“You’re welcome, sir.”
Raul turned around to go in the correct direction, the feeding haze slowly fading as he walked. In the kitchen, he pondered his strong reaction to drinking from Ji-Su as he looked through the fridge for a snack. Maybe the way he’d been affected by Ji-Su’s blood was simply because it was his first time drinking from him after wanting it for so long. He hoped that’s all it was. If that wasn’t the case, then he was in trouble.
JI-SU LEANED BACK INRaul’s desk chair, bringing his feet up to sit cross-legged. His chest was warm, body still tingling. Finally, he felt as if he had paid Raul back in some small way for everything he’d done to help him. It was only one bite but it was something. Something that Raul had needed and that he’d been able to give. He’d give his blood freely and happily to help the kind vampire who’d taken him in.
In addition to his satisfaction, he couldn’t help but notice the difference between Cedric’s bite and Raul’s. Cedric’s had always been nothing but a dull ache that was vaguely uncomfortable until it was over. But Raul’s bite. Something pleasant and shivery had swirled through his body when Raul’s fangs pierced his neck. Arousal had sprung up almost instantly, dancing over his skin and making his cock throb. He’d been turned on the entire time Raul had been drinking—sensitive and tingling all the way to his toes.
And then, when Raul licked his neck to seal the wounds he’d moaned. He hadn’t meant to, but with the shocking arousal spilling through his veins while he was wrapped up in Raul’sstrong arms, the needy sound had slipped out before he even realized it was happening.
From the research he’d done before signing up to be a blood pet, he knew that a vampire’s bite could feel good. And he’d heard whispers that they could do more than that. That they could turn humans on. But since he’d never experienced arousal with Cedric, he’d thought those whispers were nothing more than an urban legend. However, to his delighted surprise, it looked as if the rumors were true after all.
And he knew Raul has been aroused as well. His thigh had brushed against Raul’s erection. Not only that, Raul’s arousal was clear as day on his face, in the way the vampire looked at him, with heavy lidded eyes lingering on his lips and throat.
Ji-Su smiled softly, still aroused, aimlessly brushing his fingers over the desktop as he waited for Raul to return with a snack to help him recover. That was another difference. Not once had Cedric ever gone to get something for him to eat and drink after feeding from him. He’d simply closed the wounds with a quick lick and then gone off to do his own thing. If a servant wasn’t occupied, they’d bring him something but usually he’d simply waited to make sure he wasn’t dizzy then gone into the kitchen to make his own recovery snack. This experience of being cared for afterward was nice and made him feel good—as if Raul actually cared about him as more than an energy source.
He should have known after that first night when Raul had fed him and carefully tended to his wounds that sharing his blood with the big, gentle vampire would be vastly different from letting Cedric drink from him. Ji-Su sighed and lightly touched his fingertips to his new bitemark. Feeding Raul was an amazing experience. He couldn’t wait to share his blood with him again.
Chapter 12
Raul avoided drinking from Ji-Su again. He changed the subject whenever the human brought it up. And he didn’t order anymore blood packs. Both to avoid Ji-Su seeing them and insisting he feed from him instead and because he couldn’t abide their taste after drinking from Ji-Su.
It had been a little over three weeks since he’d fed. He was going to have to do something about it soon. The tell-tale grumpiness and zoning out were starting to appear. Vampires could go various periods of time without drinking from a human depending on their age and other factors. He was older and a natural born vampire which normally would mean he could go longer between feedings than most vampires, especially young ones. However, because of his size, his body needed blood more often than others his age. But he would be fine for a few more nights.
On this night, he was in the Syndicate’s underground casino. This was actually his favorite location of all the casinos and gaming centers he was in charge of. When he’d spoken with the firm who’d designed it, he’d asked that the casino be given a quiet, low-key vibe. A space that players—experts and newbies alike—could feel relaxed in when they came to gamble.
Following his request, the design team had created a white and gold color scheme, accented with framed posters of vintage travel and cigarette ads in glossy black frames, and dark red felt tops for the gaming tables. Red was also used in the jacquardpattern vests that the dealers, cocktail servers, and bartenders wore. The understated decor suited the high roller clientele.
It was rare that he had any incidents at this location. The casino ran smoothly, partially because of his tight, accept no bullshit management, and partially because the humans and vampires who came here to gamble in the exclusive, members only club preferred a quiet, drama-free space to wager their large stacks of endless cash.
This evening, LaToria, Everett, and Peter, fellow members of the Syndicate, had all stopped by. Everett had brought his newly bonded blood pet, Solan, along with him. They had a table to themselves, with Raul playing the role of dealer. Solan sat on Everett’s lap, his red hair shining beneath the lights over their card table. Peter’s ever-present bodyguard—a tall, muscular African American man dressed in all black—stood a few paces behind his chair.
LaToria was as elegant as always, dressed in an orange silk wrap dress with bell sleeves. The color made her rich brown skin glow. Her black hair was pulled back from her face—showing off her high cheekbones, full lips, and wide, dark eyes.
Peter had ditched the sweater vest and button-down shirt combo he usually wore to work in favor of a short sleeve red and purple patterned shirt. The petite vampire’s brown skin was smooth and moisturized and his short, curly brown hair was freshly cut.
Everett, always proper, wore a dove gray three-piece suit with a baby blue shirt, and a tie in a slightly darker blue. The shirt and tie made his crystal blue eyes astonishingly bright. Their color was a nice contrast to the coffee brown hair swept back from his forehead.
And Solan, the human who’d captured Everett’s heart, was prettily attired in a dove gray sweater with a wide collar that showcased his throat and collar bones. His long, red hair curledover his shoulders and when he turned his head, skinny gold hoops flashed at his ears.
Their group was having a good time, making silly wagers on each hand in addition to the chips. LaToria carelessly tossed a handful of chips to the center of the table.
“If I win this hand, Everett has to let me have a little nip of Solan’s blood. I’m dying to taste for myself the magic blood that managed to besot our dear Everett. Figuratively dying of course.”
Everett tossed in his own pile of chips.
“It’ll be literally if I see your fangs anywhere near one of his veins,” he drily said.
LaToria threw her head back and laughed. When she quieted, she smiled at Solan over the rim of her martini glass.
“Call me when you get tired of old fuddy duddy Everett. I’ll show you a good time.”
Solan stuck out his arm. “Why wait? Take your nip now. But don’t come crying to me when you want another hit of this magic blood.”
Everett growled and flashed his fangs. He snatched Solan’s arm back then wrapped both of his own around the slim human in a tight hug.
“Absolutely not,” he snapped.
Peter cracked up laughing. “Everett, you’re such a gentleman that it’s always a shock to hear you growling over Solan.”