Eddie’s blood was tangy with a scent of musk to it. Rich and young. He let the liquid run down his throat and coat it, closing his eyes to savor the feeling. If he could live off Eddie’s blood, he would. Unfortunately, vampire blood provided little nourishment to another vampire, though he knew that Maya only drank Gabriel’s blood. However, since Gabriel was part satyr, his blood had other nourishing qualities that could sustain Maya. Thomas and Eddie would always be forced to drink human blood. It didn’t stop him from enjoying Eddie’s blood now— from savoring every drop.

His entire body was ablaze, every cell of it recharging with strength and hope. His mind calmed and for the first time in almost a century, he could barely sense the dark power within him. As if it was shrinking. While sex had always been a distraction and taken his mind off the evil that lived within him, it had never managed to push it down to such a depth that it was barely noticeable. Was Eddie giving him the strength he needed to defeat the evil within?

Thomas took one last, long drag from the open vein before he retracted his fangs and licked over the tiny puncture wounds to close them.

Then he lifted himself up and laid down on the bed next to Eddie, pulling him into his arms.

Eddie’s eyes opened, looking at him in wonder, and his lips parted, but nothing came from them.

“Thank you,” Thomas whispered. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

Eddie’s hand moved up to Thomas’s nape, pulling him down. Without a word, he pressed his lips on Thomas’s and kissed him—a kiss more passionate than Thomas had ever felt from Eddie before. Had something finally changed between them? Was Eddie accepting him and the feelings that grew between them?

24

Eddie swung himself onto his motorcycle and rolled it out of the garage, closing the garage door behind him before he switched on the engine. Even though the sun had just set, Thomas was still asleep, and he didn’t want to wake him. He didn’t know how to act around him after what had happened less than eight hours earlier.

He hadn’t planned on sleeping in Thomas’s bed, but after Thomas had sucked him with such passion, he’d been unable to lift a single limb to leave. He’d wanted to continue feeling Thomas’s body close to his. And Thomas had accommodated: he’d spooned him the entire time, pressing his front to Eddie’s back, tucking his legs underneath Eddie’s knees, his groin lining up with Eddie’s butt. And he’d liked feeling Thomas’s protective arms around him like a cage. Did that make him the girl?

Eddie pushed the thought aside. No, he was a man. Just because he’d let Thomas hold him like that didn’t make him a girl.

Eddie stopped at the next stoplight and waited for it to turn green, plotting out his route in his head. Nina had sent him an urgent text message to meet him at an address in the Mission, and he was wondering whether something was wrong. Had she and Amaury argued, and was that the reason she didn’t want to meet him at home?

Somewhat concerned about his sister, he continued his drive down the hill. He’d always felt responsible for Nina, even though she was three years older than he. But after the horrible events at their last foster home, he’d felt the need to watch out for her just like she’d watched out for him after they’d lost their parents. They’d stuck it out through thick and thin and finally managed to get away and start a new life.

Eddie found the address easily, even though he couldn’t see the house number on the two-story house. But since Nina was standing in front of it, waving at him as he approached, he knew he was at the right place. He pulled to a stop in front of the garage and turned off the engine, removing his helmet a moment later, and hanging it on the rearview mirror.

“Hey Nina! What’s going on? Are you in trouble?” he asked, dropping the kickstand as he dismounted.

She shook her blond curls. “Why would I be in trouble?”

“Your message made it sound urgent.”

“I’ve got to show you something,” she answered and motioned him to come closer.

He approached, giving her a quick hug before she turned to the entrance door and produced a key from her jeans pocket. She stuck it into the lock and turned it, pushing the door open.

He followed her inside and noticed that the place was empty. Not a single piece of furniture stood in the large, open living area they entered. Realization washed over him. He knew why Nina had brought him here: this place was available for rent.

A pang of guilt slammed into him out of nowhere. Looking at an apartment after what had happened between him and Thomas earlier suddenly felt like a betrayal. It shouldn’t, because he hadn’t made his mentor any promises. Nothing had been said between them, nothing had been discussed about how or whether they would continue their sexual relationship. Still, sneaking around behind Thomas’s back, clandestinely looking for a place to live made him feel like a jerk.