Page 42 of House of Crimson Hearts
I grit my teeth. It’s even more humiliating that he was doing me a kindness too.
“Gods. I am mortified.”
“Think nothing of it,” he says, and nods to Lennox to help him out. “I’ll have the chef bring you a tray of breakfast. I’m afraid after we dosed you, you slept the whole night. I appreciate that an addiction isn’t exactly what anyone wants, but if you’re choosing to withdraw, there are safer ways and means than cold turkey. Octavia took the liberty of ensuring you didn’t die in the night.”
He nods to Octavia and Lennox helps him unsteadily out of the room.
Wait, what? I replay his words.
Octavia took the liberty of ensuring you didn’t die in the night.
Octavia?
Suddenly, Octavia is inside the room. She’s closed the door behind her, turning the lock at her back. Her nostrils flared.
I realise then, I’m half naked and covered in blood.
“Why did you help me?” I say.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Now. Get in the bathroom.”
“You don’t get to boss me around.”
“Would you rather I licked the blood off of your naked skin?”
My mouth drops open, a short, sharp gasp escaping. My skin heats. I find myself taking a step closer.
Fuck.
Do I?
No. I can’t. A nervous laugh bubbles up and out.
“Something funny?” Octavia says.
“I—er… no. It’s just…” I can’t form words; my whole body is warm. Desire pools between my legs. For fuck’s sake, if Octavia saved me, then it must have been her blood she gave me. Which means… Mother of Blood, I do want her to lick it off me. I wipe a hand over my face and realise I’m still holding the blade.
She steps closer.
I move on instinct, sliding a foot back, holding the blade up and under her chin.
“That’s close enough, Beaumont.”
Her blood might be coursing through my system, bringing an intense need for her, but that doesn’t mean I need to act on it.
I can fight this.
She tilts her head down at me, arrogance pouring through her expression in the quirk of a perfect black eyebrow, the pout of those full lips.
Why am I objectifying her like this? It’s the blood. It has to be.
She shifts another inch closer.
A tease.
A test.
A fucking dare.
