Chapter Text
A week had passed since Vittoria and Carlisle had crossed that tantalizing threshold into flirtation and intimacy—teasing touches, lingering glances, and stolen kisses that left them both breathless. Yet, through it all, Vittoria found herself grappling with a persistent nagging feeling. She couldn’t shake the unease that settled in the pit of her stomach every time she thought about their interactions.
Despite the electric chemistry between them, something was off. Carlisle had never once made a move to sleep with her, and it left her feeling insecure. Was she not good enough? Had she misread all those lingering touches and heated looks? The questions plagued her.
The more time she spent with him, the stranger things became. He was always awake when she was around, always ready to hang out, his energy seemingly boundless. She noticed that he went to bed later than her and woke up earlier, yet he looked incredible every single morning. His skin was impossibly flawless, his hair perfectly tousled, and those golden eyes—there was something about the way they glinted with an inner light that left her breathless.
It wasn’t just his appearance; it was the sheer strength he exuded. There were moments when he’d casually lift heavy boxes or carry her bags with ease, and she couldn’t help but feel a shiver of unease. He was incredibly strong—almost unnaturally so.
Her thoughts spiraled as she watched him one evening, sitting across from her at his kitchen table. They were sharing dinner—pasta and fresh garlic bread—but the food was merely an afterthought. Her heart raced, caught in the web of her contemplation. She could feel the pull to confront him about it, to ask what was going on. But just as she opened her mouth, Carlisle’s gaze shifted, as if he could sense the turmoil brewing inside her.
“Vittoria,” he said gently, his voice a low, soothing murmur, “Is something bothering you?”
She took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she searched for the right words. “Carlisle, can I ask you something?”
“Of course. You can ask me anything.” His eyes locked onto hers, earnest and patient.
“Why haven’t you... you know... slept with me?” The question hung heavily in the air, the words feeling like a weight she’d been carrying for too long. “I mean, we have this connection, and it’s so intense... but you’ve never made a move.”
Carlisle's expression shifted, and she noticed a flicker of something in his eyes—was it guilt? “Vittoria, it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just complicated.”
“Complicated?” she echoed, her confusion deepening. “You’ve got to give me more than that.”
He sighed, looking pained as he ran a hand through his hair. “There’s something you don’t know about me. Something that may change the way you see me.”
Her heart raced, anticipation mingling with fear. “What is it?”
He hesitated, the air thick with tension. “I’m a vampire.”
The words hung in the air between them, and Vittoria blinked, processing what he had just said. “Wait, what?” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are you serious? Like, a real vampire?”
“Yes,” he replied, his tone grave. “It’s true. I know it sounds crazy, but it is who I am. It’s why I don’t sleep like a normal person. I don’t need to. My body doesn’t require it. I have... different needs.”
“Different needs?” she echoed, her heart racing. “Like what?”
Carlisle leaned forward, his expression earnest. “I’m stronger than I look. My senses are heightened. I can hear things from far away and see in the dark. The way you think of vampires from stories—those things are true, but they don’t capture the full reality. I don’t want to scare you, but I also don’t want to lie to you.”
Vittoria’s mind raced as she tried to wrap her head around this new reality. “So, all those times you lifted heavy things without breaking a sweat... and how you always seem so alert? It’s because you’re... a vampire?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice steady. “And it’s also why I’ve hesitated to take things further with you. I didn’t want to put you in a position where you might be in danger. I care about you too much for that.”
She swallowed hard, feeling a mix of fear and fascination. “Danger? Why would it be dangerous?”
“Because I have urges,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “And I’ve fought them for so long. If I were to lose control, even for a moment… I don’t want to think about what might happen.”
Vittoria felt a shiver run down her spine, but the reality of his words also ignited something within her—an intoxicating blend of excitement and danger. “Is that why you haven’t slept with me yet, Carlisle? Because you’re afraid you’ll lose control?”
His eyes darkened, a flicker of something primal passing over his features. “Yes, but it’s more than that. I want it to be special. You deserve that. I’ve seen too many relationships built on lust alone, and I don’t want to be just another person in your life. I want to be everything for you, but it has to be right. It has to be mutual. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
Vittoria took a moment to absorb his words, her heart racing as she considered the implications. “You want to take it slow?”
“Not just slow,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I want to make sure you’re ready for everything that comes with being with me. I care about you far too much to let that slip away.”
A warmth spread through her at his sincerity, but a nagging doubt still lingered. “So, you’re telling me that vampires are real, and you’re one of them?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, his gaze unwavering. “And I understand if this is too much for you. I’d never want to push you into something you’re not ready for.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just... it’s a lot to take in. But it explains so much.” She paused, a small smile breaking through her shock. “You could have told me sooner, you know.”
“I wanted to,” he admitted. “But I feared how you would react.”
“Honestly? I’m shocked, but I’m also intrigued,” she replied, her mind racing with a thousand questions. “But if it’s true, if you really are a vampire, does that mean we can never sleep together? That there will always be this barrier?”
Carlisle hesitated, then took a deep breath. “It doesn’t have to be a barrier, Vittoria. I want to explore this with you, but I need you to understand what it means. There will be challenges, but I believe it can work if we’re both willing.”
The tension between them shifted once again, but this time it was charged with something deeper—a mixture of fear, excitement, and undeniable attraction. “You’re not afraid of what I am?” he asked, searching her eyes.
“Honestly?” Vittoria replied, her voice steady. “I’m more afraid of not knowing you completely. But I want to know, Carlisle. I want to understand you, even if it means facing the unknown.”
Carlisle smiled, relief washing over him, though the intensity of their situation still lingered in the air. “Then let’s take this one step at a time. We can figure it out together.”
With those words, the atmosphere between them shifted once more, transforming from uncertainty into a bond forged in the fires of truth. And as their eyes locked, Vittoria felt the walls around her heart beginning to crumble, the allure of the unknown pulling her deeper into Carlisle’s world—into the very essence of the man she was falling for, vampire or not.
“Okay,” she whispered, a smile spreading across her face. “Let’s do this.”
And with that, they both knew that they were on the cusp of something extraordinary—a journey that would change everything they knew about love, fear, and the connections that could bind them together against all odds.