Page 15 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

When I wake, I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. My entire body is aching, raw.

Memories of last night echo in my mind. Crimson’s hand on my thigh, her fangs at my throat, the powerful tug of her mouth as she drank from my wrist…

The burning deep in my…

I open my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them.

I can’t let myself think about her like that.

It’s good that I stopped her last night, before we went too far.

I realize fully now (I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner) that drinking blood can be very…

intimate…and it makes sense that many people might want to, um…

combine that with other acts, but…I know I just can’t do that.

I’m in a monogamous relationship, and I would never do something like that. It’s not fair to Blake.

Scrolling through my phone, I can see that he’s texted me several times, frustrated that I’m not around.

It’s sweet, really. He misses me. We’ve been together since high school.

He’s always stuck by me, when my mother died, and through everything that’s happened with my brother. It can’t be easy, being with me.

There’s a sharp pang of guilt in my stomach.

Even though I didn’t go all the way with that vampire last night, I can’t deny that our exchange was physically intimate, in a way I hadn’t expected.

She kissed me on the neck, touched my thigh…

I can practically feel the pleasant caress of her cool fingers against my skin just thinking about it…

Even if we didn’t go further, I don’t feel right about what happened. I’m in a committed relationship, and it’s not fair to Blake to engage in such behaviour.

Before I can stew on it too much, I find his number in my phone and dial. I bite my lip as I listen to the dial tone, nervous about the conversation I’m about to have. But I have to be honest, even if it’s difficult.

He picks up after several rings. “Hi, babe! I was wondering when you were going to call me back.”

My guilt deepens. I’ve been such an awful girlfriend. I have to make things right. “I’m sorry, Blake. I was up late last night and then I slept in.”

There’s a tinge of concern in his voice. “Really? Are you sure this is Paige? I can’t remember the last time you slept past nine.”

“Yeah, this…this new job has late hours…”

“Oh yeah,” he says. “How’s it going? The vampire blood donor thing? Are you still serious about that?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t sure about it at first, but now, I’ve decided to stay. The pay is really good…”

Blake sighs. “I can’t believe you’re throwing it all away on that overpriced rehab for your brother…”

My chest tightens. But this isn’t the time to get into an argument about that with him.

“Blake, I…I have something I have to tell you,” I say, bracing myself.

He voice darkens. “What it is?”

“I…um…one of the vampires who was drinking from me…kissed me.”

“What?” he snaps. Even though he’s not in the room, his anger feels overwhelming, and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

“It didn’t go any farther than that! We were just…I was on her lap, and we were sitting so close, and then she just…she kissed my neck, that’s all! Then I told her I had a boyfriend, and I wanted her to stop, and it didn’t go any further.”

There’s a thick pause on the line. “Hold on, ‘she?’ You kissed a vampire girl?”

“Well, she’s not a girl, she’s a woman…”

“Oh.” Blake’s tone completely shifts. “Well, that’s not a big deal, then.”

It takes me a second to catch up to the sudden change in his reaction. “Really? You’re not upset?”

“No, of course not! After all, that doesn’t really count. Actually, it’s kind of hot. I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing.”

My face gets hot. I’m glad that he’s not mad, but his reaction makes me uncomfortable. I try to turn it around. “Listen, I just think it’s important to be honest in a relationship, and I wanted to come clean.”

“That’s great, Paige. Definitely call me back if anything else happens. I want to know all the details,” he says, a provocative note in his voice.

My stomach squirms. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen again. But maybe we should talk about about it more. Establish some limits and parameters…”

I can almost hear him shrugging over the phone. “If it’s a girl, it’s fine,” he replies, dismissively.

“You mean a woman…”

“Hey, listen,” he replies, cutting me off abruptly. “There’s a game on right now, and the guys are waiting. Call me when you’re back in town, ok?”

“Oh, ok,” I reply. “I’ll talk to you later, then.”

“Bye, babe!”

He hangs up, leaving me with a feeling of relief, but also a new sense of unease.

I’m happy he’s not mad. I really thought he would be furious if I told him someone else kissed me.

But I also know that what he said isn’t true.

It definitely counted. I can’t deny the power of my attraction to Crimson.

Her kiss, her touch…I’ve never felt that way before. Is that because she’s a vampire?

But I shouldn’t dwell on it too much. I’m worried that if I stay in bed much longer, I’ll doze back off again. I’ve slept almost the entire day already! But I’m delighted to think that the sun will go down again in only a few hours.

I pull myself out of bed, and start to draw a hot bath. The tub is deep, but it fills quickly with soapy water. As I wait, I run my finger over the two crimson dots on my wrist. A warm, unexpected sense of satisfaction fills me up as I look at them.

This must be what Sean and Chelsie were talking about. I had no idea that being bitten would be like that. That it could feel so…transcendent. So powerfully intimate and vulnerable.

And it was only my wrist…

I ease into the bath water, and it soothes my aching muscles. It’s nice not to have anything to do, or anywhere to go. I’ve never been able to relax so completely before. It’s a strange feeling, one that I’m not used to.

After my bath, I eat a huge breakfast (lunch? Dinner?) in the restaurant. I’ve got to replenish my strength for tonight.

Tonight.

I wait restlessly for the sun to go down. To distract myself, I try to study my nursing textbooks. I sit at the pillowed bench by my picture window, peeking out impatiently at the twilight.

When the sun finally seems to have gone down, I quickly pull on another dress (black, with a peplum, that I wore to my high school graduation) and I apply a little mascara before hurrying downstairs. I don’t even wait for Sean and Chelsie.

But Crimson isn’t in the lounge. At least, not yet. In fact, there are no other vampires here this early. Just a few living humans chatting on the couches. The music is still light and quiet, the DJ scrolling on her phone in her neon red booth.

With a sigh, I take a glass of wine from a server. I glance over at the group of mingling humans, but I feel too awkward to approach them. Maybe I should walk around a little bit, work out some of this restless feeling.

I wander around the maze-like halls of the mansion, careful not to get too close to the vampires’ offices.

I don’t want to repeat that mistake again.

At the end of one hallway is a door that leads outside.

It’s dark, so I can’t see very well, but I peek my head out.

It looks like a large courtyard. Maybe the rose garden is out here somewhere.

But it’s a little too dark, and I’m nervous to roam around by myself late at night. Perhaps I’ll come back another time.

I turn back toward the lounge, finishing off my glass of wine as I go. There’s a lovely warm buzz across my skin, and a pleasant tingle of anticipation flickers in my stomach as I imagine seeing Crimson again.

“I want to savour you.”

She had said those words.

“Would you rather kneel?”

My face gets hot again as I consider it. Maybe I would enjoy doing something like that. Serving her…

That’s not…crossing any lines, is it? I mean, it’s my job, right? I’m supposed to be donating my blood to the vampires.

I just hadn’t expected to enjoy it so much…

I give my empty wine glass to a passing server, and I enter the lounge once again.

Now, the music is louder, the lights dimmer, and the air has started to thicken with tension and desire.

The dance floor is starting to fill with living humans casting provocative glances at the darkly-attired vampires who roam the periphery of the lounge.

My eyes scan the room eagerly. Chelsie and Sean are already seated on a couch, chatting and drinking wine. But they’re not the ones I’m looking for.

She is.

Crimson, wearing a black blazer with a deep V-neck shirt, and leather pants. I wonder what they feel like…

Then I see what she’s doing, and I pause.

She’s speaking with another living human, across one of the standing tables.

My stomach twists.

The girl is giggling, twirling her blond hair through her fingers. She stands on one hip, accentuating the lavish curves of her body. She wears a lace dress, tight against her body, cut low over her bodice. Her lips are painted blood red, and she bats her long lashes teasingly at Crimson.

How dare she.

It’s ridiculous, I know. I have no claim over Crimson. But the sight of her with someone else…the idea of her drinking another human’s blood tonight…makes my chest tight. Jealously, I glare across the lounge at the other girl, at her stupid dress, at her six-inch heels…

No. This is not happening.

Resolution forms inside me.

I march over to where Chelsie and Sean are sitting on the couch.

“Hey, hon!” Chelsie says. She frowns when she sees the expression on my face. “Um, what’s up?”

I look at her and Sean. “I need your help.”

Two inches taller, I stride back into the lounge.

I borrowed a pair of ruby heels from Chelsie, and a matching red, satin dress that hugs me at my bust and hips.

She convinced me not to wear a bra, and I feel a little exposed, but in a surprisingly good way.

Sean did my make-up and hair, finding the perfect shade of crimson for my lips, dewy and rich.

He insisted I wear my hair up, giving me a teased ponytail, with tendrils of wavy black hair framing my face.

Now the party has really started, the heavy music thumping in the air. There are already vampires drinking from a few of the living humans, sprawled out across the shadowed couches. The smell of wine, blood and sweat mingles in the air, lustful and sweet.

I’m pleased to notice the heads that snap in my direction as I stride across the lounge. It’s dark, but Chelsie told me that vampires have good night vision.

From out of the corner of my eye, I spot Crimson. She’s seated on one of the low couches, straddled by the human she was talking to before. A fierce, angry blush reddens my cheeks, but I look away quickly, and take a steady inhale.

The dance floor is right in her line of sight. I walk across the lounge with determination, positioning myself in the perfect spot. As though the universe is conspiring with me, a slow, sensual song starts to play.

There are enough other people on the dance floor that I’m not alone, but I still stand out. I start to dance, oscillating to the music, leaning into the bass.

It’s amazing how an outfit can make you feel completely different about yourself. I remember how much I enjoyed dressing up with Amanda in high school. I’d dismissed it as silly and childish, but now…I realize there’s something powerful in it. In claiming my femininity.

Even if Crimson doesn’t notice me. Even though Blake never did…I like to dress this way. And I want to do it more often. I want to do it for me. For the way it makes me feel.

Another vampire catches my eye on the dance floor. He wears a black turtleneck and has wavy brown hair that touches the nape of his neck and thick lashes framing warm, hazel eyes. He gives me a sweet smile as he moves closer. He’s definitely not Crimson, but I guess if she’s busy, I could…

Instantly, his gaze snaps over my shoulder, and his face contorts in fear.

And she appears, like a deadly apparition. The other vampires immediately retreat, disappearing like shadows into every corner of the lounge.

“What are you doing?” Crimson asks me sharply.

I shrug, continuing to dance. “It looked like you were busy.”

Her eyes narrow slightly. “I said you were mine.”

“Well, that’s not really fair, is it?” I ask. I’m shocked at how bold I feel, but my outfit is giving me newfound confidence. “I’m yours, but you can still drink from whoever you want?”

She frowns, then steps closer. A chill emanates from her skin, making me shiver.

“That’s not how it works,” she replies, her voice husky and low.

I swallow, feeling like all of the air has gone out of my lungs. How does she have this affect on me?

“How does it work, then?” I ask, sounding more brave than I feel.

She moves closer still, her lips hovering over mine.

“Follow me. I want you all to myself tonight.”