Blood Claim by Laura Mykles (free e books to read .txt) 📕

"Only a little. I promise. A little to get you to open the door, a little to make you relax, make you come—"

Matt shivered at the memory.

"—and a little to make you sleep the night."

Matt's hand crept up to rub the back of his neck. “You bit me."

Was it his imagination, or did Wolfe actually tremble? His hand reached out to clutch the counter beside him. “Yes. I did. Again, I'm sorry. But your taste...” His other hand hand came up to briefly cover his brow. “You can't imagine how good you taste, Matt. It defies description."

Matt should have been creeped out. He knew that. The man was talking about drinking his blood. Just like the monster had drunk Daniel's blood. But for the life of him, Matt couldn't conjure the image of the vampire and Daniel. All he could remember was the spike of heat and the freefall into molten sensation that had followed the prick of Wolfe's bite.

Unable to take in the enormity of what he was being told, he drew his knees up to his chest, bracing his heels on the edge of the couch and wrapping his arms around his legs. “I loved Daniel."

"I know."

"You lit the candles for him last night."

"I did. A small tribute to his memory. He must have been very special."

Tears trickled down Matt's cheeks. Stifling a sob, he pressed his forehead to his knees. “Shit! I don't know what to think."

He felt Wolfe come closer, but not too close. The low table before the couch slid over the rug and creaked a little as a weight settled on it. “I don't expect a miracle tonight, Matthew."

The sob escaped. Daniel used to say his full name just like that when things were especially serious. “What do you expect?"

"I don't know. I love you,” continued that dreamy voice. “I'll wait. Or I'll let you go, if I must. Although I'm going to try my best to convince you to be with me."

"What does that mean? ‘Be with you'?” He brought up his head, needing to see Wolfe's face. “Dating? Dying?"

The vampire regarded him seriously from just a foot away. “Dating. Yes, I very much hope. Dying. Only if that's what you wish. No decisions have to be made now."

"How can you expect me to trust you? You're a...” He shook his head, voice catching in his throat.

Wolfe's lip trembled as he took another deep breath. “I don't expect you to trust me yet. How could you? I'll follow your lead, leave if you want me to.” He gripped his hands between his knees. “Just one thing that you need to realize is that you're safe. From my kind, at least. You have my protection whether you reject me or not. I've claimed you as my own, and none of my kind can touch you without dealing with me."

The thought of such a claiming touched a chord in Matt's heart. He suppressed it for now. “And you're a big threat?"

Wolfe smiled weakly. “I've been what I am for over a thousand years. I'm very old for my kind. Yes, I'm a threat."

A thousand...? That was too much to contemplate. Matt shook his head. “I can't ... It's too much."

Wolfe nodded. Stood. “I understand. I'll leave. Please, call me. When you're ready. I swear on anything you care to name that you're safe with me."

Matt stared, unable to reconcile the beautiful man whom he loved with the monster he clearly was. Confusion and anger warred with fear, stopping any possible words in his throat.

As though sensing this, Wolfe smiled sadly, nodded, turned, and left.

* * * *

The espresso machine hissed as Rod shut it off. Grinning, he grabbed the thick porcelain mug and turned to bring it to where Matt sat at the counter.

Matt eyed the inky depths of the dark liquid as he brought the hot mug to his lips. Carefully he sipped. Then sputtered. He barely managed to set the mug down without spilling as the sharp, overwhelming taste made his eyes water.

"Hmmm, too much espresso?"

Matt laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Maybe but ... what's spicy?"

"Cayenne and cinnamon."

Matt's jaw dropped. “Cayenne?"

Rod leaned his elbows on the counter, lifting the same mug to his own lips. Matt watched him sip, then have a similar reaction. “Yeah, okay. Too much. So, my ‘Cajun Madness’ drink needs work.” He set the cup down, chuckling. “Back to the drawing board."

"What's with the new drink anyway?” Matt folded his arms on the counter, adjusting his butt on the hard seat of the polished wooden barstool.

Rod shrugged, reaching up to scratch at the buzzed auburn hair at the nape of his neck. “I like to try out different things every once in a while. Customers like it.” He laughed, green eyes dancing as they focused on Matt. “Okay, maybe not this one."

Matt chuckled. Idly, he glanced over his shoulder. There were three other patrons in Rod's Koffee Hous, all students he'd seen before and all slumped in front of their laptops at individual tables. Rod stayed open faithfully until one nearly every night, catering to those who needed a comfortable place to study or chill. Matt had come to appreciate the cozy little getaway quite a bit in the past few months.

"So, closing time's in about a half hour.” Rod's grin warmed as Matt faced him again. “Can I convince you to stick around after?"

Matt smiled, blinking slowly. Rod was not only an attractive man, he'd also become quite a good friend in the short time they'd known each other. That Rod very much wanted to be more than just friends was a known quantity between them. Rod had been making thinly veiled—and some overt—overtures to Matt almost since the time they'd met. Matt had seriously considered the offers; however, memories of an absurdly gorgeous man with long black hair and intense green eyes—not to mention fangs—usually kept him from it. “Thanks. But..."

"No,” Rod sighed, finishing for him.