Crave

6

"How do you feel about that?" Ben asked.

"Horrified, honestly...I mean now I don't believe you should be killed or harmed...but you are still a vampire. I don't think I need to tell you that whatever mating me consists of it's not going to happen. Unless you force me."

Ben grinded his teeth together and breathed through his nose for a moment. Nausea rose at the thought. He gritted out through his teeth. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that."

"Um...are you okay Benjamin."

"Do you even care?"

"Surprisingly, yes. Look. Whatever it is you want from me I can't give you."

"Sure you can because all I want is you and all of you."

"Ben I'll admit we might have some connection a-

"Because it was designed that way."

"What?"

"I'm sure you've read books and seen movies. You are mine. It was designed that way. Set up before you and I were even born. Out of my control."

"Ben I don't know you from Adam and Eve. I am human and the big elephant in the room is you are a vampire. What you are looking for I can not give you."

"I need your sunshine, Miranda. I know you don't need my darkness but I'll give it to you anyway. I'll give you everything I have." He said seriously turning on the couch to look directly at her.

"You and me being together is like a lion and a dam zebra. The ONLY thing I can offer you is friendship." Miranda replied seriously.

Ben winced at how cold, hollow, and dam certain she sounded. "Miranda.

"Ben you're a monster."

"So,"

"You drain people of their blood until they are dead."

Ben snorted. "I resent your accusation. I work hard every single day so I don't."

"Are you telling me you have never bitten and drained someone of their blood?"

"Of course I have but every last one of them deserved it and it was after I was first turned. I haven't since. It's been years." He stressed.

"Wow, you are working hard to convince me you're not a monster."

"I'm not trying to convince you I'm not a monster. I wouldn't lie to you. I'm trying to convince you that I'm the monster you need.
How am I supposed to just be your friend." Ben argued.

"I know that we have an attraction towards one another."

"Attraction is a very pale description of what I feel for you," Ben replied.

Miranda looked at his lips and bit her own before turning away. "It doesn't matter. I don't understand this and I don't understand you. So I don't want to do this with you. I can be your friend but no more. No less."

"Friends no more, no less," Ben repeated sadly before blowing out a breath. "Okay," he relented.  He would spend time getting to know her as friends and whatever, but he was certain that she would fall in love with him. She already loved him she just didn't know it yet.

"Okay, now I have to go back to work for a few hours and then get my son from daycare and head home. Will I see you at work tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'm all better," Ben spoke standing and leading her to the door. "Oh wait,"

He walked over to the easel and grabbed the canvas handing it to her. Miranda stared down at the sketch she forgot to grab last night and looked up at him. "Thank you."