Page 70 of Only Fangs

I shrug. “It’s a bit of an acquired taste.” I drink the rest and watch as he also finishes his, even though he looks like he might bring it back up at any moment.

The waiter wanders past us again and I swipe another two glasses. The first has gone to my head a little and I’m feeling almost tipsy.

He chinks his glass against mine. “Well, when in Rome and all that,” he says and then drinks it in a single gulp. “Jesus,” he hisses.

A string quartet has set up in the corner of the room and now they begin to play. “We should dance,” I tell him, looking around at all the other guests who are shuffling towards the open space at the centre of the room.

The tempo is slow, almost languid, and we begin to sway gently.

I can smell him, his cologne is woody, but it’s faded, no longer capable of overpowering the natural scent of him.

He’s holding me gently, one hand on my waist, the other cradling my hand.

And then he leans closer and the world around me disappears. I want to crawl inside his skin.

But then I realise. It’s the Alba. I pull away. Not here. Not like this.

Not when all I want to do is sink my teeth into the soft skin at the base of his neck, plunge them into his flesh and drink from him.

I feel like I’m on fire. Burning for him. Desperate for a taste of him.

Chapter 36

Brody

Iclose the door to my bedroom gently and then turn away, sinking down it until I’m a mere puddle on the floor. What the hell just happened? I could feel myself turning my neck towards her mouth, I could feel the pull of her, the way she makes my blood sing for her.

My head is still spinning, like I’ve been on a rollercoaster a number of times and now I can’t decide if I want to get off, or if I want to go again.

Matt texts me and it takes me a few minutes to actually read his message as the words swim and dance in front of my eyes. How’s it going?

I think I’m a bit pissed I reply.

Thought you were taking it easy. Staying professional and all that?

I didn’t have many but the Alba must have been strong.

Alba?! OMG. Are you kidding?

No. Why?

Alba is like a serious human/vamp party drug. Like everyone is taking it.

What does it do? I feel suddenly a little more sober. I thought it was just a liquor but Matt is making it sound far more than that.

Do I look like google to you? Matt replies.

Bastard. I pull out my phone.

There are a surprisingly large number of search results. Real Alba is a kind of brandy made from a very rare fruit found in only a few places across Central Europe. It’s hideously expensive. But apparently some clever shit figured out a way to synthesise it a few years ago and there has been an explosion of mixed – as in normie and vamp – couples experimenting with the drug.

Is everyone taking it? I message Matt.

Mainly newbies. And tourists.

What about Ivan, Ari, Clara?

Nah. They are far too old school. They probs don’t even know you can buy it for pure funsies.