His eyebrows shot up. "What?"

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "Feed on me," I repeated, my heart beating against my ribcage. "Then you don't have to leave, and I don't need to worry about something happening to you."

"No." He shook his head adamantly and stepped back. In the next breath, he was clear across the room. "Unless you're giving me permission to claim you, I absolutely cannot feed from you."

I knew how strong his instincts were and ...