Submitting to the Bloodlust

Curiosity

Mauri POV

When I was a freshman in high school, I was really into the star quarterback, Hank. Although he was a senior, he noticed me right away. I had this huge crush on him so when he invited me to homecoming I was beyond excited.

He was a complete gentleman and was so sweet to me in the days leading up to our date and the night of. I thought we were hitting it off well. Our team won, of course, so there was an after-party at Emma’s house and he wanted me to go with him.

I had never drunk alcohol before, but I did that night. Not enough to get me drunk, but enough to give me enough courage to kiss Hank.

After I kissed him, he pulled me into a bedroom and our kissing turned into more. I didn’t tell him I was a virgin, and from his skill level, I knew he wasn’t. He had done it before – and not just once. He made me feel things I had never felt before, and I liked it.

But once we were finished, it’s like he turned into a different person. The guy who I thought was gentle, sweet, and into me, turned into a complete asshole.

He told me I was a ‘good f**k and to get dressed that someone else wanted the room’. I felt used and dirty after he left. He never talked to me again and all his friends tried to pursue me because they thought I was easy. That was the one and only time I had s*x because I never wanted to feel that low about myself again.

Feeding from Seth made me feel that same way. Drinking his blood made my entire body tingle like I was on the edge of an orgasm. When I looked into his eyes, I felt like I could stare into them forever. I wanted him, needed him, at that moment. I needed his mouth on me like mine was on him. I had such an intense need to please him that I got lost in it. I don't want to be a vampire and I didn’t want to drink his blood, but I wanted to do anything he told me to.

Then after all the pain had gone away and I pulled my fangs from his skin, the need to please him lingered.

And just like Hank, he went cold and told me to get dressed – dismissing me. I know it's not the same. Feeding from Seth was not having s*x with him, but it felt so close to it.

He left in a hurry and wouldn’t look at me, just like Hank.

A green-haired woman is staring at me from across the room. She is wearing a gold collar and a long, flowing black lounge dress. She appears to be a few years older than me. She's pretty, with big brown eyes and long lashes. She's talking to me, but I don't remember what it's about. I keep getting lost in the memory of the sensations Seth gave me.

“Maurianna.”

Seth’s voice makes my body jerk, startling me. “Hhmmm,” I hum out.

“We need to talk.” His eyes are not soft like they were before. His facial features are hard and cold. “Jade, leave.” He barks. The green-haired girl scurries out of the room.

Once he knows she is gone, he starts talking again. “What you're feeling is called blood intoxication. The first few times a vampire feeds, they will get lost in their thoughts for a little while. Don’t let that discourage you; after a few more feeds, that feeling will no longer come back.”

Feeds... I'll have to feed again. I didn't even think about having to do it again. I couldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy it because I liked everything about it. Will I feed on him, or will I drink from a bottle or glass? “How often do I need to drink blood?” My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. It sounds like it's coming from someone who is eager for the journey, not someone who is actually dreading it.

“Daily,” he answers. I feel my eyes bulge at his response. “You don’t need to drink a lot, just enough to suppress your hunger. You don’t want to get so hungry that your body forces you to feed.”

I finally gain the confidence to lock eyes with him. My heart flutters, remembering the experience from earlier. He is so attractive it makes me want to scream. Everything about him is sexy: his face, hair, emerald eyes, even the way he swept me into his arms like a hero.

I shouldn’t be attracted to him. Despite looking just a few years older than me, he’s my dad's friend. Demon said that he was the first vampire created. He is bound to be around one thousand years old.

“You were about to go savage. Seconds more in the state you were in, and your first feed could have gone differently,” he adds.

“Will I drink your blood again?” I ask hopefully. I loved the feeling. I loved the closeness to him, and if I’m being completely honest, he tasted so good.

He runs his hands through his short hair and sighs deeply. “No, Maurianna, you won’t drink my blood again.”

I nod my head and offer him a slight smile.

Bummer.

He strolls over close to where I am seated on the couch, his eyes burning into mine, making me feel that same intense need to satisfy him. I close my eyes because I know what will happen next; he is trying to compel me. “Eyes on me, baby,” his tone is seductive, and like an i***t, I open my eyes again.

“Please don’t compel me… Just tell me what you want,” I whisper.

His eyebrows scrunch up over his nose, and he licks his bottom lip as he thinks. He grabs my chin with his hand and pulls my face up so that our eyes are aligned perfectly. “I can’t risk this one, baby…” he whispers. A wave hits me as his eyes burn into mine once more, “Maurianna, you will not tell anybody that you have fed from me. If they ask, you fed from Jade. Do you understand?” he asks.

I’m so confused about why this is such a big deal. I want to protest and scream at him for compelling me again. But instead, I just nod, “Yes, sir.”

***

I haven't seen my mom for a couple of days because I wasn't feeling well. I lied and said that I had my period and was cramping. I'd rather lie about that than tell her that I fed for the first time. Then I would have to lie to her anyway when she wanted more details because Seth compelled me to do so. It's been nice though; she and I went to the spa and got our nails done. We also got massages and facials. Let me tell you, I needed it. It felt good to be pampered after such a weird few days.

Mom and I are walking down the sidewalk, window shopping. The clothes in the shop displays have already changed since two days ago. These clothes are more casual. Mom says that they display whatever is going on in Ambrose. Since nothing is really happening right now, casual wear is out. Mom and I walk into a little shop that has a sign that reads "Karma." It's a unique shop with a variety of items. As we walk around the store shopping, I finally ask my mom the question that has been eating away at me. "Do you always feed from Dad?"

Mom stops in front of me and peeks over her shoulder, lifting an eyebrow. "Why are you asking me that?" she questions.

"All the vampires I have seen around here feed from humans. When you were in transition on the way here, Demon would feed you his blood."

Mom turns to me and gently grabs my hand. She pulls me over to a little bench near the dressing rooms and tells me to sit. Her thumbs fiddle with the hem of her dress. "Vampires feed on humans for food. A vampire will only feed another vampire for two reasons. Reason one, in an emergency situation. Since I was in transition so close to you, Demon had to feed me so that my hunger was suppressed enough for me not to attack you. The second reason, and the most common, is when two vampires feed on one another, it is a form of intimacy," Mom explains.

I’m not shocked by her answer, I totally understand. Feeding from Seth felt intimate, but in my situation, it was an emergency. But it makes me wonder, “Do vampires not have s*x then?” I ask her.

Moms’ cheeks grow red in embarrassment. She has never been easy to talk to about this kind of stuff. When I told her about me and Hank, she couldn’t talk to me for days. She was so embarrassed that I had s*x. Once she finally came around to the idea that I had made a mistake and was brave enough to come to her, she comforted me and had a talk with me.

She scans the permitter before lowering her voice, “Yes, vampires have sex.”

I think of another question. “Do they feed on each other while they do it?” I ask her.

I can tell by moms breathing that she is getting irritated with me. I don’t mean to upset her, but who am I going to ask about this?

“Vampires who are having casual s*x do not feed on each other." Nervous, she smooths out the front of her dress, breaking eye contact with me. "Feeding on one another is deeply intimate, usually only long-term couples will do so….” Mom looks from my face to my neck and down to my hands. When her eyes meet mine again, she looks worried. “Mauri, I don’t know where these questions are coming from, but you have me worried. I understand you are an adult, but are you planning on having s*x with a vampire?” her eyes grow big again and she exhales loudly, “Are you planning on having s*x with the King?”

I shut her down immediately before her radical thoughts get out of control. “Mom NO! I was curious about feeding since I will eventually have to, and the conversation just led to there. I don’t even know Seth like that. He told me this morning that I will need to feed daily. I was just curious about feeding. That’s it!” I argue the most convincing argument EVER, trying to steer her mind somewhere else.

What I’m not going to tell her is that I fed from Seth.

What I’m not going to tell her is that I liked it very much.

And what I’m not going to tell her is that I definitely fantasized about having s*x with him.

Not convinced, mom continues. “You being my daughter means that you are under the protection of Demon, Since I am his bride Ambrose has laws that everyone has to abide by in order to live here. Even the leaders like Demon and Seth have to abide by these. The law states that ANY being under the protection of one of the leaders is considered off-limits. No vampire in this city is allowed to touch you, feed on you, feed you, or have intimacy with you. So if you do plan on having s*x with another vampire, your partner will need to get a blessing from Demon. Otherwise, they will be sentenced to death.” Mom laughs when she glances over at my face. “I know, it's harsh huh?” She nudges me and we head to the counter, purchase our items and stroll out of the store.

On exit, I come face to face with Seth, who does not look happy to see me.