Page 25 of Bloody Temptations

It’s only one thirty in the morning so the vamps are all out enjoying the night and ReSanguinated is no exception, smack bang in the middle of the unofficial “Vampire District” of Osneau. It shows how completely out of the vamp-loop I am because I only just learnt about the Vamp District last week. Though it should have been obvious because there is a disproportionately high number of blacked out shop windows and doors around here.

I didn’t even know this cafe was here. I’ve walked past the unassuming, solid black door countless times. From the dull, grey shop front I never would have known what was inside. The cafe itself is already quite small, but it’s been divided up with cane room dividers to create tiny booths with couches and small tables squished inside.

Soft jazzy music plays softly over the speakers, the only light coming from lamps shoved into every available space. What can only be thrifted decor—scarves and exotic ceramic creatures and various tchotchkes—fills what little room remains. It’s chaotic and weird but is somehow just cohesive enough to work.

It’s a cool place, but it doesn't feel like a “coffee with friends” kind of place, which has my nerves coming back full force when the pretty vamp woman shows me to a table. I read the menu again and again while I wait for Kai, not really seeing the words.

“Hey! Sorry I’m late, parking was a nightmare.”

Looking up, my throat goes dry at the sight of Kai stripping out of his thick coat in the makeshift doorway of our booth.

There is a lamp directly behind him casting a perfect golden glow around his head giving him the illusion of a halo. He really is absurdly attractive, especially when I’m the sole focus of his attention.

He looks different in his everyday clothes, more relaxed, more… normal. His work clothes are always a costume, even the ones that aren’t actual costumes. In his dark blue jeans and emerald green tee shirt made of soft, worn in cotton, it’s like I’m getting to see another side of him. The real him. I can already feel the knowledge fanning the already perilous flames of this crush.

I’m not the only one that notices how attractive he is. Someone is literally leaning out of their booth to perv on him. I frown at them, not that they even notice I’m here. The subtle reminder of the differences between Kai and me is enough to put a pin in any silly date fantasies I’ve been entertaining. It’s ridiculous, honestly. At least now that my head is straight, I can relax and just enjoy being with Kai.

Except, then I look at him and have to fight against the pull of his smile as it threatens to drag me right under again.

“Uh, yeah, not a problem. I got here early because of the bus. But it’s fine. I got us this table and—” I wave a hand around the tiny enclosed space. There is barely enough room for me on the couch, let alone the both of us. My cheeks flame with heat as I realise we are going to have to sit really close. I scoot as far as I can into the corner. “Here, sit, sorry. I’m being rude.”

Kai’s chuckle does ridiculous things to my insides, and I very pointedly refuse to look at his face, knowing that devastating smile is only spreading wider.

As he gets himself settled, his knee presses against mine and he makes no effort to remove it. Actually, he presses in closer, swallowing up the space to make himself comfortable, legs spread wide. He leans forward to grab a menu from the coffee table, his chest brushing against my arm and, Gods just open the ground and let me fall into the ether, because that sweet, sweet innocent contact sends a lightning bolt of lust to my balls.

I rubbed one out real quick in the shower, hoping that it would help me keep myself under control, but it was pointless apparently. I’m weak when it comes to Kai.

“You came on the bus? No shit, sorry. I’ll give you a ride home.” He eases back onto the couch, keeping his body angled towards me.

Keeping up my pointless ruse of looking at the menu, I don’t dare look up at him. “It’s okay, it’s probably out of your way, I’m happy to catch the bus.”

Kai rests his hand on my thigh; it’s only casual, to get my attention, but my eyes snap to those fingers and then up to his face in a panic.

“I want to.” Gods, he is looking me right in the eye and those words are coming back to haunt my every fantasy about him. His fingers tighten, squeezing my thigh before letting go entirely. “Besides, being a vamp doesn’t make you invincible. It’s still unsafe to be out alone at that time of night.”

It’s a stretch, I mean, vampires roaming the night is kind of our whole thing. I don’t argue though, because it means more time with Kai and I’m selfish and greedy enough to snap up whatever opportunities I can.

“So what are you thinking?” Kai changes the subject, picking up the second menu on the table.

“Uh.” My pointless staring at the laminated sheet has come to bite me on the ass because I have no idea what’s on there. There are a few blood infused drinks and even some blood based food. I’m nowhere near far enough along in my transition to tolerate food just yet, so I check the drinks menu again. “Just a hot chocolate, maybe?”

“Aw, yes. Their hot chocolates are good shit. We’ll get them with the catuvezo. It’s like magic, man. Seriously.” Kai does a wiggling type of happy dance in his seat in his excitement.

My eyes flare slightly at the price—it’s to be expected, catuvezo’s are a rare human-feline being from Hedrana—but I’ve never seen Kai so enthused. It’s kinda… dorky. And that’s usually my thing. A laugh slips out of me including my embarrassing snort. But he doesn’t snicker. His smile deepens just a little, his fang peeking out.

The waitress swings by and takes our order and then Kai turns on the couch to face me, throwing his arm along the back to get comfortable.

“Thanks for coming.” His boot taps my shoe under the table. I try to copy him and get comfortable on the couch, but I can’t do it without basically ending up in his lap.

“Not a problem. Thanks for inviting me out. This place is awesome.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Like I said, the drinks are good. It can be hard to find places that aren’t just about the food. It was one of the harder things to adjust to after, you know?”

“Gods, tell me about it.” I ease back into the couch, letting myself relax the tiniest bit. “I swear in those first few weeks, I missed chewing so badly. It was so strange. Then I caved and ordered a raw steak. Ithought it would be fine, because of the blood, you know? But it made me so sick. I’ve never felt that awful in my entire life.”

Shuddering at the memory of crippling stomach cramps, I almost miss Kai’s furrowed brow. His thumb brushes over the nape of my neck. It’s so faint I barely feel it. It’s a whisper of a touch.

“Didn’t your maker stop you?”

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