"No."
The sight of him in bed made her blood surge. His head remained shoved under a pillow, and his body relaxed, as if he were falling back asleep. Turned on and starving, she gingerly crawled across the bed and settled beside him on her belly, pausing guiltily before lapping up the bubbles of blood. She drank until full.
"Thank you, Damian," she whispered and placed a small kiss on his elbow.
His other hand snaked out and rolled her onto her side beside him. He looped one leg across her hips so she couldn't move.
"Damian-" she protested.
"Hush."
The curtains closed at his silent command, and she lay still, waiting for him to make some move on her. He tucked her against him and fell asleep. The sense of peace descended upon her again, and she relaxed against him, content to her soul to be surrounded by his scent and heat.