With a gasp and a muffled thud, Adaliah lay sprawled, her fingers digging into Emrys' chest as he prodded and licked her sensitive throat, feasting on her ichor.

His palms lay flat on the cold floor to support his burning body and avoid crushing her with his weight. His skin brushed hers and a moan slipped out - so quiet, so foreign, so sensual, it stirred something carnal hidden within him.

Her legs opened slightly to let him settle between them as her back arched against him. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, gripping them tightly before one moved up to his hair.

His hips ground against hers in a subliminal response to her tugging at his tangled curls. Warmth dripped down and filled his rumbling belly and he slurped like a starved infant.

Emrys groaned, pinning her down with his torso and almost went feral when her breasts were molded to his chest.

"Emrys," she breathed as he nibbled on her collarbone.

His breaths came out ragged, his skin clammy, his ears ringing, and his arms shaking. He glanced at her, lying beneath him breathless. Her hair pooled around her in disarray, her lips parted, her eyes hooded, and her neck smudged red.

A flood of emotions drenched him before his arms buckled and he slumped atop her in a mess of scarlet smears and dripping sweat. His eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his face closer to her shoulder, soothed by the erratic pulse in her neck. Her sweet fragrance wafted around and filled his lungs abundantly as he inhaled deeply, skimming his nose against her skin.

Their hearts matched in an untamed unison of thuds full of lust and buried pain. Both lay in a mess of scattered limbs and flushed bodies as they panted, their chests heaving. Adaliah caressed his hair and the back of his neck while his breathing calmed down.

"Better?"

He swallowed, finally coming off his high and realizing what he's done. He blushed and nuzzled closer to her.

"I must apologize," he rasped. "I'm sorry, Adaliah. Truly."

She hummed. "For what?"

His embarrassment heightened. "I seem to lose all self-control when you're near. That was very inappropriate of me. I shouldn't have attacked you like a rabid animal."

Her chest vibrated with a quiet laugh. "Oh, have you now?"

Sleep teased him as her fingers wove through his damp hair.

"I'm sorry."

"Do not worry, Emrys," Adaliah sighed, "I can easily stop you if I want to. Do not underestimate my capabilities."

"I never did," he paused. "So, you didn't want to stop me?"

"No."

Fire was ignited inside him but was soon quelled as he took deep breaths to calm himself. Her scent didn't help, however.

"I must apologize, still."

"It is alright, Emrys. I am at fault. You have been deprived of blood for too long."

Emrys swayed as he sat up, already missing having her flesh against his. "Don't blame yourself." His red eyes connected with hers. "I don't resent you for it."

Adaliah followed suit, perplexed by the coldness that seeped into her bones. His words only deepened her frown. "No?"

"No." He shook his head and then leaned against the bed. "I must admit that it's quite hard to deal with still. Yet," he inhaled deeply, "for you, it's a curse. For me, it's a new beginning." She felt lighter at his admission. "What I don't understand, however, is...why do I lust for blood?"

Her gaze roamed all over the mess that was him. "For instance, your powers are yet to settle. When they do, you will only need to feed once a week or two, perhaps even a month or more."

His brows rose, watching her hand cover her neck. When she removed it, the wounds his incisors left had disappeared. "I must say, I'm looking forward to that." His smile ignited warmth inside her chest. "Can't Vampyrs be satisfied with regular food or water? Why do I need to feed on blood?"

Adaliah shuffled until her back was against the bed as well. Hugging her knees, she rested her head atop them and looked at him.

"You can indulge in all kinds of food and drinks. However, it is merely part of your past humanity. A force of habit. Same as breathing. It will not keep you alive. You have died. You are no longer alive by human standards. You are a Vampyr now and you must drink blood for it contains the essence of the living you need to sustain your immortality."

He grimaced. "If I don't, will I die?"

"You will run amok and go on a carnage, rampaging until you are satisfied."

"Oh."

Adaliah turned away from him. "I fail to see how you do not understand the gravity of who you have become. I have truly cursed you."

Emrys chewed on his lip, hesitating before stroking her silky hair. "Well, what else can I do? If I don't accept who I've become, what am I supposed to do? Die again?"

Her head whipped toward him. She hadn't thought of that. Surprised by his resolution, she blinked, digesting his words.

"Can I die again, Adaliah?"

She couldn't fathom not having him around anymore, no matter how short of a period they spent together. "No." Her response was quick and firm. "Never. I will never allow that."

He grinned. "So, I'm immortal and invincible?"

She nodded. He'll be invincible soon as long as he kept feeding on her blood. He was her Emrys and she was going to take care of him.

His breath hitched under the intensity of her garnets. Her cheeks were painted a faint pink but she never looked away.

He leaned forward until their faces were a breath away when he spoke, "I must truly apologize about what I said last time. It was rude of me to assume anything about you and release my anger and frustration on you."

Adaliah smiled. "I was at fault as well. I should have been more patient. I should have explained myself better."

Emrys laughed quietly. "We both must work on becoming better listeners."

When she spoke, his gaze darted to her lips – plump cherry petals – as they moved. "Indeed."

Overcome with basorexia, his lips brushed the corner of her mouth. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured, one final plea before he lost himself again in everything that was her.

Instead, Adaliah cupped his face and rubbed her cheek against his. "You are confusing your bloodlust for...something else."

He wasn't. However, he was too embarrassed to say anything so he exhaled, pulling away from her.

Word count: 1115.

Total word count: 15957.

MEANING OF THE WORDS USED:

Basorexia is a strong craving or hunger/overwhelming desire to kiss.