Chapter 17
When Ji-Su woke the next evening, he had a moment’s peace before he remembered his shameless invitation to Raul that morning.
And the way he’d jerked himself off multiple times while thinking of his vampire patron.
Embarrassed, he rolled over and groaned into his pillow.
All it took was one hit of pleasure venom and he’d invited Raul to sleep in his bed. And Raul had turned him down flat.
Ji-Su pressed his face harder into the pillow and screamed.
It was unfair to be this embarrassed before breakfast. After a few more minutes of wallowing in his humiliation, Ji-Su pushed himself up and got out of bed.
Raul was a gentleman, he thought as he went to shower and dress.
He probably wouldn’t mention last night and they could both pretend like he hadn’t said anything.
When he arrived in the breakfast room, Raul was already at the table.
Sure enough, Raul didn’t mention anything about the bite or his invitation.
Relieved, Ji-Su let himself relax. Although he wished there had been a different answer to his invitation, at least he didn’t have to be reminded of Raul’s rejection.
They ate together without talking much. Ji-Su didn’t want to risk the conversation turning to the topic of last night, and Raul seemed to pick up on his desire to eat in silence.
Thankfully, the rest of the week passed without any more embarrassing incidents. Ji-Su streamed and practiced with his team while Raul went out to manage his casinos. And then, it was time.
Wednesday. Three o’clock.
Still slightly embarrassed, Ji-Su almost didn’t want to go to their feeding appointment.
But it was his job—one he’d practically begged to have.
So, he went down the wide hallway until he arrived in the brightly lit kitchen.
Raul was waiting and he looked glad to see him. That eased some of Ji-Su’s nervousness.
“Hi!” He greeted Raul with exaggerated cheerfulness, overcompensating for his nerves.
“Hello.”
Ji-Su sat down at the banquette. He hoped that Raul would ask to bite him at his throat again.
He really liked their physical closeness and the way Raul’s silky hair brushed his jaw when Raul fed from his neck.
But the vampire held out his hand for Ji-Su’s wrist. Ji-Su extended his arm and tried not to let his shoulders fall with disappointment.
Without saying a word, Raul bent his dark head over Ji-Su’s wrist. He caught a flash of fangs before Raul bit him.
Ji-Su waited, hoping that he would feel something in this bite.
But it didn’t happen. Raul didn’t release his pleasure venom.
The bite ached, but there was no shivery swirl of arousal and his body didn’t react to it.
He didn’t understand. Raul sometimes seemed to want him, to enjoy drinking his blood. But then he’d revert to his cool, impersonal touch and pleasureless bite again.
Disappointment that the laughing, flirtatious attraction between them was gone as if it had never been made his chest hurt.
If Raul was still attracted to him, he wouldn’t withhold his pleasure venom.
He would want Ji-Su to be turned on. But Raul was withholding it, which meant that he needed to accept that Raul was not attracted to him.
Ji-Su’s throat tightened and tears sparked behind his lids. A single sniffle escaped, but he held back any other noises, determined not to cry. Unfortunately, with his sharp vampire senses, Raul heard him. He released the bite before he was finished drinking and looked up at Ji-Su.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I mean yes.”
Raul looked concerned, his brows drawing together in a frown.
“Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Ji-Su opened his mouth before he’d fully gathered his thoughts. “I don’t like when you bite me this way,” he blurted out.
Instantly, Raul dropped his hand.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant...” Ji-Su froze, unsure what to say. I want you to turn me on when you bite me didn’t seem like the way to go when Raul had already rejected him. Unfortunately, Raul spoke before he could find the right words.
“You don’t have to explain,” Raul cooly said. “I think it would be best if I didn’t feed from you again.”
Ji-Su recoiled at the instant rejection. An unpleasant sensation settled in his chest, as if he’d swallowed a large cube of ice that refused to melt. “Okay.”
Raul grasped his wrist once more, but it was only to lick and seal the bite marks. Then he rose from the booth. Ji-Su stood too. Straightening his shoulders, he met Raul’s gaze. “I’ll be packed and ready to go by tomorrow night.”
Raul’s eyes widened before he quickly shook his head.
“It’s not necessary for you to leave. You are my responsibility until your contract is up and I’m required to provide you with housing.
Besides, you don’t want to have to worry about finding an apartment on such short notice.
Stay here, focus on your gaming, and leave when your contract is up. ”
Ji-Su blinked. His responsibility. Like an actual pet. Nice to know how Raul felt about him. The knowledge stung. Ji-Su pressed his lips together, pushing down that sting so it wouldn’t show on his face or in his voice. “I’ll stay. Is there anything else you need from me?”
“No.”
Ji-Su didn’t worry about having his usual water and snack. He just wanted to get out of there before he embarrassed himself yet again. “Then I’m going to bed. Good night.” He skirted around Raul and escaped from the kitchen without looking back.
AFTER JI-SU FLED FROM him, Raul was left alone, wondering what he’d done wrong.
He’d tried his best to be gentle. He was aware of his strength and the marked size difference between himself and Ji-Su.
But maybe he hadn’t been careful enough while his mind was on the feeding and he’d accidentally been too rough or bitten him too hard.
That was always a concern with his lovers and blood pets.
It was even more of a concern with Ji-Su because of his delicate build.
Well, that was it. Ji-Su didn’t like the way he bit him.
Now, instead of waiting until their contract ended to pursue Ji-Su romantically, he would leave the human alone until his contract was up.
Then he would let him go for good. If he hurt Ji-Su with a single bite on the wrist, it would be far too dangerous to make love to him and bite him in a situation where he could lose even the smallest amount of control and be too rough with Ji-Su by mistake.
Of course, he should let Ji-Su go now. But when he’d said he’d pack and be gone the next night the breath had frozen in his lungs for a single icy second.
Even if he was no longer going to feed from Ji-Su, he didn’t want him to leave before he had to.
He’d rushed to stop Ji-Su from leaving, letting him know he didn’t have to go, and pointing out the hassle of finding a new place.
Thankfully, it had worked. He would get to spend a little more time with Ji-Su.
Unfortunately, his dreams of finally getting to have Ji-Su when their contract was up were over.
His stomach twisted tight with disappointment.
Raul looked down at his large hands. He would have touched Ji-Su—made love to Ji-Su—with care. However, now that he’d hurt him without even realizing it, he accepted that it would be best if he didn’t touch Ji-Su at all.