been, a raised reddish pink patch of hardened skin before it faded with additional time, Matthias’s skin healed flawlessly. Not a single mark remained after ten minutes had gone by of the injury that had almost introduced his internal organs to the cold, hard pavement.
I rubbed the damp towel over where the wound had been only minutes before, then touched the healed flesh with my fingertips just to prove I wasn’t imagining things.
“A little lower, please. And feel free to kiss it better.”
I yanked my hand back. Matthias watched me with half-lidded eyes and a pained smile stretching across his face.
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
His amusement faded. Even though he’d been healed from this injury, it didn’t change anything. He believed he was going to die soon from drinking my blood a week ago, and I had no proof that he was wrong about that.
“You look worried about me,” he said.
I swallowed hard and turned away from him. “You think so?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t find the strength. I had cared if he lived or died tonight, and I couldn’t simply say it was only because of the information he had about Declan.
Maybe I was more softhearted than I gave myself credit for.
“You thought I was going to kill that woman,” he said.
I bit my bottom lip. “I thought it was a distinct possibility. I mean, you are a vampire.”
“I could have killed her easily. But her death wouldn’t have made any difference in strength to me. I took what blood I needed and that was all.”
“So getting her naked first was just personal preference?”
He raised a pale eyebrow. “Keeping watch, were you? I never would have guessed you were a voyeur, Jillian.”
I hated that he was able to make me blush. “I guess I don’t understand how biting someone’s neck requires them to show their tits and ass.”
“No.” He began to push himself slowly up to his feet. “You wouldn’t understand.”
I watched him warily. “So make me understand.”
“Bare skin allows me to feed better. After all, I don’t just feed on blood. At my age, I can feed on a human’s sexual energy as well, which I could tell at a glance she had in spades. I needed all the help I could get.” He smiled. “I really wouldn’t worry. I think she enjoyed herself. And when she wakes, she’ll remember nothing from the incident. No damage done. Is it still sick to you now that I’ve explained it?”
My face felt tight. “I don’t know.”
“Now I’d like to use your shower to clean myself up.” His smile widened. “You’re welcome to join me if you like. I may not be able to drink your blood, but I can still feed off your desire.”
I stood up and moved back from him, feeling that I’d been a bit too friendly with the former vampire king and given him the wrong impression. “Listen, Matthias. Let’s get one thing straight here. What happened between us—well, it was completely fake. It was no different from what just happened with you and your random blood donor just now. The only difference is you didn’t do me the courtesy of letting me forget about it.”
His amused expression held. “Of course, whatever you say. Now, your shower?”
“If I say no, will you leave?”
“You make an excellent point.” Without another word he walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I heard the water turn on a moment later.
To say my feelings toward the former vampire king were conflicted would be a vast understatement. My current emotions included dislike and discomfort, as well as grudging admiration that he’d managed to survive being gutted enough to be a cocky asshole about it. I didn’t know what else to do other than stand there awkwardly and wait for him to be done.
Declan returned before the shower turned off. The door swung open slowly and he seemed surprised to see me standing there.
I tensed the moment I saw him. It felt as if he’d been gone a day, not just a couple of hours. “Where
I rubbed the damp towel over where the wound had been only minutes before, then touched the healed flesh with my fingertips just to prove I wasn’t imagining things.
“A little lower, please. And feel free to kiss it better.”
I yanked my hand back. Matthias watched me with half-lidded eyes and a pained smile stretching across his face.
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
His amusement faded. Even though he’d been healed from this injury, it didn’t change anything. He believed he was going to die soon from drinking my blood a week ago, and I had no proof that he was wrong about that.
“You look worried about me,” he said.
I swallowed hard and turned away from him. “You think so?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t find the strength. I had cared if he lived or died tonight, and I couldn’t simply say it was only because of the information he had about Declan.
Maybe I was more softhearted than I gave myself credit for.
“You thought I was going to kill that woman,” he said.
I bit my bottom lip. “I thought it was a distinct possibility. I mean, you are a vampire.”
“I could have killed her easily. But her death wouldn’t have made any difference in strength to me. I took what blood I needed and that was all.”
“So getting her naked first was just personal preference?”
He raised a pale eyebrow. “Keeping watch, were you? I never would have guessed you were a voyeur, Jillian.”
I hated that he was able to make me blush. “I guess I don’t understand how biting someone’s neck requires them to show their tits and ass.”
“No.” He began to push himself slowly up to his feet. “You wouldn’t understand.”
I watched him warily. “So make me understand.”
“Bare skin allows me to feed better. After all, I don’t just feed on blood. At my age, I can feed on a human’s sexual energy as well, which I could tell at a glance she had in spades. I needed all the help I could get.” He smiled. “I really wouldn’t worry. I think she enjoyed herself. And when she wakes, she’ll remember nothing from the incident. No damage done. Is it still sick to you now that I’ve explained it?”
My face felt tight. “I don’t know.”
“Now I’d like to use your shower to clean myself up.” His smile widened. “You’re welcome to join me if you like. I may not be able to drink your blood, but I can still feed off your desire.”
I stood up and moved back from him, feeling that I’d been a bit too friendly with the former vampire king and given him the wrong impression. “Listen, Matthias. Let’s get one thing straight here. What happened between us—well, it was completely fake. It was no different from what just happened with you and your random blood donor just now. The only difference is you didn’t do me the courtesy of letting me forget about it.”
His amused expression held. “Of course, whatever you say. Now, your shower?”
“If I say no, will you leave?”
“You make an excellent point.” Without another word he walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I heard the water turn on a moment later.
To say my feelings toward the former vampire king were conflicted would be a vast understatement. My current emotions included dislike and discomfort, as well as grudging admiration that he’d managed to survive being gutted enough to be a cocky asshole about it. I didn’t know what else to do other than stand there awkwardly and wait for him to be done.
Declan returned before the shower turned off. The door swung open slowly and he seemed surprised to see me standing there.
I tensed the moment I saw him. It felt as if he’d been gone a day, not just a couple of hours. “Where
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