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Alexei’s lips twitched. “Do you want to bite me, kotyonok?”

Jay covered his mouth with one hand, embarrassed. It was just…the human kept offering himself up. What was Jay supposed to do? Or maybe Alexei was only curious? Jay studied his face for a moment, trying to gauge how genuine the offer was. He reallywashungry.

But then Alexei cheated. He tilted his head, displaying that strong, tanned neck. God, why did he have to look so good? Andsmellso good? Alexei’s pretty eyes were half-lidded, almost taunting. Like he knew exactly how much he was tempting Jay.

How did one know when a human was too tipsy for a feeding?

“What day is it today?” Jay asked through the hand covering his mouth. He’d pushed his fangs back again, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

“February 4,” Alexei answered promptly.

“And where are we right now?”

“Your house. In Hyde Park.” Alexei’s eyes lit up, and he huffed a short laugh as he seemed to realize what Jay was doing. “You know I had a few rum and cokes, not a concussion, right?”

Jay flapped his free hand in the air, strangely embarrassed. “Well, I don’t know!”

Alexei shifted closer on the couch. “I know what I’m offering.”

Jay cocked his head, too tempted for words. Still. “But whatareyou offering?”

“Feed from me. I like the idea of giving you something you need, kotyonok. Let me be of use to you. Please.”

Well, wasn’t Alexei turning out to be the nicest human ever? Jay didn’t know what to do with the warmth filling his chest. It was so rare anyone asked how they could be of use to Jay without wanting something in return. He couldn’t resist it. He let the beastie out again, fangs popping down. “I’m going to come closer,” he warned, finally lowering his hand from his mouth.

But Alexei didn’t seem even the least bit frightened. “Yes,” he purred.

It was almost likehewas the hunter here, not Jay. But that was a silly thought.

Jay climbed up into Alexei’s lap. He supposed he could have shuffled closer to him on the couch instead—maybe that would have been more polite?—but he couldn’t resist this golden opportunity for further physical connection.

And maybe Jay just really wanted to be held. The human looked so strong and smelled so good. Was it so horrible that Jay wanted to be as close as possible?

Alexei tilted his head to the side, baring his neck again.

Jay bit in.

six

Alexei

Alexeifeltasharppinch, a brief burn, and then…ohfuck.

He sucked in a sharp breath, shocked in spite of himself at the lust flooding his body, the tendrils of arousal that started at his neck and raced through his veins, the strange sensation plumping his cock in an instant.

He knew—he’d been warned—the bite would be pleasurable, but he’d expected it to be something like when a doctor said a shot wasn’t going to hurt. A little fib. A white lie. A necessary obfuscation to achieve the desired result.

But Jay had been truthful. It felt good.

It felt so. Fucking.Good.

Alexei grabbed more firmly onto the little vampire’s hips, pleased beyond measure at the intimacy of the feeding position Jay had chosen: on Alexei’s lap, that pert bottom pressed up against Alexei’s hardening cock.

He breathed Jay in, that wonderful peppermint scent.

He should always be here, Alexei thought dreamily, listening to the strangely erotic sounds of Jay’s greedy gulping.In my arms.

He found himself leaning further back against the couch and pressing a hand to the back of Jay’s dark head, urging him closer. “Take as much as you need, kotyonok. Drink your fill.”

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