Page 89 of Vampires of Eden

“I’ve got the blood.”

Raphael announces his reentrance and I reflexively snatch my hand away in shame.

I…

What the hell am I doing?

Get it together, Daniel.

“Listen, Ido notwant him to be hooked on Oliver’s blood anymore,” Raphael says, walking over to meet me with a shot glassin one hand and two bags of blood in the other. “I trust what you’re saying, I just think this prolonged habit is probably screwing him up in some fundamental way, you know? Like a stain on his nature and senses—or maybe a blockage.” He sets the items on the bedside table.

“That could be the case,” I say, ignoring the fluttery thump of my pulse and examining the contents he’s delivered. One bag is half full and the other is full. I pick up the latter. “This is purebred blood?”

“Yep.”

“Where do you manage to find a healthy bag of purebred blood like this?” I ask, distracted from the matter at hand. The primary issue with being cut-off from Josefina was the lack of purebred blood to replace her. Leoni offered to have her blood bagged for me when I was in my darkest days of recovery, but she’s my friend. I didn’t want to burden her that way.

It’s amazing to me that I’m just… holding a random bag full of it. No big deal. As if it isn’t impossible to come by.

I might as well be holding a diamond-encrusted chalice of angel tears.

“These wealthy purebreds—they have resources and take care of their own like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Oh, I would believe it,” I say, annoyed as I set the bag down and switch to the half-full one. “This is Oliver?”

“It is.”

I twist off the cap, then pour a little of it into the shot glass. About half of the half that’s remaining.

“There are blood boutiques where they can go in and get what they need in case of an emergency, like this,” Raphael says, gesturing his hands toward Alexander, who watches us silently. Well,me, rather. “Or if they’re unbonded, bored and just want to taste someone new. It’s wild. They have a proper shop with inventory, but there’s also a swanky art-deco bar in the back.”

“Wow,” I say, flatly. “Must be nice.”

“You can have a bag if you want. I’ll give you one. Just don’t tell anybody.”

“No thanks.” If he’d asked me two years ago when I was foaming at the mouth for a purebred’s blood, I would have accepted this offer. Without question.

Now, though, I’m not sure if that’s something I would ever risk putting myself through again. To be hooked and dependent upon another purebred to the point of delirium and madness. By the end of it, I was disgusted with myself.

“I’m going to give him a shot of Oliver’s blood to help settle his nature and the tantrum it’s throwing,” I explain, taking the shot glass in one hand. “Then, we’ll have him drink half of this new bag. Let’s follow-up with another shot of Oliver, just for good measure. It’ll be like giving him a spoonful of sugar to help make the medicine more palatable.”

Raphael smiles as he grabs the unopened bag and twists off the cap to get it ready. “Sounds good. You’re very knowledgeable about this, Daniel. I’m glad that you’re here. Obviously, Lexie is happy to see you, too.”

I glance up at the vampire in question. He’s still watching me with glowing molten eyes. God help me. I lift the shot glass toward him. “Will you drink?”

Alexander blinks, pulling his eyes from mine and looking at the glass as I hold it out for him. He reaches, but I’m confused when his hand slips past mine and his fingers gently take hold of my wrist. He pulls me forward a bit and I have no clue what’s going on. Does he want me to bring the glass to his lips? Like I’m feeding a baby bird?

He dips his head. Everything becomes crystal clear when he brings the skin of my wrist to his nose. I watch in shock as he closes his eyes and inhales deeply. Before I can blink, his tongue laps across my veins in the same way that someone might indulgently lick an ice cream cone on a summer day.

When his tongue caresses my skin, a hot, tumultuous shiver rushes through my entire body and renders me speechless. Mybreath catches and I stiffen. Everywhere. Aroused and shocked and I… I don’t know… I can’t...

“Whoa,downboy—Oh my God!” Raphael leans in and fists the top of Alexander’s messy hair. Smoothly, he pulls him upright and I almost spill the shot of blood because Alexander still has his fingers tightly wrapped around my arm.

“Not him, silly rabbit. The glass.” Raphael takes the shot from my hand with his free one. Like a trained professional, he tilts Alexander’s head back slightly and brings the glass to his lips. “Cut it out and drink this, please.”

The three of us are locked in a strange pretzel position as Alexander drinks. His hand is wrapped around my wrist and Raphael’s hand is gripped in his floppy hair as he feeds him. When the shot is emptied, Raphael lets go, sets the glass down and takes hold of the new bag. “Now this, right?”

“Y-yes.” Still in shock, I swallow and suck in a sharp breath. Alexander’s eyes are penetrating as Raphael reaches over and pulls his fingers from my wrist to disconnect us. He makes him hold the bag as he brings it to his mouth. Alexander drinks, blinking while Raphael supports his hand over the bag.