I nodded. “Once a day.”
“Who do you drink off of since no-one can know?” Pearl asked. “Or do you use your powers to make them forget?” Illegally was left unsaid, but I heard it anyway.
“I only ever drank off Dominic, and he loved it, so I didn’t need to use my powers like that,” I informed them honestly.
“He knew?” Jack asked, sounding mystified.
“Of course he knew,” Ezra rumbled. “He was her mate. She would have bit him twice for their mate mark.” He paused. “Right?”
Another nod as I waited for their answer.
Pearl’s eyebrows came together even though she still stared at my fangs like the other two. “He was a Shifter. Shifters get naked a lot. How did no one see the Vamp mark?”
My lips twitched.
Ezra chuckled, vibrating on top of me. “She put it somewhere hidden.”
Pearl and Jack blinked, and then nodded studiously.
“What do you drink if…” Ezra’s nose crinkled. “Sweetheart, not bagged. That’s revolting.”
I shrugged the best I could under him. “How else am I supposed to drink without doing anything illegal? Since me being alive is illegal enough?”
His straight nose still scrunched, he ordered brusquely, “You’re not drinking that shit again. You’ll be stronger if you drink from the source, without all the processes they put the blood through. You’ll drink from me in the future.” I quit breathing under him, and his head jerked toward Pearl. “Or Pearl, if she lets you. I think Jack’s a little fang-frightened. Plus, he tastes like crap.”
Pearl nodded. “I don’t mind. Especially if it’ll make her even stronger than she is now.”
Jack muttered, “Well, hell. I’m not real big on the fangs, and have never let a Vamp drink off me before, but Pearl said it wasn’t bad. I’ll donate every third day.”
Frozen, I was sure my face was turning a horrible shade, as I hadn’t taken a breath yet.
They smirked, gazes still on my pearly fangs.
Ezra murmured, “Breathe. You should have known we weren’t going to kill you over some archaic law.”
Shaking his head, Jack muttered, “You know us better than that.”
Pearl clucked her tongue. “She was even going to shoot us to get away. Bad form, Lily. We would never kill you, so wake the hell up. We’re in this together. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
I sucked in a huge breath, and started weeping. They were serious. Their heartbeats were normal and I smelled no deception. They loved me that damn much.
Ezra muttered, “Shit. I didn’t expect that.” He sounded rattled.
“Of course you didn’t. You’re a guy. Quit restraining her and hug her,” Pearl ordered.
“Do something!” Jack’s eyes were enormous. “She looks so pitiful.”
I didn’t even care that they were staring down at me as I sobbed. I was just so frigging happy I couldn’t control myself. As soon as Ezra let go of my wrists, I wrapped my arms around Jack and Pearl, pulling them down onto Ezra and me, where he had followed directions and enfolded me in his arms. I sputtered against their faces, “You guys are so great. I couldn’t ask for better friends. Ever.”
Jack groaned, patting the top of my head.
Ezra grunted.
Pearl hushed me gently.
Once my sobs quieted, Ezra and Jack made a few manly rumbles and pulled away while Pearl helped me sit up, then she stood as I rested against the men leaning on my headboard, and we watched her pace my room as she pointed to Jack, asking, “Got a few more minutes to talk this through?”
Jack nodded instantly. “Nikki’s eating right now.” He glanced to me. “Oblivious. She’ll stay that way.”
Thank you, I mouthed, and kissed his cheek, earning an eye roll from him.
“Okay.” She started ticking away on her fingers. “First, drinking.” She stopped pacing, asking, “Are you thirsty now?”
My damn fangs wouldn’t go back up. “Yeah, I normally drink before I go to bed.”
Her tongue ran over her own teeth as she stared. “Alright. Take your pick.”
“She can’t drink off you today,” Ezra commented. “I’ve already done so.”
“Jack or Ezra, then.” She clapped her hands. “Chop-chop. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Swallowing a laugh, relief still heavily residing within me, I glanced at the two men. The decision was simple, but I felt I had to explain, so I said, “Jack, I’m picking Ezra. You’ve got your new mate to deal with tonight, and I don’t want you to be…tired.”
He grinned, because he was a dog that way. “Thank you. I’d prefer not to fall asleep on her when I’m supposed to be—”
I slapped a hand over his mouth, stopping that info. “Don’t want to know.”
His grin widened under my hand, but he kept quiet.
“How do you prefer it?” Ezra asked smoothly.
“Throat,” I answered honestly.
He didn’t even blink an eye, and began piling some pillows behind him against my headboard. Once he had a huge mound in place, he rested on them in an almost sitting position, but reclined enough so that he wouldn’t fall if I took too much.
I cleared my throat. “I need to—”
“I know,” he interrupted, patting his legs. “Hop on.”
“Okay,” I whispered, and moved to straddle him, climbing on top of him.
“He didn’t do that to me earlier,” Pearl mumbled.
Ezra educated them. “On a bed, unless she wants to lie to the side, this is the most comfortable for someone as short as her going at the throat. And, really, she won’t be able to reach if you’re standing, which is a bad idea in case of a fall. I’m taller, and was able to maneuver around you in the limo without pressing on you, but she wouldn’t be able to do that. Although, she could do it from behind if I wasn’t lying against the headboard, which she could do for you or Jack. Whatever you’re comfortable with. I’m used to this position, though, so it doesn’t bother me.”
“Hmm,” Jack hummed. “I’m thinking my mate won’t like her on me like that.”
We stopped. Stared. That was such a bizarre comment coming from his mouth.
He cleared his throat. “You know what I mean.” Yeah. We did. It was the mate bond.
Gently, I lifted Ezra’s chin, and lowered my face, strangely nervous.