Page 17 of Indentured Companion
“I hate that I cause you pain.” I frown. He hates the fact he’s hurting me. He’s so sensitive and I just stomped on his heart. Fuck. “I wish…I wish I didn’t have to.”
“I know.” I smile, and impulsively reach for his crown. It lifts away easily, and I toss it to land high up the bed by the pillows. “So no more moping, and bite me already. When I come to, we’re going online to shoe shop, and you said I could call my sister.” I tug at his veil, and he finally gets with the program.
“Not before you rest and eat something.” He is smiling when he removes his veil and headdress. They flutter over to a chair beside his crimson bed. His lilac eyes are still teary, and I see glistening evidence on his white and black cheeks were some have escaped. “I shall try to be quick.” He places the glass down on the floor, and as he rises I instinctively cup his cheeks to wipe away his tears.
We both gasp.
I’ve nevertouchedhim before. Not his bare skin. His mouth on my neck doesn’t count. His skin feels like, well, skin. Smooth and with no definition or ridge where the white of his cheekbones turn black towards his jaw. I blush, realising I’ve totally grabbed his face, and try to chuckle it off.
“H-hey. I’m premium vintage. You don’t want to make me taste salty by getting your tears on my neck before you bite me.” My grin is awkward, but his is breath-taking.
“You are the most amazing and warm blossom of sunshine on my tongue. I would never wish to sour your taste, Valerie. I am addicted to it.”
Ho-ly-fuck. I have no idea why, but that sounded kinda like he was flirting with me? His lilac eyes are deadly serious, but there’s a hunger there. I think I might have been turned on by that line, if I wasn’t fully aware of the world of hurt I’m about to experience.
“Alright Shakespeare. Come here.” I offer my neck to him, and he swoons his head towards my jugular. I tense, bracing myself, but he turns with me sohecan sit on the bed. “What are you doing?”
“There is a position I should like us to try. It may help to lessen the bruising and longer lasting pain from the feed.” Vrajan crooks his fingers around my knees and tugs. “It’s worth a try? No?”
“Sure.” I’ll do anything to try and reduce this literal pain in the neck.” I try to turn to slide across his lap, but his hands on my knees stop me. “What?”
“I need you to face me, Valerie. It makes for better penetration.” I chew my lips together and put my hands on my hips. Does he haveanyidea how that sounds? I search his shy smile and have to wonder…because I’m not sure how to handle Vrajan flirting with me. Space Dracula is so tender and bashful, so if he was trying to flirt with me, I imagine this is how it would look. At the same time, he’s so tender and bashful, it might bemereading too much into this. Yeah, that has to be it. I’m over thinking it.
“Alright.” I shrug and try to look casual as I kneel at either side of his thighs on the bed, and lower to straddle his lap. “So how does this help?”
“Well, come closer first.” He giggled, and his hands on my back felt warm. He slides me towards him and my hands instinctively land on his shoulders. I’m not blushing. Nope. Not even when he has me practically sat on his crotch. “This is considered a natural feeding position.”
“Is it?” Because it looks like I’m a cowgirl about to yell ‘yee haw’.
“Yes.” He smiles and it looks innocent enough, which makes me want to take a mental cold shower to calm the hell down. What’s wrong with me? I don’t think of Vrajanlike that.No matter how kind and doting he is. I mean, I’ve never had a man in my life who has fussed over me like he does. Not even my own father. Is that it? Am I getting a bit caught up in the pampering and charm of the Dynast? Thinking about his fangs in my neck helps to sober me from the rabbit hole I nearly flustered down. “Relax. It will sting less if you…do…” He frowns and drops his gaze. “…well…less than it could I suppose.”
“Good.” I am all for any reduction to the ache and pain. The bite itself always hurts like hell, but it’s momentary. If this will make it hurt less in between feeds, I’ll suck up my pride and swing a lasso if I have to. I tip my head to the right and bite my tongue to hide the wince of discomfort that causes. I really don’t like the sadness in his lilac eyes. It really bothers me. “Come on, Vrajan.” I tentatively comb the fingers of my left hand in his long hair at the back of his head. White to his pointed ears, where it fades to black.
“I wish I didn’t have to do this.” He whispers as he allows me to reel him to my neck. I feel his black lips against my throat, ghosting over the bruised bite wound. “I hate hurting you.” I close my eyes and damn, I wish he didn’t have to hurt me either. There’s no way around it. He needs to feed, and I signed a contract to be his feeding companion. We’re only a month in, and I have another 11 before the contract is over. I need to suck it up and get on with this.
“I know. You wouldn’t hurt me if you didn’t have to.” He inhales sharply and would have retreated, if I didn’t hold him in place with my hand at the back of his head. “Seriously? Do I have to start begging for you to bite me huh? Jeez. Nom on me already so I can have a nap, have some lunch, and call my sister. Make with the feed already.” I try to make light of it, chuckling and teasing him. Normally he finds my bluntness amusing, but I can feel his lips on my neck. He’s frowning. Why? Because I told him I’m in pain all the time? Didn’t he know that was going to happen?
“I am sorry.” He whispers softly and finally bites me. Oddly I wasn’t expecting it, as he still seemed reluctant to bite me. I was therefore relaxed when he sank his fangs into me. I gasped and fisted at his hair in my left hand, and my right gripped his shoulder for support. Both his hands held me close. Cupping the back ofmyhead, and my back. I’m used to this sort of hold, as I start to become dizzy as he feeds from me. The pain is white hot, and the blood loss made me start to fade from consciousness. His tongue works at my neck to work my blood into his mouth faster, but the pressure of it hurts my bruised neck. I wince and whimper, begging for time to speed up so it’s over and I can pass out.
Only…I didn’t.
He carefully held my lax body in his embrace and extracted his fangs from my neck. Like a kitten he lapped at my neck to clean the wound and promote the healing process. At least, that’s what he tells me. Normally I’m out cold moments later. I wasn’t worried therefore, when he carefully lowered me to lay on my bed, and I was not unconscious. I’ve seen his blood smeared mouth and chin many times now. My eyelids are droopy and my neck is screaming at me in pain. I keep waiting to pass out so I can check out of the worst of the pain. I normally do, but as the seconds tick on, I realise I’m not going to faint. Shit. “Valerie?” Vrajan snuggles up next to me and looks me in my brown eyes with alarm. “Are you…still awake?”
“Y…eh…” I hiss through my teeth. Talking hurts like hell. Why the hell am I still awake?! I don’t want to experience the forest fire of pain hurtling through my body. I feel like I’m dying.
“Hold on.” I turn my eyes to see he has powder on his finger. “I’m going to rub Regen into your gums. It will help you recover faster. Don’t resist.” I tremble and tears slide down my cheeks. “Oh Valerie, I’m sorry.” He chewed his bloody lips, fangs peeking from within, and slides a finger into my mouth to rub gently along my gums. I find myself staring into his lilac eyes, once more my anchor, as he works more Regen powder along my upper and lower gums in turn. “Th-the fact you are awake is a good sign.” It is? “Your body is getting used to the feeding process. We are getting closer to true symbiosis.” Oh no. Does that mean I will feel like this after every feed? Instead of sleeping through the worst of it, I’m going to be racked with pain like my veins are on fire and my neck has a gaping wound in it every time? Three times a day for the next 11 months? He must see the horror in my eyes and starts to cry. “I’m so sorry. I-I wish…I…” Vrajan closes his eyes and lowers to lay next to me. “I’m right here. If you need anything, just let me kn-”
“…out…” Deep down I know he’s beating himself up over how much pain I’m in, and he can’t help it, but I want him to go away. I want to be alone in my agony and freely cry without feeling guilty for upsetting him.
Only, now I’ve hurt him anyway.
“…y-yes. Of course. I…I’ll get out.” I daren’t move to watch him flee from the bedroom in floods of tears. I feel my heart clench under the clawing pain of the feed. He keeps apologising even as he walks out of my room. Like he’s in a loop of misery.
No offence Space Dracula, but my pain is worse than yours. I can barely breathe through mine, without having to deal with yours as well.
Chapter 16
My Queen.
