Page 95 of Vampires of Eden

“It’s the first song that I learned to play well as far as understanding the dynamics. Depressing the petals just right so the overtones vibrate—restraining the crescendo and rubato. I put a lot of love into learning it. It’s probably my favorite piece.”

“You played it exquisitely,” I tell him, leaning and bumping his shoulder. “Fluid and dignified. Perfection.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me coming from you. Honestly, it reminds me of you, in some ways.” Alexander says this quietly, staring at the keys.

“In what way?” I ask, curious.

His eyes flicker over to meet mine. “Sad.”

This is not what I was expecting, so a laugh bursts from my chest and throat.

“I’m just kidding,” he says, grinning. Alexander chuckles and I set my palm against my forehead, breathing and laughing with him as the glittery rush of contentment tingles through my veins and up my spine.

He licked me, knowingly.

Oliver’s blood was right there in my hand, but he skirted it and went forme. The fact that he wasn’t in his right mind at the time can’t be overlooked, but this thing bubbling between us? I can’t keep ignoring it.

Selfishly, impossibly, I want him.

It doesn’t make any sense and the situation is utterly doomed to fail, but…

“Raphael told me that your parents will be gone until next month,” I say as we recover from our spontaneous fit of laughter.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Playfully, I lean forward and into my inevitable demise. “Will you come stay at our cottage while they’re away? Have you decided whether or not you’ll accept our offer? We could watch moreBuffy—maybe a season that I haven’t seen?”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “We’re a couple of weirdos, you know? Quoting nineteenth century French poetry one minute and talking aboutBuffythe next.”

“Is this a bad thing? I’ve never had these things in common with anyone else. I enjoy it… I enjoy you, Alexander.”

The words flow from me unashamed and I can feel the warmth of his quieted energy stirring. Like lightly skimming my fingers over a candle flame. It makes my nature inside my belly swirl with quiet bliss.

He takes a breath and looks at me with flushed cheeks. “I enjoy you, too… really. And yes. I would love to stay with you and Leoni as a test run. Thank you for trusting me. I promise that I’ll be lucid, and I’ll definitely keep my tongue to myself.” He folds his lips in, frowning as he looks away. “That sounds creepy and awful, but you get what I’m saying.”

Incapable of behaving myself this time, I lift my palm from the bench and sneakily pinch the curve of his waist. He inhales sharply from surprise, but I do it softly to avoid jarring him. His eyes shift and within seconds, they’re glowing. Beautiful and molten gold.

“Stop making promises that you can’t keep,” I whisper, sneering in a mocking expression. “When you feel ready, come to me? To the cottage… I mean.”

With a palm covering his face and eyes, he breathes. “Alright,” he says. “I’ll come.”

Pleased and relaxed in this comfy bubble that we’ve created, I lazily caress the keys with my fingertips. The weightedshame I felt when I first sat down is lighter. The atmosphere is rosy as rays from the morning sun pour into the room.

Exhaling, I press a single key.

The note resonates brightly. Clear and strong. I haven’t touched a piano in over two years.

It feels really good.

CHAPTER 22

Alexander

After the horrific episode with drinking the new blood, an entire week passes before I truly feel healthy and adjusted. I’m better, without question. But I definitely feel… different.

Unsatisfied, somehow?

My meals are nutritious but not fulfilling like they used to be. So, I feed more often because my nature is telling me that it’s always hungry.