Page 134 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

“A surprise?”

“Yes, well.” Seb smoothed down his already immaculate shirt. “I thought, given recent events, you could do with something… pleasant.”

“Um… okay.”

“And you’ve been saying how you’re sick of being stuck in the hotel—”

“We’re leaving the hotel?!” I could have cried with joy.

“Ahh. Not… entirely. Follow me.”

Curiosity officially piqued.

He guided me to the end of the corridor, where a narrow service staircase spiraled upwards. We traipsed up it, all the way to a cramped space with a large metal door, wedged open with a brick, an extension cable running through it.

Seb opened the door, its hinges whining. A blast of cold fresh air hit my face as a small flat section of roof opened up. Two heat lamps glowed amber against the night, illuminating…a bed?A double mattress dragged up god knows how many stairs, complete with duvet and pillows probably pilfered from one of the rooms. The warm light caught on the forest of sooty chimney stacks that surrounded us, clay pots silhouetted against the star-scattered sky.

“You’ve got to be joking,” I muttered, even as something fluttered in my chest.

The dormers jutted out from the steep slate roof, creating a bizarre little alcove that blocked the worst of the wind. A small rack of herbs and flowers was wedged against the ancient brickwork, each pot meticulously labelled in Priya’s precise handwriting. London sprawled below us, a glittering tapestry of lights and shadows, while above, the night sky felt close enough to touch. As Sebastián took my hand and tugged me toward our ridiculous rooftop haven, I couldn’t stop the smile creeping across my face.

“This is either the most romantic or most idiotic thing anyone’s ever done for me. Possibly both.”

“It wasn’t any effort.”

I stared at him until his lips quirked.

“Alright, the mattress was an absolute pain in the ass. And it took me thirty minutes to find an extension cable long enough. Felix almost had a panic attack when I tried to unplug one of his.” He grinned, then asked, “Are you hungry?” His eyes hopeful as he gestured towards the mattress.

Perched near the edge was a domed silver tray, likely borrowed from the kitchen. I was speechless. If I did die tomorrow, at least I could add, “dined under the stars at London’s most exclusive rooftop restaurant” to my achievements.

“I must admit, I haven’t cooked in many years,” Seb confessed as he settled onto the mattress. “So I kept it simple…”

With a flourish of his hand, he lifted the lid, revealing a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches. But this was no ordinary fare—the bread was artisanal sourdough, worthy of being sold at Rising Dough. It was perfectly grilled to a golden brown, with melted cheese oozing temptingly from the sides. Sprigs of fresh herbs even garnished the dish.

A soft laugh escaped my lips as I reached for one. “And here I thought vampires only knew how to heat up blood in the microwave.”

As I took a massive bite, Seb caught my injured hand, examining the healing skin. With an eye roll, I tugged it away. “It looks very similar to yesterday.”

He turned away for a moment, then two wine glasses materialised, with a bottle of red wine. I threw him a glance—I’d never seen Seb partake in alcohol, even when Priya and Rory split a pack of beers.

“I can drink it. I might even get a slight buzz if I’m lucky.” A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “My kind often mix it with blood.”

A lovely shiver shot straight down my spine.

“Will you be doing that tonight?”

Seb’s gaze met mine, steady and intense. “I fed earlier.”

Those exact words were now very familiar—he said that phrase every time I offered to feed him.

I hid my disappointment by offering him a small smile as I took another bite. “These are delicious.”

He inclined his head, pouring the wine into the two glasses before passing me one. “I’m glad you approve.”

A small silence, where we both sipped our wine. Then my next words tumbled out. “Why won’t you feed from me?”

Oh god. Why? Why did I have to ask that?

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