CHAPTER 5: To be Vulnerable
The drive to my favorite part of the beach is much shorter now that there's less traffic on the road. The fact that I'm racing to get there as fast as I can helps too.
I park the bike at the same spot, beside the canyon wall. This time, instead of staying with it, I head for the shore. Sand crunches under my boots as I near the water. The ground gets softer the more it touches the foam.
Now, the rain and the ocean are washing over me. Thunder roars from the distance, shaking me like I'm hollow inside. Hollow is better than being afraid or ashamed. Hollow is even better than—I dare say—disappointment. Drew and I don't get along, but even when we argue, there's chemistry. Shocking and heart-stopping, like electricity. But also deadly, like lightning.
Even if it's only for a fling, I can't be with Drew. I know I seem like a coward for not telling this to his face, but I can't think straight when I'm around him. Everything about the Vampire King screams danger but also respite from almost a decade of heartache. No, a lifetime of heartache. I've been grieving all of my life. If not for my parents, for Brendan and what we could've had together.
But when I'm dancing with Drew, or coming on his fingers, or kissing him, I forget about my broken heart. I forget that I'm living every second of my life in fear of receiving more of that same pain. With Drew, even for a moment, I hope that things will be better this time. But reality crashes in like these ocean waves, and I have to face the truth. We either abandon this mess or drown in it.
A roar echoes through the air. This time, it isn't thunder.
A large, winged creature circles over my head, a lizard-like beast with jagged scales and horns. Flames stream between its teeth. Wings wider than its body flap wind and water at my face. Below it are clawed feet and a long, pointy tail with spikes.
"What the fuck?" I've never seen one in real life, but I've seen a few on TV. This beast can only be one thing if those shows are correct.
A dragon.
The dragon growls. Whether it will strike or not is unclear, so my hand hovers my thigh just in case. I've forgotten it this morning, but...shit! I forgot it again. Guess I'll be using my fists for this one.
After two more spins, though, the dragon lands on the sand a few feet away from me. The flames leaking from its mouth begin to disappear, but their light shines just enough for me to see that the dragon is shivering.
Cold.
"What the hell is happening?" I ask aloud.
The beast collapses on its side, shaking even more. It blurs—wait, blurs? Like how shifters blur?
The dragon blurs from head to tail. The jagged scales disappear into a black suit. The horns shrink into green hair.
Green hair I immediately recognize.
"Drew!"
Drew curls into a ball, hiding his face as he tries to preserve his body heat. Maybe his pride too, since he won't look at me.
"Drew, what the hell are you doing here?"
Drew snaps, more animal than man. "Wh-What the hell are you d-doing here?"
"Don't fucking sass me! You're the one who's freezing to death!"
"I-I'm not free-eezing to death."
"Shut up and get over here!" I fall to the sand with him and tug him to me, "Here, get away from the water. There you go."
Drew is shaking so much; he doesn't resist even if he wants to. And he really, really wants to. The shame on his face is palpable. I can't help but feel bad.
And confused. Sure, it's an autumn night, but it's pretty warm right now, even with the rain. Weather by the beach is always going to be temperate.
And isn't Drew a vampire, not a dragon? Can he be both? I have so many questions.
But they'll have to wait. Drew is freezing to death.
"Let's get on my motorcycle." I try to push him up when his shivering gets worse. "I can drive you to my mansion so you can get warm."
"No, my a-assistant w-will find us. He'll c-come here w-with a car."
"How will he find us?"
"By finding m-me."
"How?"
"He just c-can!" King Andrew snarls. "So, j-just wait for him."
"I'd believe you if you weren't…Drew? Drew!" I shake him when he starts blinking out of focus. "We need to get you out of here."
I try to push him again, but he's too heavy. When he starts to puff out instead of exhaling each breath, I peel off my jacket and wrap his shoulders with it.
"Please," I'm begging now, "please let me save you. Please, Drew. Please get up!"
But it's too late. Even if Drew wants to listen, his body doesn't have the energy to. His chest is shuddering instead of rising. Drew doesn't even say anything this time. He just stares at me, so I can see the green fade from his eyes.
"Will blood help?" I suggest. "Will blood save you?"
I can't believe I'm just considering this now. Drew is a vampire, and he's dying. Of course, he needs blood! I pull back my long sleeve and hold my wrist up to his mouth.
Finally, some movement. But instead of biting down, Drew whips his mouth away.
"Bite!" I order.
"N-No."
"You'll die if you don't! Do it!"
Drew shakes his head, making me scream. Stubborn jackass. Can't he see I'm trying to help? Why do I have a bigger will for him to live than he does? Is this what happens when you live forever? Do you stop being afraid to die?
Maybe in all the centuries he has lived, Drew hasn't accrued as many regrets as I have. If he dies tonight, he will die in peace, leaving behind a life he has lived to the fullest.
Not me. If I die tonight, I'll spend my last moments mourning my goals. My failures will chase me to my last moment.
Failures like letting another man die.
"Please, Drew," I plead. "I don't want you to die. If you can't live for yourself, can you live for me?"
I don't know how effective saying that will be. Drew and I just met, and I've stood him up. Based on the fact that he's here where I am, he has probably been looking for me. Damn it, another man to die because of me.
I can't escape it. It must be a curse. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm that curse.
Drew jerks, returning my attention to him. His eyes have darkened to ruby red. Fangs, thick and sharp, extend past his lips.
So beautiful, I forget he's a monster.
My back hits the sand as Drew gets up and cages me between his arms. Instead of going for my wrist like I've asked him to, he rips the collar of my blouse open, exposing my bra. Hunger makes him pant, but by the way he's staring at my chest, I know he isn't just enticed by the blood beneath it.
Drew lowers his head to my left breast, and I feel a fang graze my skin. My eyes shut and wait. I've never been bit by a vampire before. Now I'm thinking how much it will hurt, and how sore I'll be after the puncture. It's going to feel worse than a syringe, that's for sure.
But if this saves Drew's life, then maybe I'm not a curse. Or maybe I am, and saving Drew will break it for me.
I just hope I'm not the one he ends up breaking.
I scream. Then gasp. Then moan! The pain that goes through my chest suddenly turns to pleasure. Pleasure so overwhelming, my body trembles, and my vision goes white. I moan again and move.
This time, to pull Drew closer.
Then I taste metal on my lips. It takes me a while to realize that Drew is kissing me with my blood in his mouth. I tug his green hair as he smudges blood on my cheeks and neck. As his beard grates my skin, I fumble to his pants and search for his zipper.
My mind is starting to cloud from what may be blood loss but also desire. I've never wanted someone like I want Drew. I want Drew closer to me than anyone has ever been. I want him inside me. All over me.
Now.
Something hard pokes my pussy. I don't even know when my pants and panties come off and how, but I don't care. Drew thrusts in, and I yelp at the stretch. He's really big and…oh, he's still going in. How long is this guy? And how thick? He's going to tear me in half!
But Drew eventually gets all the way inside, and he fills me up so much, I feel like I'm absorbing him. I fall on the sand and pant. Is there room for him to move? I'm kind of afraid he will. He'll tear me. Break me.
Fuck it, he already has. He's already broken me.
"Are you okay?" he grits into my ear.
No, don't be nice to me. Don't fucking make this harder.
"Tell me you're okay," Drew snarls. At least, he's not stammering anymore. He's just concerned. For me.
My chest warms, and not because Drew's is against it.
"May."
"I'm okay," I croak. "Please…"
"Don't worry, love, I won't hurt you."
Love. It sounds nice, but I know better than to think it's more than a nickname. He probably calls all the women he beds love. I'm just one of the dozens. Maybe millions, depending on how he spends his free time throughout the centuries.
This won't be forever. This joy—this fear I'm feeling. It won't last.
"Pull," I pat his shoulder, "pull out before you come."
"I will."
Good, because he's as hot as he looks and definitely not wearing a condom.
Drew slides out and then back in slowly. Out and in. He rubs me with friction so sizzling, it burns. Rain pelts my face, but all I take in is Drew's cock hitting a spot that makes me—oh yes!
"You like that, love?"
"Yes, Drew! Please, more. Ah! Yes! Yes!"
The sand displaces around me as Drew drills me into the ground. Thunder rumbles through the air, but that's not why I shudder.
"Drew," I moan. "Drew, I'm so close."
"Come for me, love. I've stuffed you full, so I want you to squeeze my cock. Milk me dry as you—"
"Drew!" the night sky fades into white. Drew's warmth. His words. His cock. It's too much. Too much!
"Yes, you're coming! I can feel you coming," Drew hisses. "Aye, squeeze me like that. Yes. Fuck. Fuck!"
Emptiness overtakes me when he pulls out. Then thick cream splatters onto my chest and stomach, humiliating and arousing me in a confusing, delicious haze.
Then I'm sitting but not by my own will. I'm so suddenly sleepy, sitting is the last thing I want to do right now.
A soft kiss presses my temple. It's the last I feel before I'm lifted off the ground and lose consciousness.
