Page 9 of Necking with a Vampire
Maybe it was the fancy, high-backed chair Draven was holding court from. The party had themed areas with props, and Draven looked very comfortable on the medieval throne, surrounded by admirers.
But that wasn’t the worst of it.
No.
That wasn’t what made Peter’s heart drop into his stomach.
Draven was smiling.
With teeth!
Laughing.
Even from a distance Peter could see the fangs.
What had happened to Peter’s grump? Why was he smiling and laughing freely for these people, when Peter had to fight to get even the hint of a close-lipped smile?
Who was this man? It couldn’t be the one Peter had slowly been getting to know over the past month. The one who secretly cared for injured bats. The one who gently distracted Peter with flirting and petting.
The only one Peter trusted enough to draw blood.
So much for making a move on him tonight. This man could have anyone he wanted. He didn’t need Peter.
Peter had been trying so hard to make Draven laugh. And here Draven was, smiling at all these strangers for free.
What was Peter lacking, that he hadn’t deserved a smile like that?
It transformed the man and set Peter’s heart racing - even worse than usual.
Those teeth!
They gave a different air to Draven. Something predatory.
Was this the real Draven?
This smiling, intimidating man at the center of his group of admirers? Or was he the man who sheepishly admitted to building a home for the rescued bat that refused to leave him?
Peter should go. He should find a girl his parents would accept and convince her to join him for Thanksgiving.
He should give up on Draven. It was a fantasy.
One of the women put an arm on Draven’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear. Draven laughed again, free and carefree.
He should leave them to it. But his feet refused to move, knees locked.
Something was wrong. There was an emptiness - a distance - in Draven’s eyes.
Peter didn’t just give blood. He talked to Draven. They discussed a variety of topics, from Peter’s nursing aspirations to Draven’s secret habit of rescuing bats.
Where was the intensity? The focus? Was Draven bored or…?
Draven’s eyes slid off the woman and landed squarely on Peter.
The change in Draven was subtle but unmistakable.
Maybe Peter hadn’t missed his chance after all.
This was the time to be brave.
