,” I stammered. “I’ve never been to any dinner club before.” He’d scrambled my brain, dammit.

His smile was tender and not patronizing in the least when he said, “That’s not a bad thing, Eddie.”

I exhaled, no idea what to say next. Russel leaned closer.

“Your friend has left, but I hope you’ll stay with me a little longer.”

This vampire wants to drink my blood. When am I going to run?

He gently brushed my hand with his fingers, and a flurry of tingles ran up my arm. “Can I?”

Whether it was my curiosity or plain stupidity, I didn’t know, but I gave him a tiny nod. He lifted my hand to his face. What if he was about to bite? Why didn’t I rip my hand away?

He sniffed my wrist and hummed.

“You’ve really never done this before, have you?”

Volunteered to become a vampire’s dinner in exchange for a sexual high? “N-no.”

He gently played with my hand, gazing at me.

“That’s a rare thing. Many of my kind would be all over you if they knew.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Virgin blood.”

I sucked in a breath. “I’m not a virgin.” Lord, I really was socially incompetent.

Russel laughed at my outburst, but not unkindly. “But you’ve never been bitten.”

“No.”

“Have you ever thought about it?”

“Nope,” I blurted on automatic, shaking my head too fast. With Sheri going to clubs once a month at least, of course, I had thought about it. My companion continued looking at me patiently while his fingers played with mine.

“Okay. That was a lie,” I admitted. “I just didn’t think I’d want to try it.”

“You used the past tense.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again.

“I won’t force you into anything,” Russel said, and I believed him. He had that certain ease some people possessed that just made you trust them. I hadn’t known it worked with vampires too. “I’m just letting you know that I very much like your scent, the way you look, and your soft voice. I’d love to taste your blood.”

He said it just like that, as if he were ordering a dessert. I could feel my pulse in my ears. Which made me think of my blood again—pulsing, churning, heating up. Sheri said the effect of the venom was immediate. The world’s most powerful aphrodisiac, intravenously…

I had to look away from his eyes before I was capable of forming words again.

“Do I have to answer now?” I asked.

“We have all evening.”

“What if you’re wasting time with me?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I can get a quick dinner anywhere, but you, Eddie, would be a rare treat. I’ll take the risk.”

He was stroking my wrist, and I still hadn’t removed my hand from his grip. His touch was nice. Exciting.

Only melting ice remained in my glass.

Russel caught my hand in both of his, then brushed his fingers up the inside of my forearm. Along the veins. His golden eyes were mesmerizing.

“The booth in the back is empty. Will you come with me?”

It would be crazy to agree.

“Yeah.”

He stood, holding my hand, and led me to the very last booth. We passed two couples making out, but I didn’t look too closely.

Russel went in first, leaving me the outer seat—an easy exit if I wanted to leave.

Then he faced me fully. He brought my arm to his mouth and skimmed the fragile skin on my wrist with his lips.

“I won’t do anything you won’t agree to.”

“What do you want to do?” I whispered. The two drinks could make me brave but wouldn’t make me lose judgment. I hoped.

“I want to sink my fangs here.” He kissed the spot on my wrist. “And take a small sip. Then I want to watch you become aroused as my venom spreads through your system.”

Oh Jesus. Why did that sound so fucking hot? “I’m afraid of losing control.”

“Unless I keep biting you, the rush passes in under a minute.” He smiled sheepishly. “But I promised I wouldn’t pressure you.”

His hard body, his scent, the warmth coming off him… I wanted him without even a trace of his venom in me.

I was going to do it.

I was already half hard in my pants, Russel must have sensed my arousal. He kissed up and down my forearm, tenderly and torturously slowly. The skimming touch was designed to make me beg for more.

“Tell me what you like in sex,” he murmured.

“I…like oral, both giving and receiving. I…prefer to bottom. Sensitive prostate.”

He lifted his eyes and grinned. “Good.”

“I’m vanilla,” I added in a rush. “The wildest thing I’ve ever done was doggie style on the bedroom floor. Seriously, I’m out of my depth here. I’ve only been with two people.”

Smiling, Russel put a finger on my lips. “We’ll stay here for a bit. If you want me to taste you, I will. But just kissing your skin is lovely. There’re no expectations other than to feel good.”

He skimmed his fingers down my jaw and to my neck.

“Can I kiss you here?” He stroked the side of my throat, making my pulse spike.

But I gave him a nod.

He leaned closer and assessed my eyes once more. I had no idea what he saw in them. Then he bent his head and nuzzled my throat. A rumbly groan escaped him.

“You smell so good.”

A kiss. Just a soft, dry kiss. Another. And another.

I tilted my head to the side, and he roped his arms around me, pulling me close. His scent enveloped me.

Then he licked my skin, and I moaned.

“I want to try it.” I was going crazy.

But Russel leaned back and brushed his lips over mine.

“Kiss me, Eddie.”