Vicki struggled to remain cheery with her customers for the rest of the night. The vampire had rattled her again with his 'offer'.

She hoped he wouldn't be back, but she knew he would be. He was leaving his offer on the table, which would likely mean he would continue to pester her about it.

It didn't make any sense. One moment he seemed primed and ready to kill her and then the next he was trying to get her to agree to a blood contract.

Something must have happened back in the garden that prevented him from attacking her. She couldn't put her finger on what it was, but she knew that was the moment everything changed. Now he was busy trying to negotiate with her when he could've taken what he wanted back in his apartment.

Vicki just couldn't imagine selling her blood to him, even if he didn't kill her. She had heard of blood-wench contracts when she was a teenager; when the closest friend she had at the orphanage had managed to catch the eye of a vampire. She was older than Vicki by a few years, and only months away from turning eighteen and being dismissed from the home.

Vicki remembered pleading with the friend to ignore the vampire's non-stop letters and lavish gifts that were meant to entice her. But they worked anyway. On the eve of her friend's eighteenth birthday, she signed the contract, and the next day the vampire came for her. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, she had been threatened with homelessness once she turned eighteen and had no plan to provide for herself.

Still, Vicki never could grasp the idea that her friend had put ink on that paper.

But Vicki was in a different position than her old friend. She had her magic and her business. It wasn't much, but enough to keep her from resorting to such drastic measures.

Selene came through the door, her leather outfit squeaking as she bounced over to the counter.

"How's it going?"

"It's been pretty slow," Vicki said simply.

"So, no special customers of the drop-dead gorgeous variety?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Selene, I do not want to talk about him. At all."

Vicki was thankful she dropped the subject after that, even if she seemed reluctant to do so. They spoke about Selene's new follower count and new money streams online. Apparently, she was having some photos taken at the beach in her new outfit, so she didn't stay long.

Vicki closed the store for the night and headed to her apartment upstairs with her basket of yarn. She would begin crocheting some more amigurumi once she had settled more of the overdue bills on her table.

She plucked them up, one by one, deciding which ones she would be able to pay this week. Thank the gods, her new clientele was actually going to get her out of the hole nature had put her in.

After sorting the mail, she sat cross-legged on her couch and began making more plushies. Gods, was she just making more for that vampire to buy? She shook the thought away. There was always the chance that someone else would buy them. And she couldn't afford not to put them out, they were one of the most expensive items she sold. If the vampire did want them, she would sell them to him. She couldn't deny that his money was helping her business, and as long as he was giving it to her in exchange for her merchandise and not her blood, she would take it.

***

The next night, Vicki carefully arranged two plushies on a display stand before opening her store for business. The second she stepped behind the counter, the bell rang, and a blur whipped past her.

The figure settled in front of her, with both plushies in his arms.

He didn't stay away for long.

"Will this be all?" she asked, making sure not to add an ounce of feeling to the words.

"To purchase, yes," he said.

Vicki began punching the numbers into the register. She told him the total and bagged the stuffed animals for him. He handed her the money.

"Keep the change," he said.

Thirty-five dollars wasn't change, it was a bribe, and she knew it. She put the bills on top of the bag and shoved it toward him.

"Thank you for coming," she said, not meaning a word of it.

He took the bag and the money. Good, he wasn't putting up too much of a fight tonight.

"Before I leave, I got you something," he said, reaching into his jacket. He pulled out a small box with a bow on it.

Of course. Vampires must not learn new tricks.

He set the box on the counter, and Vicki didn't dare make a move to pick it up. He looked at her for a long moment, as if expecting her to cave. She stared back at him, hoping to match his intense green gaze.

He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Is there anything else you're looking to purchase today?" she asked.

His gaze wavered.

"No. That's it," he said.

"Okay, well you have a nice evening." She turned away and began dusting the apothecary cabinet on the wall.

The bell rang again, and when Vicki looked back, the vampire was gone. She let out the breath she had been holding in. Gods, this wasn't looking good. Who knows how long he was intending to pursue her like this? Hopefully, he would find someone else, Vicki wasn't ignorant, she knew plenty of people would jump at the opportunity to be a blood wench for a vampire. So why had he decided on her?

She heard the door open again, but this time it was just Selene with her evening coffee.

"Hey gorgeous, miss me?"

Vicki laughed. "I just saw you yesterday."

"Plenty of time," Selene said as she slid the coffee across the counter. Her hands froze as she took notice of the red gift box.

"What is this?" she asked, pointing to it.

Vicki internally cursed herself for not tucking it away or throwing it into the trash. There was no way Selene was going to let this go.

"It's from that guy, isn't it?" she said, squealing like a piglet.

All Vicki could do was nod.

"Oh gods, open it already!"

"I'd rather not," she said.

"Come on Vicki, give the guy a chance."

Vicki shook her head and focused her attention to her coffee. Selene snagged the box in her well-manicured fingers.

"If you won't open it, then I'll do it for you," she said. She pulled the ribbon and let it fall to the counter. Vicki looked away as Selene flipped the box open.

"That is not what I expected," she said.

Vicki turned back to Selene.

"What do you mean?"

Selene turned the box over to her. Inside was a white pillow and on top of it was a gold thimble. She understood her friend's surprise now. She hadn't expected something like that to be inside the box. She thought it would be jewelry or something extravagant. It was probably made of solid gold, but she didn't expect to receive anything functional. Let alone a gift that had some sentiment behind it.

Everything her friend had received was shallow, what anyone would think a young woman would want. Designer handbags, clothes, shoes, and fine jewelry. All to serve as proof that the vampire could provide for her.

"It looks expensive, but what is it? A shot glass for a pixie?" Selene asked, handing her the box.

"It's a thimble, Selene. It protects your finger while you sew." Vicki closed the box and stuffed it under the counter.

"Oh, well, that is just adorable. Are you going to give him a chance now?"

"No," she said simply.

Selene crossed her arms.

"I'm not interested, okay? Besides, I don't think he's interested in a traditional relationship anyway."

Gods she hoped that would get her to stop pestering her.

"Carter was months ago, and not nearly as good-looking as this guy. Maybe he's worth the risk," Selene began again.

"It's an automatic no-go for me once we have to start doing risk assessments."

Selene came around the counter and took her hands.

"Come on! You're still wearing that after-sex glow from a few days ago."

"Whoa! I haven't had sex with anyone, what are you talking about?"

"Sorry, it's one of those succubus things I can't turn off. I saw into that fantasy of yours, you can't deny being interested in him!"

Vicki's face went warm, and she turned away to hide her shame.

"I'm not judging, I swear. It's just...there's nothing wrong with testing out the merchandise, live a little."

Luckily, Vicki didn't have to respond because salvation came in the form of a customer needing some protective charms.

A/N: Hello! Whenever I reread Selene's scenes I get tempted to give her a chapter. Let me know what you think about that, and if you haven't voted for the book yet...let a girl know what she's gotta do to earn that simple click! Thanks! :)