I'm beginning to feel like an idiot with my hand out waiting for Cordelia to accept my deal. The amount of earth-shattering information I just dropped on her must have her in shock. This poor human came here thinking she was part of a themed singles' getaway, and now she is learning that the monsters under her bed are real. That alone should have her gripping my hand and agreeing to pretend we made a connection.

It's such an immature bargain to make. Who in their right mind would agree to fake date someone? To be honest, I'm hoping a woman desperate for my protection would. I can't go the entire summer, stuck on this island, having my best friend play matchmaker for me. Lorelai means well, but no one here is catching my attention, and time is running out. The best I can do is make her believe she almost accomplished what she set out to do with me. A little white lie to keep Lorelai focused on herself and not my impossible situation.

"Cordelia?" I ease my hand back, ready to accept my fate, but she stops me.

"Wait," she says, her fingertips brushing my palm as she closes her hand around mine. "Yes. We have a deal."

I raise my eyebrows and look down at her in surprise. "Really? You're sure? Don't feel like you must just because I—"

"No. I don't feel that way. You're 100% right. I have no idea what I've gotten myself into here, and to be honest, I'm fucking terrified. You saw me last night in the cemetery. I know there was someone in my room, and now that you've told me all this, I think you do too. And trust me; I've read enough romance novels to know all about fake dating. So yes. I'm in." She flashes me a bright smile, and her grey eyes twinkle with silver starlight.

I brush my thumb over the soft skin on the back of her hand, savoring the feel of her warmth for a second longer than necessary. I'd most likely take advantage of her nearness a little longer if it were not for one lingering thought consuming my brain.

"Are you telling me this is a real thing that people do? They pretend to date each other?"

She laughs, and the sound does something to my insides that I can't explain, but I also don't want to stop. "I don't know how often it happens in real life, but it happens in books all the time. It's all the rage right now, actually. It's my favorite trope. So getting to live it, and with a hot vampire? Even if this all seems pretty impossible and I might be losing it right now, I'm pretty damn lucky, all things considered." Her cheeks are incredibly red, and I wonder how much wine she had to drink before I got to the table.

I still have a small recollection of how wine and ale affected me before the venom of my sire changed me. As a young man, I'd made plenty of questionable choices under the influence of alcohol.

I clear my throat and begin our stroll down the shore again. Cordelia keeps a steady pace with me as I say, "I understand if you need a moment to really think about this. And I want you to know that I'd never impose anything upon you that you didn't want. We can keep things between us sweet and simple."

She tilts her head as she slips her arm into mine, tucking herself into my side. "Nonsense. I know I'm being a little silly, and you probably think I'm drunk off my ass. I am not. I'm only a little tipsy. I want you to know two things. One, my mother is YouTube famous. For being a ghost hunter. She's the one who gifted me this trip, actually. Her and my dad. So needless to say, I've grown up around the idea that all of this," she pauses and gestures indiscriminately around us as if to say all of this paranormal stuff, "is real. It's honestly not that big of a surprise or stretch to me. I accept it a little easier than your average person."

I nod, taking in this new information. "That's...actually fascinating. And your mother, did she ever mention that this was a real paranormal singles' adventure?"

She laughs again, and I shiver. "No. I don't think she knew that. Or she would've never sent me here. At least not without a warning."

"Fair. And the second thing?"

She turns to face me this time, stopping me in my tracks, placing her hand on my chest. If anyone else were around, watching us from a distance, we'd look like a couple sharing a private moment. "I came on this singles' adventure with the intention of finding a match. I am fine with flirting, touching," she takes another step and closes the distance between us, "kissing...whatever it takes to convince Lorelai that we are together and to leave you be. And if whatever is after me needs convincing...well, that's just icing on the cake."

My voice is gruff as I push out my next words. "You understand that my glass has not one time been filled with wine? I very much like my meals fresh and warm and without a touch of the goddess' magical essence." Cordelia's eyebrows knit together, confusion written all over her beautiful face, so I give a little better explanation. "Where animals were created by the hand of God and humans were made in his likeness, the goddess took things a step further with the beings she created. She gave them each a speck of her magical essence. It runs through the blood of each supernatural and has a very distinct taste that doesn't appeal to those who feed off blood. Your blood smells like a gourmet meal pumping through your veins. While every other creature here smells like spoiled milk to me."

And for fuck's sake, instead of looking scared, or even alarmed that I crave the scent of her blood, she looks...intrigued. Electrified, even. Like the prospect of it is exciting to her.

"Do you mean you...want to feed from me?" she whispers, her tone both incredulous and scandalized, but with a hint of what cannot be mistaken for anything else but lust.

I avoid telling her the details of the truth and paint it with a broad stroke. "Human blood is very alluring to me. I suppose you can think of it as driving by your favorite restaurant and getting a sniff of the dish you love the most. It is hard to pass it up."

"Yeah, I usually don't. So what happens if I let you bite me?" I cock a brow at her and she lifts a shoulder in a casual shrug. "What? I figure if we are going to be 'dating' I need to know all this stuff. I mean, Lorelai doesn't pull any punches. She's going to ask me all the dirty details and want me to tell her way too much information. So, spill the tea." She gestures to an empty wooden beach chair and sits down, pulling me down gently to sit next to her.

Cordelia isn't wrong. In fact, she is very observant. Lorelai will ask questions, and if my "fake" match doesn't give up the details freely, the siren will lure them out. It isn't my place to share with Cordelia what Lorelai's secrets are, but I can prepare her to give a good performance.

"A bite and draw of your blood would be a euphoric experience for you. It's the venom in our saliva that causes the feeling. But if a vampire who doesn't possess self-control were to leave their teeth in your skin for too long or drink too much they could kill you. It is a fine line between pleasure and death."

I feel her shiver beside me and when her heart speeds, the aroma I had just described to her only gets stronger, and I have to put a bit of distance between us.

And of course, she notices, but she doesn't move. Instead, she asks, "What if—I mean, how does one become a vampire? Are you born one? Or did someone turn you into one?" Her face blanches and she shakes her head, running her fingers through her hair. "I'm—I'm sorry, that's probably way too personal. You don't have to tell me."

"In the last millennium, vampires have evolved and for the first time, they have produced offspring. It is still very rare. The majority of vampires were turned. Some by their choosing and others by force. My species is still the most uncivilized, some forgoing consent when feeding their cravings. I was one of countless who was created by an older stronger vampire—a sire."

Cordelia nods and opens her mouth, closing it once then twice before finally just asking. "Would you ever...would you ever bite me if I asked you to?"

I run my hands over my face to cover my longing for a taste and to hide my shame that I want to give in so easily. "That is a very intimate request for someone who is only pretending to be with me, don't you think?"

She shrugs and there is sincerity in the simple gesture. In her world, vampires are merely a fantasy and often insatiable in their need, and that desire for blood has been sexualized... and rightfully so when done correctly.

"What is the sports analogy humans use for the phases of sexual milestones? Baseball? Feeding from you would be a grand slam, Cordelia. It requires a lot of trust and vulnerability. It isn't something you want to ask for right after we've made the kind of deal we've made."

Her cheeks turn a shade of scarlet I'm not sure I've ever seen before on a human's flesh. "Oh, no, no, I—I wasn't asking you to, I just—I just wondered if you ever would—ya know, I mean, not even necessarily me, but any human if you were da—" She takes a deep breath and threads her fingers in her hair, hanging her head toward her lap. "For fuck's sake, I think I'll go drown myself now. Sorry I won't be able to help you after all."

I hook my finger under her chin, tilting her face until our eyes meet. "If it makes you feel any better, the thought has crossed my mind with you. More than once. So please, reconsider your stroll into the ocean."

I sense her breath slowing down, and her anxiety seems to wane. "Oh. Well, in that case, I suppose I'll stay above water. In fact, I'm flattered."

I loop her arm inside of mine and we stand. Continuing our walk again, I say, "You should be. I'm not here for the reasons everyone else is. Finding someone who has captured my attention the way you have is unexpected. There is something about you that I'm fascinated with."

She laughs and shakes her head, and I get a whiff of her coconut shampoo. Mixed with the intoxicating aroma of her blood, it's heavenly. And I don't understand why; I've not given two shits about any scent besides blood since I was changed.

"You're fascinated with me? That's funny."

"Why?"

"Because. No one is ever fascinated with me. I'm an accounting major. I like math. I'm good at math. I like to read. I'm set to take over my father's firm when he retires, and I own a Subaru. Trust me; there is nothing fascinating about me."

I stop walking and drag my eyes over her curvaceous body. It's not just her rare beauty that has me captivated. Although, I must admit it is hard to look away. Her silver hair and matching eyes are more attractive than the golden coloring of angels, and her hourglass figure is more enticing than the song of a siren. This fragile creature before me is the embodiment of the temptation Eve felt with the forbidden fruit. And I am hungry for a taste.

"Consider this our first disagreement, Cordelia. You just might be the distraction I need to endure this god forsaken summer."