26. Hale
His profession of love lingers in the air between us, and my heart flutters in my chest. He loves me. Gods of lore! I’ve waited so long to feel like this, so settled and calm. It was never like this before, not even with Nathan. I should have known from the stories I was told. A fated mate soothes the beast within and allows us to be our best selves.
That’s what Yannis is for me. Finally.
I wrap my arms around him, holding his trembling body and waiting for the moment of transformation. I’ve seen it many times before, though the memories are clouded by time, and until now, I’ve never been the cause of someone turning.
He trusts me with his life. Could there be a greater compliment or accomplishment? I don’t think so.
Yannis turns cold, his lips become blue, and all that vibrant life he carries slips away, but not for long. He’ll be back soon. I stroke his face and run my fingers through his hair until his eyes snap open. He can’t focus yet, it’s only his body’s reaction to what’s happening, and that’s my signal.
Using my index finger, I drag the nail across my wrist, slicing the skin open. A few drops of blood splash on Yannis’s lips, and he opens his mouth. I press my open wound to his lips as he reaches up to grip my arm, holding it to his mouth as he takes his first gulps of life-altering vampire blood.
He drinks hungrily, sucking on my wrist and moaning in pleasure.
“Take as much as you need, love. You can’t hurt me.”
His eyes open in narrow slits, still unfocused but getting brighter by the second. I know it’s working when he tenses, popping off my wrist long enough to flinch as his hand moves to his chest.
“Fuck,” he murmurs. “Oh fuck.”
“Ah, it’s good to hear your voice. Deeper now. Beastly.” I kiss his forehead. “You’re okay, darling. It’ll be over soon.”
He reaches blindly for my wrist, so I offer it again, smiling as he drinks from me. What a joy it is to care for my mate! Even as he shakes beneath me and I pull my wrist away, I cannot wipe away the happiness I feel. He is mine now, truly, for eternity.
Several minutes pass and his shaking subsides. He opens his eyes fully, glancing around before settling on me. They glow now, bright blue and absolutely stunning. He was gorgeous before, but now… gods, he’s unbelievable.
“Am I a vampire now?”
I nod. “Yes. Your transformation is complete.”
He glances around the room. “Whoa. Everything looks so crisp and colorful.”
“Your senses will be heightened. It can be overwhelming at first, but you learn to handle it and how to tune things out.”
He grips my arm as his tongue moves over his new teeth. “I have fangs.”
“You do, and you look fucking sexy.”
He laughs as he looks over his body. “Sort of the same, but I look pale, like you do when you’re pissed or turned on.”
“Another feature.”
“And this?” He palms his erection. “A feature?”
I nod, licking my lips. “Your desires are insatiable at first. All you want is blood and sex. Luckily, I can provide you with both.”
“Mmm. I can just feed from you?”
“For a little while. Eventually you’ll need mortal sustenance. They have nutrients a vampire can’t supply.”
“Fuck.” He clears his throat. “I’ve never been this horny in my life.”
“Well, my darling, you should feed your lust to keep your beast happy.”
“You’re gonna fuck me?”
“Something like that.”
I climb onto him, straddling his hips, and stroking his even more impressive erection. “You are beauty personified, Yannis.”
“I’m beautiful?”
“Yes. Gods, yes.”
I gently squeeze the head of his cock, licking my lips as a generous stream of precum pours out.
“Holy fuck,” Yannis says.
“Another feature.” I lean down and nip his bottom lip. “It’s my turn to feel you inside of me.”
His lips part and he moans as more precum drips down his cock.
“You’re so turned on, my love.”
Yannis nods. “Need you.”
“And you’ll have me.”
Reaching behind me, I adjust myself so that I can rub his cock around my hole. It’s been so long, literal centuries, since I’ve enjoyed the pleasure of a cock inside me. Yannis was well worth the wait.
Lowering myself, I close my eyes as every inch of his cock invades me. Yannis tenses beneath me, then slowly relaxes as my ass swallows his length.
“Hale.” His voice is shaky.
“I know, darling. You feel so good. I’ve waited such a long time to feel like this.” Opening my eyes, I lean in again and brush our lips together. “This is our life now. You and me and whatever we want.”
He slides his hands down my back. “I just want you. I don’t need anything else.”
“But you’ll have the world. I’ll make sure of it.”
As I claim his mouth, I begin sliding myself up and down his length, my body vibrating in response to the delicious intrusion. His cock is thick and long and fills me perfectly, and my body responds, stretching around him like a tailored suit.
It takes him a few minutes to get his bearings, but once he does, he bucks his hips, impaling me with his absolutely perfect cock. Gods, I’m in paradise.
We fuck for what feels like hours, and maybe it really has been that long. Neither of us show signs of wearing out, and my hunger for him only grows. I’m desperate to know what he tastes like now, so I flip us over so that I’m on my back and spread my legs. Yannis pounds into me, his brow creased with strain, and I turn my head to bite his arm beside me. He cries out, pulling me up and onto his lap, allowing me access to his neck.
I sink my teeth into his flesh again and his blood fills my mouth. It’s still sweet and thick, but there’s a different undertone to it now. It’s richer and more floral, and it must be the outcome of mixing mine with his.
His body tenses and his cock swells and pulses within me. “Oh fuck, Hale.”
“Yes, my love. Fill me.”
I ride him with all my might, chasing the orgasm building deep within me. Yannis shifts slightly, finding the perfect angle to hit my prostate, and I roar with pleasure as my cock jerks and spills cum between us.
Yannis reacts by returning my bite, sinking his teeth into my vein and drinking. The two of us continue rocking together, feeding and experiencing true and utter bliss. When we both finally come down, we fall onto the bed, our bodies still entwined.
For several minutes, I’m not certain if he’s asleep. I’m stroking his hair when he nuzzles his nose against my neck.
“That was amazing.”
“Truly.”
“I can’t remember what happened before the sex.”
“You became a vampire, darling.”
He laughs softly. “I know, but what I mean is…” He shifts a little. “I don’t know if I said it out loud or if you heard me, but I know now that I’m in love with you.”
Smiling, I touch his cheek lightly. “You said it out loud and made me the happiest vampire on the planet.”
His eyes light up. “Good. I’m glad you know.”
“Darling, words cannot express what meeting you has done for me. I am your maker now. Our bond is like no other. It surpasses any concept of love you may have had.”
“Pretty cool.”
“It is.” I kiss his nose. “You should rest now. You may feel fine, but you went through a lot tonight. I’ll make sure Dimi gets home safely.”
“Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t. The farthest I’ll go is to the living room and back.”
“Okay.” He nods as his eyelids flutter. “Hale?”
“Yes, love?”
“When is your birthday?”
His question takes me by surprise. “My birthday?”
“I should know that. Mine is next month, on the fifth.”
“Vampires don’t really celebrate them. When there is no end, there’s no reason to count the years.”
His eyes open and his brow creases. “You don’t celebrate them? Ever?”
“No. Even when I was mortal, it wasn’t something acknowledged. It was a different time back then. I had work to do.”
He makes a disgruntled noise. “You’ve never had a party or a cake or a sleepover?”
“A sleepover?”
“Friends spending the night at your house?”
“No, darling. It’s okay though. Birthdays aren’t important.”
“They are to me. Do you remember when you were born?”
“Hmm.” I search my memory. “I believe it was the fall. Harvest was upon us. Maybe October?”
“October is a good month. You seem like a scorpio. What about October twenty-fifth?”
“Sure. What do you mean by scorpio?”
“Your zodiac sign. I’m a taurus, which means we’re compatible. Obviously.”
“Whatever you like, darling.”
“Good.” He cuddles close to me. “Don’t think I won’t remember your birthday. I will.” His voice grows softer as his eyes close again. “We’ll have a party and cake and blood and sex. Lots of blood and sex.”
Chuckling, I kiss his cheek. “Sounds good to me.”
“Am I strong like you now?”
“Very much so. Bulletproof.”
His smile is drooping, but I can feel the happiness radiating from him. “We’re gonna have so much fun together, aren’t we?”
“Absolutely.”
“So sleepy.”
“I’ll see you in the morning, love.”
Yannis nods, drifting off into much needed sleep. I stay close, watching him and soaking in this newfound feeling of contentment and satisfaction. I chased these feelings most of my life and found them in the place I least expected.
Now that I have my mate, my handsome, vibrant man, I can stop searching and enjoy what fate has given me.
I was made to love him, and that’s exactly what I’ll spend the rest of time doing.