Page 72 of Taste of Death

“Sogood.” I lifted my lips toward his, tugging him down toward me.

His kiss was warm and indulgent, but he kept his hips away. “I…have to clean up.”

My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Was he blushing? His skin had a warm, flushed tint, maybe from my blood. And his smile took on an endearing, sheepish curve.

“You made me feel just as good as you did.” He laughed, eyes casting away bashfully. “In terms of… below-the-waist things.”

I stared at him. “Below-the-waist things?”

“I came in my pants, okay?”

“Oh!” I swallowed my laughter and must have made a weird face.

“It’s fine, laugh. It’s your fault, anyway.” His crooked smirk returned, knuckles stroking my cheek. “You’re so fucking beautiful, my body just couldn’t handle it.”

His eyes shone with pure adoration and wonder, like I was something to marvel at. But my post-orgasm clarity had returned, along with my self-consciousness. “So, my blood tasted okay?”

“Okay?” He scoffed out the word like it was an insult. “Did you miss the part where I just told you I came in my pants?”

I let the laughter free that time, and he went on.

“Your blood tastes incredible, akra. Sweet, rich, hot, and so velvety smooth. If my tongue could orgasm, I’d be a far bigger mess right now.”

His praise was like sunshine to a light-starved plant. I wanted to bask in it for hours, to feel it strengthen me where I had been so weak before.

“You poor thing,” I said with a glance at his crotch. “Although I must say I’m flattered.”

“You should be. This has never happened to me before.” He stood awkwardly from the chaise, but still held his hand out to me like the perfect gentleman. “Come wash with me? We can try out those four shower heads.”

I took his hand and allowed him to pull me up, because how could I not? He kissed my knuckles with a smile that was both affectionate and suggestive. We could continue our fun, doing more below-the-waist things, as he put it. I was addicted to how he made me feel, how confident and sexy, but also sweet and considerate he was. He was only interested in doing more with me if I was enjoying it too, and knowing that made me feel safer and more confident than I had ever been with a man before.

Iwantedto let loose with him more than anything, to be free and uninhibited to enjoy myself and him fully. But I felt like there was a barrier inside me, a brick wall that wouldn’t let me cross into that zone. It was the same barrier that blocked me from looking at my body in the mirror.

I knew it was irrational. Novak was attracted to me, genuinely liked me, and some scars on my stomach weren’t likely to change that. But fears weren’t rational, and I still couldn’t get Tom and Robin’s horrified expressions out of my mind. If Novak looked at me with any amount of disgust, it would shatter me beyond repair.

Because, I realized at that moment, I was falling for him.

We climbed the stairs together and approached his bedroom, my panic heightening at every step while I tried to think of possible excuses. At the threshold I stopped short, resisting when he walked in.

He turned to me, curiosity on his face. “You all right, darling? You don’t have to wait for an invitation to come in.” He chuckled, pleased with his vampire joke as he kissed my wrist.

“I just… I already showered earlier tonight.” The excuse felt like a lie, a betrayal. “I’m actually a little worn out, so I might just go to bed if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is.” He framed my face with his hands, kissed my forehead, and then brought his lips down to mine.

I sighed into his kiss, which was lingering and sweet. My arms went around his back as I leaned into him. Guilt gnawed at me as he kissed me tenderly again and again. He was so giving and patient while here I was, still holding back.

“Does this mean you’re spending another day here?” Novak’s gaze was excited, hopeful. It boggled my mind that this perfect man wanted even more time with me.

“Is that okay?”

“You really need to ask?” He kissed me again, smiling against my lips before pulling away. “My closet is through the double doors across from the bathroom sinks. Put your new clothes in there. I should have extra toothbrushes and things in the sink drawers.” He kissed me once more, then walked backward with a slight grimace. “I’ll join you soon. Things are getting sticky down here.”

I laughed and watched him speed-walk awkwardly to his insane four-headed shower. The water ran while I changed into a baggy T-shirt for bed, and his automatic shutters came down to cover the windows with the onset of dawn.

This felt normal in the best way. Easy. How it should be, living with a partner. Lots of kisses and a bedtime routine. I climbed into bed and got comfortable as I waited for Novak.

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