Stop blaming yourself , " I took her chin in my hand again and wiped the tears from her eyes with my thumb.
"Who else is there to blame?" she sniffled.
"Why don't I finish the story, then if you still have questions you can ask?" I held tight to her, refusing to let her say no.
"Fine," I let her go and leaned against the tree .
"So, Alex taught me to hunt while Jasmine taught me that it was okay to indulge myself. Years went by and eventually Jasmine and I became lovers. Mainly, we shared a willing soul and had sex thereafter. Jasmine was never mine, but was the only female vampire I knew. She and Alex were mated and while that didn't make them exclusive, they were bound together until death should ever greet them.
"We traveled the globe, never staying in one place for too long. I became a machine, fueled by bloodlust and sex. I wanted it no matter where it came from. Mostly, those I drank from were willing. Those I killed were sometimes for fun and others for no reason at all. Somewhere inside I was free from any inhibitions, but felt incredibly vile.
"For years we stayed in Europe. The time is a blur of sex, blood, money and more blood. I acted mostly on my own in that time as Jasmine had moved on to a new boy toy. We traveled together, but our entertainment couldn't have been more different. While they enjoyed the one s who sought us out, I preferred those who didn't know what I was. They weren't unwilling to lie down, but didn't expect what would happen once they did , " I couldn't help but smile, remembering the many women who would shriek before becoming almost slave-like from one bite.
Chapter 6
Europe, 1932
It wasn't hard to find them. The foul stench of other vampires seeped from their skin. Blood whores. It seemed no shadow or alley was free of them.
I watched Jasmine work the room. She was reserved on the surface, but I could see the tension in her face. She was starving; we all were. It had been days since the enforcers left, but we were on high alert. Feeding in the open was no longer an option.
At first, they only came once every few months. They'd hover over us like the plague, waiting to see if we were the savages they were led to believe. Sadly, some would falter, unable to resist the blood whores. The last thing they'd see were the wide eyes of their momentary lovers as the stake pierced their hearts. It was tragic, really. That was something I never thought I'd say.
A particularly enticing scent traveled through the crowd. I craned my neck in its direction, only to find the back of a woman's head as she waded through the endless bodies. My feet reacted, propelling me forward. I didn't bother to look back; Jasmine was too preoccupied to notice I was gone.
The woman's hair was a fiery red which contrasted the pale skin of her neck wonderfully . Although I hadn't seen her face, the scent was enough to draw me in. Beauty meant little in the way of necessity. Several whores tried blocking my way, reeling from their last fix and begging for more. Irritated, I shoved them aside, determined to continue my pursuit.
Scanning the room once more, I detected her fragrance yet again. She sat alone at a dimly lit table, rimming a glass with her finger. Different sensations filled her aura; anxiety, excitement, reluctance, lust. I savored them all like a moth to a flame.
Sensing my bold gaze, she looked up for a moment and blushed. Sweet, sweet crimson painted her fair skin. I'd made the right choice. I knew her bashful demeanor was merely a ploy. It always was with women like her.
"Do you care if I join you?" I nodded at the empty seat beside her.
"That depends," she smiled shyly.
"On what?" I toyed.
"You aren't going to bleed me like those other vampires, are you?" a hint of excitement tainted her fear.
"Only if you asked me to," I winked.
"I would never! I couldn't imagine..."
"So is that a yes?" I smiled wide.
She smiled crookedly and nodded toward the chair. Without a word, I sat and draped my