A gasp leaves his lips, his fingers tightening on Asher's, and Nathaniel holds that pale blue gaze. This is one of many reasons why Nathaniel had refused to return to Anita's full time. These moments would be lost to him if he never slept beside the dead vampire, woke with Asher. After so many months of feeding Asher, he barely even notices the pain anymore, able to fully focus on the simple pleasure of feeding him.

His other hand comes up and combs through Asher's hair as Nathaniel blinks slowly, shivers. There was nothing quite like feeding Asher, and Nathaniel would never give it up.