"Pillows better?" he asked.
"Yeah, thanks."
He got to his feet and started to move back to the chair.
I said, "Don't." I held my left hand out to him.
He took my hand. His skin was warm to the touch. There was a light dew of sweat on his palm. Vampires can sweat, but they don't do it often. I squeezed his hand, staring up into his face. The moonlight was strong, so I could see his face. His skin was pale, almost luminous. Those brilliant green eyes were just liquid darkness by moonlight. I drew him to sit beside me.
"You've fed tonight or your skin would be cold, so why the sweat?"
He drew his hand out of mine, turning his face away. "You don't want to know."
"Yeah, I do." I touched his chin with my fingertips, turning his face back to me. "What's wrong?"
"Don't you have enough to worry about without bothering with me?"
"Tell me what's wrong, Damian. I mean it."
He let out a long, shaking breath. "There; you've done it. A direct order."
"Tell me," I said.
"I was happy to sit here in the dark and watch you sleep. I think if Richard had known just how happy, he would have made Asher do it."
I frowned at him. "You've lost me."
"You feel it, too, Anita. Not as strongly as I do, but you feel it."
"Feel what, Damian?"
"This." He placed his hand against my face, and I wanted to rub my face against his skin. I had a momentary urge to pull him down on the bed beside me. Not for sex, necessarily, but to touch him. To run my hands over that pale skin, to bathe in the power that animated his flesh.
I swallowed hard and drew back from his hand. "What is going on, Damian?"
"You're a necromancer, and I'm the walking dead. You've raised me from the dead twice. You've called me once from my coffin and once back from the edge of true death. You've healed me with your powers. I am your creature. I have made vows of loyalty to Jean-Claude as my Master of the City, and I honor them, but you I would follow into hell itself. Not out of duty, but out of desire. I can think of nothing better than to be by your side. Nothing pleases me more than doing what you ask. When I'm near you, I find it very hard to do almost anything large, like feeding or leaving your presence, without asking your permission."
I just stared at him. I didn't know what to say, not uncommon for me today. But with him sitting so close in the dark room, I had to say something. "Damian, I ... I didn't mean for anything like this to happen. I don't want you to be some sort of undead servant."
"I know," he said. "But I also understand why the vampire council made it a habit to kill necromancers. I don't serve you out of fear. I want to do it. When I am with you, I am happier than without you. It's a little like being in love, but ... much more frightening."
"I knew we had a connection. I even knew why we had it. I just didn't have any idea it was this strong for you," I said.
"I didn't realize you felt drawn to me as I am to you until last night. You could have chosen Asher. He adores you, and you remember being in his bed. But you chose me to kiss. Me to hold. I don't think it was an accident."
I shook my head. "I don't know. I don't remember everything clearly from last night. The munin is sort of like being drunk."
"Do you remember what you said to me?"
"I said a lot of things." But my voice was soft, and I was very afraid I did remember the phrase he was searching for.
"You said, don't bleed me, f**k me."
Yep, that was the phrase. Just remembering it was so embarrassing, I squirmed. It was my turn to look away. "It was the munin talking," I said. "You're one of the few males that I hang around with that Raina never had sex with. Maybe she wanted something different."
He touched my face, turned me back to meet his eyes. "That isn't it, and you know it."
I pulled back from his hand. "Look, my plate is like full to overflowing with guys right now. I'm flattered, thanks for the offer, but no thanks."