Chapter 23 #3
“Wait...” His brows draw together. “Aren’t you coming here? With me?” He runs his hands down his thighs, disappearing beneath the water.
I laugh. “I don’t think this is the time for that, and your water is filthy.”
“But—”
“There will be plenty of time later. On another day, when my father hasn’t poisoned you.”
Maybe he can do me the favor of clarifying what we are before that, too. I’m not one to let things go this far if I don’t have security in a relationship, and he’s given me nothing. I wouldn’t be here at all if not for the poison he’s still fighting off.
I clean myself as hastily as possible, and he’s still soaking in the tub when I’m done. It’s a relief to get the demon sludge off me, but I cannot wait to sink into his warm bed.
After wrapping a large towel around myself, I pad back to his room. I shouldn’t be this at peace in his space, but I am. One of his button-up shirts becomes mine for the night, and I find him a comfortable pair of shorts to sleep in.
I’m changed and ready for bed when he joins, clothed in only a towel. My eyes draw over his chest, taking in the sight—a few scars litter the area. He’s perfect, strong, and chiseled.
I let out a soft sigh.
“You’re the one who’s enjoying the view now, huh?” He smirks, picking up the shorts I left on the bed. “Turn around.”
I blink. “What?”
“Damn. Give a man some privacy.”
He’s tormenting me. I’ve never known Jun to be shy, and anything he’s hiding now, I’ve already seen and felt—in great detail.
“Fine.” I turn my back on him. “Tell me when it’s safe to look.”
He rifles around, and I stare at the painting on his wall. A red landscape—perfectly eerie.
“You can look,” he says.
Instantly, I’m struck by his beauty—and he’s still not wearing a shirt. The scar on his leg won’t be the only one. There are bite and claw marks all over his chest and arms, but that’s not what I’m looking at—strong biceps, abs, and the lightest trail of dark hair disappearing beneath his pants.
Instead of joining me in bed, he stands at the end.
“What are you waiting for?” I ask, frowning.
“Uh… where do you want me to sleep?”
“Are you asking permission to sleep in your bed?” I roll my eyes, pushing back the covers. “Come on. I won’t bite—unless you ask nicely.”
He chuckles. “Maybe not tonight. I’m still recovering.”
I press my lips together. Jun tucks himself into bed, and exhaustion rolls from him in waves. I feel it as if it’s my own, and perhaps it is, considering the evening we’ve had.
“You need something to eat,” I say, getting out of bed.
“What? No. Come back.” He lifts his hands to reach for me.
Jun being clingy is adorable, but I’m too quick for him to catch. I run to the mini fridge before he can get me. It’s full of beer, but to my relief, there’s a bag of grapes and a pack of cookies. It’s not exactly a full meal, but it’s better than nothing.
“I’m really not hungry.”
“You need to eat something, and until breakfast, this will have to do.” I bring the snacks to bed, holding out one in each hand. “Eat.”
“Feed me.”
“I would rather die, thank you very much.”
No matter how much I care about Jun, I won’t be doing anything so… well, so cringe.
If he had his usual strength, I think he would continue to argue, but he doesn’t. He takes the snacks and plops a grape into his mouth, his eyes closing as he chews.
“Are you still in pain?” I already know the answer. I don’t feel pain coming from him—but does he know I can feel him?
“No.” He shoves a hand into the packet of cookies. “But I’ll admit—I am fucking hungry. How did you know?”
“I didn’t.”
That’s one feeling I didn’t feel through our newfound bond, strangely enough. I wonder what else has slipped through the cracks.
Vampires don’t have one mate, and we aren’t bound to a single person.
Werewolves and witches are more likely to have a single mate, but even then, there are exceptions.
When vampires meet a possible mate, the bond becomes stronger each time we connect with them—whether through feeding or other intimate acts.
This is only the beginning of what I will come to feel for Jun, and the very idea of wanting him more is terrifying. I would already give up everyone and everything—aside from Tobey—for him.
And I know nothing about the demon mating bond. What have I gotten myself into?
Jun doesn’t speak again until he’s finished his snacks, setting the empty wrappers off to the side.
“Thank you.” His voice is weak, so faint I hardly hear it, seconds from fading.
“Don’t thank me. It’s your food.”
“No. Not that.” He rolls onto his side, pressing behind me and draping an arm over me. At least he has enough strength to draw me in, so tight against his chest I can hardly breathe. My back presses to his chest, and I soak in his hellish warmth.
“Then what are you thanking me for?” I ask.
“For taking care of me,” he mutters. “I’ve never had someone—someone like you. Thank you.”
I don’t respond quickly enough. When I speak, he’s snoring gently in my ear. The sound would usually annoy me, but tonight, it may lull me to sleep.
“You’re welcome.” My eyes flicker shut.