“A fling? Nina, you don’t blood-bond with a fling.” Delilah’s tone was scolding.

“Who says anything about blood-bonding?” How old-fashioned was Delilah? Just because she’d slept with Amaury didn’t mean she’d get to marry him. And besides, hadn’t Amaury said he wasn’t the promise kind of guy?

“But you and Amaury are blood-bonded.”

Now the poor woman had obviously gone off the deep end. Was that what pregnancy did to women? “No offense, but what gives you that crazy idea?” Nina reached for her glass and brought it to her lips.

“Amaury told Samson that you blood-bonded.”

The water spewed from Nina’s mouth as she almost choked. “What?” Something was seriously wrong here.

Delilah gave her a startled look. “You mean you don’t know?” Her forehead wrinkled even more.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Frantically, Nina searched her memory for everything Amaury had ever told her about blood-bonding. She remembered Luther’s story clearly, but at no point had Amaury explained how it actually worked. Why would he say such an outrageous thing to Samson?

Delilah came around the counter and sat on the stool next to her. “Tell me what happened earlier tonight when you were with Amaury.”

Nina felt heat rise into her cheeks. She couldn’t possibly discuss her sex life with a woman she’d met only twice. “Sorry, but I can’t.”

She felt Delilah’s warm hand on her arm. “It’s important. Tell me what happened.”

With a reluctant movement, Nina opened her mouth. “We had sex.”

“That goes without saying. What happened during sex?”

Nina cleared her throat. She wanted details? “Can you be a little bit more specific?” She felt her cheeks flush.

“Did Amaury take your blood?”

The rush of blood to her head suddenly made her feel dizzy.

“Yes, but he feeds from others, and that doesn’t mean he blood-bonds with them.” There had to be some kind of misunderstanding. She knew for a fact that vampires fed off humans without any aftereffects. In fact, when she’d first started investigating Eddie’s death and followed some of them, she’d seen them feeding. That had been proof positive that they were vampires.

She felt Delilah’s hands on her shoulders, shaking her out of her thoughts.

“Did you take his blood?”

Nina’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. In the heat of passion she had sucked his blood and, by God, she’d found it erotic. But no way would she admit this to a stranger. It was hard enough to admit it to herself. And besides, he’d promised her it wouldn’t turn her into a vampire. Had he lied to her?

“Did you?”

Nina looked straight at her hostess. “No, that’d be gross!” The lie rolled off her lips like water.

“It’s one of the most erotic things to do with your partner. Whenever I drink from Samson—”

“You drink his blood?”

Delilah nodded. “It’s part of the bond. At first, it establishes the connection. Then later it sustains it. Nina, please tell me the truth. Did you drink from him while you had sex and while he drank from you?”

Nina closed her eyes and nodded.

“You blood-bonded with him. He was telling Samson the truth. You are his mate.”

His mate. She—she was Amaury’s mate. For eternity. Always. This couldn’t be true. “Why would he do that?” Amaury didn’t love her—he’d admitted that he couldn’t love. She knew their relationship was only temporary.

“He didn’t explain that to you? Then I guess, he didn’t ask for your permission either?” Delilah’s voice was deadpan.

Nina remembered the one thing he had asked her. “Unless you consider his question ‘do you want me?’ as asking permission.”

“Hardly,” Delilah said. “Did he just bite you without asking you? You could bring charges against him. Samson can bring it up with the council. How despicable of him!” She seemed truly annoyed with Amaury.

“Not exactly. I did ask him to bite me, but I didn’t know what it meant.” Suddenly she felt true anger well up in her. The arrogant macho had done it again: he’d imposed his will on her. As if his wish was her command! “That son of a bitch! He tricked me! He knew what he was doing, and he did it anyway. He’s gonna pay for that. I’ll feed him his balls for breakfast, and then I’m out of here!”

Fury coursed through her. He had blood-bonded with her without asking her, without explaining anything, like she was some woman who had no rights. What century was he living in? She’d show that bastard what he could do with his blood-bond.