Page 2 of Bloody Temptations

From the many stories Bedeer has told me about his friends, I know that Lusce and Willan work together at a magic supply shop that Willan’s uncle owns. Apparently Willan—and his uncle—are mages, while Lusce is a first-life witch. Bedeer’s girlfriend, Jesminda, is a witch on her second life. Bedeer and Jesminda have been together for five years, having gotten together in their last year of high school. But it’s getting dicey because his family is pushing for them to settle down, but as a witch, human marriage or being mate-ship isn’t really on the cards for Jesminda. She can’t ever truly put anything above her dedication to her magic. It’s causing all kinds of headaches between her and her own parents, let alone Bedeer’s family.

How do I know all this? Bedeer likes to share, which means I’ve heard all about it. At length, in great detail.

He manages to time it so we leave our cubicles at the same time, his basket of personal belongings overflowing with photo frames and fidget toys. It makes my empty basket with just my headset and notebook look more than a little depressing.

“I have plenty going on. So many things. Completely overloaded actually.”

Bedeer snorts, elbowing me playfully as we shove through the door to the breakroom. “Like what?”

Good question, because I’m totally lying out of my ass here. I’ve got nothing going on. Less than nothing if I’m being entirely honest.

I mean, apart from scrolling through the drama posts onCrumbles—a true timesuck of an app where people can share and discuss just about anything—from the news and current events, to their hobbies, to the intimate, personal details about their lives and relationships. At least ninety percent of the drama has to be faked, but I got a notification thatBrokenWife4873has updated with the latest about her husband banging her sister and I need to know what’s happened.

The drama, it’s a drug.

I don’t think that will actually count as a plan for Bedeer—or anyone with an actual life.

With our belongings secured away in our lockers, Bedeer leans against his, arms crossed over his chest in a no nonsense kinda stance, staring me down. His eyes have no discernable white to them. They are the same vibrant teal of his skin, with only a sliver of black for his pupil.

It’s intense. Bedeer is a fae with the particular gift of feeling others’ emotions, like a mood ring, only more intrusive. He says it’s dimmer with vampires, which is a relief. You’d think he’d be the one running in the opposite direction of a crowded place like a nightclub, but I think he gets off on the drunken horniness. Based on his consistent oversharing about him and Jesminda, it’s a pretty solid assumption.

The seconds tick by with our staring contest, until the extreme hunger eating away at my belly makes me cave. I run a hand through my blonde hair, making it flop back down over my face right away again, and narrow my eyes.

“Fine. I’ll come.”

Who’s more shocked, me or Bedeer? I don’t know. But I can’t ignore the little voice in the back of my head reminding me that I didn’t come all this way to be my boring-ass self in a different country.

“Fuck yeah! I knew I’d wear you down eventually. It’s gonna be sweet.” Bedeer perks up instantly, grinning and pumping his fist. Pushing off the lockers, he unfolds his long body and leads the way out of the building to the parking garage underneath.

“I just need to head home and change.” I wave a hand at my baggy jeans and oversized sweater that’s become my standard uniform since starting at ORA. It’s a far cry from the fancy-ass suits I splurged on for my last job. They are currently languishing away in the back of my wardrobe.

Bedeer waves me off, still typing away on his phone with one hand. “Yeah, same. Don’t even worry about it. What’s your address?”

I rattle off the address for my new apartment. It’s a dump, but it’s only a five minute walk from work, the price was right, and most importantly, they didn’t mind renting to vampires.

“Done. Me, Jezzi and the boys will be there in half an hour to pick you up. Unless,” he looks around at the handful of cars. “Are you walking? It’s freezing out. I’ll give you a lift home if you want?”

Having already caught me agreeing once, Bedeer wasn’t about to let me say no to him again. In no time at all he’s pulling up out the front of my apartment, having kept up a steady stream of chatter about his friends on the way.

“Half an hour. We’ll be here. Yeah?” Bedeer says again as I unbuckle and open the car door.

“Half an hour. Got it. Can do.” My stomach growls loudly, making my grimace worse and Bedeer snicker.

“Don’t look like that. It’s gonna be fun!” He honks as he drives off—because of course he’s a honker—and I find myself laughing on my way up to my apartment, not entirely sure how I ended up roped up in his plans for the night. But also, not entirely unhappy about it.

2

Kai

The bottle flies from my fingers, spinning in a perfect arc, landing in Nikolo’s hand like it’s magnetised. Exactly as expected, the crowd at the bar goes wild, hooting and carrying on. Further up the bar, the other bartender, Lifo, rolls his eyes and serves the customers with extremely pointed, passive aggressive efficiency.

Whatever, fuck him. The crowd loves our bullshit. Not our fault that his particular brand of bullshit is off-putting and ours is hot as fuck.

Sliding the drink I just poured over the bar, the woman accepts it gratefully, eyeballing me like a juicy steak.

“There’s an extra tip for you if you let me put it in your shorts.”

The woman is nearly falling over the bar, hand outstretched with a note tucked between her fingers. I pretend to think about it for all of about ten seconds, putting my hands on my hips and licking my fang. She melts—though making drunk beings melt isn’t exactly hard—and I pretend to cave.

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