"Tony," I said, looking deeply into his eyes. "Thank you."
He held out his arm, wrist up. Under much pressure I tried thinking ... food ... food, blood ... drop teeth. But within my mouth were only my normal teeth. Pressure. It was just too much pressure. I began to panic.
"Smell the blood beneath my skin ..." Tony's voice floated in my head.
This was so embarrassing …
I placed my lips against his wrist, and the scent of him wrapped around me. I had taken his blood once before, and my body recognized him as food. My teeth lowered sluggishly, but they lowered. Behind me I felt Paul sigh in relief.
Mimicking Tony's move, I allowed my teeth to scratch and break his skin lightly. Tony watched me intently as I enclosed the wound with my lips. My tongue briefly lapped at the salty liquid—and I wanted more.