Page 48 of Pretty Little Shadow
"Callum said you need more stimulation," I said. "He said I need to tell you what is and isn't acceptable when we're apart, so you don't spiral."
"Callum needs to stay the fuck out of our relationship."
"He's right, though. Isn't he?"
"No. You can do whatever you want."
"But I don't want you to spiral. I'm not... I can't be the kind of mate you really want me to be," I admitted, shifting a little on his lap. "You're looking for someone to fix your problems. I can't do that."
"I don't want you to fix me, Rae. I want you tobe withme. You want to decide what's acceptable in our relationship? Alright. Let's decide what's acceptable. Tell me what you need."
"I don't know. Blood, probably. I was crazy hungry all week, and food didn't fix it. So yeah. Blood." My gaze lifted to the awful wounds on his throat, and I grimaced. "Shit. I forgot to—" I cut myself off as I leaned in to lick them, so they would heal.
Darius blocked me by grabbing my chin and redirecting my mouth to his. He kissed me lightly. "Nope. I want those to scar."
"You... what?"
"I want those to scar. I've got enough scars I didn't want. I want these ones. When I finish releasing my bargains, I'll needsomething to decorate my neck, anyway. The people who held me captive never hurt me there."
"You're releasing your bargains?"
"Of course I am. I only made them because I was looking for you. It's going to take a while, since I have so many, but I've already started. That's what I've been doing when Callum thinks I'm spiraling."
Panic crept in anyway. "I don't want you sporting scars because of me."
"I didn't ask, Shadow." He prodded my bottom lip lightly. "You cut yourself."
"I'm not used to my fangs."
He leaned in dragged the tip of his tongue over the tiny cut on my lip.
My eyes widened as it began to heal. Slowly.
"I, uh... I still need space too," I said quickly, flying off his lap and grabbing my shorts. I yanked them up my thighs. "What do you need?"
He breathed out slowly. "A warning before you let go of me. Forgot how that feels."
Ah.
Crap.
I dropped onto the other side of the couch from him, poking my toes against his thigh so my touch could ease his magic and I could still have space.
He relaxed again. If it hadn't been so clearly automatic, I might've wondered if he was trying to manipulate me. But his reactions were too fast, and too believable.
"I'm not ready to have a mate," I said.
"Yeah, I know. That's completely fine." He set a hand on the top of my foot. "We could be friends."
"I don't know how to have friends, either. My parents didn't let me interact with the other kids much even before my dad lost his mind. They were overprotective."
"Friendship's easy. You just do things together and talk about pointless shit. Deep conversation is allowed, but not required. No romance. Just fun."
Thatdidsound kind of nice.
"What would you want to do together?"I asked.
"I want you to teach me how to play video games."
