The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)

Feed

"Are you going to be okay to drive?" Ms. Mage asked Eileen when the last truck pulled out of the parking lot.

She smiled tiredly, "I'll be okay. Ben can drive. Right, Ben?"

He nodded, "I've got you, Eileen."

Ms. Mage hesitated then said, "Maybe you should feed first, Eileen. That girl took a lot out of you."

Eileen shook her head, "I can't feed from you, Ms. Mage."

Ms. Mage tilted her head towards Ben, "There's a healthy male standing right next to you. I'm sure he's strong enough to lose a pint or so."

Ben agreed immediately, his body heating at the thought, "Yeah, Eileen, you could feed from me. I don't have a problem with that."

Amusement danced over Eileen's face, "I'm sure you don't, Ben, but Ginny fed from you today too."

"Not a lot. Dustin took over as soon as you were safe."

He knew he was being pushy, but he really wanted to provide for her. And he was more than a little curious. When Ginny had fed from him, he'd only felt the sensation of something being taken. Yet, when Dustin fed from Ginny...

Eileen shook her head again, "I don't think that's such a good idea, Ben. It wouldn't just be emotion-feeding. I need blood."

His body clenched happily, "Yeah? That's okay."

Ms. Mage chuckled, "So eager to be a blood donor, Ben?"

He blushed but tried to shrug casually, "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Indeed," Ms. Mage's lips quirked. "Well, I'll leave you in Ben's care, Eileen. Get some rest. We'll start working on the new schedule this evening, but we probably won't implement it until next week. I think he's planning to use tomorrow as the chance for you to meet with each group as a species. Still, I'm going to check on what he's planned so far. Goodness knows if that male is left to his own devices..."

She shook her head and turned to walk away without finishing.

Ben began walking when Eileen pulled on his arm, allowing her to lead them to the car. He opened the passenger-side door for her and shut it when she was comfortably set inside.

He circled the car quickly, shutting the door behind him and snapping his seatbelt into place before he looked at her.

"So, what do you want to do, Eileen?"

"Let's just go home, Ben. I'll feed...crap, I won't be able to drive into town. Could you take me to..."

A flush stained her cheeks, and she glanced at him, her face thoughtful.

"Where?" he wondered.

"There's this club I used to go to when I needed to feed," she admitted. "But..."

"I'm underage," he guessed.

She nodded, thinking.

"You could just feed from me," he offered again.

He saw her tense from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you want to feed from me, Eileen?"

She sucked in a deep breath and let it out as a long sigh. She looked so tired.

"I'm afraid, Ben," she admitted.

"You'd never hurt me," he assured her.

She chuckled darkly, "Not in the way you're thinking, no."

Eileen looked sad, upset, and Ben couldn't stand it.

"Damn it, Eileen, what's wrong?!"

"I don't know how you'll react, Ben," she gritted out.