Page 145 of Vampires of Eden

Even if I didn’t comprehend, Daniel kisses me back with such passion and ferocity that his sentiments are absolutely clear. I thought I was tired, but a surge of vitality overtakes us both, and before I know it, we’re touching and exploring yet again. Enraptured in the magnetic pull of our natures.

The world is silent and golden when I open my eyes. Beyond the glass doors to my balcony, the sky is pristinely blue. Not a cloud in sight. The sunlight spills onto the carpeted floor in a symmetrical slant that mirrors the design of the doors.

Daniel is mostly on top of me as I lie on my back. His head is rested in the concave of my neck and his hair is draped over my shoulder and across the pillow. He hugs my side with one legpossessively tucked between my thighs. He’s still asleep. Breathing slow and evenly.

I’ve never had so much sex in a single evening. We had sex more times last night than I’ve had in my entire life up until this point.

We went two rounds in my bed before we were sated and decided to clean up. That lead to a third round in my shower with some very tricky lifting and grinding with the help of my soap bar. We laughed and fussed throughout the process but the end result was marvelous. Then, I ended up on my knees while we were drying off and with my hands cupping and squeezing his ass cheeks as I took the length of him into my mouth.

Something greedy and bold had awakened in me and I desperately wanted to taste him. It’s like I couldn’t stop myself and Danny didn’t discourage me at all.

Sucking his cock was so oddly satisfying, I can’t even describe it. Like an obscure itch that I didn’t know needed scratching. The way he threw his head back in shameless ecstasy and the needy whimper in his voice. The quiver that rippled across his body as he came in my mouth. He tasted fuckingincredible. It’s amazing that I can give him that kind of pleasure. That I’m capable.

By the time we made it back into bed, we were both languid and drunk with gratification before we passed out.

Glancing down, I’m still amazed that he’s here. Comfortably sleeping in my bed and holding me like I’m a life-sized teddy bear. His skin looks so pale juxtaposed against his dark lashes and in the bright morning light. I wonder if he’s hungry? He has to be, right? I fed from him twice in the same day.

Danny doesn’t want to be addicted to purebred blood ever again, but I wonder if I can get him something first-gen? Maybe the boutique where I get my neutral blood supply has some. I should ask Raphael.

I lift and kiss the top of his head. I don’t want to disturb him, but I’d rather get up before Raphael or someone else comes barging in here. “Good morning,” I say quietly.

His eyes slowly blink open. He yawns, stretches his spine, then winces before embracing me tighter. His lids drift closed once more. “Morning.”

“Are you okay?” I ask, sliding my palms up to his shoulder blades. “Are you numb?” He was on his back when we initially fell asleep. At some point in the night, he migrated onto my chest.

He chuckles. “Not numb. But I haven’t moved my hips that way in years. I’m a little sore but I’m fine, Rabbit. Don’t worry.”

“Do you want breakfast? I need to go find Raph and ask him a question. Can I bring you something back?”

Daniel shifts upright from my chest and onto his palms to look down at me. His lilac eyes are radiant in the morning sunlight. “Chai would be nice again? And more of those cherries, please?”

“Of course. Anything you wish, it’s yours.”

His expression is sleepy and contented as he smiles. “Anything?”

I push myself up, then lean so that I can kiss his lips. “Anything. I’ll be right back.” Daniel watches silently as I stand from the bed, then quickly step into the bathroom to find and wrap myself up in my robe. His eyes follow me across the room as I leave and gently close the door behind me.

Downstairs, to my surprise, there’s lots of activity. Much more than usual. Most of the serving staff within the estate had been dismissed in my mother and father’s absence. Their primary attendants traveled with them up north, so only Raphael and a skeleton crew were left to maintain the house.

This morning, more attendants have returned and are zipping in and out of doors. Politely bowing to me and grinning like there’s an inside joke that I’m not privy to.

“Hans,” I call out to one of the sous chefs as he walks ahead of me in the hallway and with a couple of bulging garbage bags. “What’s going on?”

“We got a call this morning that Lord Kendrick is coming back today—something’s up at the Royal Opera and he’s holdingan emergency meeting. We’re just tidying up. Do you need anything, your highness?”

I lift a palm “No, no. I’m fine. Have you seen Raphael?”

He nods to his right. “In the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” I step forward, but Hans’s calm voice addresses me once more.

“I like Daniel,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “I met him yesterday. Nice fellow.”

“He is. He’ll bite, though, if you’re not careful.” I joke.

Hans laughs. “Sounds like a keeper to me!”

My smile is broad as I head toward the kitchen. Daniel’s apprehensions about Central Eden and the vampires here are valid. There’s no questioning that. But not all vampires or spaces in my world are unsafe. I wish I could convince him of this, but his pain and experiences are his own. He has to come to certain conclusions for himself. And I definitely don’t want to fight with him about it again.