vampireinthebasement by Crymsyn Hart Page B

closed his eyes and saw Caillech lying there instead with a stake in her heart. It was that moment he had been given the choice to join her in death or become a hunter. He had not wanted to die, and he had been cast out of Heaven. He could have stayed on earth to descend lower into Hell. That was not something he wanted either. Joe had taken pity on him and given him a second chance. Maybe he was supposed to do that with Daniella. Give her a second chance. After Caillech was killed, he fueled his grief and it hardened into anger because he realized that he had been fooled into love. He had used that to slaughter all the vampires they had been set upon. Tris trailed his finger along her cheek. She stirred a moment and opened her eyes. Her irises were crimson from hunger. She even managed a half smile.
    “Guess you won’t have to deal with me after all.” Her face crinkled in pain.
    “Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry? I would’ve gotten something for you.”
    “No, you wouldn’t have. You’d have cursed at me and told me to go fuck off or something. Let me be.”
    “Can’t do that. I told Joe I’d take care of you. I guess that means I have to feed you.”
    Her eyes widened, but she was too weak to fight him. Tris pulled out his silver dagger and dragged it across his wrist. The blood welled up, and he held it over her lips. A few drops plopped into her mouth, and she swallowed them. He never thought he would be doing this. Feeding a vampire to keep it alive when I should be taking her head . He lowered his wrist to her mouth and had a flash of her lips locked around his cock. The memory of desire firmed him once more, and he had to fight through his body’s reactions. Her lips worked over his flesh, and she seemed to be getting stronger. Daniella weakly pushed his hand away after a couple more swallows. Tris saw she was still hungry because the crimson had not retreated from her eyes.
    “That’s enough. I don’t want your generosity to be overextended.” Daniella tried to sit up, but she slumped back down.
    Tris was surprised that she was able to stop. Most vampires would have kept on feeding until there was no more blood left in a body, at least the young ones or those with no discipline. That was the best time to kill them. But she had been able to pull away. Tris studied her. Her skin remained ashen. Her eyes were crimson. She was still too weak, and a stab of guilt pierced his heart. He had been entrusted to her care, and it was clear he had been neglecting it.
    “Come on. You need to feed, or I won’t hear the end of it.” Tris offered her his wrist once more.
    The need for blood lingered in her eyes, but she fought the hunger. “No. I’ll be okay.”
    Tris knelt before the bed to make it easier for her. Daniella did not make a move to take his wrist again, but her whole body shook with desire for the blood. “I’m not leaving until you’ve regained your strength.”
    It took her a moment, but she finally took his wrist once more. This time he felt the sharp sting of her fangs slice into his flesh. The pain of the puncture raced up his arm, and it instantly made him hard. He remembered what it felt like when Caillech had fed from him. Tris stared at her. Daniella’s eyes were closed, and her dark curls brushed his arm. He could not resist and reached out to touch one of them. It was softer than he had imagined it would be. Daniella froze and stared at him. The crimson had faded from her eyes. She flicked her tongue over his wounds and slowly sat up on the cot. She was still wobbly, but she placed a hand on his chest. He froze, but did not pull away. Her mocha-colored skin had regained some color, but it was still pale against her black shirt.
    She laid another hand on his cheek and peered into his eyes. “Who was it that hurt you?”
    “Who said I was hurt? Was Horatio feeding you some bull?” Tris tried to get up, but Daniella removed her hand from his heart and gripped his arm. The