Page 20 of Thirsty

“These new things—TV, streaming, the internet—yes, they’re strange at times. But they’re also just machines.” He shook his head. “You humans make so much out of change and progress and evolution, but really, things are just as they’ve always been. The world is...” He sighed. “You ask me about—about food, and love, and sex. The same things people always think about. The things they crave.”

A slow grin spread across Charlie’s face. “I didn’t ask you about sex,” he said. “Yet.”

Lorenzo’s heart didn’t beat anymore, so there was no way it could thump all the way up in his throat. “But since you mentioned it,” Charlie continued.

“Yes?” he asked warily.

Whatever Charlie had been ramping up to, it made him hesitate. Lorenzo desperately wished he could read Charlie’s question from his face, but he couldn’t. Finally, he asked, “Is it dangerous for a human to have sex with a vampire?”

There was nothing alive in Lorenzo’s chest anymore, but something in there fluttered. “Not really.”

“Not really?”

“I chipped a tooth once when a woman headbutted me.”

“You know what I mean,” Charlie said impatiently.

“No, it’s not dangerous,” Lorenzo said. His blood didn’t pump anymore, so there was no way it could thrum so close to his skin, making him feel flushed and unsteady as he looked down into Charlie’s eager eyes. “No more than sex between humans can be dangerous. At least, from what I remember of sex between humans.”

“But what about...” Charlie pressed.

“What?” Lorenzo asked.

“Do you...” he trailed off, and then asked, “Do you feed from humans during sex?”

Lorenzo’s mouth went dry. Charlie kept going, his voice low. “I mean, that’s part of it, right?...Biting?”

Lorenzo pushed away from the counter. “You’re out of questions.”

Charlie gasped. “Oh, come on.”

“No,” Lorenzo said, walking away. “We had a deal at seven, and I was more than generous. Good day.”

“Wait,” Charlie said, following him out into the living room. “Give me more errands to do.”

Rachel squawked as they both strode past the TV. “Hey! Lorenzo, get your human out of the way.”

“No,” Lorenzo said to both of them.

“Please,” Charlie said. “This was so helpful, but I need more!”

Lorenzo ignored his entreaties. He needed more time to think, to regroup—he couldn’t just send Charlie off on some new lark, knowing that he would return in a day or two with more questions, more jokes, and more curiosity about Lorenzo. He needed a plan.

“Lorenzo,” Charlie was calling after him. “Come on, I’ll do more of your dry cleaning, or—you can tell me if the plumber doesn’t work out, or—”

Lorenzo turned around at the base of the stairs, gripping the rail. “Our business is done,” he said firmly.

“But I need more,” Charlie said, looking crestfallen.

“You’re not gonna help him anymore?” Maggie asked.

Rachelshhed them all. “I can’t hear Yabushige-sama!”

“This was a silly idea in the first place,” Lorenzo said, trying to buy himself time. “But I have held up my end of the bargain. Now we’re done.”

“Oh, come on,” Charlie said. “There’s gotta be more I can do for you. Never being able to go out during the daylight—I mean—that must make things difficult—”

Maggie perked up. “Ooh, what about your driver’s license?”