Page 49 of Santa's Wish
That was as close to saying those momentous three words as I'd ever come. I didn't know who I was anymore, but I knew who I wanted to be. Forever was too much to offer, but for the foreseeable future, I would make Boz mine.
I visited Irena on Christmas,as promised. When she asked about Boz, I couldn't resist sharing how he made me feel. With her help, I planned how to share the news with Boz.
When he returned home, I couldn't get the words out. I wanted to tell him, but first, there were presents to open, and then he offered me a drink from his neck while I rode his cock. I couldn't resist.
It had been far too long since I'd involved blood play with sex. It wasn't allowed at Fanglory. I'd already drunk my fill of blood, thanks to a quick stop at Blood Drive before Boz returned. I didn't take much from him, only enough to get us both off.
Afterward, I wished I would have said no. The blood bond went both ways. Not only did it draw Boz to me, making him a willing donor, but it also drew me to him for an easy meal.
I couldn't let our relationship sink to that level. Boz was more than a blood bag. He was special. I …
I needed to get my head out of my ass. Once I'd gotten us both cleaned up and we were back in our sweats, snuggling and warm beneath the covers, I laid it out for him.
"I shouldn't drink from you. It's addicting."
He nodded. "Colette said it would be."
I jerked away from him so hard I almost fell out of bed. "You talked to Colette about this?"
He blinked. "Wait. I didn't mean … last week, she told me about blood bonds and sire bonds. She said I already have a bond with you, so the blood bond wouldn't really change things between us."
I shook my head. "I don't know what she thinks she can see, but she's wrong. Vampires don't have psychic ties to each other unless they have psychic power."
He shrugged. "Just repeating what Colette told me."
"I should have known she would meddle." I tried to tease, but all levity between us had vanished. "She likes you, you know. She'll probably be the one to turn you for the empress." Despite Harley's claim the empress wanted to turn Boz herself, she wouldn't return to Boston so soon, not when she could take over Colette's mind and turn him by proxy.
"Now that I understand the sire bond, that's fine with me." Boz cuddled closer to me and lay his head on my shoulder.
I nodded. "I already have too much power over you."
"Power isn't everything." He grinned. "Your vampire charm isn't your only asset."
That was news to me.
"You're a sweet and doting boyfriend," he said.
I still wasn't used to the word, but it didn't scare me shitless anymore. "How so?"
"You've paid for more food than I have since I moved in, and you can't even eat it. Don't tell me you do that for all the strays you take in."
"I don't. You're special," I admitted. I'd hoped to say more, had a whole speech planned, but Boz had coaxed the important part from me with ease.
"You like me, and I like you."
"Yes, we've established that."
"Then why do we need to label or limit our relationship beyond that? Are you still having fun?"
"Fuck yeah." I tugged his hands over his head and leaned in to give him a kiss.
He broke the kiss on a laugh. "That's all that matters. Let's just enjoy each other's company."
Easier said than done.
Too soon,we both returned to our work routines. One day in early February, the roads were too slick to drivethe Chevelle. I pushed Boz onto the crowded bus that stopped at the council building. On the way home, I scanned every passenger for potential threats until our stop a block from the apartment building.
The walk was cold, but Boz didn't mind. He tucked his gloved hand in mine and kicked a ball of hard-packed snow down the sidewalk ahead of us. After a few kicks, it disintegrated into powder and he laughed.
