Chapter 05

He was hard. There was no doubt about it. His erection was so prominent that she could clearly feel it through his shirt. Sophie refused to make any movement, now fully aware of how the situation had escalated. How was she supposed to get out of this? Facing a male as big as a mountain and clearly in heat.

She had no idea how vampires handled their libido—everything she had heard was just rumors. Terrifying stories about lovemaking that could last for hours, where partners, regardless of their nature, often ended up passing out or worse.

Her fingers grew clammy. She needed to find a solution. A strategy to divert the vampire's attention and regain control of the situation. But her approach had to be smooth and calculated. No sudden movements would be tolerated. If the demonic being so much as suspected an attempt to flee, his reaction would be immediate.

Slowly, making sure not to move too far away, she removed her hands from his chest and pressed them against her own. A cold breath escaped from his nostrils, hitting the top of her head—a clear sign that he didn't appreciate her actions.

She remembered their first encounter, how they had been similarly close in that subway car, yet she hadn't felt this shaken. Probably because they had been surrounded by dozens of witnesses and because she hadn't put on a private show for him back then.

Desperate to focus on anything other than the massive bulge taunting her, she let her gaze drift around until it landed on a harmless, random object—his tie. Navy blue with lighter diagonal stripes, a color that suited him perfectly.

"Already done? What a shame, I was enjoying it," he murmured.

She flinched slightly. She had no choice now. Until this moment, she had avoided looking directly at him. Not meeting those dark pupils had given her the courage she needed to play her role as a showgirl. But now, faced with that mesmerizing voice, she could no longer resist. Her head lifted on its own, craving that eye contact.

And the moment she had it, it was as if her skin caught fire.

The power this man had over her was undeniable and absurd.

"I… I need to…"

That was all she could manage. The primitive part of her consciousness had suddenly taken control of her being. She felt utterly foolish. How could she behave so childishly in a moment like this?

Fortunately, the vampire seemed to take her pleas seriously. If his eyes had once reflected a deep need for dominance and possession, now they were filled with tenderness—and perhaps even amusement.

Before she knew it, he wrapped his suit jacket around her shoulders and helped her put it on.

Once he was sure she was fully covered, he lifted her into his arms.

She barely had time to grasp his shirt before she found herself suspended in the air. She realized struggling would be useless when he pressed a hand against her back, urging her to relax against him. He was clearly stronger than her—pretending otherwise by putting up a fight would be stupid.

Then he started walking, carrying her effortlessly.

Hoping they were indeed heading toward the restrooms, Sophie tried to ignore all the details that made her feel a certain way—the scent of his cologne, the steady rise and fall of his chest with each breath, his heart that… that didn't beat.

So it wasn't a myth.

Just like the rumors about their insatiable sexual appetites, Sophie had also heard stories about their bodies—living only on the outside. Envelopes made of organic matter, human in appearance only.

Her scientific mind had never allowed her to believe in anything that wasn't demonstrable, so she had given little credit to such tales. The idea that an organism could function without a circulatory system was pure fantasy.

But now, resting her head against his chest, she couldn't deny it anymore. His heart didn't beat. Yet, he was still very much alive. Capable of moving, speaking, thinking.

They arrived quickly at the entrance of the women's restroom, which Sophie had to open herself since the vampire's hands were occupied.

By sheer luck, the bathroom seemed empty. She sighed in relief—at least no one would witness her embarrassing situation, and no one would be offended by the presence of a man who might end up covered in urine.

Because despite all the signs screaming that he had no place here, Ah Sahm refused to let her go until they were in front of a stall. With a gentleness Sophie hadn't expected, he set her small frame down and stroked the top of her head.

She would have liked to thank him for his kindness, but her bladder didn't give her the chance.

She rushed to the toilet, barely taking the time to close the door behind her.

Finally relieved, she no longer cared that the man she had just tried to seduce was only a meter away—listening, very clearly, to her doing her business.

The fact that she was able to finally empty herself took precedence over the unsettling sight of the vampire, who had visibly turned away to grant her some semblance of privacy.

Unfortunately, her sense of relief vanished just as quickly when she noticed the dampness of her panties.

A rather generous amount of arousal had soaked into the cotton fabric, making it glisten.

"Everything okay?" the vampire asked, probably sensing her discomfort.

"Yes… yes, it's nothing. It's just that there's no toilet paper."

Without hesitation, the stall door cracked open slightly, just enough for him to pass some to her. His speed was astounding—it wasn't even movement but rather teleportation.

"You're so kind," she murmured while wiping herself. "At least when you actually bother to answer your phone."

She was clearly still drunk. Otherwise, she never would have dared to speak to him that way.

"I called you a few days ago," she continued.

"I just wanted to thank you for… for everything. But you didn't pick up. I even left a voicemail. Sure, it was a bit messy, but it at least deserved a response. A text. A read receipt."

The only reply she received was the melody of the still-playing song echoing from the hallway.

He was still there. He had listened to her entire little monologue. But he had nothing to say.

Was it because he refused to respond or because he simply couldn't? She had no idea.

And right now, she was too drunk to push the issue.

Still, she couldn't hide her disappointment. After slipping back into his oversized suit jacket, she opened the stall door, keeping her head lowered.

The vampire stepped aside so she could wash her hands, but seeing how unsteady she was, he refused to let her walk on her own afterward.

Positioning himself in front of her, he crouched down and gestured for her to climb onto his back.

Once again, she didn't dare protest.

She was too tired. And she still feared his reaction if she refused.

She wrapped her arms around his broad neck, letting the ends of his shoulder-length hair tickle her cheeks.

Would they never have a real conversation?

Every time she tried to start a dialogue, would he just ignore her? They were clearly attracted to each other—that was a fact neither of them could deny.

But what was the point of all this attraction if it never led to something… real?

She wanted to get to know him. To learn things about him that LinkedIn wouldn't tell her.

But for that to happen, the desire had to be mutual.

Maybe, for him, this wasn't serious.

Maybe he just wanted to claim her, satisfy his unbearable arousal, and never speak to her again.

After all, that's how men behaved these days.

If that was the case, then it would be without her.She would rather stay single for the rest of her life than give herself to someone who would forget her the next day.Someone who couldn't even bother to answer the phone.

Still upset, Sophie refused to give him the slightest attention as he settled her in the back of the taxi. Pressing herself as close as possible to the opposite door, she felt him take a seat beside her before instructing the driver on their destination. She assumed he had found her address in one of her identification documents after returning her bag.

During the ride, Sophie struggled against two formidable forces: on one side, sleep, which was beginning to cloud her lucidity, and on the other, the urge to turn toward Ah Sahm and nestle in his arms once more.

The comfort his scent provided had become vital to her, and the lingering traces in his jacket were no substitute. As if reading her thoughts, the man extended his broad fingers toward her thighs, then gestured for her to come closer. And shamefully, she obeyed. Resting her entire body against his, she berated herself for losing this second battle so quickly. However, she was determined to win the first.

She would not sleep.

Not until she got an answer to her question, not until she received the explanation she was entitled to—however vague it might be—she would stay awake.

"Why didn't you call me back?" she repeated.

The man took a deep breath, then began fidgeting with the fabric of his pants.

"It doesn't matter."

"I want to know," she retorted almost immediately.

"Why? You'll have forgotten everything by morning."

He wasn't wrong, and she found that infuriating. Cheeks flushed with frustration, she lifted her eyes to meet his once more. His face was barely visible, occasionally illuminated by the glow of the streetlights. However, Sophie could have sworn she saw the corners of his eyes crinkle slightly, a sign that he was mocking her. Her petulance didn't affect him—it even seemed to amuse him.

"An answer," she insisted one last time. "It doesn't have to be complete, just honest."

The man studied her for a moment before finally relenting.

"I broke my phone."

Not very original…

"How?"

"It slipped out of my hands."

And not very convincing.

"That happens. You got a new one, then?"

He nodded.

"Good…"

He searched for her gaze, and once he found it, he spoke again.

"May I have your phone number?"

At that simple request, Sophie felt the weight constricting her chest disappear. Slowly, she sat up and reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out a rectangular object. She guessed it was the new phone in question and unlocked it with a single swipe of her index finger.

"No passcode?" she asked, surprised when the home screen appeared.

"Unnecessary."

After entering her number, she returned to her original position, feeling utterly relieved.

"No matter the hour, don't hesitate," she murmured, her cheek pressed against his shirt.

The supernatural being's hand left her knee and slid up to her hip. He traced slow, deliberate movements along her curves, sending waves of comfort through her entire body.

"May I make another request, sweetheart ?"

She felt her whole being tremble at the affectionate nickname.

"No more formalities."

"I thought it was customary…" she replied softly, sleep creeping back in with dangerous insistence.

"Not between us."

Before she could protest, the man tightened his embrace, making it clear that arguing would be futile. The next second stretched unbearably long, and the one after that even more so. Soon, she could no longer distinguish shapes, and the lights blurred into nothingness.

She had fallen asleep.