I let my hair down, running my fingers through it as I headed into the kitchen to set out the food. After I had everything arranged, I went to the fridge and found my blood bags. There were only two left and they wouldn’t be good by the weekend. Standing over the sink again, I bit into the first one, trying not to let the cold, thick consistency bother me. But it did, along with the slightly bitter taste to the blood, which told me it was getting close to spoiling. Once I drained the first bag, I did the same to the second. I shoved both empty bags in the trash then set the empty Chinese bags on top of it. I brushed my teeth, not wanting Grayson to taste the blood on me.

  When I was finished, I took what had become my regular seat at the bar. Grayson would be home any minute. As if on cue, I heard the elevator doors open.

  “Now Mr. Alexander,” I uncrossed and recrossed my legs seductively, when he stepped through the door. “Did you manage to move that meeting like I asked?” I said in my professional voice. He grinned hugely as his eyes took me in.

  “And what if I didn’t?”

  “I’d pack up your prize and be on my way,” I said rationally.

  “After all the effort you went through, Miss Carmichael. You wouldn’t let me enjoy it?” He joked, pressing his hand to his chest like he was injured by my comment, but I knew better. Grayson was such a tease.

  “If you did not do the work, you do not get to reap the fruits of the labor.” Grayson was moving across the room to stand in front of me.

  His mouth turned up into a half grin. “Well, it’s a good thing that I managed to get that meeting changed to five thirty then because I don’t think I could bear not being able to enjoy this.” He brushed his knuckles against my cheek.

  “Yes, it is.” I started wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him to my lips.

  “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?” he said when he pulled back. My brow knitted with confusion. “The outfit. You’re going to make me die of exhaustion, or lack of blood to my brain.”

  “There are worse ways to go, a wise man once told me,” I poked.

  “I think that was death by orgasm.”

  “Oh, there will be orgasms involved,” I smiled. “Many.” I felt a hint of fang showing. I slapped my hand across my mouth slipping from the seductress role I was trying to play.

  “Baby, don’t do that. I love all of you.”

  I shook my head, dropping my hand. “It’s just embarrassing sometimes. They pop out when I’m hungry, pissed or horny.”

  “And which are you right now?” he asked.

  I smiled wickedly at him.

  Grayson bounced his head from side to side, like he was actually thinking about it. “Let me guess. Pissed at the fact that I’m still alive after seeing how amazingly sexy you look in this.” Grayson pulled the strap of my chemise.

  I giggled. “Sit down and eat your dinner.”

  “I’d rather skip to dessert.” He pushed the strap off my shoulder, running his tongue where it had been.

  “But then the food will be cold,” I whispered. My eyes closed, my head falling back as I absorbed the sensation his tongue was causing.

  He pushed the other strap down. “I have a microwave.” Grayson pushed the top of my chemise down revealing my breast. The air touched them for a moment but his mouth and palm quickly covered them. I was moaning with pleasure, parting my legs and pulling Grayson between my thighs. Breaking his contact with my breast, he grasped my hips lifting me. I locked my ankles around his waist as he carried me to the couch where we exchanged pleasure long after the Chinese went cold.

  ***

  “Is Shawn seeing anyone?” Grayson asked. I was sitting at the bar wrapped in my new, black, silk robe, watching Grayson heat up the Chinese food.

  “Um... Not that I know of,” I bit off a piece of cold egg roll, which was gross, but I was hungry. “Why?”

  He shrugged. “My hotel manager is single. I thought they might be good together.”

  “You know, just because they’re both gay doesn’t mean they’ll have anything else in common.”

  “They’re both good looking guys. They have pretty similar temperaments. I think they’ll get along well.”

  I stared at him wide eyed when he placed the vegetable lo mein down in front of me.

  “What?” he asked.

  I grabbed my chop sticks, pulling some of the noodles onto my plate. “You must be very comfortable in your sexuality to admit that two men are good looking.”

  Grayson grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop putting food on my plate. I glanced up into his eyes. “You know I am, baby.” He winked and then returned to heating up the other containers.

  ***

  Grayson stirred next to me, pressing his warm, naked body against my back. I could feel that he was very happy to see me this morning. His hands drifted up the curves of my body, cupping my breast.

  “Mm...” I murmured, with my eyes closed, refusing to wake and go to work.

  Grayson’s hand left my breast to skim down my stomach to the junction between my thighs. I gasped at the contact. He pushed me onto my back, quickly settling between my thighs. I was ready for him. Just the thought of what he might want to do to me made me wet. When he slid into me with ease, he knew just how ready I was. His lips brushed mine briefly.

  “God, you’re so wet, Gaby.” He thrust hard into mine. “I love how wet you get for me.” He thrust again. “Do you wanna bite me?” He breathed. I nodded hurriedly, unable to do anything else, including opening my eyes. “I think I’m going to get there before you. If I do...” I nodded vigorously, a moan of pleasure escaping my lips. I didn’t think he’d beat me there. I was already close to the brink, but I knew when to bite.

  I held off for five minutes until I felt the first of Grayson’s release. I sank my teeth into his wrist and my body came in response.

  “Does that always happen when you feed?” he asked a few minutes later while I laid against his chest, immersed in my afterglow. I lifted my head to look at him.

  “You mean...” I finished the rest of the statement with my eyes.

  “Yeah. It’s just... Whenever you bite me, you peak.”

  I giggled. “No it doesn’t.” I laid my head back on his chest. I really didn’t want to explain that if it did happen, it was with someone of the opposite sex. “You ever hear people describe food as orgasmic?”

  “Of course.”

  “I think that’s kind of what it is.”

  “You do realize you just compared me to a hamburger?” he laughed.

  “You are definitely no hamburger and that’s not entirely what I meant. I don’t know how to explain it. That’s the best analogy I had.”

  “Okay, so could that happen if you feed from someone whose blood is orgasmic?”

  “Definitely not.”

  “How can you be so sure?” he asked.

  “Because...” I sat up. Grabbing Grayson’s wrist I bit earlier, I scraped my teeth against the wound, reopening it. I took two deep pulls before licking the wound closed again. “See no, orgasm.” Although it did take me pretty freaking close. That little taste made me want him again. I tried my best not to show the effects his blood was having on me.

  “So, it’s a combination of sex and blood.”

  “And attraction,” I added.

  “I’m not trying to bug you with twenty questions, but...”

  “It’s okay Grayson, ask me.”

  “You said you were born this way?”

  I knew he met being a vampire so I nodded.

  “The first night we were together you said I didn’t need to use a condom. I guess I never really put two and two together.”

  “You want to know why I told you that you didn’t need to wear protection if you and I can still breed?”

  “Yeah, but I wouldn’t have phrased it quite like that.”

  “Female vampires are infertile,” his brow wrinkled with worry so I pressed on quickly, “except for a small window each year. Normally it’s about a week. It’s kinda like we go into heat, for lack of a better term, but it doesn’t take effect until after we’re mated to another.”

  “How do you know when?” he asked.

  “Well from what I hear, it’s pretty similar to humans PMS. We get moody, agitated. But when it hits, it hits hard and fast. Imagine extreme desire. What do you desire? Food, sleep, sex.” He nodded in reply with his lips quirked. “As long as we satisfy one of the cravings continuously everything is good. But from what I hear, when you satisfy all of them it’s like the ultimate pleasure. Some female vampires want to be mated, to share that bond with another, but they don’t want or aren’t ready for children so they sleep and drink their way through it. It’s hard for their partners to be around. It’s like the males of our species can sense the change. It sounds really cavemanish, but they want to mark their women. They can resist but it takes a little focus. ”

  “So you can have kids?”

  I nodded, “Just not randomly like humans. No oops, it was an accident. We know what we’re doing when the times comes.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  ***

  After my good morning wake up call, which was amazing, the rest of my day was less so. I seemed to be running late for everything. I was so distracted with Grayson I hadn’t realized how fast our time in bed had made the morning pass. It started with being five minutes late for work and the time grew from there. I left the office earlier than normal just to arrive at Grayson’s office on time, leaving me more work to handle in the morning.

  When I arrived, I was agitated and disheveled. Luckily, I made it there before the caterer. At least that was a plus. The caterer had been such a pain lately that I doubt he would have stood for my tardiness after I had Grayson insist on the meeting change.

  “You alright?” Grayson asked when his secretary led me into a conference room down the hall.

  “Bad day and it’s only going to get worse.” I was still going to have to suffer through my date with Anton.

  I stood next to the table, unloading the papers for the meeting, when I felt the warm presences of Grayson’s body behind me. His hands slid up my back to my shoulders, kneading gently, easing my tension. He paused, grabbing my hair, pushing it over my shoulder, then began massaging my shoulders again. I relaxed against his hands, loving his strong touch.

  “Do you know how hard it is for me to touch you like this? All I can think about is bending you over this table.”

  “Why don’t you?” I groaned. I knew it wasn’t right to antagonize him since we’d never be able to follow through. Anton would certainly smell Grayson on me then.

  Grayson spun me around quickly, his lips fell on mine. Gently and chastely. “Because I love you and that means that I don’t have to be buried inside of you all the time. It’s not just sex for me.” He placed a light kiss on my forehead letting his lips linger for a moment.

  Within five minutes, the caterer arrived. We went over appetizers and desserts, not wanting a sit down meal. It was a party after all. We made sure we were still on budget before agreeing to the final menu choices. The caterer seemed a little ticked that he couldn’t upsell us on other items, but finally agreed with what we wanted. After all the customer is always right. We had everything wrapped up a little before seven. The caterer left first, leaving Grayson and me alone in the conference room.

  “What time do you have to meet him?” His voice low, full of disdain.

  “At eight,” I said while organizing my papers to put them back in my bag, not looking at him.

  He groaned. “I have this animalistic urge to take you and mark you so he knows you’re mine, but I can’t because then we’d both up shit creek.”

  “I know, baby.”

  “I just want to be with you tonight. Have you thinking of me, when you’re with him.”

  I went to stand in front of Grayson. Putting my arms around him, I hugged him against me. “I will be thinking about you. That is the only way I can get through it.”

  “Don’t kiss him. Promise me,” he pleaded against my neck. My heart broke at the anxious need in his voice.

  “I promise. Never, ever again. And you will be with me.”

  He pulled back looking at me curiously, so I explained. “I fed from you this morning. Your blood is inside of me. Warming me. Making my heart beat. This...” I placed his hand over my chest, “is because of you.”

  He took a deep breath and let it out. “Thank you. I know I’m being irrational, but that makes me feel a lot better.”

  I smiled. “I love you, Grayson.”

  “I love you more, Gabriella,” he whispered before leaning in to kiss me.

  When I made it back to the nest, I was back to running late, again. I rushed into my room, stripped out of my work clothes, then slipped into jeans and a T-shirt. I had just pulled the shirt over my body when there was a knock at the door.

  “You are late.” Anton grumbled when I opened the door.

  “Sorry, I had a late work meeting,” I said, grabbing my clutch.

  “You weren’t here last night either.”

  I spun to face him. He was really trying to tick me off with his macho BS. “Look, you’re the one who gave me my freedom. You can’t turn around and start being like my mother because I had to work late and crashed at a friend’s.”

  He studied me for a moment, his expression still dripping with irritation. Finally, he sighed deeply. “You are right, Gabriella. Of course you should be allowed to come and go as you please. But,” he paused, his eyes darkening showing the evil that lurked just beneath the surface, “my vow to you still stands. If anyone claims you they will die.” His voice held an ominous threat in it.

  “God! You are a piece of work!” I spat. The day’s aggravations had built up and were ready to explode like a stick of dynamite and that stick was now aimed at Anton. How dare he act like a jealous boyfriend? “You think that if you continue to threaten me that it’s going to get you in my panties? I don’t know how that worked with the other girls, but it only makes me squeeze my legs together tighter.”

  Lightning fast, Anton grabbed me pulling me against his chest. I could see the fury building in him. I prayed that he had finally gotten it through his head that I didn’t want him. I knew that kiss had sent signals but I’d hoped that the rant had turned the tides back to where I wanted them. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but then seemed to change his mind. It was like I could see a thought pass over his face, but I had no idea what it was. After a moment of silence, with the tension building between us, Anton uttered one word. “Come.” He gripped my arm, pulling me along not giving me a chance to argue.

  He ignored the questions I spouted as he continued to drag me through the city. Suddenly, using vampire speed he pulled me down an ally. There was a couple locked in a deep embrace. I could hear the sound of their lips pressing together, soft moans escaping their mouths.

  Anton sped over in front of them. Still having a hold of my arm, he jerked me along. The couple startled at our hasty appearance.

  “Do not be afraid.” Anton commanded and suddenly the couple was no longer afraid. He turned to me. “Feed.”

  Part of me wanted to tell him to fuck off. He knew I didn’t like to feed from humans. I had told him. But it seemed I kept finding myself in what I’m sure Anton thought were lies. I didn’t want him, yet I kissed him. I didn’t feed from humans, yet when he smelled Grayson on me I confessed that I had fed from one that night. Not wanting to anger him anymore than I had to and have him call me out on my ever-changing mind, I nodded. I had fed from Grayson so I knew I wouldn’t need much. I started approaching the girl.

  “No, not from her.” I looked at him quizzically. Feeding was intimate. That was why it was best to feed from your same sex. It took away a bit of that intimacy. “From him,” he pointed at the male.

  “No,” I said with resolve.

  “Why not?” I could hear in his voice that Anton was trying to keep his voice in check.

  “You know why.” The sexual tension that built when you fed from the opposite sex could be overpowering and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to resist it.

  “You will feed from him. This is not a request,” he demanded.

  “You can’t make me do it, Anton.” I shook my head. I didn’t know why he was pressing this. There was nothing to gain from feeding from the opposite sex except, in some cases, another notch in the bedpost, which I didn’t want.

  He nodded, smugly. “You are correct that I cannot force you.” I was relived at his agreement. “But if you do not feed from him, I will and I will drain him dry for your defiance. His blood will be on your hands.”

  I looked at the human man. He seemed to be studying me, almost willing me to save him. He may not be afraid due to Anton’s compulsion but he was still hearing everything that was being said and understood it. I wasn’t sure if Anton would do what he said, but I wasn’t willing to risk the man’s life to call Anton’s bluff. It was just a little blood. I approached the man, his green eyes gliding with me as I moved.

  I looked into his eye, willing him to believe what I was about to say. I still hadn’t quite mastered the skill, but I did get it sometimes. “I’m going to bite you now. Don’t scream.”

  “Will it hurt?” The man asked.

  “Not as long as you relax. Okay? So relax,” I pushed as much willpower as I could muster into those last two words. He nodded, which suggested the compulsion had worked.

  I stood on my tiptoes but he was too tall for me to reach his neck. When I reached for his wrist Anton gave a resounding “no.” I glared at him over my shoulder. I had the man sit down on the wet ground so I would have better access to his neck. I sat back on my knees trying to figure the best way to do this. With women it was easier. They were close to my height or shorter so that I just had to lean into them. Grayson was the only male I had ever fed from and he was almost always buried inside of me when I did. Then I realized how I had to do it. I straddled the man’s lap, giving me perfect access to his artery. I buried my hands in his hair using it as leverage and I couldn’t help but notice how silky his blond strands felt. Tilting his head to the side, I released my fangs, sinking them into his neck almost instantaneously.