Doe's POV:

This was a stupid bet.

I knew that going into that, but I realized that I could not say no to a challenge.

So here I waited, hoping that Nico would come banging on the door here any seconds now.

I had absolutely no reason to think that today would be the day, it's just the side I chose, and now I was stuck with it

My fingers drummed against my hips while I stared at the door, trying to manifest his arrival.

But really I was just trying to distract myself.

At the time neared the deadline we'd set, the more and more I thought about what I'd put on the line.

I'd already decided that today was going to be the day I'd ask him to go through with biting me, so in a way, I'd already accepted my loss.

It was just every time I thought about it... About him coming near my neck, memories of the last time kept popping up unprompted into my brain.

It caused an intriguing sensation and brought that weightless feeling into my stomach.

Even more so ever since our conversation yesterday.

It was something so close to excitement, which I found myself battling with since it was ludicrous to find excitement in him biting me.

That's all it would be right? Just the bite, letting him get a few gulps in, and then we would be done.

...How boring.

Although, he may do that extra stuff again if I asked.

Heat overtook the back of my neck, crawling up to my cheeks at the thought.

God, this was so weird.

It was somewhat embarrassing admitting to myself that I wanted to feel him against me like that again.

The concept was still so foreign. To want to have someone touch me or... whatever that action would be considered.

It even differed from just the general safety I found within his arms. At least that I could deduce.

But this... this was much different. It was practically harassing me in the way it made me long for that sensation all over again.

A chill ran up my spine at the thought, further proving it.

God, this just all felt so... vulnerable, but that didn't sway the undeniable pull I'd been having to him lately.

Or the comfort I felt whenever I was close to him. No matter in which way it was.

As long as it was him, I was fine. I was safe.

I huffed out a breath as I tried to come to terms with all of this.

I wanted him to bite me so I could replace the memories I had around my neck while also itching for that sensation he brought me the last time he was there.

Maybe the experiences will be similar or something.

All I knew was that thinking about it like this wasn't going to get me anywhere.

If I wanted results, I was just going to have to get them myself.

And I wanted them soon so I could try to piece these things together.

Ugh, screw this bet.

"Alright," I spun on my heel to face him from where he sat on his bed, "I give up."

"Give up," He questioned, "but you still have two minutes left."

I shrugged as my legs moved forwards, "And I'm fairly confident that he's not going to get here within the next two minutes. Which is why I give up. You win."

Now would probably be the only time he ever gets those words out of me so easily, but for now, I was willing to surrender if it meant getting answers to what had been constantly biting at me these past few days.

I moved my hair behind my shoulders before pulling it over my right one, making this easy for him.

Anticipation grew in me as I approached him, as did that excitement.

"So. How do you want to do this?" I asked as soon as I reached him.

"That's not my choice to make," was his quick reply.

One that usually made me stop and think about it, but not this time.

"I want it to be. I'm not the one with the fangs so I don't know the best way to go about this." I admitted.

He was just better at thinking these sorts of things through, and so with most of my experiences with this being bad ones, I truly didn't know how to approach this.

He picked a nice one for the hickeys so...

"If you insist," he gave in easier than I thought he would, pushing himself a few inches back further onto the bed, tapping his fingers down on either side of him.

The same position as last time then...

I stared at the spot, failing to ignore the rush that his decision made flow through my body.

I found myself being rather pleased with his choice and wasted no time getting into it.

Crawling up onto the bed and onto my knees, I did an awkward little wattle that turned into me getting almost dragged into place as he aided with his hands gripping my thighs.

The action caused a hitch in my breathing and rushing in my heart now that I was back in this spot.

Oh my god, what was happening?

It was like everything that I was feeling prior just multiplied over the two seconds it took me to get here.

It was hindering my ability to think properly, but all I knew was that being here apparently made it better.

Or worse... I couldn't exactly tell, but whatever it was yanked me out of my hardened, stubborn nature and left me utterly defenseless.

Leaving me to do nothing but swallow the fact of the matter.

I wanted to feel his lips against me again so badly.

The initial want had turned into a need within a blink of an eye and I didn't know how to go about it.

It was turning into an ache in my chest and throat, the uncertainty from the sudden need blooming.

I didn't know what to do, so out of an instinct, I reached for him, my hands setting up near his shoulders.

He turned up to face me a second later, and his eyes began to study me.

"Y'know we don't have to do this now if you don't want to," He spoke in that soft tone he used whenever he was trying to calm me.

I looked further down to see a look on his face to match. The small smile that told me he'd be absolutely fine with however I responded in plain sight.

Just ask him, I was urging myself, you've asked for weirder before

I agreed to his offer to have sex with him as if it was just any other conversation, so this shouldn't be that big of a deal.

"Oh, no that's not it. I just," I paused, forcing my legs to relax so I wasn't still hovering over him "Feel free to do some more of these. If you want." I offered as casually as I could think at the moment, circling a hand over my neck and chest, hoping he got the hint.

There was already some sort of embarrassment looming over me if he didn't.

The quiet chuckle he let out snapped it away without a second thought.

"Will do," he agreed, setting his hand at the small of my back to push me further forward, "Any place, in particular, you want me to bite?"

I think I managed to hide the relief and elation at his cooperation.

"You choose," The words only squeaked a little as I fought through the pounding in my chest to keep my breaths even.

He just gave a slight nod, gazing over my body.

Using the hand he still had on my thigh, he lifted me a few inches, just enough to give him easy access to my neck.

I went ahead and turned my head to help with that as well, the anticipation in me feeling like I was about to burst.

That hand then came up to cradle the base of my neck, both leaning and pulling us towards each other.

His purr rumbled through his chest and into mine the exact moment I felt the cool touch of his lips against that part of me that had been craving it.

I couldn't stop my sharp gasp as the contact in time, the bliss of his touch mixed with the sensation of his purr distracted me.

The mix of the two was unfairly outmatching my ability to keep my reactions at bay.

Although, maybe this time I shouldn't.

I nearly took the first time this happened for granted only to want it to happen again a few days later.

I secured his closeness by hooking my arm around his neck and grabbing at whatever fabric of his tank top I could find.

My fingers on his arm clamped over hardened muscle as he began kissing his way gingerly down my neck.

Almost teasingly soft.

Either way, it caused my next breaths to tremble as everything in me raced in celebration that I was getting what I wanted and goosebumps flooded over the skin of my arms.

I knew the bite was yet to come, but for now, that was the last thing on my mind.

Right now I just wanted to bask in the feeling of him.

I didn't know such pleasures existed before he showed them to me, and now not only was I already attached to them, but I wanted to know more.

His purr was non-stop, working in carefully pulling me further against him and relaxing into the sound of it.

My body jolted as he began yet again to suck on my skin, right over where I knew one already resided.

It was where he started last time.

The shock of it sent my hand into his hair, gripping at the strands for some sort of stability.

The sound that then left his throat caused a wild frenzy in my stomach.

Did I do that?

How do I do it again?

My attention got pulled away as he lowered himself down towards my chest, the heat of his tongue clashing with his colder skin teased against mine.

It was so subtle and yet it felt like it was driving me crazy in a good way. If such a thing existed.

An embarrassing little moan slipped past my tongue as his drew its way up the center of my neck, radiating a heat that trumped my own.

A deeper rumbling harmonized with his purr, pulling me further against him.

There was something behind his actions that I couldn't help but fall into the more present it became.

It was like I could feel his want through it, the knowledge that this wasn't a one-sided action causing a joy I wasn't entirely expecting.

The thought that maybe he too wanted to try this again... it was fascinating and I wanted it so badly to be true.

That maybe he missed my touch as much as I missed his.

My eyes squeezed shut, focusing on the burning he was setting off all over my body with his simple movements.

Never in my life had I enjoyed something like this.

It was an entirely new world that I knew nothing about, but with everything he did, and everything I saw at that park, I was so eager to know.

And I wanted it to be him to guide me through it all.

I peeked open my eyes as he drew upwards, his mouth near the spot on my neck he took from almost every time he fed from me.

Two taps against my back was the confirmation I needed that the bite was up next.

I'd already come to terms with it, and with everything that happened prior, I couldn't find it in me to fear when he was so close.

All I did was draw in a breath, and hold tighter to him in wait for the sting to come.

Except when I felt a slow, tender kiss take its place raw emotion got pulled up into my throat.

Realizing the level of care I was feeling from him.

The consideration I still wasn't used to let alone during an act such as this.

It was overwhelming, but I didn't want to miss anything.

The pierce came quickly after, muscles tightening in an instinct, but no further or worse reaction followed.

With his body so close, the temperature of his skin that I knew and the smell of him right next to me...

The fear ingrained in me from her couldn't force themselves through the defenses he's allowed me to build with him.

Instead of the continuous sharp pain I was prepared for, something else quickly took its place.

It was as if a dull heat was spreading through me from where he had bit, numbing any hint of that unpleasantness.

This had never happened before, but I couldn't find it in myself to worry about what it was.

I just wanted to loll in it.

Another quiet noise from Xander that mixed with it felt like electricity shooting through my spine.

It was so strange, but I found myself to be enjoying it.

Whatever it was made my breaths begin to sound more like pants, that haze causing tingles to coarse its was through my body right under my skin.

I just held as tight to him as I could manage, knowing that no matter what, as long as he was here, I would be fine.

His deepening purr just added more and more to all of this, the vibrations reaching all the way to my bones.

I couldn't even think and was left to focus on nothing but where his body touched mine.

I could just barely make out the sound of him slowly swallowing, and note how his fingers were steadily pressing harder and harder into me.

Closer... I wanted him closer.

That was the only message ringing through the mist of my thoughts and my defenses were too far gone for me to even attempt to shoo them away.

I didn't want to shoo them away.

It was the most excitement and jubilation that I think I've ever gotten to experience.

I didn't want it to end.

His quick gasp cut through my thoughts, lifting his fangs from my flesh.

And yet nothing faded.

I felt so sensitive, so exposed.

All these strange coercions quickly turned into needs as he went right back to dotting my body with those gentle kisses.

My entirety felt like it was on alert, every nerve waiting for its turn with him.

So when his fingers lifted to rub against my scalp, the shy sound that fell from me came freely.

I didn't know what was happening. I didn't know if all of these thoughts were justified or appropriate.

I didn't know what they meant, just what they wanted me to do.

All I knew was that I wanted him, but even that thought could have a million different meanings.

He was the answer to all of my questions no matter how it was worded or how differently they appeared in my mind.

His next long breath blew against the skin of my shoulder before he rested his head there.

The hand on my back gripped my shirt, that being the thing that finally helped me notice the strange state he looked to be in as well.

His breaths were deep and ragged, the rumbling he was giving off early masking the fact that his entire body was also shaking.

The next breath he took in sounded strained.

All of which differed from the past times he's fed from me.

My hands let go of their tight holds, gently trailing down.

"Alex?" his name came out breathless.

I felt his breathing stop altogether, his body stiffening around mine as if he was locking me there.

It took a few more seconds, but his head lifted from where it had been laying.

I was there ready to meet his gaze, but he wasn't looking at me.

No... he was purposefully avoiding it.

A pain shot through everything else that was going on in my chest.

Did I do something wrong?

"Alex?" I asked again, dragging my hand up his neck to try to lift his jaw.

He fell into my movements much easier than I expected.

The now deep scarlet in his eyes found mine rather quick, swirling with the different shades of red within.

The look that I'd never once believed to suit him, but right now looked absolutely stunning

He looked...

He looked stunning.

I could feel even more of that want in the way he looked at me, pulling me further into the frenzy I was experiencing.

Even so, I didn't want this to end yet.

All of these emotions piling together, taking me over in this brand new way.

It was terrifying in its novelty but I didn't want it to stop in the slightest.

I wanted to know what this was, I wanted to learn all that I could.

In fact, the thought of it stopping now scared me the most.

His breaths caressed across my skin as we drew nearer, my body bursting with an urge whose meaning I couldn't understand right away.

"I..." His broken voice strained out a single syllable, immediately looking like he regretted talking.

I too didn't feel like I could speak with everything flying through my head and body.

I caught myself wondering if he was feeling anything similar.

If he was feeling that same pull to me that I was feeling to him.

A strange part of me wanted him too, the thought of him not causing that same pain as before.

With the way we were both subtly leaning into each other, the possibility of it being true grew.

The air surrounding me was warm with our ever-closening breaths.

The skin on my lips began to itch, my eyes stealing a glance to his and gaining more of that eagerness as the sight.

Were we really about to...?

Was this normal?

I found his words replaying in a hushed whisper through my mind.

'Kissing is just a versatile way to show affection... Like when I kissed your neck.'

I found no objection to it, instead getting nothing but relief at the thought.

When his hand oh-so-carefully moved to cup my cheek, I nearly melted, submitting into his touch quicker than I ever have before.

I wanted to. I never once thought in how it was taught to me that this would be something that I desired, let alone to this degree.

We were so close, only a few more agonizing moments before we-

His hand quickly shot over my mouth, separating us.

My eyes widened as his sudden movement snapped something in me, that ache from before returning in no time.

No...

The initial shock molded into dejection quicker than I could catch up.

Why did he stop?

His brows furrowed over his eyes before he backed away.

Every inch shattered something in me.

Don't... don't go.

He forced in even breaths while he stared at me.

"I'm sorry," That strain was still there, "I didn't mean to-"

My body acted on its own to stop him from going any further, returning my hand to the back of his head.

Why was he apologizing?

I didn't understand the finer details of any of this, but I was too far gone from my stubborn defense to want to hide away from it instead of exploring it.

I didn't want to hide away, not right now.

"Xander, I don't know what's going on. I don't know what any of these feelings mean but I..."My voice cracked, putting the raw emotion I never showed right under the spotlight. "Don't pull away... please."

I needed him. Right now I truly did.

I needed his help in dealing with all of this because I didn't know how to do it alone.

"I won't," the edge was gone, replaced with that comforting softness. The assurance that he was telling the truth.

I bit into my bottom lip, a wave of nervousness now breaking through the rest, but I moved anyway.

Using the hand I had behind his head, I tentatively pulled him closer until the soft press of his lips met with mine.

The action was so gentle and careful, so much different from what I was taught.

So much more refined than what I began to do just out of pure instinct like he was tugging me away from what I was taught, and instead decided to teach me himself.

It lead me to quickly discover that I favored what he was doing so much more than what I imagined this being like.

My eyes fluttered shut, focusing on it as much as I could.

There was no roughness to it, no expectations behind it, and no emotions that loomed menacingly over my own.

I felt that care he'd showed me throughout this even now, and the fact that he truly wanted this as well through every tender collision of our lips.

In the way his thumb brushed against my cheek.

My hands met in tangling into his hair as the one on my back held me steady.

It was invigorating in a way I never thought to be possible.

And with him...

I could tell that a part of me that was anticipating this had melted into sweet enjoyment and repose.

It was as if something had finally connected yet I couldn't discern exactly what.

The vibrations coming from his chest drew deeper, the feeling of him pressing against me sending a chill down my spine with a sharp intake.

I could feel the upward curve of his lips against mine.

A simple swipe of his tongue was all it took for me to arch further into him.

This... I knew this. I knew what to do from here.

His tongue slid past my lips the second I allowed him to, this too becoming much more enjoyable than I imagined.

I always thought that this part was weird or gross, but the way I was reacting to every small change, every touch, every minuscule movement that he made proved me wrong.

He continued to reteach me the things that I thought I already knew, and wordlessly let me experiment for myself as I returned the favor.

I could taste the smallest hint of metal amongst it all.

My body felt as if it was on fire, and the coolness of his skin was the only cure.

It fanned the flame and put it out all at once, and the tease of the sensation only amplified it.

And those noises he made... They got a rise out of me more than anything else.

Feeling them against me, right into my mouth...

It was driving me crazy.

I needed more.

It made me respond with my own needful sounds and pleading moans.

Every time he'd respond accordingly, making me crave more every single time.

It was suffocating in an odd sense.

It was like I couldn't get enough air through my nose to fill my lungs, but I didn't want to stop to catch my breath.

We'd part momentarily every once in a while, but even that wasn't enough.

I could tell that my confidence was eventually pulling itself together, yet I had become very fond of the light way he was going about this.

He was building me up in an entirely new way, and I couldn't help but be thankful for it.

My lips started to burn as the minutes passed, finding solace in his for moments at a time.

I couldn't calculate how long it was until I felt his hand shift to my side, idly pushing against my body.

It caused my eyes to snap open, air finally filling my lungs a decent amount as we separated.

The same panic as before started again as he backed up, the look in his eyes and smile on his face didn't make me feel it as hard.

My skin and especially my lips still tingled, still aching for more.

"Easy there, dove," he consoled through tired breaths that matched mine.

His other hand came to join the other on my jaw, causing me to lean into it without a second thought.

I was glad that the look he held now differed quite a lot from how it looked the first time he backed away.

But still.

"Why'd you stop?" my voice came out hushed, somewhat matching the calm way he spoke.

He just kind of looked at me, eyes wide in such a way that almost made me shy away.

"My urges work differently than yours. I didn't want to bite off more than we could chew," he answered

Right...

Sometimes I forget that there are more differences to us than just the fangs and advanced abilities.

"Oh," I think my disappointment was evident.

I wasn't ready for that to end yet.

There was still an unfulfilled anticipation coursing through me.

Although now that we had parted, I was slowly starting to regain my ability to think.

The muscled in my legs relaxed while I recapped everything. As I tried to make sense of it all.

"I um... I," I couldn't find the words. I could barely even find the thoughts to try to explain any of this to myself let alone him.

But it just felt like there was so much that I wanted to say, just couldn't.

I think he understood, pulling me forward and leaning down to set a final kiss on my cheek.

The simple action made my chest flutter.

"Don't think about it too much" he whispered, "Wait till you've regained some of your blood first."

Yeah... yeah, maybe he was right.

But even so... I don't think was ready to part from him.

I listened to my want without much hesitation, letting myself fall forward and lay my head on its side on his shoulder.

The easing purr in his chest, for now, was going to have tobe enough, and as I further recovered, I learned that it was.

Our breaths matched almost exactly, the rhythmic movement helping me finally relax fully into him.

His hands drew patterns into my back as I shut my eyes again, waiting for the heat and everything else in me to return to normal.

His forehead pressed against me as well, both of us still basking in each other even after the fact.

Maybe losing bets isn't so bad.