Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 139076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
But beyond his sexiness, he looked rejuvenated and alert. More of the vampire’s synapses were firing now, which would definitely make it harder to escape. But that was okay, since he’d come to the conclusion that running wasn’t going to solve shit. That didn’t mean Fox was at all comfortable around Winter, but he was hoping they could come to at least a small truce. If not, he could still run later. He hoped.
The vampire stepped into the room, wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt, which only accentuated his broad shoulders and added to his bad-boy rock-star look. His long hair was still wet and pulled into a ponytail.
While Winter showered, Fox had made the bed and tidied up the room, not that there was much to clean. He wasn’t a neat freak, but the cleaning gave him something to do so the claustrophobia didn’t kick in. After being locked in a room for several days with a bunch of angry vamps, he wasn’t feeling much better about being locked in a room with a sexy but cranky vampire.
A hot blush stole across his cheeks when the room service arrived. He knew he’d ordered quite a bit, but he’d been hungry and everything on the menu looked good. To his credit, Winter didn’t say a word or even blink at the amount of food.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a table to set everything on that gave him easy access, so Fox spread everything out across the bed and sat up by his pillow. He pulled close the burger and fries, and his stomach growled, pleased it was finally getting something with a little weight and substance.
When Winter returned from signing the check and locking the door behind the hotel staff member, he paused and smirked at Fox.
“What?” Fox demanded around the most delicious mouthful of burger. Cooked to perfection with crisp lettuce, lots of pickles, extra cheese, and condiments. No fucking tomatoes. Tomatoes could rot in hell.
“You look like a prince surrounded by the offerings of his people,” Winter muttered.
Fox rolled his eyes and took another bite. Okay, he probably shouldn’t have ordered the burger, fries, small pepperoni pizza, club sandwich, and slice of chocolate cake, but he thought he could wrap the club in napkins and keep it for later. With the way things were going, he wasn’t sure when he was going to get his next meal, and it might be nice if he had something should he find himself suddenly on the run.
“Please eat something so I don’t look like a total pig,” Fox pleaded when his mouth was empty again.
Winter pulled over the chair from the small desk and placed it at the foot of the bed. He leaned in close, looking over everything before finally snagging a fry off the plate directly in front of Fox. He growled at the vampire, but he did it with a little lift of one corner of his mouth so he’d know it was a joke.
“I don’t get how a vampire can just stop eating food. It’s soooo good, and you would have already spent years doing it. Habit, ya know?”
Winter gave a little shrug as his eyes skimmed over the array of food. He settled on the smallest slice of pizza. “It’s easiest when you’re a fledgling, first reborn as a vampire. Each night you wake up, and the craving for blood is pretty intense. Your priority is hunting and getting that blood. After you feed, everything feels pretty fantastic.”
“Like a full belly?”
“Mmm…more like a small buzz from alcohol. The world feels like a better place and you’re relaxed. Happy.”
Fox sniffed. “You’d think vampires would feed every night, then.”
“Unfortunately, that feeling fades after the first few months.”
“Ahh…bummer. Vamps might be a little less cranky if you could get happy from feeding.”
Winter smirked at him around a mouthful of pizza. “Are you saying that I’m too cranky for you?”
“Oh no, Big Sexy.” Winter sat up suddenly, almost choking on the nickname Fox had skillfully dropped on him. “You’re not cranky,” he continued around Winter’s muted coughing noises. “You just needed some sleep. You seem much cuddlier and more manageable now.”
“I’m not cuddly nor will you be managing me.”
Fox muttered, “Someone needs to manage you,” and returned to his burger.
Winter sighed and got up to grab a water bottle from the mini fridge. “Since we don’t get anything out of eating, it’s an easy habit to break. Even now, if I eat too much, I’m more likely to feel lethargic and bloated.”
“Still a shame. I might not look like it, but I fucking love to eat. Love trying new things.”
Winter grinned at him, and there was a wicked light in his blue eyes that managed to make Fox forget all about food. “Then I guess I’ll just have to try a bite of whatever you’re eating while we’re together.”