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“Of course, I have to pay. If blood starts going missing and people find out that I have a random vampire staying with me, they will put two and two together. I can afford to get you blood, and I said I was going to bring you home some A+ this evening,” Aerin protested.

“I waited, but it was getting late, and I was thirsty. I didn’t think you’d appreciate me feeding on the courier who came by. You really ordered a lot of dried seaweed for someone who lives right next to the ocean,” Gideon said, and she didn’t like the glint in his eye. He looked good in the new clothes. If it wasn’t for his odd manners, he would pass for any other 21st-century man.

Please tell me he didn’t feed on the courier, she prayed silently, but it was too late now if he did. “I’m here now; I’ll pay for it when Marietta comes back, but you can’t compel her again.”

The more blood he obtained, the more confident and mischievous he became. Returning him to his full strength might not be the best idea, but since he was perfectly willing to break the rules to get blood, there was no way she was going to be able to regulate his intake. She was strong, but not strong enough to overpower an old vampire with fresh blood flowing through his veins.

“I promise.” He crossed his still heart as she fished in her bag for her purse.

“I can’t believe you opened my delivery? Not that it’s any of your business, but it tastes different all over the world, and I don’t need to explain my tastes to you,” Aerin said in haste, “and please tell me you didn’t bite the courier. I’m lucky he even agrees to deliver to me; many won’t bother to come up the cliffs because it’s such a hike.” Aerin didn’t want to have to start going to the post office to pick up her orders.

“I didn’t bite the courier, and when I didn’t bite the courier, I remembered something,” Gideon said, leaning on the counter while they waited.

“Glad to hear you didn’t give in to your impulses. Can you go back to the house? I don’t feel like answering questions about us.” She tried to usher him toward the door, but the door swung open.

“Aerin, I wasn’t expecting to see you today. Gideon said he was here to collect your latest order,” Marietta asked, returning with some blood bags.

Why would he let me believe the worst? Aerin glared at him, so he hadn’t compelled her. Gideon winked at her, like he could read her mind.

“We must’ve got our wires crossed. I thought I was supposed to pick up the order on my way home,” Aerin said, not wanting to dawdle.

Gideon was distracted by the blood on the counter and didn’t notice Marietta staring at him like she wanted to take a bite.

If only she knew how much trouble he was, Aerin thought.

“You didn’t tell me the friend staying with you was so handsome. Is he staying in town long?” Marietta leaned in closer to Aerin.

“Not if I can help it,” Aerin muttered.

“Try not to go through the bags so fast,” Marietta said to Gideon. “We’ll have more for the Autumn Festival to make sure our visitors have plenty, but in the meantime, please try not to drain me dry.”

“I’ll try my best. I hadn’t eaten in a while and got carried away,” Gideon interrupted.

Before Gideon said too much, Aerin snatched the blood bags from his hands and tucked them into her tote bag in case he became overwhelmed. He followed her out of the blood bank like an eager puppy. Even with the town’s warding, they didn’t want humans to see a vampire drinking from a blood bag in the street. She couldn’t explain to Marietta that she had used up the last batch of blood to help him recover from her poisoning him. Not that it was her fault; he was the one who bit her.

Gideon stepped off the curb, and she grabbed him before a flower delivery truck ploughed him down. The car honked loudly as Gideon landed on top of her.

Pain coursed through the back of her head as she hit it off the edge of the curb.

“Please pay attention when crossing the road. I didn’t save you for you to be flattened by a car,” Aerin grumbled beneath him.

“Are you alright? I didn’t see it coming,” Gideon asked, placing his hand under her head. She was sure he could feel a nice bump forming. Gideon’s eyes widened in panic, and he reached behind her, and she saw the blood on his hand.

“You’re bleeding!” He panicked.

“Don’t drink it,” she rasped.

“Not funny! We need to get you help.” Gideon took off his jumper and pressed it to her head.

“Thank you, but I’ll be better when you get off me,” she said, struggling to breathe with his full weight pressing down on her. Others on the street were starting to stop and stare.

“Forgive me.” Gideon winced as he rose to his feet, offering her his hand, which she took as the pain made her nauseous. Standing up too quickly caused her vision to swim, and she lost her balance. Gideon swiftly caught her in his arms, holding her close against him. No one had ever held her so intimately in public, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole as they appeared to perform their little act for the onlookers.

“I’m not a damsel in distress,” she grumbled, trying to free herself from his grasp, but he only held her tighter.

“I’d never mistake my saviour for a damsel, but you’ve got a nice bump on the back of your head, and you’re still bleeding. I don’t want you fainting in the street; you need a doctor,” Gideon argued, carrying her down the street. She stopped struggling, as it only attracted more attention the more they argued.

“I don’t need a doctor; take me home. I need to get in the water, and I’ll heal quicker,” she argued.