Page 69 of Taste of Death

His laugh was warm and throaty, a dangerous combination with the teasing and affection in his ruby eyes.

“Seriously, though. That’s an amazing accomplishment and you should be proud.I’mproud.” I picked up my wine glass and held it out toward him. “To your brilliant mind and your discoveries.”

Novak stared at my wine glass for a long moment before silently picking up his own. For once, the highly intelligent vampire with a clever mouth seemed to be at a loss for words. I got the sense that he didn’t often hear that someone was proud of him, and I intended to correct that.

“Thank you, akra,” he murmured, touching his drink gently to mine. “That is… lovely of you to say.”

“My pleasure.” It truly was. I sipped my drink, enjoying the sight of him speechless and flustered across the table.

“Enough about me. Tell me about your life as a human.” Novak’s foot gently curled around my calf under the table.

I brushed off the request with a laugh. “There’s not much to tell.”

“Nonsense.” He tapped the toe of his shoe against my leg. “What did you do? What were your interests?”

“I mean, I tried to be useful in whatever ways I could.” I shrugged. “Tending the animals, cooking community meals, making quilts in the winter. I’d help Tavia with her alcohol projects sometimes, even though all the specifics went way over my head.”

“You’re a caretaker.” Novak’s voice was warm with affection, his hand finding my knee under the table. “You look after people.”

“I guess. I did a lot of reading in my spare time. Trashy romance novels, mostly.”

His smile turned into a full-on grin. “My mother loved those books. I still have her collection in the downstairs library.”

“You do?” I perked up.

“Would you like to see them?” He removed his hand from my knee and placed it palm up on the table, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“How is that even a question? Yes!” I placed my hand in his and reveled in the warmth of his fingers curling over mine.

“Let me pay this bill then and let’s get out of here.” Novak waved down the waiter and made a signing motion. The waiter nodded on his way to the kitchen with a stack of empty dishes.

“Thank you for the meal and the new clothes.” My thumb rubbed over the veins in Novak’s wrist. “You really didn’t have to.”

“I know, akra.” He held my hand between both of his and kissed my fingers. “But I wanted to.”

I had never felt so content before. My belly was full. I had multiple shopping bags full of new clothes at my side, and a gorgeous man who seemed genuinely into me holding my hand.

Even Novak’s hands and wrists were beautiful, long fingered with prominent veins under his skin. Veins with such delicious blood…

Heat rushed through me at the thought of his blood, and I felt my canines lengthen in my mouth. I wasn’t even hungry, but it was the taste of him that I wanted. His skin and the heady, strong pulse underneath. I wanted him in my senses, inme.And not just in the sense of feeding.

He’d never taken my blood before, never asked for it. I was beginning to figure out that Novak was too selfless to ask for anything that would benefit himself. At the very least, he would make sure all my needs were met first.

As we held hands, waiting on the check, I saw his pupils dilate when looking at my wrists. I noticed the points of his own fangs poking past his top lip. He tried to be subtle about adjusting his pants, but I noticed that too.

“Novak.” My fangs were on full display as I smiled and for once, I didn’t care.

“Akra.”

My touch ventured higher than his wrist, stroking the long, corded muscle in his forearm. “Would you like my blood?”

He hissed in a sharp breath, then muttered something under his breath before saying, “I would love nothing more.” He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on my wrist. “When we get home.”

I squirmed in my seat, biting my lip to hold back my wildly excited grin. The waiter could not come back soon enough.

Chapter 21

Amy

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