Page 12 of Taste of Forever (Vampires of Sanguine #3)

“It’s just a kiss,” I said. “We don’t have to go any further. Unless you wanted to, that is. Which I am extremely down for, by the way.” I lifted my palms in a surrendering gesture. “But totally good if you’re not.”

Her eyes that had been wide and doll-like a moment ago narrowed into slits of anger. “Why would I do that? I don’t even know you.”

“Because you’re my blood mate.” What sounded obvious to me seemed to be lost on her. “That’s why you came here, isn’t it?”

“No. I don’t even know what that means.”

“You don’t?”

“No! Why would I?”

“You don’t know who I am? What clan I’m part of?”

“Again, no. But if you could clue me in on all of that, that’d be great.”

She crossed her arms, frustrated, while mine fell limply to my side in disbelief. Holy fucking Temkra, she had no idea. She’d never seen any of the territory-wide text alerts or the Craigslist posts. She was just a human getting a drink at the bar.

I rubbed the back of my neck, which felt uncomfortably tight. “I feel like we need to start over. I’m Laith, and I’m sorry about the kiss. I really thought we were on the same page.”

The woman was quiet for several long seconds. “I’m Heather.”

Heather. Even her name was so soft and pretty in my mouth. “Can I ask where you’re from, Heather?”

Another long silence. “California.”

“Ah, human world.” I nodded, trying to recall what I knew about the United States, one of the biggest countries. “That’s the one with Hollywood and avocados and shit, right?”

Her lips twitched like she was suppressing a smile. “Not exactly in my neck of the woods, but close enough.”

“Okay. Do you know where you are now and what I am?”

“Sanguine. And I assume you’re a vampire.”

“Great.” I smiled and for the first time in my life, felt self-conscious of my fangs. Her eyes went right to them with a mixture of curiosity and fear. “Just trying to find out where your baseline of knowledge is.”

“I don’t know much, but this isn’t my first time in this world.” She gestured toward me. “I mean, obviously you know that.”

“Right.” I gripped the back of a stool and stared blankly at the bar. This was not how I’d expected this to go, and I’d have to rethink my whole approach. “Can we sit down somewhere, Heather?”

Her stare became suspicious. “Sit down where? Why?”

“To explain the whole blood mate thing. No kissing, I promise. Though, if you want to kiss, you can lay one on me whenever you want.”

She didn’t seem thrilled by the offer, but not entirely repulsed by it either.

Her elevated heartbeat had calmed. Those wide eyes darted all over me with an analytical curiosity, like she was filing away data to comb through at a later date.

There was a sharpness about her that intrigued me greatly.

“So.” I slid into the barstool next to her, angling the chair to give her a bit more room. “When I fed from you, did you feel anything?”

“No.”

Her heartbeat quickened just before she said the word, and I could almost taste the blood rising to flush her neck and face. My little liar, I mused.

She didn’t want to admit being aroused by the feeding. Why? Because I was essentially a stranger to her?

I let it go for now.

“Humans aren’t my usual preference,” I said. “To my kind, your blood tastes watered down. Bland.”

Heather’s brows knitted together almost like she was offended. “What else do you feed on?”

“Other vampires are most common. The flavor of our blood varies, but we usually find it very hearty and comforting. Dragon shifters from the neighboring territory have a rich, spicy taste to them. Do you know what a brusang is?”

“Uh, yes.” Heather nodded. “A human who was given vampire blood shortly after death.”

“Correct.” I grinned, pleased with how much she knew already. “They taste a bit like watered-down vampire. Not quite as bland as a human, but not as potent as my own kind.”

“I see.” Heather’s shoulders were tense. Her gaze continued flitting over me, but also toward the exits.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” I could sense her fight or flight response like it was a neon sign. “We don’t harm humans here, even when feeding outside the blood bank. Vampires recognize you as a fellow sentient species.”

That had been a fairly recent development in vampire society, but she didn’t need to know the gory details of the past.

“I’m not worried about that.” She frowned like she was confused by her own admission. “I mean, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. This doesn’t feel real .”

“You had my fangs in your wrist. This is very real.”

“I know. Just letting it sink in, I guess. Anyway, go on.” She met my eyes, resting her forearm on the bar. “You were saying I tasted bland?”

“No, that’s the thing. I expected you to, but you tasted incredible. The best blood I’ve ever had.”

My mouth watered at the memory, and my stomach growled with hunger. Every instinct screamed at me to just grab her. Find a vein and quench this burning thirst. But she was more than just a meal. I wanted her to trust me. To understand me.

“Your flavor was indescribable,” I went on. “I couldn’t get enough. It didn’t really hit me until your wrist was taken away, but I felt like…like I would kill to taste you again. And that was when I knew.”

Heather tensed again, her heartbeat elevating as she leaned back slightly. “Knew what?”

“That you were my blood mate. Your blood, and yours alone, is suited perfectly to my needs. My brain recognized it before I did. That was why you tasted so good. My body, instincts, whatever you call it, had found the perfect source and now nothing else will satisfy.” I grinned, the utter joy and relief of having found her washing over me again. “So, what do you think?”

“Hold on. Pause.” Heather held up a palm while pinching her nose bridge with the other hand. “What do you mean, it perfectly suits your needs? What is it about my blood in particular?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. All I can say is, whatever’s in your blood, in whatever ratios or amounts, tastes like a fucking dream and makes me feel…like I’ve never felt before.”

Heather stared at me like I’d begun speaking a foreign language. “I’m sorry, but that’s literally impossible.”

“It is a rarity. Well, two other people I know found their blood mates pretty recently, which might have been a fluke. But now that it’s happened to me”—I let my grin spread wide—“it feels like a blessing.”

“Listen, Laith.” She paused, crossed her legs and I enjoyed the brief lull, soaking in the way she spoke my name. “I actually know blood pretty well for a human.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, I test and analyze it and make reports based on my findings all the time. It’s part of my job.”

“Really?” I couldn’t help but lean into her, fascinated. “What do you do?”

She hesitated. “I work in a crime lab. I test evidence from crime scenes.”

Oh shit. She was smart. Like smart smart. Which meant I was fucking doomed.

Remembering to give her space, I drew back. “Wow. So you’re, what, like a science person?”

She gave a humble little shrug and nodded. “Forensic scientist is my official title, yes.”

“Damn, that’s…impressive.”

What I really wanted to say was, that’s so fucking hot , but I had a feeling she wouldn’t be receptive to it. Not yet anyway.

“Thank you.”

Her eye contact shifted away briefly while she played with a lock of her hair. Someone wasn’t accustomed to receiving compliments. Interesting.

“Anyway my point is, human blood is basically all made up of the same components. The little variance that does exist from person to person would not be enough to determine if I was your…your blood mate.”

“But human blood is only one half of the equation,” I pointed out.

“You don’t know vampire blood. Or any vampire anatomy, I imagine.

How do you know there isn’t something in my biology that recognizes an ideal food source in yours?

” When Heather gave no answer to that, I said, “See? Not as dumb as I look.”

“You don’t look dumb,” she blurted out and blushed.

“Aw, that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

She actually laughed into her hand that time, then shook a finger at me. “That’s right. I remember you’ve got jokes.”

“That’s not the only thing I got.”

She shook her head, fighting a grin. “I can see where this is going and I’m not walking into it.” Before I could deliver a witty comeback, she sobered. “Okay, so assuming this blood mate thing is real, what then? We set up regular appointments at the blood bank or what?”

“No.” I stifled a laugh. Her naivety about my world was an adorable contrast to how intelligent she truly was.

“No, blood mates are so much more than that. It’s not just finding an ideal food source.

It’s…a bond. A connection that goes deeper than taking blood.

In exchange for your blood, I’m expected to take care of you.

To provide for you, keep you comfortable and happy. Satisfied.”

Heather became statue-still as I spoke, but her heartbeat quickened at a rapid rate.

“Do you get what I’m saying?” I asked during her silence.

“That sounds…” She wet her lips on a deep breath and started over. “That sounds an awful lot like a romantic relationship.”

“Oh, it absolutely is.” I nodded. “Blood mates stay bonded for a lifetime and they’re exclusive partners in every way.”

I didn’t know Heather’s eyes could get any bigger, but impressively, they did. “And that’s what you expect out of…this?” She gestured between the two of us.

“Well, we can take things slowly. I have all the time in the world, and I would like to get to know you.” I gave my best non-threatening smile, which was quite a feat with hunger making my fangs so long.

“This is strange to you and I get that. We can figure something out, and then seal the deal with a ceremony whenever you’re ready. ”

“No, I’m sorry.” She shook her head and began fidgeting in her chair, making subtle movements like she wanted to leave. “You seem nice and all, but I can’t do anything like that. I’m already with someone.”

“Oh.” The solution was clear to me. “Well, obviously, you have to break it off.”

Heather blinked and then her eyes narrowed. “What?”

“You have to end it. This is with a human partner, I assume?”

“Yes.” The word dropped harshly from her mouth. “I’m not leaving my boyfriend of five years. We’re serious. We live together.”

“Serious?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“I’ve seen your TV shows. You make vows to each other for life, then split within a decade.

You promise to love in sickness and in health, then sneak around with affairs and gambling debt.

You marry for health insurance, citizenship of another country, status, wealth.

Serious?” I laughed again. “Humans don’t know what serious means. ”

“We’re not all like that,” Heather shot back. “TV doesn’t always reflect real life. There are plenty of humans in happy, lifelong relationships.”

“What’s your divorce rate again? Fifty percent, was it?”

“And dropping. What’s yours?”

I grinned. “Zero, because we don’t get married.”

“And you say humans don’t take relationships seriously?”

“Nothing is more serious and committed than blood mates,” I said. “But what makes a mated pair is out of our control. It’s one part biological compatibility, one part divine fate.”

Heather gave me an incredulous look. “Fate? Really?”

“Yes.” I held up my hands and wiggled my fingers. “Call it magic, divinity, whatever you want. But it’s true that our matron goddess Temkra has a hand in choosing mate pairings. Quite a matchmaker, she is.”

“I don’t believe in magic,” Heather deadpanned.

“It doesn’t matter what you believe. It simply is .”

“All right, well.” Heather slid from her barstool, careful to not brush against any part of me as she shouldered her purse. “This has been a fascinating conversation, but I’ve had enough for one night. Nice to meet you, Laith.”

With a determined stride, she started toward the door.

“When will you be back?” I called before she could get too far. “I kind of need your blood to live, remember? You wouldn’t want my death on your hands.”

She paused and looked at me over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t sign up for this blood mate thing. I wish you the best.”

“At least admit I’m funnier than your boyfriend!”

She carried on without looking back, despite my yell across the room. I only saw a flash of her side profile as she went out the front door and turned onto the street, but I swore a smile curved her lips in that moment.

She’s going back to him, I thought bitterly. The human she chose years before she even knew I existed.

The thought of her with someone else soured my stomach almost as much as all the rancid blood that wasn’t hers. But it truly didn’t matter that she had another partner at the moment. Heather was still my blood mate. Her care and safety was my responsibility.

I only waited a beat before leaving the club, and began to follow her from a distance.