He straightens, and all emotion disappears as he explains, “Most demons you’d ever meet are carnivores. They’ll eat anything with a pulse. Blood, organs, all of it. Even cannibalism isn’t uncommon. Blood drinking is slightly different, but common among some species.”
I purse my lips. That’s interesting. But if there is one thing I’ve learned from my book about demons, it’s that there is a big difference between the royal line and other beings from the same world. “The royal line?”
“We eat only from creatures without complex thoughts and emotions, as a general rule. We farm, much like in the human world, breeding our preferred meals. We avoid the blood of our prey by draining them completely before butchering.”
“So, where does blood drinking come in, then?”
He admitted he wanted to bite me, so there’s obviously some kind of precedent for it.
He runs his tongue along the edge of his canine, so much longer than just a few minutes ago. Do they elongate when he loses control? He seems pretty in control right now.
“Biting a living creature and drinking their blood is a very different act then consuming the flesh of our prey. We do not drink from the creatures we eat. In fact, that would be considered obscene. Blood is not a form of true sustenance. It’s more of a pleasure than a need.”
My heart skips a beat. “Like dessert?”
His gaze turns dark, and with each breath, he shifts closer. “No, not exactly.” His hips are touching mine, and a tremor begins in my legs.
“Like sex?” I squeak.
A low vibration begins in his chest. “Yes.” His whisper is husky.
I close my eyes and allow myself to feel these terrifying emotions for only this moment before I lock them away for good.
“It’s an erotic sensation.”
The pressure of his body increases, and a slight vibration begins in his chest. I grip his waist tightly. Then, finally, I force my eyes open.
“Let’s go inside now,” I manage to say with a surprisingly solid voice.
Without hesitation, Jarron steps back. My fists clench. Calm down, I coach myself.
“Are you okay?”
I nod quickly. My blood is heated, and I’m feeling things I most definitely shouldn’t be, but I’m not afraid. That’s the weirdest part about this.
Jarron just admitted he wanted to bite me. Suck my blood.
And I am not afraid.
I shake that thought from my mind and take his outstretched arm. He guides me back inside. Everyone watches as we make our way to the drink station. Is it my imagination or are they all staring at my unmarked neck?
Wonderful.
Jarron pours two new drinks. “You don’t have to drink it,” he murmurs. “It’s just something to do with your hands until the attention dies down.”
“Thank you,” I say honestly. It’s a thoughtful gesture because he’s right. It does help to have something to hold on to while the entire room is focused on us.
“Anything else you’d like to do?” he asks. “We can call it a night at any time.”
My body is still buzzing from our most recent conversation and dealing with the overwhelming attention from it. There are a few couples forming now. One wolf and a vampire are sucking face on Trevor’s bed. Two male fae and a female wolf have made their way to the balcony and are getting a bit handsy. Who knows where Trevor and Bea went.
“Aren’t we supposed to…” My heart races all over again.
“Supposed to what?”
“Kiss,” I whisper, in part because people probably shouldn’t overhear us chatting about a planned kiss and also because part of me is utterly terrified.
Jarron flinches, surprise lighting his expression. My stomach sinks. Is he dreading it too? I don’t know why that bothers me. It shouldn’t.
