Chapter 18

The new bar in the city was distinct, with a décor dominated by red, black, and mirrors—a aesthetic that immediately brought vampires, Goths, and blood to mind. The owner was likely a vampire; Beatriz truly knew some seriously strange people. The place was already nearly full, which made me uncomfortable.

Breathing a sigh of relief when I realized I was the only one not in jeans, I caught Beatriz giving me a "told you so" smile. I laughed and silently thanked the heavens for her endless supply of dresses; I would have looked like a court jester otherwise. For half an hour, we talked, drank, and listened to the loud music the DJ was spinning. I was actually having fun; the night was going well, and I was starting to enjoy myself. However, my amusement quickly ended when I saw Beatriz approaching with a male in tow, wearing that look that meant she was up to something.

"This is Gil! He’s been dying to meet you," Beatriz said with a mischievous smile.

I forced a smile in his direction, grunting softly before turning to extend my hand in a polite greeting.

"It's a pleasure," I said. Gil immediately took my hand and kissed it.

"The pleasure is all mine, believe me. You are a stunning female," he gave me a sensual smile. "Shall we dance?"

"Oh no... no... I don't know how to dance," I shook my head firmly.

Beatriz, in her simple way of "helping," just shoved me into his arms.

"Gil is a great dancer, he’ll teach you, don’t worry," Beatriz laughed, looking highly amused.

I growled at her, furious, but luck wasn't on my side; Gil pulled me toward the dance floor. Full of confidence, he grabbed me by the waist and spun me around immediately, giving me no chance to refuse.

Sighing in resignation, I placed my hands on his arms and let myself be carried by the music. Gil pulled his body flush against mine, sliding his lips through my hair until he whispered into my ear, "I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time."

"Seriously?" I looked at him with an arched eyebrow, skeptical. "How long, exactly?"

Giving me an adorable smile, he simply declared, "Two weeks."

"Wow, that really feels like a long time," I said with an ironic tone, avoiding a laugh.

"To me, it felt like an eternity."

His gaze fixed on my lips as he answered. Although I liked the reply, I didn't give him a chance for anything more intimate than a glance. Gil had the charm of a young teenager, even though he was a vampire slightly older than me—though not by much.

I realized I was observing him with a level of detail I hadn't directed toward any male other than Nicholas in a long time. It was pleasant; why not just relax and enjoy the night? The moment I decided that, he suddenly stopped dancing, looked over my shoulder, and loosened his grip.

"It was nice meeting you. Pity it’s already too late," he said.

With an awkward smile, he simply let go, leaving me alone on the dance floor like an idiot. My jaw dropped, and I was already thinking of calling him a few choice names. The lack of consideration was unbelievable. Just as I prepared to follow him, strong hands grabbed my hips, making me jump in fright.

"Nicholas!" I almost screamed as I turned around and came face-to-face with the vampire who left me completely rattled. For a moment, my knees shook; I had never seen him in a bar at this hour before.

What he was doing there, I didn't know, but my heart quickly began pumping blood to my face. He just analyzed me without moving. Still completely stunned and apprehensive, I tried to pull away, but he pulled me closer to his body, wrapping his arm around my waist and swaying his hips against mine to the beat of the music.

Damn it, this couldn't be happening to me! My heartbeat accelerated, my skin tingled, and my libido exploded. Being pressed against Nicholas’s body on the dance floor was not a good omen for my plan to detach from the feelings I harbored for him.

I tried to keep a healthy distance from his body, subtly creating a few inches between us, but Nicholas smoothed his hand over my waist, moving it up my bare back, caressing my skin before forcing my body against his. I was left breathless by his sensual touch.

Taking a deep breath, I looked up, resigning myself to the situation; he was stronger and didn't seem to want to leave the floor. His expression confused me again—despite the caress and the way his body swayed, moving me across the dance floor, he seemed tense and irritated.

"Have you been here long?" I asked nervously, but with enough firmness to disguise what I was feeling, even though my body was betraying my goals.

"Long enough," Nicholas grunted, spinning me around a bit severely. Even though I was panting, I didn't complain, maintaining my distant posture even as our bodies pressed closer together.

"And what are you doing here? May I ask?" I inquired cautiously, but with an ironic tone.

"Is this how you protect yourself?" Nicholas fixed his intense gaze on me for a few seconds before grumbling, "By giving your attention to just anyone!"

"Wh... what? Look here!" Irritated, I gritted my teeth, my gaze flashing with fury. "I was just dancing, and he wasn't a stranger; he was an acquaintance of Beatriz."

"Even so, you should be more careful. You never truly know a person."

That was the absolute truth. I realized I was stunned by the whole conversation; a year later, and I still couldn't understand this male.

"I don't owe you explanations, Nicholas. You don't have that right over me."

"Not yet..."

The word was a whisper, but it was clear to my ears. What did he mean by that?

I was about to question him coldly when Nicholas stared at me in silence for a minute, leaving me speechless as his gaze became hot, lustful, appraising my lips. Damn it, he always did this—giving me signals that he was interested, only to end up rejecting me whenever I made a move. I wouldn't fall for it, not this time!

"Why this sudden interest in my company?"

Nicholas gave a half-smile, took my hand, and pulled me away from his body for the first time, making me spin and appraising me sensually before pulling me abruptly against his chest again. The embrace was strong as he brushed his nose against my face, then deeply inhaled the scent of my neck behind my ear with an eroticism that heated me through and through. If I didn't know better, I would have said he was exhaling smoke like a dragon.

"Today is a special day..." he whispered in my ear. "Besides, you are... irresistible."

"And... and then?" I replied with a trembling voice, not realizing why the day was so special. "That doesn't matter; I’m in good company."

"Today it matters a great deal. You should trust me," he murmured.

I knew the fangs weren't meant to scare me but were a warning; a vampire’s fangs appeared when they were aroused or threatened. And it wasn't the former in this moment.

"Eduardo is in the house," he growled.

"What?" I put a trembling hand over my mouth. "But how? Why?"

"An hour ago, the year of mourning ended. He came to file a petition, which is why I came to find you at the bar."

Nicholas dragged me to the room. He tried to hide it, but he was also apprehensive and anxious. I was in a panic; I was truly terrified. My body shook with the fear of imagining I could be in Eduardo’s hands this very night. That bastard had been counting the minutes, the seconds of this day, to be able to catch me. I never thought he would come immediately after midnight. He might be disturbed, but not that much—or so I had thought. I entered the room in silence, and Nicholas followed, locking the door.

"What do I do now?" I asked, desperate.

"There is a way to avoid the petition," Nicholas sounded serious, stepping closer. "As long as he doesn't make the proposal in front of you, it isn't valid."

"How? After he formally asks for me before Mateus, I won't be able to refuse. He is here, just a few meters away; he won't leave until he can get his eyes and hands on me." My tears rolled down my face; I was devastated. I had lost everything in just one hour. "He will have a month to court me; that means using everything and everyone until I agree to stay with him."

"But he hasn't asked you formally yet. That means someone can claim you now, while you haven't been called," Nicholas crossed his arms over his chest, fixing his gaze on mine.

"Yeah? Seriously?" I said, irritated, pacing back and forth in the room. "And who is going to claim me now? In this minute, in this instant?"

"I AM," Nicholas stated without hesitation.

I froze, looking at Nicholas in disbelief at his words. He had never given signs of wanting me that way; he would have to take care of all my needs. Blushing, I imagined a few. He always rejected me when I kissed him. Had I heard correctly? He wanted to claim me right there, right now?

"Wait... you... you really want to claim me?" I stammered.

"Yes. And at this moment, it is our only opportunity," Nicholas sighed, looking a bit apprehensive. "There is only one thing I want you to keep in mind if you accept. I will take care of all your needs; in exchange, your blood belongs to me... just as..."

"My body... if you want it... I know..." I agreed. But unfortunately, he only desired my blood, even though I wanted so much more from him. I wanted to be his companion, the only one, both in blood and in bed. But at that moment, it wasn't my feelings for him that mattered, but rather getting away from Eduardo once and for all. Deep down, I didn't want any other man in my life, and at least this way, I would have a little bit of Nicholas all to myself, and as an added bonus, I would be free to do as I pleased within the rules of a claim.

Those rules only consisted of donating blood or my body to the one who possessed me, and that wouldn't be a drama for me, seeing as he didn't desire me, nor would he force me.

I jumped immediately when a strident knock came at the door. I looked in a panic toward the room’s entrance; a wave of terror washed over me at that very moment. Was it Eduardo? No... he wouldn't be able to go that far, to the point of calling for me personally—or would he?

Staring at Nicholas again, I realized he was also apprehensive, frustrated, and impatient.

"But I will do everything to ensure you never regret being mine!" Nicholas uncrossed his arms from his chest; his fangs shimmered beneath his upper lip, his eyes turning black as he extended his hand toward me.

Without thinking of anything else, I approached. Pushing back my long hair, I took one last look at his fangs, which were becoming even larger and more lethal. Swallowing hard, I turned my face, giving him access to my neck.

"Nicholas... bite me."