Page 3 of Necking with a Vampire (Halloween Temptation #1)

Peter hadn't meant to keep going back to the sketchy black bloodmobile.

He attempted to get Draven out of his mind and give blood at one of the normal, more permanent donation sites. But it didn’t matter how nice and understanding the nurse was, Peter bailed at the last second.

His aversion wasn’t cured.

Was it a fluke? He had to find Draven again.

It wasn’t easy. Draven kept odd hours, the only constant being that the sun was down. The van moved around campus, picking off the night owls who weren’t around during the day.

It didn’t help that the man didn’t exist online. All Peter had to go on was other people’s social media posts of sightings. #vampirebloodcollector #feedthevampire #bloodforcash. And those were few and far between.

Draven was more ghost than vampire.

Peter almost wondered if he’d dreamed the whole encounter. But he still had the cash Draven had slipped into his pocket, proof that he’d been paid for the blood.

He couldn’t ask Alex for help. He didn’t want to hear ‘I told you so.’

There was one thing consistent about the reported sightings. Draven always stuck to the edge of campus. And after days of searching between his night classes, he finally got lucky. The rush of victory was quickly followed by fear and dread.

Alex had been right when he’d said Draven was Peter’s type.

Ever since Peter had announced he was bi-curious, he’d put off doing anything about it.

His family expected him to settle down with a girl. Being bisexual or bi-curious didn’t change that in their minds. They thought it was a phase he’d grow out of.

So of course the first man who caught his eye was someone out of his league.

Draven wasn’t interested. He was just being nice. He was probably straight too. He’d just been playing a part to shock Peter out of his fear spiral. And it worked.

Peter’s steps slowed. There Draven was, lounging outside his van, long legs extended and casually crossed.

Draven watched as Peter approached, but didn’t smile. It gave Draven an intimidating aura, even sitting in a camp chair.

He smiled for you , Peter reminded himself. Alex said so .

Peter screwed up his courage and waved enthusiastically.

Fake it till you make it!

Besides, Draven probably didn’t remember-

“Back for more? I thought I’d scared you off.”

Peter paused for all of a second, pleased as punch at being recognized.

“Ha, no. You’re not scary.”

He was. But for an entirely different reason than Draven likely meant.

“Not as scary as giving blood normally, at least. Um, I wanted to try again with you. If that’s okay?”

“Well then. Please, step inside.”

Draven took Peter’s hand and, just like last time, rubbed soothing circles with his thumb. Helped Peter get comfortable in the sinfully plush chair. Trailed his fingers along Peter’s skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

“I think this is the first time someone has chosen me, besides as a dare,” Draven said. “Usually I’m a last resort.”

“What’s not to like?” Peter asked.

Draven’s lips twitched, like Peter had made a joke.

“Who could say no to this chair or the aesthetics?”

The faint smile turned more genuine.

Peter tried to pay more attention to what Draven did differently when drawing blood, but once he saw that hint of a smile, he was gone. Done for.

It was far too easy for Draven to distract him with a touch. Simply playing with Peter’s neck was enough to send Peter’s blood racing south.

Once again it was all over too soon. Once again, Draven licked the last drop of Peter’s blood.

“I hope you come again,” Draven said. “You are delicious.”

It should be offputting. Unnerving. Weird.

It shouldn’t make Peter so hard he barely made it home before giving in and frantically stroking himself until he came.

And Peter did come back. Again and again. Giving blood to Draven became a habit he couldn’t quit.

In bed, he was restless, unable to sleep until he gave in to temptation and stroked himself hard and fast, Draven’s smooth voice guiding him to completion just as it soothed him in the chair.

During the day, he struggled to focus on his classes. His mind spun with new ways to make Draven smile. He was determined to see a hint of teeth one day.

Was this quickly becoming an obsession?

If it was, Peter couldn’t be blamed! Draven was just that interesting. And much nicer than everyone made him out to be.

The flirting was the perfect distraction while drawing blood, but Draven couldn’t mean it. If he did, he would have made a proper move.

Or was Peter supposed to be the one to make the first move? How did it work when it was two men? As the elder, it should be Draven… right?

Ugh, it was all so confusing. This was yet another reason Peter had put off exploring his bi-curious side. He didn’t know the rules! And he didn’t want his first time to be with a stranger. He wanted it to be with someone he trusted. Someone with experience.

Draven checked all his boxes… but what if Peter was wrong? What if Draven was just flirting to draw blood? It worked so well. Then Peter would look like a complete fool if he confessed.

Making Draven smile was a safe, harmless thing to focus his attention on.

Seeing the man light up whenever Peter approached would never get old. As much as the man ever did ‘light up’ for anyone.

Over time, finding Draven became easier and easier. Was Peter getting better at searching, or was Draven seeking him out? Their paths crossed too often to be a coincidence.

The night before Halloween, Peter stepped out of his last class to find Draven parked across the street, waiting for him.

Had Peter made a friend? A friend that left Peter hot and bothered.

“Will you be attending the party tomorrow night?” Draven asked.

Peter watched Draven prepare the needle and hook up the empty bag. It was part of their routine now. It didn’t hold the fear it used to. Now all Peter felt was anticipation - of Draven’s fingers on his skin, tracing the lines of his neck, nails scratching the nape of his neck.

Draven had a thing for necks. And feeling Peter’s pulse. And licking the last drop of blood that always formed after removing the needle.

Peter still couldn’t watch the process itself. But he was getting there. Baby steps. And all thanks to Draven.

“Oh, um, yeah,” Peter said.

Draven paused and said, “You don’t sound excited. I thought Halloween was your favorite time of year?”

It was! But this year there was added pressure. He needed to find a girlfriend by Thanksgiving to appease his parents. And he’d been dragging his feet.

His parents would never approve of Draven.

“It is! Still need to figure out my costume,” Peter said, lying through his teeth.

“Good. I can’t wait to see you there,” Draven said.

“You’re going?”

“Of course, I never miss it. I always stay in town long enough to enjoy the delectable delights of the party, before moving on.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Why was this the first time Peter was hearing this?

Draven cocked his head to the side.

“This van isn’t just for show. I don’t like to stay in one place for long.”

“But-”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back next year.”

What if Peter regressed while Draven was gone?

Fuck. Now he had to decide.

Did he do what he was supposed to do? Did he continue with his plan of finding a girl at the party?

Or did he surprise Draven with his awesome costume?