“Salem.”
“Yes?”
“Stop acting like this.”
“Like what?”
“You’re my vampire.”
His eyes widened in innocence. “Is that what I’m doing?”
I blew out a breath. “Yes.”
“But I thought I was your vampire.”
“Does this usually work for you?”
He blinked before a slow, wide grin dominated Salem’s handsome face. “You know,” he began, strolling next to my side leisurely, “My kind mate for life.”
Great. He didn’t answer my question. I didn’t think he would.
Mating for life? What did that have to do with anything? “Oh? No vampire orgies?”
“There are plenty of dens where pleasure is the only objective, but I’m referring to the one being we love and desire for all eternity. A mate is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Vampires are territorial and possessive creatures by nature. When we find our beloved, we mate forever. There ceases to be anyone else in the entire universe that can hold our sexual interest. We focus primarily on our mate and her pleasure. That becomes our biggest priority.”
Other than blood. He didn’t say that but we both knew it.
“Interesting,” I answered after a moment. “Have you found your mate?”
“Oh, yes,” he confided, smiling at my slight frown, “Very recently. It’s been shocking, but I’m thrilled.”
“Does she know?”
“Not yet, precious, but I will soon tell her.”
My jealousy grew along with my frustration. This conversation was ridiculous. Ripping my hand from his, I excused myself to take a nap and get rid of a sudden headache.
***
My dreams of the dark stranger were still happening but not long after I woke, I ended up forgetting what he looked like, how his voice gave me chills, and how I never wanted him to stop visiting. I wanted him to be real and it made my heart ache. For some strange reason, I was reminded of Salem and that was both irritating and oddly comforting.
Missing my best friend, I grabbed my phone and tapped on Hep’s name.
She answered after the first ring. “Babe! Where are you hiding? You haven’t been in your dorm for days.”
“I know. Sorry about that. I’ve been with, uh . . .” I trailed off, not sure how to say I’d been spending all my time with her infatuation. Not to mention the fact that I was growing more attached to Salem with every day we spent together.
“What’s his name?” she asked softly, knowing exactly why I hesitated.
“Salem Black.”
“What!?” she burst out with a laugh. “Girl, I knew it. You fucked the professor.”
I did not. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “No, I didn’t sleep with him. We’re just hanging out.”
“Uh huh. Has he kissed you?”
Yeah. Right before he bit into my neck and drank my blood. That would go over super well. “Yes,” I sighed.
She squealed into the phone and I had to pull my own away from my ear for a moment. “And? Was it good? I bet he’s a great kisser.”
Actually, the kiss was pretty amazing until he tried to kill me. “He is.”
“Hey, what’s the matter? You worried about me? Babe, I don’t care if you marry the guy if he makes you happy. I’ve got ten others I’m thinking of dating right now.”
Relieved, I was glad she was honest. “Thanks. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Do you like him?”
“Well, I think so,” I admitted. Pretty dumb if you asked me. What kind of idiot fell for the vampire who drank her blood and nearly took her life?
“I say go for it, but you know that already.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Live a little, Pipe.” She snickered at the nickname. “Maybe he can figure out that countdown.” Her tone became serious. “You’re okay, right?”
“He’s working on it.”
“That’s only half an answer,” she pointed out.
“I know, Hep. Ask me again in two weeks.”
“Why two weeks?”
“If I’m here then I made it.”
“Stop acting like you’re my vampire.”
Piper’s words echoed in my head and wouldn’t leave. The more she fought and resisted, the more I wanted to convince her it was all true. She was my one and only. My mate. Admitting this to myself was even harder than trying to convince the stubborn female.
I’d been visiting her since the night I first found her intoxicating scent. Almost every evening when she was asleep, I would appear and entice her, attempt to woo, and seduce her into accepting who I was. The hood was necessary in order to keep my identity a secret. She asked for my name on numerous occasions, but I refused to give in no matter how tempting her mouth puckered when she pouted.
I lost count of the times that I stole kisses or how often I yearned to take her in my arms and act on the sexual release my body begged for every night. I would caress her silky skin, brush my fingers along her neck, and hope that the fierce connection we shared would soon trickle into the reality of day.
As the danger mounted and the countdown brought more unease and tension between us, I knew I had to reveal the truth. She didn’t understand what was happening. The time for my game to reach its peak was now.
Piper was reading downstairs in my library. If she wasn’t in her room, she often spent her time lounging in one of my large leather recliners with a book. I thought it was adorable that she read romance novels, especially paranormal ones about vampires and shifters. Such a humorous irony.
I entered the room and approached her side, plucking the book from her hands and setting it aside, careful not to lose her spot. Once I had her attention, I reached for her hands and brought her close. “I’ve got something to confess.”
“That sounds ominous.” Her smile was genuine, but her eyes reflected uncertainty.
“You haven’t been dreaming.” Nothing like coming run out and saying it. No point in delaying.
“Excuse me?”
“Your dreams of the dark stranger in the hoodie.”
Her eyes widened. “How do you know about that?”
“Easy. I know who visits you.”
Her jaw dropped open briefly and then shut with a little snap. “Tell me.”
“He’s a supernatural being.”
“Well, duh. I already figured that part out.”
“And he’s a vampire.”
She stiffened. “Another one?”
“No. You know him.”
Piper frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When he kisses you, what do you feel? Does he remind you of someone?” Yeah, I was laying it on thick, but I wanted her to figure it out on her own. As I stared deeply into her eyes, I lifted the compulsion so that she remembered every single interaction we had. All the times I visited and kissed her succulent lips, held her within my arms, whispered sweet words into her ear. I’d slowly and methodically been seducing her, but it wasn’t because I wanted her blood.
Okay, it wasn’t only because I wanted her blood.
A part of me had recognized my mate even before the revelation. I wanted her to accept me. To consider something more between us than our current tenuous friendship.