It took a considerable amount of self-discipline to pull back. He watched as her eyelids fluttered open. Her gaze was dazed and the sight of her slightly parted lips pulled another groan from him. He needed answers, but if she continued to look at him like she was doing right now, the answers would come later, much, much later.
“Tell me about… everything,” he finally demanded after he drew in several, long, deep breaths. “You said there is a whole town of Vampires?”
Tory giggled and shook her head. “Not just Vampires,” she replied, tilting her head to the side. “There’s trolls and shifters and witches and, oh, we have a Genie, now! I bought him a couple weeks ago on ebay! There’s also my best friend, Maverick. He’s a Werewolf, too. Then, there’s Kevin. He’s a Garden Troll, but he hates dirt. He’s almost as bad as I am being a Vampire with a blood disorder! Who would’ve thought that could happen? Then, there’s…”
Simon’s hands tightened on Tory’s hips as she continued to talk. Werewolves, there were more of them! The beast inside him rose up in fury. There were others of his kind and they were close to Tory.
“Ouch,” Tory muttered, sliding her hands down to cover his.
“I’m sorry,” Simon said, releasing her and stepping back. “How can all of these creatures live together?”
“Why shouldn’t we? I mean, Magic is our home,” Tory replied, puzzled by his sudden closed expression. “Haven’t you ever met others like us?”
“No.”
“Oh,” Tory whispered, gazing up at him in uncertainty. “We are just like everybody else. We have families that we love, go to school, and watch television.”
“What about all the rumors about Vampires?” Simon asked, looking over Tory’s flushed face. “You are warm, you go out into the sun, and you eat. I saw you coming out of a restaurant last night.”
A soft sigh escaped Tory. “My rare steak that I paid thirty-two dollars for is ruined,” she moaned in regret. “Why shouldn’t I be warm? I mean, I can control my body temperature for the most part, but I hate being cold. That’s just… yucky.”
“Yucky?” Simon repeated with a shake of his head. “What happened last night? You were in pain. I could feel it, and yet when you bit me…. Damn it.” He broke off when he felt his body react to the memory of her biting him.
“You saved my life,” she admitted in a quiet voice. “I bit the other man to stop him. I have a slight blood disorder,” she blushed again and looked down at her hands that were folded together in front of her. “If I drink the wrong blood type, it can kill me.”
“Is that why you asked Youssef what his blood type was?” Simon asked in a deadly calm voice. “Is that why you wanted him to go out with you?”
Tory peeked up at him. “I love ‘A’ positive blood. It is a human’s equalivant to chocolate to me. He smelled good, but you smelled… delicious,” she admitted, looking away. “I couldn’t let you know I was a Vampire. I promised everyone back home. Youssef would have been safe. I wouldn’t have hurt him and I could make him forget if I did have a tiny sip.”
Simon’s eyes darkened with desire. If she was going to bite someone, it was damn well going to be him. He’d kill any other man.
“How often do you need to feed?” He asked in a husky voice.
“What? Feed?” She whispered as he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. “I… What are you doing?”
“Offering you a meal,” Simon replied, lowering his head and tilting it just enough to tease her. “Are you hungry?”
“This is so not playing fair,” she protested in a soft, tortured voice as the scent of his blood made her mouth water. “Simon, please.”
“Say yes, Tory,” Simon encouraged, leaning closer. “Bite me, Tory.”
A low moan escaped her, but Simon knew he had won when he felt the scrape of her teeth along his flesh. Goosebumps rose along his skin as she brushed her teeth across his thundering vein. His hands tightened on her waist, encouraging her.
Pleasure and excitement burst through him when he felt the brief, sharp pain followed by ecstasy as she sank her fangs deep into his vein. His hands ripped the material of the dressing gown in half.
He cupped the back of her head when she started. He refused to let her stop. He wanted her. He needed her. This time, he was determined to have her on his terms.
He kept her mouth pressed against his neck with one hand, while he used the other to push off the trousers he had pulled on, but not fastened. Once he was able to kick them aside, he gathered her in his arms and strode back to the bed. His body was throbbing in time with the movement of her lips.