Page 26 of Necking with a Vampire

Some people changed after being turned. The process could be traumatic. Their personality could twist into something unrecognizable.

It took a certain resilience to maintain your sense of self. Self confidence. Resilient and unwavering understanding of their core.

It wasn’t a decision to make lightly.

Peter still had so much life in him. So much life to share. So much life to live. He couldn’t risk it. Not yet.

Look at him. He’d sworn off love and now after only 6 months he was already thinking about forever. He should have known he was in trouble after he changed all of his plans to stay with Peter.He never did that. But he hadn't been able to bear the thought of leaving.

He'd even attended what had to be the most awkward Thanksgiving of his long life.

Draven took one last, decadent swallow and began the process of licking the wound closed.

Peter giggled, squirming in Draven’s arms.

This was how all vampires should wake up. With a willing partner sneaking into their coffin before the sun had fully set to surprise them with a neck to bite.

Maybe then vampires wouldn’t have a reputation of being such miserable bastards.

“Guess what?” Peter said.

Draven made a questioning noise, tongue still at work.

“I’ve been accepted at the hospital! My volunteer shift starts this summer. Then next year I can join you running the blood donation drives!”

Oh. Peter had been serious about joining him?

“I can’t wait until I can be a full time nurse. I’ll take all the night shifts - and switch with people if I don’t get it. Then on a four day on, three day off rotation, I’ll be an unofficial vampire! And, most importantly, I’ll be able to spend all my days off with you.”

Peter hugged Draven tightly.

Good. Because there was an odd lump in his throat and he didn’t trust himself enough to speak.

Peter was doing all of that… for Draven?

When no blood leaked out between licks, he no longer had any excuse to keep doing it. The wound was sealed. Soon, it’d just be a scar. A feature of the magic he carried within him wherever he went.

“I’m so proud of you,” Draven whispered.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Draven scoffed, “Of course you could have. All I did was help you bring out what was already there. And you’re capable of so much more.”

Peter sniffed wetly and hugged Draven tighter. “I love you so much. No one ever believed in me like you do.”

Draven hesitated, still not used to these emotional moments, and then hugged Peter back just as tightly. Peter’s easy displays of affection always caught him off guard.

“And I know what you’re thinking,” Peter said. “But you’re not a pain in the neck. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Draven tightened his grip and quietly said into Peter’s skin, “I love you too.”