Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Ru
Something startles Sully from sleep, which, in turn, startles me from sleep. “Huh,” I mutter. “What is it?”
“Never mind.” He cuddles back into my side. “Just a delivery.”
It’s wild to be living with a creature in possession of such preternatural senses. One who can hear the difference between a set of footsteps we don’t recognize, and a delivery truck with its sliding van door and the plop of a parcel on the porch.
“Well, I’m awake now, and I have to pee.” I scootch out from underneath him, reluctant to leave our warm little cocoon, but my bladder insists. “Sorry.”
“S’okay,” he mumbles and flops over onto my pillow. He’ll be back to sleep in no time.
I tug the covers over him and head to the bathroom.
It’s already midafternoon, and as much as I try to stay on Sully’s schedule, there’s no way I can go back to sleep now.
So I grab the package from the porch and set it in the hallway.
It’s a large, heavy cardboard box. Luggage.
A set of nesting suitcases for Sully and me when it comes time to pack up and leave.
He’s acquired enough stuff to need his own suitcase. Maybe more than one.
I’ll open it later. My stomach rumbles. All I had for dinner last night was cinnamon rolls, so it’s about time I make something with protein. And maybe vegetables. Something I can reheat later for Sully when he wakes up.
I gather supplies and set to work as quietly as possible. I don’t want to disturb him. He’s had a rough couple nights and needs all the rest he can get.
A few hours later, at dusk, Sully comes wandering out of our room, bedheaded and so kissable it hurts. “Hey, Ru. Smells good.”
I kiss him because I can. I’m allowed to. Which is wild. “Sit down, I’ll fix you a plate.”
He does, with a glance toward the refrigerator that tells me maybe he wanted to get himself some blood. He’s still shy about drinking it around me. I feel bad for making him feel that way. It’s normal for him. No big deal.
Yet when I open the fridge and see our hoard of bagged blood there, I still get the creepy-crawlies. It’s so weird. Other people’s donations. Probably meant to save other human lives and now sitting in my fridge for the fugitive vampire I’m harboring.
Not his fault he drinks blood.
Not his fault he’s a vampire.
And still, I grab his favorite juice instead of a bag of blood because it’s easier. Because neither of us has to feel weird about it when I pour him a fruity cocktail the way we would if I’d brought him a glass of blood.
I heat up some leftovers and join him at the table. “Sleep okay?”
“I did. Did you?” He digs in.
“Well enough.”
“This is awesome. What is it?”
“Shrimp with gnocchi in a butter and pesto sauce. Broccoli on the side. I’m glad you like it.” Really glad. I hadn’t realized how much I like taking care of another person in this way. Cooking for them, providing what they need, making sure they’re taken care of. It’s deeply fulfilling.
I put my work ahead of my social life for so long I forgot what it’s like to have a partner. To do life with someone special at my side. To enjoy the little things like a kiss to say hello or locking eyes from across the room.
Now that I have him, I intend to protect him. Though Voijin swore to leave us alone, I don’t like the old vampire knowing where we are. The sooner we leave the better.
Sully makes happy little savoring noises while enthusiastically cleaning his plate and draining his juice.
My heart skips a beat. “Want seconds?”
He grins. “Want them? Yes. Need them? No. I’m pretty full. But thank you, it was delicious.”
“You’re welcome. I have something else for you too.” I head down the hall to grab the package. “New luggage. Shall we open it?”
“Sure.” He takes his dishes to the kitchen and loads them in the dishwater. Domestic life suits us.
I grab a retractable razor and cut lengthwise down the cardboard.
The blade slips.
I slice a gash in my opposite palm. “Shit.”
It stings, but I don’t think it’s that bad.
“Ru? What happened? Are you—” He stops mid-sentence. I whip my head around in time to watch his pupils dilate and swallow his irises whole. He’s staring at my hand. Which is bleeding. Kind of a lot. “—okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just a cut. No big deal.”
Sully lick his lips then presses them tight. The tiny muscles along his jaw twitch. Fuck. Bleeding around a vampire who’s obviously craving blood.
Not my finest moment.
He shuffles backward until he bumps into the counter and can’t retreat any farther. The metallic, coppery smell hints my nose. And if I can smell it, that means Sully must be inundated with the bright scent.
“Sorry.” I hold my good hand over the cut to staunch the bleeding and move toward him. “Um, I should probably rinse it off. Clean it.”
At length, he says, “Right,” though his gaze never leaves my hands.
Could I… offer to let him lick it up?
Should I?
Is that what he wants? From the haunted expression on his face, it’s obvious he won’t allow himself to ask. But he might accept if I offered…
I realize I’m not afraid. Not panicked he’ll lose control and maul me. Not fearful of making the offer. Just sorry I put us in this uncomfortable position to begin with.
At the sink, I stare at the faucet.
Last chance. Rinse it clean, or…
I take a quick breath and shove my hand toward him. “Do you want this? You can have it if you do. It’s okay with me.”
He blinks. Swallows. “Are you sure?”
Nope. Not in the slightest. This is brand-new territory. But I make myself stay calm and still while he decides for himself. “I’m sure. It’s up to you. No pressure.”
“I want it.” His voice drops an octave. He shifts his gaze from my bloodied palm to my eyes. “Please, Ru.”
Fuck. My cock is not supposed to take interest in the proceedings. Like, at all. And yet… “Go ahead.”
Sully steps forward, takes my injured hand between both of his, and lifts it to his mouth.
I see the white flash of his fangs before his lips meet my flesh, but I’m still not scared. He doesn’t bite. Not yet. His lick is gentle. Tentative.
All that want and desire and somehow he’s restraining himself to only take what’s freely flowing.
It doesn’t hurt. Feels nice. His warm tongue on my sensitive palm. His fingers close around my wrist.
I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “You can, um, suck… if you want to.”
He moans. The sounds goes straight to my groin. Somehow I have enough blood to feed my vampire and to fill my selfish cock.
He takes me up on my offer, pulling a slow swallow as his eyelids flutter shut and fan his delicate cheeks. Not scary. Beautiful.
An intense sensation like being swept along a current takes my mind.
Pleasant drifting. A rush of delight. The low building of pressure that hints at something amazing to come.
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and if the look of Sully’s euphoric expression is anything to go by, it’s nothing like he’s ever experienced either.
The act both stretches on forever and is over too soon.
Sully’s fangs retract. I barely feel it.
Still no pain, just an easing off of suction.
I hadn’t even realized he’d bitten me. He licks the wounds, both the original cut and the puncture marks from his teeth, then drops a kiss on top for good measure.
His lids open.
Our eyes meet.
He leans back against the counter like he can’t bear to stand up under his own power. “Was that okay? Please tell me that was okay.”
A flicker of nerves sounds in his voice. Vulnerability is written all over his face.
I smile, and try to look reassuring while sporting an aching tent in my jeans. “More than okay.” Weirdly, having Sully drink blood straight from me feels a lot more natural than the bagged variety haunting out fridge.
I could get used to it.
I study his mouth, his lips, looking for any hint of what just happened, but apparently Sully isn’t a messy eater. No blood drips down his chin. No blood remains on my palm. The wounds themselves are closed over and the original cut doesn’t sting because it’s gone.
As if it never happened.
In theory, I knew vampire saliva could do that, but I’ve never seen it in practice. “Wow.”
“Wow, indeed,” he echoes, and adjusts himself in his pants. So he’s dealing with the same problem as me.
Except, it doesn’t have to be a problem. We could take care of it together in a couple of very pleasurable ways, if he’s in the mood to. “I know you just woke up, but how would you feel about going back to bed, like, right this second?”
“Why take the time to walk all the way down the hall when I can do this?” Graceful as the predator he is, Sully slides to his knees and reaches for my belt.
Oh my god.
He’s going to—
And I’m—
“Fuck.” I slide my fingers into his hair as he tugs my cock free.
“Yes, that. Let’s,” says Sully.
And even though he’s just bitten me and drunk my blood, I can’t think of a better place for his mouth than my cock.
Am I crazy? I’m crazy. But, fuck, Sully’s worth every ounce of my sanity and then some.
My toes curl as he sucks my soul out through my cock. What a sight he makes, lips stretched wide, green eyes glittering up at me with a hint of mischief. A picture of decadence on his knees just for me.
Realistically, I know he’s new to this act, but it doesn’t matter. He makes up for inexperience with enthusiasm, which is ten times more sexy than any measure of skill could provide.
I struggle to keep my eyes open when the urge to throw my head back and moan flares like an explosion. I struggle to stand as my thighs tremble and my knees weaken. I struggle to control my breath as a gasp catches in my throat.
He has one hand on my hip, holding me steady, and the other moves frantically between his legs. That he’s getting off on doing this to me is so fucking hot.
I bite my cheek and a low moan escapes my lips. Sully’s answering moan vibrates around my cock. My balls draw tight. My breath hitches.
I can’t hold back any longer.
“Close, Sully. Gonna come.” A warning is only fair but the words have barely left my mouth when it’s happening.
I’m tensing all over as waves of pleasure course through me.
I gasp and pant. The high swells and bursts.
I come in his mouth, down his throat, and he takes it without drawing back in the slightest.
Fuck, he’s eager.
The comedown is gentle. Warm. One of Sully’s hands is still on my hip, and he rests his forehead on the other. I stroke his soft hair. Suck in a deep breath. Try not to fall over.
I need to collect myself and return the favor. I’m keen to get my mouth on him. To take him apart the way he shattered me. “Your turn.”
He sits back on his heels and chuckles. “No need.”
I see the wet spot between my feet on the floor and fuck if that isn’t the hottest thing of all. I kneel because I need to be closer to him. We need to be kissing right the fuck now.
His mouth opens easily for me. Our tongues tangle. I taste myself on him, and a pleasant shudder grips my whole body.
“So hot,” I mutter against his lips.
He’s still got laughter in his smile when he pulls back. “If I’d known this is how you’d react to me drinking your blood, I would have asked way sooner.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I made that weird for us.”
“Don’t be.” He kisses me. “You were worth the wait.”
That brings a smile and a thought. “You know what this means, right?”
“What does it mean, Ru?”
“I can feed you now. We don’t ever have to worry about getting bagged blood anymore. You don’t drink much, and I have plenty to spare. We’re free.”
We can leave. We can run. We can go where II Tech will never be able to find us.
We don’t need anything from them anymore.