Page 42 of Feral
“Intense. I could just feel it. Is he kind of a wild one?”
“Very much so. Do you find him attractive?”
His brow creases. “Objectively he’s good-looking, but I wasn’t attracted to him, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t think I could be. Not with you around.”
His answer soothes the jealous beast within me. “Apologies. I told you I was greedy. I want all your attention. Every drop. I covet any you give to others.”
He lightly touches my cheek. “I like the way you talk. You choose interesting words and phrases. I’ve never known someone like you.”
“I don’t doubt that. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t fear the vampires at Lair?”
He shakes his head. “Honestly, they seem like regular people. Kind of eccentric and a little demanding, but it’s not like I thought it might be when you first told me.”
“What did you think?”
“I don’t know. Probably stupid movie shit like black capes and weird accents and turning into bats. I thought there’d be a lot more blood.”
I smile. “We try to keep the place somewhat civilized.”
“Even when they’re feeding, it just looks like making out. It’s not violent.”
“No. Again, there are composed ways to take a meal.”
“Yeah, so it’s cool. I’m not scared, but I’ll be sure not to get into any more altercations.”
“I was proud of you, honestly. You didn’t cower.”
“It’s not my style.”
I consider what I say next carefully. “What would you like to happen between us?”
Yannis tickles his fingers through the hair on my chest, blushing slightly. “I hope we can keep seeing each other. Date, I guess. I like you, and I want to see where it can go.”
His answer settles the unspoken question in my mind. I have to tell him. It’s not fair otherwise. I risk losing him, but it’s better than betraying him.
“I’d like that too. Very much. But before we go any further, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh fuck, Hale. Are you married or some shit?”
“What? No. Where did you get that?”
“I don’t know. You sound really uneasy, like you’re gonna drop a bomb on me.”
“It’s nothing like that.” I sit up slightly, balanced on one arm. “Yannis, I’m a vampire.”
He laughs, but when he notices I’m not laughing with him, his smile falls away. “Really?”
I nod. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but first I was worried you’d be afraid, and then you said you didn’t want to know what everyone was so I…” I exhale. “I was a coward and avoided telling you.”
“You’re a vampire?”
“Yes.”
“Holy fuck,” he whispers, sitting up. He jumps off the couch, crossing the small living room to the window, then turning around and walking back. “You’re a vampire?”