I shrugged. “A little.”
“But?”
“There isn’t a ‘but.’ It’s like with kissing, though. Just because I like kisses doesn’t mean I’m good with being kissed by just anyone.”
“I understand. Most vampires will relate to that. Just as you don’t want to be seen as food, we don’t want to be seen as convenient fangs for humans who want the ‘high.’ Not all of us have fangs, of course, but you get my point.”
I did, and it made sense.
“But there are some vampires, like Dion, who aren’t so discriminating.”
We chatted about inconsequential things as we walked across the bridge and made our way to my Residence Hall. “This is me,” I said when we reached it.
“I’ll walk you to your apartment. It’s best to be sure that Dion isn’t waiting for you there.”
I gave him a look that said I didn’t buy that his intentions were so noble, but Damien only chuckled. Damn, that rumbly laugh did all sorts of things to my hormones. “Fine.” So inside the building we went.
Would I brush him off when we reached my apartment? No. Playing hard to get wasn’t my thing. And though it wouldn’t feel too good when his focus abruptly shifted to someone else, it wasn’t like I could hold that against him. I was human. He was a vampire. A one-night stand was the wise way to go.
Maisy’s situation was a perfect example of how a serious relationship with a vamp could go wrong. She’d Turned for Compton so that they could be together forever … and then they’d separated, and now she was facing immortality without the person she’d given up her human life for.
The thing was … Maisy hadn’t originally been looking for anything serious with him. It was all about casual sex in the beginning. But feelings came into play, and they’d had two choices—go their separate ways or bring her fully into the world of vampires. Countless immortal vs. mortal couples had found themselves in the same boat over the years. In that sense, it was really too easy for humans and vamps to get hurt if casual sex between them became more, which was why it was best for the two species to stick with one-night stands. So, yeah, I was good with just enjoying one night—or day, depending on how long he stayed over—with Damien. It seemed better than nothing at all.
Plus, in a way, it was sort of liberating to know that this was all about the now, not the future. I knew in advance that this would be a one off. I knew it wouldn’t go anywhere. I knew it was only about sex. For me, there was a strange kind of … comfort in knowing exactly how something would go. Plus, there was no pressure for me to impress or open up or anything like that. It would be light and fun and uncomplicated.
After a short elevator ride and a brief walk down a long hallway, we arrived at my front door. And then he was towering over me, his body heat beating at me, his eyes drinking me in. “I want another kiss,” he said, lowering his head. He didn’t wait for me to okay it. He just took my mouth. Plundered and consumed and demanded.
I clung to his upper arms, moaning as he angled our heads to deepen the kiss. My body—already a mess of racing chemicals and edgy nerve-endings—reached for him. Ached for him. Melted into him.
He broke the kiss. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you.” He rested his forehead on mine, his hands in my hair. “Invite me in, Lexi,” he coaxed, his voice low and deep and so gravelly with need it gave me goosebumps. “Invite me in.”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Satisfaction bloomed in his eyes. He stepped back, letting me unlock my door and push it open. I walked inside, flicked on the light, and turned to face him.
He mule kicked the door, shutting it. “Come here.”
I did, but I was slow about it, not quite as submissive as he probably expected.
He ghosted his fingers down the column of my throat. “This is how it’s going to go.”
If he gave me some speech about how this would only be a one-time thing, as if there was some risk of me getting all clingy afterwards, I would totally kick him in the junk.
His eyes blazed into mine. “I’m going to fuck you. And I mean fuck you. It won’t be slow. It won’t be gentle. There’ll be nothing sweet about it. I’m going to take you hard. Harder than anyone else has ever taken you. And while my cock is slamming so deep you can barely handle it, I’m going to drink from you. I want the taste of your blood in my mouth when I fill you up with my come. You got a problem with any of that?”