Bloodbound Desires

Nora!

"Nora!" I yelled, trying to catch my breath as I joined her at the bustling bar. It was as if Xavier not confirming anything about our relationship made me feel at ease. He didn’t want to label it, and I didn’t want a label.

Never in my life had I felt this way, I’d often demanded, wanted them to make it official, but with Xavier everything was different. Especially the way he made me feel from the waist downward.

“Oh, there you are," she responded with her eyes twinkling. I fumbled with my skirt, attempting to straighten it. Whenever he approached us at the bar, he'd either playfully smack my butt or request someone to summon his "woman" and fetch him a drink.

Xavier had a primal air about him, a presence that sent shivers down everyone's spine. There were rumors circulating, ridiculous tales of him being a vampire, which supposedly explained his nocturnal nature. After all, he worked in a club—nighttime was his domain.

It was crazy the way everyone behaved around him. Scared but then flirtatious, even Sebastian too and I didn’t even think he was gay.

"Eva, have we been keeping busy upstairs again?" Nora winked. Normally, I would've laughed and joined in the banter, but tonight, I wasn't in the mood. Xavier had been a bit rough, possessive even. He claimed I needed to let loose, but he was different tonight.

So much so, that if we hadn’t been together the last few weeks, then I would have thought he was someone completely different.

"Cover for me, Nora. I need to go. Des wants to talk tonight. I have a feeling this could be it!" she screeched excitedly before rushing off to serve another thirsty client.

“Go. Go. Go,” I encouraged her, thinking that she’d wanted this for so long, and I’d wanted it for her.

The idea of Des getting down on his knee and proposing to Nora had me really excited.

We had to connect with travel agents and hotels, and offer them enticing discounts. I shared my proposals with Xavier, and he was genuinely impressed. Of course, my recent degree in which I’d just obtained in marketing and graduating helped too. I longed to see significant changes in the place, believing it had the potential to become something truly special if someone put in the effort. I hoped Lucian, wherever he was at the moment, would see it the same way. Xavier had been intentionally vague about his whereabouts.

"On my way!" I called out, responding to the demanding cries for drinks from the clients, their voices blending together in a symphony of thirst.

* * *

As I entered my apartment, wanting to be alone, I realized I hadn't been spending as many nights here lately. Xavier had occupied much of my time and thoughts.

I sighed heavily and picked up my phone, dialing Xavier's number, because the way he had behaved earlier weighed heavily on my mind. Finally, he answered, and I took a deep breath as I didn’t know how he would react to what I was about to say.

"Hey, Xavier," I said, trying to steady my emotions. "I just wanted to talk... about us."

Silence hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken questions. I hesitated, unsure of how to articulate my feelings. Then, with a resolute breath, I began pouring my heart out, my words carrying the weight of my doubts and desires.

"I've been feeling overwhelmed, Xavier," I confessed, my voice trembling with vulnerability. "Our connection is intense, and I love that, but at times I need, time to be myself outside of our relationship."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, as if Xavier was carefully considering his response. My heart pounded in my chest.

"I understand, Eva," Xavier finally spoke, his voice tinged with sincerity. "I never want to suffocate you or make you feel trapped."

I smiled a sense of reassurance replacing the initial tension that had gripped my heart.

"Thank you, Xavier," I whispered, my voice filled with warmth. "I appreciate your support. It means the world to me."

As the conversation drew to a close, I felt a renewed sense of clarity and determination. It was as if a weight had been lifted, allowing me to see our relationship in a fresh light. With a deep breath, I mustered the courage to utter the words that had taken root within me.

"It's going to be fine, Xavier," I said, my voice steady but filled with tenderness.

As the line went silent, I slowly hung up the phone, a sense of serenity settling within me. I was exhausted and longed for one night, or rather one morning, without the intensity of s*x.

A few weeks ago, I had been in tears over not having a boyfriend, and now that I had one, I found myself complaining that my body needed a break. Chuckling to myself, I stripped down and jumped into bed.

I heard a noise in Nora’s room that startled me, because I thought I was alone.

“Nora, is that you?" I questioned, squinting my eyes in the dim light. I was so tired, having arrived home around seven in the morning.

Nora grabbed me as she rushed out of her room, into mine. I tried to make sense of her words. "Des... he said he's met someone new. He doesn't love me. He doesn't love me, Eva."

Where had this come from?

"It doesn't make any sense," I murmured, meeting her tear-filled eyes. I could feel her heartache as if it were my own. Yet, this wasn't the time for probing questions. There were too many I wanted to ask, like why Des had become so moody lately. He had changed, and not for the better. Refusing to spend time with her during his off days and isolating himself from their mutual friends, he seemed like an entirely different person. Damn, she was better off without him. I just didn't have the heart to say it to her. I might not be an expert on relationships, but I sure as hell knew my way around identifying a douchebag.

"Don't worry," I whispered soothingly, my hand searching for the light switch as I enveloped her in a comforting embrace. Grateful that I had chosen to be here instead of at Xavier's, I realized she would have faced this heartbreak alone otherwise. Something inside me had urged me to return to the apartment. Intuition, a faithful companion. I silently expressed my gratitude as she gradually quieted her sobs, as we headed to my bed and I comforted her in my arms.