“I didn’t know you could do that,” I said, my tone full of awe.
“Do what?”
“Taste my blood like that and not suck me dry.”
Laughing, he set the bowl on the coffee table. “For starters, I recently fed, so the need isn’t rampant right now. And I do have the ability to control myself, you know.”
“I just… I always thought blood was necessary to survive, that you fed because you had to and that was it, but…”
“But?” He took the remote from me and turned on the TV.
“But you seemed to get a lot of pleasure from that.”
“Of course, I did.” He gave me a knowing look.
“So, that was a pleasure bite?”
Snippets of what he’d told me before slowly filtered into my mind. The reasons a vampire would bite—to feed, to claim, to change, and for pleasure.
“Technically, I didn’t bite you.” He smirked. “But yes, my intent was to simply enjoy the moment.”
I eased back against the cushions and watched as he flipped through the channels until he finally settled on a horror movie. Several minutes into the movie, I asked, “How did my blood taste?”
“Sweet.”
I nodded and returned my attention to the movie. Why on earth did I like what happened? Was that type of reaction normal? Better yet, why was I sitting here thinking about him doing it again?
My nerves hummed with anticipation of something I knew couldn’t happen, but my mind raced with thoughts of how I’d felt and what would happen if he ever actually drank from me. Would his bite to claim me be just as intense and erotic? I shivered at the thought.
Trent took the blanket from the back of the couch and draped it over us, and I cuddled up to his body, soaking in his comforting strength while forcing myself to focus on anything but him drinking my blood.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:
Fatherly Advice
THE FOLLOWING COUPLE OF DAYS WERE blissful. Trent and I spent entirely too much time locked in my room, cocooned in our own private bubble while Sean continued to try and solve the mystery of why the Rose Coven was after me.
Jax spent most of his time with the twins, doing God knew what outside. Trent hadn’t brought up what happened during our date night, nor had he tried to taste my blood again. I wasn’t sure if I was happy or disappointed about that.
I still hadn’t heard from Abby or Aunt Beth, though, and each day that passed without a call or text, my worry increased tenfold. I checked my phone for what felt like the millionth time. Still nothing.
My stomach knotted, and nausea swept over me. That had been happening too much lately, and I had no idea why. I inhaled deeply through my nose and blew out through my mouth until it passed. Then I resumed pacing in front of the fireplace, nervously chewing on my fingernails. Why hadn’t they called me back?
“You’re going to walk a dent in the floor if you keep that up,” Trent said from where he sat on the couch. He was immersed in some strange first-person shooter video game.
“Can you please just go check on them?” I asked. Again.
He knew how worried I was, but he insisted everything was fine. I refused to believe that until I knew for certain. He paused the video game, tossed the controller on the coffee table, and approached.
Taking my face into his hands, he peered into my eyes. “Jax and the twins went to check on them. There’s where they are right now.”
“Seriously?”
Trent nodded.
Relief swamped me. “Thank you.”
I rested my forehead against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me. It really wasn’t like Aunt Beth or Abby to ignore me like this, which meant something was wrong.
Trent squeezed me reassuringly, and I grimaced. My stomach was in another knot, this one bigger and tighter. Pain radiated across my lower abdomen. I stepped away from Trent, needing the space. Clearly, the stress of this entire situation was getting to me. That, or I was getting sick.
“You should try calling them again,” Trent said.
Nodding, I pulled up Abby’s number and pressed the green call button. It rang three times. Four. Then five. Finally, she answered, and the sound of her voice made me freeze.
“Okay, don’t yell at me. I know I haven’t called or texted, and I’m so sorry. But I got a job!” She squealed. “And I’ve been so busy, and there’s this guy that works with me, and oh my God, Chloe.” Abby groaned with delight.
I laughed, all my anger and worries vanishing. “I was starting to worry something happened to you.”
Trent caught my gaze, grinned, then returned to the couch.
“Nah, I’m fine. I’m actually headed to work now, so I don’t have a lot of time. How are you? When are you coming home? Did you talk to Frank about it? I keep trying to convince Mom and Dad to just go get you now, but they keep refusing. Said they don’t want to be arrested for kidnapping.” She huffed.
“Yeah, about that.” I cringed and turned my back to the couch. “I’m actually traveling with a friend this summer, and I probably won’t be home until right before school starts.” I mentally braced myself for Abby’s reaction, knowing it wouldn’t be pleasant.
“What friend?”
“Um…” I really should’ve thought this out a little better before I said anything. “Whitney,” I blurted. She was the only person I could think of on the spot.
“Whitney who?” Abby asked. “How come you’ve never talked about her?”
“It’s a long story.” I laughed nervously, and my stomach twisted with pain. I winced. “I haven’t known her that long, but she invited me to spend the summer with her and her family. They’re making their way across the country and promised to drop me in Keene Valley at the end.”
“Oh.” Too much disappointment dripped from that single word.
“I’m sorry, but I swear I’ll be home in time
