GERALD
We lay side by side, hands stretched out beside us, beads of perspiration cascading down our bodies, our chests rising and falling tumultuously as we stared blankly at the ceiling. I wrestled with the reality of what I had just permitted. Not only had I sank my fangs into a woman who wasn't my mate, fully conscious of the consequences, but I had also narrowly escaped, thanks to the goddess's grace, the moment of branding her as mine.
However, as I searched deeply into my soul, I didn't feel an ounce of guilt about it.
As I should.
As I normally did.
Something was going on somewhere—something forbiddenly abnormal, and goddess help me, I was enabling it.
Dragging a deep breath in through my nose, I slowly let it out through my mouth and shut my eyes. Raising my right hand, I co
