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EVERYBODY KNOWS

EDDIE

It’s no coincidence that we leave the myth about siren blood for the end of this book. It’s unique in that it creates an overlap between human folklore about vampires and the mythology that the vampire community itself perpetuated.

Stories about siren blood existed in ancient Greece, but they can be even older, just never codified. In Greece and Rome before the rise of Christianity, vampires might have lived in near openness, enjoying society’s liberal notions about pleasure and sexuality. Even monogamous relationships between the species occurred. According to the myth, some people had blood so rare and irresistible that the vampire who tasted it would forever covet that one human.

The most famous and historically most studied case of a vampire’s obsession with one person’s blood is the relationship between Alexander the Great and Hephaestion. Hephaestion was originally an officer in Alexander’s personal guard. Alexander probably fed from his soldiers occasionally, but this was a well-kept secret since Alexander presented himself as human to his court.

Something must have changed the day he first fed from Hephaestion. He kept the man by his side for the rest of his life and likely drank his blood daily. Historians agree that the two were ardent lovers, and when Hephaestion suddenly died at the age of thirty-two, Alexander was overwhelmed by grief. He ordered a period of mourning, petitioned for Hephaestion to gain a divine status, and built monuments in his memory.

Alexander survived his lover by a mere eight months. The philosopher and historian Plutarch depicts the symptoms preceding Alexander’s early death in Babylon. “The king’s skin was gray, his eyes white like snow, and he wouldn’t rise from his chair on the palace’s balcony. He sat in bright sunlight and refused to drink when his servants begged him. Burning with fever, the king breathed his last breath, blindly gazing into the sunset.”

Did Plutarch mean the servants asked Alexander to drink water, or did they try to convince him to feed?

* * *

When Anthony himself entered our cubicle after lunch, I had an eerie feeling of déjà vu .

This is how it ends .

“Eddie, do you have twenty minutes? Come with me, please.”

I exchanged a look with Cat. Her eyes were wide, telling me she had no idea what this was about. But I knew, and dread turned my stomach. Swallowing compulsively, I followed Anthony through the hallways until we reached his office.

“Please, close the door and take a seat.”

I must have looked bewildered because Anthony folded his arms across his chest, measured me with his cold stare, and said, “I’m not firing you.”

I opened my mouth and closed it. Shit . That was good news, right? Why was he looking at me like this, then?

“Russel talked to me this morning. He gave his notice.”

My mind went blank.

“Judging by your face right now, I assume he didn’t speak to you about this beforehand.”

I shook my head on automatic. Russel…gave his notice? This morning?

“He seems to care about you a lot.” Anthony’s expression was so sour that it took me several seconds to understand that what he’d said was a good thing.

Russel gave his notice because he cared about me.

He’d wanted to tell me he was falling in love with me, and I’d been too scared to hear it. But love wasn’t something one could pause at will and return to when the weather cleared.

We were in love, and it meant so much to Russel that he gave up his job for me.

I needed to process this, preferably without my boss dissecting my every move.

“I’m annoyed, Eddie. Exceedingly annoyed. You two were at the core of my new strategy, and now I must rethink everything.” He took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “But he’s right. Given the choice between the two of you, I should hold on to you.”

“I’m so sorry, Anthony. I…apologize. I didn’t mean to…”

He didn’t let me finish. “This means we don’t have a team lead for personal brand. I’m facing another recruitment process, and I don’t have time for that nonsense again. I would love to just make you the team lead and be done with that, but I can’t, can I?”

My eyes almost fell out of my sockets. “Um, I’m not…ready.”

“You need a few more years.” He grimaced. “And management courses. You do have the brain, but you need to build your confidence. See, my second choice for Russel’s position was someone named Hannah Kassem, who also happens to be a vampire. She’s a little more experienced than you on paper but hasn’t held a leadership position before either. She also has a more cautious approach, and I believe you two could balance each other out. So here’s what we’re going to do.”

He paused and scrolled on his laptop while I waited with my heart in my throat.

“I’ll give Miss Kassem a call,” he finally said. “I’ll ask her if she still wants to join Fowles & Tito, and you two will meet. If you like her, I’ll offer her a job as a senior strategist, and you’ll work side by side, answering directly to me. You’ll share what’s now Russel’s office. He told me he would be available as a consultant.”

Somewhere halfway through Anthony’s explanation, my brain restarted and was now running at a hundred miles an hour.

“Thank you for trusting me. I won’t let you down.”

He flashed me another of his signature scowls. “I know. If you two break up in a few weeks, and this has all been for nothing… But no pressure, huh?”

Was he joking?

Then, Anthony laughed.

I’d barely ever witnessed him laughing, but now he let out a merry chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You need to work on your poker face, Eddie. Now go. I’ve got work to do.”

I shot up from the chair and backed toward the door. “Thank you, Anthony.”

He grumbled something in reply, his gaze already on his screen.

When I closed the door to Anthony’s office, Russel stood there, leaning against the wall.

His hair was messy. He must have run his fingers through it a lot. Upon seeing me, he gave me a shy smile. My stomach swooped, and my heart rate picked up.

“I’ve just spoken to HR,” he said.

“You’re crazy.”

His grin widened. “About you.”

He pushed off the wall, and I took a step toward him. He hugged me and kissed my temple, and I closed my eyes, breathing him in. Did anyone see us? It didn’t matter anymore.

“You’re completely crazy,” I murmured.

“This was the best decision of my life, Eddie. I’m sure of it.”

I couldn’t speak, but I nodded.

I barely knew how I kept focus for the rest of the day, but somehow, I made it through two meetings and multiple phone calls with my head on. Cat had been gone during the afternoon, working on something with Frank. When she came into our terrarium just before six, her eyes were big like saucers.

“Greenwood is leaving!” she whispered, miming an explosion.

“I know.”

She cocked her head to the side. “You do? How? What’s going on?”

“Russel gave his notice this morning. It’s all on friendly terms, and he’ll finish our current projects as a consultant. Anthony is bringing in a new person on Monday. Her name is Hannah, and she’ll work as a senior strategist. We’ll be without a team lead for a while.”

“I know that . But why is he leaving? What happened?”

“Personal reasons.”

“You do know why, don’t you?”

“Why would I know more than you?”

She pursed her lips and squinted at me.

As if on cue, Russel poked his head into our glass cubicle. “Eddie? Are you done for the day?”

Cat whirled around and stared at Russel, me, and Russel again. Stupidly, I blushed.

“You two…” She pointed at each of us, her mouth opening and closing.

“Have a great weekend, Cat. See you on Monday!” I rushed past Russel toward the elevators, not looking back. He was only a step behind me, and when the door closed, he put an arm around my shoulders.

I sighed. “By Monday, everyone will know.”

Russel pressed a kiss to my temple. I loved it when he did that. “Does it matter?” he asked.

I glanced up to meet his warm gaze. “Not really. But I feel like I should be mad at you.”

“Are you?”

“No. But I should be.”

“Because I should have talked to you first before I spoke to Anthony.”

“Obviously.”

“What would you have said?”

I huffed, staring at my shoes. The tip of the left one was a little scuffed. “That you shouldn’t do it.”

Russel put a hand on my cheek, lifting my face. He gave me a warm kiss on the corner of my lips. “How do you feel, sweetheart?”

Blinking, I fought against the pressure behind my eyes. “I’m selfish.”

He arched one eyebrow. “Really?”

“Because I’m happy. I’m so fucking relieved and happy.”

He smiled, and my stomach swooped in a way I couldn’t blame on the elevator moving. “That’s all that matters.”

* * *

I lay submerged in bubbles and resting against Russel’s chest, playing with his fingers, when my phone began ringing on the bathroom counter.

“Leave it,” Russel said.

I had no intention of picking up. I burrowed into his embrace, the water churning.

The shrill tone stopped, but started again, bouncing off the tiles.

With a groan, I wiped my hand on a towel and reached for the annoying device.

When I saw Sheri’s name, I swore.

“What?”

“I forgot to tell Sheri I won’t be home.”

I climbed out and wrapped myself in a bathrobe. Leaning on the counter, I called Sheri back. Russel gazed at me from the tub, relaxed and sexy as sin.

“I’ll be right back,” I mouthed, and he smirked.

“Eddie! Where the fuck are you?”

“I’m at Russel’s.”

“Again? If you go on like this, it’ll blow up in your face.”

“Everybody knows.”

“Huh?”

“Russel told Anthony, and Cat saw Russel and me leaving together, so by Monday, it’ll be all over the office.”

“Shiiit! Are you alright?”

I eyed my man in the tub, his powerful arms resting over the edges, his wet hair curling above his forehead, the stubble… “Never better.”

“Explain, for fuck’s sake!” Sheri demanded.

“Russel gave his notice this morning. Anthony wants to keep me. Russel and I are…” What were we doing? “Dating.”

He frowned at me, and I shrugged.

“I’ll need more words than that,” Sheri said.

“How about dinner at home Sunday night? I’ll bring your favorite Thai. I’ll tell you everything, I swear.”

“You’d better.”

Russel shifted in the tub, bubbles swaying and water sloshing. He leaned his head back, and the exposed column of his throat just begged for me to kiss it. “I have to go now, but I’ll see you on Sunday.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go have copious amounts of sex with your hot vampire boss. I’m not jealous at all. I guess I will have to take your friend Cat to a dinner club soon.”

“Please, do. She’ll be so excited.”

“On Sunday, you’ll be here with my Panang curry and ready to spill. And I want extra spring rolls.”

“You got it.”

I ended the call, and Russel crooked a finger at me. “Come here.”

After hanging the bathrobe back on the hook, I stepped into the water and lowered myself back into his arms.

“Dating, hm?” he rasped into my ear, then gently bit my earlobe.

“Aren’t we?”

“I don’t know. Sounds so mundane.”

“Mundane can be good. Comforting.”

“Hm.” He grazed my neck with his teeth. “I’m dating the love of my life. Dating the man of my dreams. Dating.” The swipe of his tongue made me shiver even as I lay in warm water. “Nah. We need a better word.”

“Going out?” I teased. “Seeing each other?”

The tips of his fangs poked my neck like little needles, but they didn’t pierce my skin. He let out a low purring sound.

“We’re not dating .” He said the word with such disgust it made me chuckle.

The tiniest sting on my neck. I moaned as my cock hardened.

“You’re mine, Eddie.”

Russel wrapped his hand around it and stroked me underwater.

“All of you.”

“Yes,” I breathed.

His fangs sank into my flesh, piercing the vein on the side of my throat, and searing pleasure engulfed my entire body.

“Love being yours,” I managed before the orgasm overwhelmed my senses.

Russel licked the wound, humming. The tingles receded, and I squirmed against Russel’s erection nudging my lower back. I knew what I wanted.

“Let me suck you.”

He stood, water cascading down his body, and I admired his veiny cock before I wrapped my lips around the head. Closing my eyes, I gave it my all.

Once upon a time, I’d invested significant energy into learning the skill so I could impress my first boyfriend. This time, I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I didn’t need Russel to think I was the god of blowjobs. I just craved hearing his moans and feeling his pleasure.

As his hard cock slid into my throat, his fingers combing through my wet hair, I understood why the word “dating” annoyed him. I couldn’t even suck him off casually enough. I worshipped his cock, and every drop of precum on the back of my tongue was a gift.

I loved him, and I would only grow to love him more.

He came for me, his cock jerking and his unique cum flooding my mouth. It tasted a little sweet, as if laced with honey, and I gulped it down eagerly. The venom in his cum would make me horny, the effect milder but lasting longer.

Russel stroked my hair. “I thought you were tired,” he murmured.

I kissed his cockhead and spoke with my wet lips against it. “I want to make love for hours. Sleep is overrated.”

I licked his slit, chasing the last traces of his cum. The copper hues in his eyes felt like a reward. He was well fed and sated. I was taking good care of my vampire.

We rinsed our bodies in the shower because, ugh, cummy bathwater. Then Russel threw me over his shoulder and carried me to the bedroom.

He spread me out face down on the bed and proceeded to rim me into oblivion.

It was past midnight when he moved inside me the second time, my body jellified from venom-induced orgasms. Time flowed thickly like syrup as I basked in ecstasy. Could I really have this from now on? Without guilt and repercussions? It seemed unreal, too good to be true.

Russel came with his hand on my underbelly, over the spot where his cock was nestled deep inside me. His breath heated the side of my throat, and he sounded like he struggled to put words together when he spoke.

“Eddie, my sweetheart, how can it be so…? It feels…like it’ll burst out of my chest.”

“What, Russel?”

His arms around me tightened. “I love you.” Some of the tension seemed to leave his body when he said it. “There. That’s better. I love you, Eddie.”

I closed my eyes and let the love he’d given me suffuse my whole being. I wanted to say it back, but my throat got thick. I’d only break down and cry if I tried to speak.

Russel must have known. He didn’t wait with bated breath for my reply. He just held me, kissing and nuzzling my neck.

A little later, after his softened cock slipped out of me, I rolled to face him. He looked at me with infinite understanding and patience. When there was no outside threat looming above us, I could fully appreciate how safe and cherished he made me feel.

So I swallowed against the tightness in my throat and told him.

“I was so scared I’d fall for you.”

“Oh, Eddie…” He caressed my cheek.

“As if I could have done anything to stop it.” He half-smiled, and I traced the curve of his lips with a fingertip. “I love you, too, Russel.”

His name was still on my lips when he hauled me to his body and kissed me.

Crippling fear had been holding me in its sticky claws even before I met him. I’d been terrified to let myself enjoy the simplest things because at any second, with the tiniest misstep, the joy could have been taken away from me.

Russel chased the last of my fears away. It seemed I was finally allowed to be happy, and I would savor every second.