Crimson Bonds

The Aftermath

As I sit there, catching my breath, I can feel the room shift around us. It isn't just the aftermath of the feeding—the rush of blood leaving my body and the odd sensation that lingers. There's something else in the air, something unspoken yet undeniable.

Nikolai, ever the playful one, is the first to break the silence, though this time his usual teasing tone is replaced with something sharper, more intense—desire, maybe, or curiosity.

"You're a lot stronger than you let on, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice low, almost like a purr as he moves closer. His hand brushes against my arm, fingers lingering in a way that sends a shiver through me. I'm not sure if it's because of the feeding or something else entirely.

Lila sits beside me, her touch gentle as she monitors me with those sharp, careful eyes. But there's something different now—a tension that simmers just beneath the surface, something that makes my pulse quicken even more. Her hand remains on my arm, but the way her fingers brush against my skin feels different, more deliberate.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Lila asks, handing me a bottle of water, her voice barely more than a whisper. But I can hear it—there's more behind her words. Her gaze lingers on me, and I see the flicker of emotion in her eyes—something she's holding back.

"I'm fine," I manage to say, though my voice is quieter than I intend. As I sip the water, the dizziness starts to fade, replaced by a warmth that spreads through me, lingering from the bites. My skin buzzes, my heartbeat races, but I'm not sure if it's because of the feeding or the fact that the three of them are so close, watching me with a kind of intensity I haven't felt before.

Dante stands a little further back, his eyes darker now, the usual control he wields so effortlessly slipping. He doesn't speak, but his gaze is locked on me, like he's weighing something, deciding. There's a heat in his stare, one that makes my breath catch in my throat.

I swallow hard, unsure of what to do next. The tension between us has shifted, and I'm not entirely sure how to handle it. The connection we share is undeniable, but now, sitting here in the aftermath of the feeding, I feel it even more strongly. It's like an electric current in the air, pulling us all closer.

Nikolai's grin widens as he leans in, his hand sliding up my arm, his fingers brushing against my neck where the bite marks still throb faintly. "You're not just fine," he murmurs, his voice dropping lower, more seductive. "You're something else."

The heat in his touch sends a shockwave through me, and I find myself leaning into him, my breath catching in my throat. I'm not sure what I'm doing, but I can't stop myself. The pull between us is too strong.

Lila's hand moves from my arm to my thigh, her touch featherlight but deliberate, her gaze locked on mine. "Olivia," she says softly, her voice laced with something darker, something more intimate. "You don't have to hold back."

I swallow hard, the warmth inside me spreading, making it difficult to think clearly. I can feel their desire—Nikolai's, Lila's, even Dante's—and it's stirring something deep inside me, something I'm not sure I want to resist. The air around us is thick with it, with the unspoken tension that has been building between us.

Dante finally steps closer, his presence overwhelming as he kneels in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine. His hand reaches out, fingers brushing against my cheek, and the simple touch sends a jolt of heat straight through me.

"You've given us strength," he says, his voice low, rough around the edges. "But there's something more between us now, isn't there?"

My heart pounds in my chest, my breath shallow as I look between the three of them. I can't deny it. Whatever has been simmering beneath the surface has finally come to light, and I can feel it pulling us all together, like we're all connected by something more than just blood and survival.