Bound by the Blood moon

Chaper 10

Leo extended his wrist toward her, his posture a blend of assurance and reverence. "Pray, take as much as you require. I assure you, I am well accustomed to enduring such burdens."

She was overcome with embarrassment, prompting her to gently push his arm away. Her eyes, drawn upwards, traced the elegant line of his neck, a realm she had scarcely dared to consider.

"We only partake from the wrist when there exists no familiarity between us and... the victim," she faltered, regretting the starkness of the word. For he was far from a mere prey; this was no common pursuit. "What I wish to convey," she amended, clearing her throat in an effort to steady her nerves, "is that it is customary, upon embarking on the initial intimacy with one's beloved, to feed from the neck."

He discerned the hunger that glimmered within her eyes, fixated upon the thrum of life coursing through his veins. Yet, as if startled by her own desire, she averted her eyes, striving to mask her predatory longing.

Slowly, she began to slip free of the covers, her movements tentative and uncertain. He perceived her apprehension, which in turn ignited an unease within him.

"Pray, can you not simply partake from me without... that formality?" he ventured to enquire.

Her eyes flew to his with confusion and hurt etching her features. "Is this not what you desire? Given our bond, the particulars ought to be irrelevant."

"You have never..." he hesitated, the words eluding him momentarily. "Been intimate with a man before, have you?"

She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms about herself as if to shield against a sudden chill. "Most assuredly not. I was intended for betrothal to Emeric. He was to be my beloved." Her voice held an unmistakable reluctance.

At the mere mention of Emeric, Leo's muscles tensed, and she keenly observed the subtle shift in his bearing.

"Were you content with this arrangement?" he asked, eager to glean her thoughts.

"Happiness was a luxury not afforded to me, Leo. It was a matter of expectation, and nothing more," she sighed, tucking her chin into her chest as a veil of melancholy surrounding her.

"I have no desire to claim you in this manner. You are not prepared; it would not sit well with my conscience," he professed, making an effort to temper his own longing. The notion of possessing her, of being the first to call her his, flickered temptingly in his mind.

To his surprise, she offered a bitter chuckle, swiftly wrapping herself in the covers as though they were a fortress, turning her back to him.

"I have not caused you offence, have I?" he questioned earnestly.

"Nay, you have merely confirmed the futility of our circumstances, Leo. I am a source of revulsion to you, am I not? What gentleman would shy from intimacy with his so-called mate? Yet, you recoil at the mere thought," she spoke with sadness.

He extended a hand, then faltered, the gravity of her words. "That could not be further from the truth. My desire for you is profound, far exceeding my ability to express. I could never be repelled by your presence. You are the most exquisite woman I have ever encountered, Charlotte. I stand entirely at your service. You must find nourishment in whatever manner it pleases you; I am indifferent to the source. I merely wish for that to be a moment of genuine significance for you, and here, in this setting, hardly seems fitting," he declared, exhaling a heavy breath.

She pondered his words, her brow drawn down in contemplation, before she sat upright and regarded him. She said nothing but pointed at his wrist. "Just for now," she acknowledged, and he acquiesced with a nod.