Page 100 of Bleed

“What kind?” I ask.

“Handcuffs, rope, silk ties,” he rattles off. “I have no particular preference as to the implement, provided it isn’t injurious. I have no interest in hurting you, unless you want me to.”

My belly flips, my mouth running dry.

He says it so calmly, so clinically, as through we’re discussing lab equipment instead of the prospect of me bound beneath him. The thought sends excitement and apprehension crashing together until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.

“I don’t know if I’d like being completely helpless like that,” I admit. “I’ve just… never done it before.”

He studies me for a long moment, tilting his head slightly as he considers that. “Is it a hard boundary?”

“No,” I answer immediately, shaking my head. “I mean… I might like it. I just don’t know. I guess I’d have to try it before I’d know for sure.”

He nods once. “Then we’d start with silk ties,” he says. “They’re difficult to tighten accidentally and easy to slip free from if either of us decides to stop. We wouldn’t move to anything more restrictive until we’d established trust and you were comfortable.”

Something in my chest loosens. It’s such an Elliott answer– every variable accounted for, every risk reduced before we even get to the fun part.

“Yeah,” I breathe, nodding a little too enthusiastically. “That works for me.”

He glances down at the phone in my hand. “What else?”

I scroll to the next highlight, pausing before I read it aloud. “Exclusivity.” I glance back up at him, trying to sound far more casual than I feel. “Taylor made me flag that one. She says I can’t be trusted to keep it in my pants.”

He averts his gaze, looking down at his hand and flexing his fingers once before slowly curling them into a fist. “I’m possessive by nature,” he grumbles. “Once I’ve had you, I’m not certain I’ll be capable of sharing.”

My pulse stutters. “Thought vamps were only possessive over blood?”

His eyes lift to mine again. “Not all vampires are the same,” he says evenly. “I’ve already claimed your blood, but once I claim your body…” he trails off, eyes flicking over me before returning to my face. He drags in a slow breath, a muscle in his jaw feathering. “… I expect my instincts will become considerably more complicated.”

My heart trips over its valves.

“If having other partners is important to you,” he continues, “I’m willing to negotiate occasional group activities, as detailed in subsection two. Those encounters would also be under my direction.”

“So threesomes are on the table,” I confirm, fighting a grin.

His jaw tightens. “Correct.”

I snort. “Good to know.”

He watches me for another long moment, as if he’s trying to figure out whether I’m bluffing or genuinely interested.

Joke’s on him– it’s both.

“Just one more thing, then,” I say, scrolling farther down the addendum to find the highlight. “No feeding during intimacy…”

“Non-negotiable,” he cuts in, his voice hardening. “I will not feed directly from your vein, during intimacy or otherwise.”

“Why not?” I challenge, pouting. “I like being bitten. You know, in a fun way.” I tilt my head. “And wouldn’t it be good for you, too?”

His jaw locks, a strained silence stretching between us.

“It’s for your safety,” he finally murmurs.

“Safety?” I echo with a disbelieving laugh.

“Not every vampire can maintain control while feeding directly from the vein.”

“You don’t strike me as the type who’d ever lose control,” I scoff, rolling my eyes.