Page 71 of Thorn Evermore

His words are like the warmest blanket, the truth of them settling over me and filling me with a rightness I’ve never experienced. “I do love you. I know it. It seems impossible. We’ve only known each other for a few days.”

He puts his hand on my chest over my heart. “Our souls have known each other since they were created. The moment I was made set this in motion. My soul waited centuries for yours, and nothing could prepare me for what it feels like. I don’t feel caged. I feel like a bird who can finally truly take flight. With you in my life, I will reach my highest potential.”

“This is amazing.”

“Yes.” He scoots closer. “Come, darling. Sit on my lap, facing me. You need to feed.”

Nodding, I climb onto his lap, our naked bodies softly rubbing together.

“Listen closely,” Thorn says. “You’ll hear the blood in my veins. It will guide you on where to bite. It’s softer in a supernatural being, much louder in a mortal, but it’s a good start.”

I focus on his neck, my gums throbbing as the soft whooshing sound of blood reaches me. I can see every individual hair follicle on his cheek. His scent is stronger too. Earthy and heady, like the finest wine.

I lunge forward, biting awkwardly at his skin until I find purchase, sinking my fangs into his soft flesh. As his blood floods my mouth, my cock swells and a strange tingling sensation moves through me. I imagine this is what it feels like to be starving and dehydrated and be presented with a buffet.

“That’s right, love,” Thorn whispers, stroking my back. “Drink as much as you need. You can’t hurt me.”

A part of my brain is aware of the strangeness of this act, of drinking my lover’s blood, but some other new, more feral part of me is elated.

“I call it my beast,” Thorn says. “The feral part you feel.”

He can hear my thoughts. I smile as I continue to drink.

“Yes, as Yves can hear mine. It is the gift of being amaker.” His hands roam across my body, lighting up my nerve endings. My cock swells even more. “Lust,” he whispers. “Blood and sex. It’s how we feel alive.”

After several minutes, I finally pull off his neck, full and happy.

“Lick the wound, love.”

I lick his neck, moaning at the tiny remnants of blood still there. “Does all blood taste that good?”

“No.” Thorn chuckles. “Just mine because of our love. Others will be fine though. It’s the difference between a good meal and an exquisite one.”

“Do I taste better to you?”

“Oh yes. It’s partly how I knew what we were to each other.”

“I only want yours then.”

“I wish.” He sighs. “But we need mortals. They have nutrients we need to thrive. In the beginning, mine will be your primary sustenance. You’ll know when you need more.”

“Like a baby to its mother.”

He laughs. “Far less innocent.” He cups my face. “What a night, huh?”

“Yeah.” Shaking my shoulders, I giggle. “I feel so good. Rested and healthy and strong.”

“You are those things. You are new again.”

I go to push up my glasses, laughing when they aren’t there. “I’ll tell you a funny secret. When I was younger I used to imagine a handsome vampire coming through my window at night and stealing my soul. Maybe it’s why I gravitated to antiques and history. I wanted to be locked in a castle on a hill.” I play with Thorn’s fingers. “But you didn’t steal it. You asked for it. You didn’t lock me in a castle on a hill, but brought me into your tower in the city. You gave me something I only hoped could be true.”

“You gave me something I couldn’t even imagine was for me,” he says.

I settle against his chest. “What else did you want to tell me?”

“A few things you should know. Primarily, what we do for a living.”

“We? You and your brothers?”