“When was the last time you drank human blood?”
The question was so unexpected that I didn’t even think before I said, “The night before our wedding.”
“You’re hungry,” she stated.
That was not a strong enough word to adequately describe how I was feeling. I was ravenous in a way that I hadn’t been since the night of my Making.
I grunted.
“So,” she said slowly, turning to look at me. I could see her mind working rapidly behind those brown eyes. “If I gave you blood—”
“Absolutely not,” I snarled. My head shook and that damned stake moved again. I huffed. “That is out of the question. I won’t drink from you.”
Luna stared at me. “Why? You’re a vampire, aren’t you?”
I scoffed. “Of course I am. The stake draining the life from me wasn’t enough of a clue?”
“Exactly,” she said, as if I proved her point. “And vampires need blood, correct?”
I could see where she was going with this.
“Luna,” I said, filling my tone with as much warning as I could muster. “Stop. Talking.”
She drew in a deep breath. “No. You need this.”
Ignoring the way every movement made my chest ache, I pushed myself onto my elbows. The stake shifted, and my entire body hurt, but I was still alive. Moving until my back rested against the nearest wall, I ignored the crumbling stones behind me and shook my head. “If you… I can’t…”
“What are you saying?” Her brows furrowed. “You don’t want my blood?”
“What?” My eyes widened. “No! This isn’t about wanting you or your blood.” My voice deepened as desperate hunger rose within me. “I need you more than life itself, Luna.”
“Then what is—”
“Stop!” I yelled. “Don’t you understand? I’m already on the edge. It’s taking every single ounce of self-control not to take what I want. What Ineed. I’m not doing it because I respect you too much.”
A beat passed before she squeezed my hand.
“You’re wrong, Sebastian.” Reaching up, Luna pulled her hair away from her neck. “You’re not taking this from me. I’m giving it to you.”
“Luna—”
She shook her head, tilting her exposed neck. Her mouth opened once more, and this time, my wife said the words I never thought I would hear come out of her mouth.
“Bite me.”