Page 124 of Vampires of Eden

Gradually, my emotions subside and relax. The contented fullness in combination with his scent and warmth lull me into a peaceful sleep. Like being wrapped in love and hope.

Two things I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again.

The sun rises and shines brightly through Daniel’s windows in the morning—through the ornamental gaps between the leafy plants and casting the room in green-gold light. I wake up first, or rather, my nature forces me up. It twists and writhes hot at the base of my spine like some restless and starved entity.

It compels me todosomething—to push through all the worry, apprehension and reservations I’ve been wrestling with and give it what it wants. As if it’s sick of me and my cerebral bullshit.

My energy beats like a drum in my ears and chest as I turn my head to look at Daniel. He’s still on his side facing me, asleep. His typically sharp features are smoothed and relaxed as he holds my hand. He didn’t move all night, except… maybe he’s even closer now? His knee is bent and resting on top of my thigh.

He’s insecure about his appearance. He comments that he’s too thin, too pale and his eyes aren’t the color they used to be because he’s malnourished. His hair is all he has left.

None of that matters to me. I think he’s beautiful. The poetic line of his jaw and the soft swell of his lips. The lavish fan of his darker-than-black lashes against his pale skin as he sleeps.

Truly, he’s just as striking to me as he was the first time I saw him—maybe even more so, now? Because I know the strength of his character. His intuition, intelligence and self-awareness. His humility and spirit. His confidence inspires me and truly, I just…

I love him.

I always have. Admiring him in my younger years, my heartwas full of something I couldn’t comprehend. If my feelings had been allowed to grow back then instead of shamed and swiftly amputated, I might have eventually understood them better. Understood myself and my nature.

Now, with every cell in my body, I know that I want to be closer to him. To wrap him tightly in my essence and make him part of me—to appease this ancient entity that yearns to become one with the vampire it desires. He wouldn’t be malnourished with me, because my blood would satisfy him and provide whatever he needed.

My body and nature tell me this, but mentally, I back away, because it feels dangerous. The influence of my purebred energy is profound—and much more so to a first-gen vampire. I can’t imagine Daniel ever willingly submitting to me in that way.

I would never ask him to.

Gently, I squeeze Daniel’s hand in mine. I should probably head back to my room. “Good morning.”

Daniel’s eyes flutter open and focus on me. With the sunlight filtering in the room, I can see the delicate lilac hue of his irises. A twilight sunset over an icy lake. “Morning,” he says drowsily. “Did you sleep okay?”

“I did,” I say, distracted by his knee caressing and dragging up my thigh. His hand gripped in mine. “You didn’t move all night.”

He breathes in a laugh. “I don’t move, typically, and it’s a problem. Poor blood circulation makes me numb and stiff, so I have to be careful about how I fall asleep. It’s best if I’m on my back.”

“Then why are you on your side, silly?” I ask, smiling. “Are you numb now?”

“I am,” he says, stretching his spine and groaning. “Your aura and presence are like a roaring citrus fire. My body refused to turn away from you. I’ll take whatever exposure you’ll give me at this point.”

My breath hitches. The air is warm, sunlit and stagnant as I stare. “Do you really want to be exposed to me? To my energy?”

Daniel blinks slowly. His eyes flicker down to my mouth before they trail back up to meet my gaze. “I do. Very much.”

“I just… If I relax even a little, I don’t know how well I can control it. How much will flow from me.”

“We won’t know until you try.”

Swallowing, I lift to my elbow, then gently roll him onto his back. He winces when he lands and his braid gets caught beneath his shoulder against the pillow. Carefully, I pull it free. The weight of it is hefty in my palm and soft to touch, like a silk rope.

I’m distracted by it until I meet his eyes in the silence. His pale stare is intense and… longing? His lips are parted and his chest rises and falls in shallow breaths.

The hunger in my nature pulses and before I can deliberate, question or refuse it, I lean into Daniel and kiss him. An irrefutable spark flashes with the tender touch of our lips and I pull up, surprised.

Daniel’s gaze is unwavering as he lifts his palms to my face. Another puff of air passes between his lips and he whispers. “Please don’t stop.”

He closes his eyes. I lean down once more, pressing into him and fusing our mouths together.

He tastes like an autumn night by a fire. A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and a raging, haunting thunderstorm. The kind that feels dangerous but thrilling. The sensation and imagery of him races through my body profoundly. All consuming.

Even if I wanted to pull up again I couldn’t, because Daniel’s fingers wrap and grip the back of my scalp, as if he refuses to let me run away.