Page 6 of Bite
“First,” she continues, flipping open the folder in front of her, “we’ll take a small blood sample to run a full panel. Once we have your results, we’ll create your donor profile and you’ll be entered into our secure database. From there, you’ll receive requests. Each one will include details about the client and the nature of the engagement. You’ll always have the choice to accept or decline.”
She takes the top page out of the folder and reaches out to place it in front of me, tapping a manicured fingernail against it. “This is your consent for the blood draw. Feel free to read it thoroughly.”
I pick it up with shaky hands and skim the page, signing before handing it back.
Francesca smiles as she slips the next packet from the folder and passes it to me. “This one is your intake form,” she supplies. “Medical history, lifestyle habits, physical preferences. The more complete your answers, the better your matches will be.”
I take it, flipping through the pages of questions that range from standard to invasive. I check boxes, scribble answers. I mark ‘no’ on drug use, ‘occasional’ on alcohol, and debate how honest to be about my mental health history before lying by omission.
When I finish and slide it back, she hands me another packet.
“This one is optional,” she says, her voice softening. “It’s for donors interested in offering extended services.”
I glance down at the words on the page and immediately freeze.
Sexual acts. Physical intimacy. Companionship. Kinks. Soft limits. Hard limits.
“Sexual acts?” I blurt, eyes wide.
“Entirely optional,” Francesca reiterates coolly. “But vampires are sensual creatures. Feeding is an inherently intimate experience for most, so we offer these services to meet those needs. Clients who prefer them are always willing to pay significantly more.”
“No,” I choke, pushing the form back toward her with a grimace. “Not interested.”
I refused to whore myself out to keep my last job, so I’m not about to do it to get this one.
She nods. Not offended, just efficient.
“That also includes companionship?” she inquires. “Some clients request conversation, company. Dinner, even. Just… time. Those types of engagements also have higher compensation, and clients often offer additional tips or gifts to their companions.”
I shake my head adamantly, recoiling at the thought of sitting through a dinner date with a vampire. “Just blood,” I croak.
“Very well,” she replies, lifting a tablet and tapping her fingertip against the screen. “You’re free to revise those preferences later, should you change your mind. Please scan this QR code with your phone to download our app.”
She flips the tablet around and I quickly pull out my phone, scanning the code and approving the download.
“How much does it pay?” I ask as I lower my phone to my lap, hoping I don’t sound half as desperate as I feel.
She cocks a brow. “Do you want a breakdown of our full range of services, or…”
“Just the blood,” I clarify.
“After our fee, your introductory rate will be three hundred per engagement, automatically transferred upon completion.”
My heart stutters a beat. Subtracting what Bex loaned me, that’s justthree bitesto make rent. It almost seemstooeasy.
A knock at the door interrupts us and a nurse swiftly enters the room, petite and neatly dressed, pushing a tray cart.
“This is Lucinda,” Francesca provides. “She’ll collect your blood sample.”
The nurse offers me a tight smile as she approaches with practiced calm. I roll up my sleeve, fingers twitching as she goes through the motions of setting up everything she needs to draw my sample. I try to look anywhere except at the needle, but I flinch anyway when it slips into my vein. It doesn’t hurt that much, but still, I shiver.
If this little pinch is enough to rattle me, what the hell is it going to feel like when a vamp sinks their teeth into my neck?
Lucinda finishes in three minutes flat and disappears silently, Francesca standing and smoothing her already perfect jacket.
“Now we’ll move to the prep suite for your photographs. Nude or lingerie is standard, but it’s entirely your choice. We have wardrobe options available.”
I glance down at my worn jeans and pilled sweatshirt. “Can’t I just wear this?” I ask tentatively.
