Tall, Dark & Lonely
Page 23

“How do you know I wasn’t-“
“You’re responsible. I know how you feel about Candy’s sexual escapades and how upset you were about Jill’s mistake. You’re the type of woman who would start birth control the minute you even thought you might take a man to your bed.”
She bit her lip and very much wanted to leave the room, but she stayed. She wanted answers and this way he might feel that he owed it to her. “May I continue?”
“Yes,” she said quietly.
“Okay, I also know that David never laid a hand on you. I know he touched your breast from the outside of your shirt I would say two days ago, but that touch didn’t last long just like his kisses don’t last long.”
Her embarrassment forgotten momentarily she asked. “Wait, how do you know that? You smelled me from behind?”
Ephraim lazily scratched his stomach. “Messages travel over your skin. Think of it as a network. Anything that happens in front will be transmitted to the back. I only need to run the length of you to get my answers.”
“Oh…”
“As I was saying. You don’t like his kisses. From what I can tell you break off the kiss whenever he tries to invade your mouth. He grabbed your breast when he thought you were distracted. Very amateur.”
“Oh, and I bet you’re an expert?” she snapped.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “I’ll admit it’s been a while, but a man never forgets.”
“How long?”
He shook a finger at her. “No, we’re talking about you now, Madison. Let’s see, your skin…..ah, I also know that no man has ever touched you intimately.” He tilted his head to the side and studied her. “You’re a very strict date I take it.”
She nodded so he continued. “Good for you, especially now since it probably saved your life.”
Madison shifted uncomfortably. “What do you mean? What was wrong with him?”
He sighed. “Madison, he has HIV. You’re lucky that he didn’t win that bet.”
“Oh my god.” She felt breathless.
“You’re fine, Madison. I didn’t need to taste your blood to get my answer.”
“Are you sure? Cause if you need to,” she held out her hand, “you can take some just to make sure.”
He flinched back as if she struck him. “I’m not going to bite you!”
“Why not?”
“For f**k sake, Madison, you’re a virgin! You’ve only kissed men. You’re safe.”
She waved that aside as if it weren’t important. “I get that, but you seem rather adamant that you aren’t going to drink my blood.”
“I’m not! Stop trying to push it.”
“No, there’s obviously something wrong with my blood and you won’t tell me. If you’re worried I’ll be grossed out don’t be.” She walked towards the bed, holding her hand out. “Just take a taste. It’s okay.”
Ephraim climbed over the bed to get away from her. “I’m not going to drink from you so stop it!”
She stopped. “Why?” Suspicion rose up. “You’re not a vampire at all are you? That was some kind of trick. Either you’re insane or you and David were in this together.”
He threw his hands up in the air in irritation. “No, I’m not a vampire and I would never do anything with a dick head like David. What you saw was real. Be that as it may, I have no intention of drinking from you.”
Understanding dawned on her. “Ah, I see. Okay, I’m sorry I understand.”
He didn’t like that tone. “Understand what exactly?” he asked slowly, suspiciously.
She wasn’t looking at him. She was looking past him as if in deep thought. “That makes sense….” she was talking to herself.
“What does?”
She ignored him and paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door while she talked to herself in a low voice. “You’ve been here three years and all that time you’ve never brought any friends home, you’ve never been seen out at night with anyone except other cops at a bar, you go fishing, sometimes bring a friend from work, you’re secretive, you only came downstairs tonight because you heard I was having someone over.”
“What are you babbling about?” he asked harshly to cover his nerves.
She didn’t seem to hear him. “No one’s ever seen…” she didn’t finish that thought. “You tasted his blood, let him stick his finger in your mouth. The idea of tasted my blood repulses you….focused on him……hmmm.”
He stood nervously, waiting for her answer. She didn’t say anything for several minutes. Then she turned and faced him. “I know why you won’t drink my blood.”
“Oh, do please enlighten me,” he said mockingly.
She smiled cheerfully. “You’re g*y.”
********
She took a step towards him. He hadn’t moved a single muscle in the last two minutes. “It’s okay. It’s not a big deal if you’re g*y.” It was okay, but she was oddly disappointed.
He looked so serious. “H-how did you know?” he whispered.
“It’s kind of obvious.” She felt so bad. But he didn’t need to hide who he was, the bloodsucking part, yes, but not this.
“What do you mean it’s obvious?” he asked in a guarded tone. All he could think about was his brothers and their feminine features and gestures. There was nothing feminine about him and they weren’t g*y.
“Well, you’re secretive.”
“That’s because I’m a Pyte,” he said before he could stop himself.
“What’s a Pyte?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re telling me how you knew,” he said hastily.
“Well, you only spend company with other men. You don’t bring anyone here. You don’t want to share space with a woman. You readily tasted David’s blood, but the thought of mine disgusts you. It just seems rather obvious,” she said with a shrug.
He covered his face with his hands. “Oh my god…I can’t believe you found out.” His voice was thick with emotion.
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She was safe. He didn't like women and wouldn’t feed off her. It was the only reason she felt comfortable enough to touch him now.
It was too bad that he was g*y. He felt so good right now. She forced herself to focus. “It’s okay. You don’t have to go through this alone. It won’t be so bad. There are plenty of g*y cops these days. As long as you don’t bite anyone you should be fine.”
He chuckled softly.
“I suppose you’re right.” His hands dropped from his face and wrapped gently around her waist. “You really don’t mind?” he asked as he nuzzled her neck.
His breath felt warm and teasing. There was no fear. She was safe. He was a g*y whatever the hell he was and she was off the menu in many ways.
“No, I don’t mind. It’s okay, Ephraim.” She ran a hand down his back trying to soothe him. She stretched up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It’s okay.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her neck. It sent shivers down her spine. It was really a shame, she thought. She froze as he continued to press soft kisses to her neck.