I sucked one last time, slower and deeper, before finally pulling away. Only two faint pink marks remained where the fangs had pierced her. Color had fully returned to Maya's face. Her breathing was steady again. She was completely healed.
I then put on a show of sudden weakness, swaying as if the effort — or a small amount of residual venom — had affected me. I collapsed backward onto the bamboo floor.
Maya immediately scrambled over, her still-exposed thigh and the clinging red panties fully visible as she leaned over me in panic.
"Dexter?! What happened?! Dexter! Dexter! Open your eyes!"
Rachel looked equally alarmed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mom's worried expression… until I caught her gaze and gave her a small, deliberate wink when the other two weren't looking.
Mom's thought reached me at once, dry and exasperated.
[This bastard is pretending again… hmph.]
