Heat tingled through my body, making my hands, so small against his face and neck, grip tightly, as if I could possibly hold him in place if he wanted to break free. But he didn’t. He stayed, holding me while I pressed his flesh between my teeth. I loved the sensation, the way his skin went tight between them, falling softly against my tongue on the other side.

“Ouch. Ara, stop,” Mike yelled out, pulling me away just as I tasted something metallically spicy.

Oops. I smiled, wiping my mouth with my hand. “Sorry. Guess you’re not as durable as David was.”

“That stings.” He winced, covering his neck.

“I know. I know, I’m sorry.”

He pulled his hand away, shaking his head at the tiny drop of blood on his palm; it rose in little bubbles from under the raised bruise on his neck—just like the one David accidently gave me in the closet under the stairs. “That really hurt, Ara.”

“Don’t be such a big baby.”

He laughed, gripping my hips again to pull me closer; I should’ve moved, but stayed on my knees, on the stool, really close to him. “Well, I’ll stop being a baby if you stop playing the vicious succubus.”

“Fine. But, you liked it, right?” I said.

“Yeah, just until the end when you ripped my throat out.”

“Shut up.” I slapped his chest with the back of my hand. “I did not rip it out.”

He looked at my neck then—at the scar Jason left. “I guess I understand now, how that would’ve felt.”

“Try adding venom to it—it burns like fire.”

Mike dropped his hand heavily onto mine as I sat back down next to him.

“I’m glad you didn’t change into a vampire, Ara.”

“Me too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I frowned at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugged. “I just thought—”

“You thought what?”

“I thought you wanted to be.”

I do. “Well, then you don’t know me very well.”

Mike tried to hold back a laugh. “Yeah, or maybe I know you better than you think.”

Hmpf. “I just wanted to be with David. It’s not like I fantasise over killing or biting, or anything.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“I know what you are, Ara. I know you’re messed up and confused, quite frankly, you’re damn hard work, but I know you’d never want to hurt anyone.” He looked into his lap. “Not intentionally.”

“Not intentionally, huh? Didn’t I just rip your throat out?” I laughed.

“Well,” he said, “you already did that to my heart, guess you got the whole collection now.”

I upheld a momentary vow of silence. Ouch.

“Sorry, Ar, I didn’t mean’ta say that.”

As he touched my shoulder, the insult inside me forgot to be insulted; I grabbed his face and twisted my body until my lips found his.

“Ara?” he said, stopping me for only a breath before the hesitant searching of his lips was gone, giving way to an intense pull of passion—the strong, unyielding desire to make me his.

His firmness melted my defensive heart, making it race, while I fought for a breath of composure. I wanted to throw him down on the couch and get this tension out of our systems, once and for all, but in the very same beat of my heart, wanted to stop.

I pulled back and slapped him across the face.

“Ow.” He covered his cheek, his maple eyes laced with shock. “You slapped me. I can’t believe you just slapped me.”

“You kissed me back!”

His mouth hung open a little. “I—of course I kissed you back. What did you want me to do?”

“Not kiss me back!” I stood up.

“Ara, for God’s sake.” Dropping his hand, he gave a brisk headshake. “Girl, I just don’t get you. This isn’t some old black-and-white movie. You can’t just kiss a guy then slap him.”

“Why not?”

He groaned. “You have a lot of growing up to do.”

“And you’re supposed to be moving on from me—you should’ve pushed me away. You should’ve said no.”

“So, I’m supposed to help you control yourself against urges you don’t want to have, but, despite wanting not to want me, still do have?”

I paused, lost in double negatives. “Yes.”

The ring of the doorbell forced Mike to swallow his next sentence. “Are you expecting anyone?” he said instead, looking behind him.

“Yep. That’ll be Eric.” I looked up at Mike, relieved for the break in the moment. “He’s right on time.”

“Why is he here?” Mike stood taller, squaring his shoulders.

“Be nice, Mike. He means well.”

“He means to have sex with you.”

“Mike?”

“Sorry. It’s just—I’m a guy. I can read his thoughts.”

“Well, then you must be able to read mine, too, and I am never gonna do that with him. If I’m not willing to give my heart to you, what makes you think he’s going to get it?”

“He’s a killer—it’s his job to entice you.” Mike grabbed my arm as I walked away.

“No, his job is to fix bikes, his talent is to entice.”

“Where’re you going, anyway?”

“Something called Karnivale. It’s at this fair-ground, with rides and stuff.” I shrugged him off and headed for the door.

“How come I’ve never heard of it?”

“Um, I don’t know.” I stopped in the front hall, keeping my eyes on the ground.

“Well, I’ll go get Em. We’ll come with you.”

“Uh, actually, it’s kind of just a thing for vampires,” I said, turning to face him.

“What! He’s taking you to a blood-bath? Ara?” Mike grabbed my arm again.

“It’s fine, Mike. There’re other humans there.”

“Then why can’t I come?”

“Because I don’t need a babysitter.” I pulled my arm free. “Go hang out with Em—she’s been sulking in her room all day anyway. She needs perking up.”

“Sulking? Why?”

“Because of some guy she likes, who hasn’t noticed her or something.”