"If you ever want another cup of coffee, you won't do it," she replied. "Promise me you won't bite me."
"Would it bother you if I did?"
Her head dropped back, and she swallowed hard. The moment stretched on as the others worked on the camera and tripod. Jessi felt Xander's heartbeat against her chest. His breathing synced with hers, until they breathed the same air at the same pace. The heat and size of his body, the erotic pose, his direct gaze … all fed the desire burning within her.
"It's not gonna work," she whispered. "I won't be Tuesday."
"I've got a week."
"I'm going to lunch with Gerry tomorrow."
"He knows his place in this mess," he mused. "I'll make you a deal. Be Tuesday, and I won't bite you."
"No to both!" she said, hearing her own uneven breathing. "I don't want to sleep with some sadistic man-whore, and I don't want rabies."
"I think they're called gigolos, and I am gonna bite you." His decisive whisper was husky.
Her eyes went to the fangs the size of paring knives. A bite with those things would kill her. There was no way he was serious.
"Fine you win. I believe you're a vampire now. But I'm not sleeping with you," she relented.
"Wrong answer."
"We're set, Xander," Laurencio sounded relieved. "Nothing wrong with my camera."
The assistant straightened her hair once more then stepped back.
"Love the fangs," Laurencio said.
"Give her a bite, Xander," Xander whispered.
"Give her a bite, Xander."
"I will drop you and your cat off at the humane society!" she said, starting to believe he was serious.
"Just don't move," Xander told her. "It won't hurt. If you do … no guarantees you make it out of this one alive. Your choice." He lowered his head to the side of her neck away from the camera and nuzzled her neck in a way that made her heart race faster.
"You won't bite me," she said. A small part of her hoped he did or at least, he turned that nuzzling into a hot kiss.
"Don't move," he warned.
His grip on her forearms tightened, and he pressed them into the sand. It was the second sign he was serious. The third: a pinch in her neck. She jerked at her arms, unable to dislodge them from his grip.
Jessi felt his teeth sink into her neck, confused when there was no pain beyond the initial puncture. She heard the sound of the camera snapping pictures and began to think she'd entered some sort of surreal world. Utterly still, she forced herself to breathe, or she'd pass out.