Tobias moves awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. It makes him nervous when he feels her hesitation and neither of us like handing him over to her. We know it only takes one slip up and she could hurt him, but she is his mother and we can’t keep her from him. We aren’t that cruel. Turning my head, I kiss her temple before removing my shirt. It is unheard of for vampires to feed off each other; I have never craved my own kind’s blood, yet she does and I’m pretty sure it is because it feeds into her magic, strengthening her like a never-ending power source. Undoing the buttons, she watches me, and her eyes glow brighter as uncontrollable hunger takes her over.
She seems to have more control feeding off Tobias, but me, she knows she doesn’t have to be so gentle, and I can endure more blood loss than him. Although, it makes me want to feed. I know I can wait till I get to work and retrieve a blood bag. As soon as my shirt is off, her hands run over my chest before she leans in, inhaling my scent. Her nose runs across my collarbone, making me shiver. Gripping her hips, I lift her, placing her on the edge of the sink so she can reach my neck better. She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me closer, her hand going to my face and I feel her fangs sink into me.
She moans loudly as my blood rushes into her mouth. I feel her tongue lapping at my skin, making me want her mouth somewhere else, as I feel my pants become a little too tight as I press myself into her. Bloodlust and arousal tend to go hand in hand with us. She bites down again as hunger takes over her, so insatiable and addictive.
When I know she is struggling to pull away, I slip my hand into the waistband of her leggings, my fingers slipping between her folds that are wet with her arousal. She moans, her head falls back, liking the feeling of my fingers inside her and I kiss her. Her fangs scratch my lip. I then pull away from her, she feels annoyed yet doesn’t try to stop me.
“When I get home,” I tell her, kissing the side of her face. She huffs, annoyed at being riled up only for me to stop. A pout slips onto her face.
Chuckling, I see Tobias step closer, kissing my cheek as he passes Thaddeus to Imogen. Her face lights up at being able to hold him, as she takes the bottle from Tobias’s hand.
When I button up my shirt, I walk out to the car. Tobias follows me. “I will call her when I get to work, convince her, Tobias, I really don’t want to force her.” I tell him, climbing in the car and starting the car. The engine roars to life and I drive down the driveway, heading to work.
Imogen
While I feed Thaddeus, Tobias walks Theo to the car. I can feel through the bond that Theo and Tobias are discussing something serious, just slightly too far away for me to hear them as they talk in hushed voices. When Tobias walks in, I open up my mind, letting me slip into his mind. Nothing, I know he is deliberately making sure he locks his thoughts up tight where I can’t reach them.
“What are you hiding?” I ask when I can’t read him.
“Nothing you need to worry about, stay out of my head, Imogen. You don’t like when Theo does it to you.” He states.
“It doesn’t usually bother you,” I tell him.
He looks at me, before grabbing a frypan and placing it on the stove. He starts cooking but doesn’t say anything else. I can feel they are up to something and it angers me that they are trying to hide it from me.
“Calm yourself, Imogen, remember who is in your arms,” he says, eyeing me.
I glance down and readjust him, letting myself focus on feeding him. I play with his hands, letting him calm me. When he finishes his bottle, I place him over my shoulder and start rubbing his back. Every day, I notice slight differences in him, slowly getting bigger and more alert to his surroundings. I feel like I’m going to blink and wake up one day and he will be grown. I don’t want him to grow up.
Tobias makes breakfast, placing a plate in front of me. “Please, tell me I didn’t just make that for you not to be hungry now?” Tobias says while he eats his own.
I pick up a piece of bacon and bite into it. Food has lost its taste now, I can still taste it, but it doesn’t have the same appeal anymore. I force myself to eat, knowing Tobias made it and I can feel him through the bond, worried because I don’t eat as much anymore.
By the time I’m done, Thaddeus is asleep again. I sigh, we really need to find a way for him to stay awake during the day so he sleeps at night. Tobias cleans up the dishes before taking him from me.
I try to take him back. “Go shower, your hair is a mess, and you didn’t have one last night.” He tells me.
“Is that your way of telling me I stink?” I ask him.
His lips turn up into a smile. “No, you could never smell. But it might make you feel better, and you have been wearing the same clothes for two days now,” he says, watching me.
Getting up, I walk upstairs, grabbing some clothes as I go. I place them on the bed and walk into the bathroom, turning the shower on. Tobias comes in a few minutes later, placing a towel on the sink before walking out again. I can feel he is nervous about something and I find it getting to me. Washing quickly, I hop out of the shower and find Thaddeus in his bassinet asleep, Tobias sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for me.
“What is it?” I ask, drying myself. He doesn’t say anything, making me suspicious. “I know you have something to say, so say it.” I tell him before dropping the towel and putting some jeans on.
“Mom is going to take Thaddeus tonight,” he says.
“Are you asking or telling me? Because it sounded like you said she was taking him” I argue.
“I’m telling you she is taking him for the night,” he says, his eyes holding mine.
I growl, annoyed by his tone. “No, he stays here.” I tell him.
“Imogen, let her take him, it gives us a night off.”
“No, I don’t want him away from us. What if Bianca-”
Tobias cuts me off. “Bianca is at the council under watch, I know you don’t like this but it’s happening whether you like it or not. Mom is taking him, Imogen.” He states standing up.
I close my eyes, frustrated and pinch the bridge of my nose. I can feel my nails digging into the palm of my other hand.
“Imogen, you will let her. I need sleep, you need sleep.”
“He doesn’t need to leave though, Tobias. Theo doesn’t need sleep and I feel fine,” I retort.
“You are not fine, Imogen. It is already organized, Thaddeus is going with mom and dad. They won’t let anything happen to him. This isn’t up for discussion we already decided.” He growls, daring me to go against him.
“So what, Theo wants this as well?”
“Yes, Imogen, one night that’s all,” he says, moving closer and rubbing my arms.
I feel my anger dissipate as I feel the familiar spark rush over my skin. “Fine, but only one night,” I tell him, giving him what he wants.
“Good girl,” he mumbles into my hair, as he tugs me to him, holding me in his arms.