Page 47 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

I clasp my hands in my lap, trying not to fidget.

I’ve eaten in the hotel’s lounge a few times, but tonight, I’m accompanied by Crimson. She sits in the chair opposite mine, somehow both regal and commanding while also radiating a casual charm. Tonight, she wears a suit jacket with a maroon pocket square, a matching ruby stud in each ear.

I’m overwhelmed in her presence yet again, although it does feel as though something’s shifted between us. I’m just not quite sure how to process it.

I know how dedicated I am to her. How deeply I feel about her.

I know I could never be with anyone else.

And I had resigned myself to the reality that it might be one-sided.

That she might always keep me at arm’s length.

That I might just be another blood donor in a long line, destined to be forgotten eventually.

But after last night, after everything she said…could she possibly have real feelings for me? Could I mean something more to her? I’m scared to want it too much, to let that hope build me up. But I can’t help it.

“You look exquisite tonight, Paige,” she tells me, the jewels in her ears accentuating the flash of crimson that flickers in her irises.

“Thank you, my king,” I reply, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And thank you for having dinner with me…or, sitting with me, I suppose.”

“Perhaps I can enjoy my dinner afterwards,” she says with a provocative grin.

Warmth pools inside me. “I’d like that, sir.”

Her smile deepens. There’s something strangely soft in her eyes. I get a little lost in her gaze.

“Have you been enjoying the hotel, these first few nights?” she asks, with genuine interest.

“Very much,” I answer. “I went to the water park with some of the other donors today. I’ve never been to one before.”

She frowns. “What sort of park?”

“Oh, a water park,” I clarify. I realize with a little jolt that she may not know what a water park is.

I try to come up with a way to explain it to her.

“It’s like a…place with a lot of pools. And they have huge slides with water running down them, and a pool that makes waves, like at a beach. And they have hot tubs!”

She takes a sip of blood from the glass in front of her. “That sounds quite incredible. Do you like that sort of thing?”

“I loved it! I’ve never been to a water park before, but I went on the slides more than anyone else did. There weren’t many other people there. I guess witches and shifters aren’t really interested in that sort of thing.”

Crimson tilts her head, curiously. “Do living humans go to water parks often?”

It’s strange to think that she doesn’t know. But why would she? “Not very often. It’s more of a special thing. My friends went a lot when they were young.”

“But you didn’t?”

I swallow. “My childhood was…complicated.”

She leans forward slightly, her brow furrowing. “I don’t mean to pry…”

“Oh, you’re not prying,” I quickly assure her. “I’m sorry, I just don’t talk about it very much.”

“You mentioned losing your mother,” she continues. “That must have been very hard for you.”

“It was,” I whisper. “I still think about her all the time.”

Crimson lets the silence sit between us. She has a way of watching me that doesn’t make me feel rushed, but invites me to speak next.

“I loved my mom. And she did try her best for us, but sometimes I…I also feel angry with her.” I pause, the emotion rising up.

I’m surprised at how difficult it is to share, but at the same time, how it feels like something relaxes inside me when I talk about it.

“I know that’s wrong, and that I should try to sympathize…

but I also wish she could have been there for me and my brother.

I wish she could have given us a different childhood. I wish she was still here.”

“I think it’s natural to feel many ways about someone,” Crimson answers. “People don’t always give you the closure you might want from them.”

There’s a sad lilt to her voice that tugs at my heartstrings. I’m not sure whether I should ask her this, but if I don’t, I might not get the chance again.

“Do you…think about your brother often?” I ask.

She goes very, very still, although it seems that something moves behind her grey eyes. Finally, she says. “Yes, I think about him very often.”

Her voice is flat, but not harsh. Still, I hope I haven’t upset her. “I’m sorry, perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

But she shakes her head, an almost imperceptible movement. “You can ask. I just don’t speak about it very much,” she echoes.

A quiet, comfortable peace settles around the two of us. She sips her distilled blood, and I nurse my glass of pinot noir. A server brings me my main course, a tender steak that I happily cut into. I take a bite, savouring the iron-rich taste.

“How is your brother’s treatment progressing?” Crimson asks.

I’m surprised that she remembers. We’ve chatted about it a few times, but I try not to burden her with things like that.

“Oh! It’s going well,” I reply, using a rose-embroidered hotel napkin to dab the corner of my lip.

“He called me earlier today, and told me that he’s looking at job openings.

He said that he wants to get into the non-profit sector.

” My heart swells with pride. “He wants to help other people who are struggling with substance use.”

“I’m sure his own experience will assist him in that regard,” Crimson says.

“I think so, too,” I say with a nod.

In between bites of steak, I tell her about Miles, about my stay at the hotel.

It feels very natural, very comfortable.

It’s almost like we’re on a normal date.

I keep expecting her to get bored, or for her eyes to wander off, but she stays present, asking me questions and giving me an uncharacteristically gentle smile.

When the server takes away my empty plate, I’m a little sad that our dinner is coming to an end.

“This has been really, really great,” I gush to her, meaning it with all my heart. “Thank you again for taking me out. I’m sorry if I talked too much.”

She cocks her head, giving me a curious look again.

“Don’t apologize,” she says. “I enjoy your company, Paige.”

Blood rushes to my cheeks. “I enjoy your company, too, my king.” I look anxiously to the clock above the bar. “Do you have any meetings tonight?”

“Not tonight,” she answers, with a raised eyebrow. She circles her finger around the rim of her wine glass. “I’d like to propose a second part to our date. If you aren’t too tired.”

Excitement blazes through me. “No, I’m wide awake! Should we go back down to the suite?”

“I thought I might introduce you to another part of the hotel,” Crimson suggests, a twinkle in her eyes.