Page 39 of Volik

I swallow, the scent of mint still in my nose.

How does he smell like that?

Would his blood taste like mint?

I swallow again.

What is wrong with me?

Something strums inside my chest as I remember the way he sucked my tongue into his mouth. As I remember offering my blood to him.

What do I taste like to him?

It has to be good. The way he moaned…

My thighs shake.

This isn’t normal.

I can’t… I can’t just be okay with this.

It has to be drugs.

Someone definitely drugged me.

Volik stops when he reaches the door, his growl breaking as he looks back at me.

This can’t be real.

But…

Eyes on his, I lift my hand and settle it over my heart.

My heart that stopped. Then started in time with his.

This cannot be real.

Volik’s chest expands as he inhales.

His shoulders are as wide as the doorframe. His head… his horns…

He’s all I can see.

Then Volik places his hand over his heart, feeling the matched rhythm beneath his palm.

It’s the first time I notice his nails. They’re black, same as the horns jutting out of his head.

My fingers tingle with the urge to wrap around his horns again.

Did I really do that?

I cannot believe I did that.

Volik lowers his hand to his side, and my eyes follow the movement.

To his waist.

To his shredded pants.