My blood approves

After all, I was sobbing because a vampire had just tasted my blood, and now we both might die because of it. Nothing really seemed that strange anymore, although everything had gotten increasingly painful.

Chapter 13

After a shower so long and intense that my skin came out red and raw, Mae decided that it was time that she sat down and had a long talk with me.

Reluctantly, she admitted that she didn’t understand what Jack and I had gone through because she’d only been turned for six months when she met Ezra, and they had been together ever since. There was obviously something very different going on with us, but as long as Peter felt a claim to me, I couldn’t do anything with Jack, or I was risking both of our lives.

Jack and I would have to find a way to be friends without ever being caught up in any moments, and that would probably be easy if I didn’t do anything stupid like, say, bite my lip so he’s attracted to my blood. I ended up staying most of the night over there anyway. There was no way I could sleep after that, so we decided to pretend like nothing had happened. Jack put in The Crow and The Dark Knight, and I curled up on the couch with Mae. He sat on the floor on the far other side of the room with Matilda because that seemed safest.

Even with everything that had happened, Mae astoundingly let Jack drive me home. She had decided not to tell Ezra about the “incident” so we’d have to go on like normal, and that meant that we’d have to get used to being around each other without being stupid. When the sky started to lighten, I finally agreed to go home.

“This is my favorite time of day,” Jack mused, looking at the windows of the Lamborghini as we sped way from his house and towards mine. “The sky is just so pretty right before it changes.”

“It reminds me of a dream,” I agreed somberly. “So… I’m really sorry about what happened earlier.”

“Don’t be. That was my fault. I have to learn how to control my impulses.

You might not believe this, but that’s something that I struggle with,” Jack laughed dryly.

“I bit my lip.” I had done it on purpose, whether I was ready to admit it to myself or not. He wanted me to, and I could feel that the same way I could feel my own heartbeat. I had made the choice to do it, knowing exactly what it would lead to. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You taste really good.”

“We’re not talking about that. We’re not even thinking about it,” I corrected him.

“I’m not. I wasn’t. I was just making conversation.” That’s what he said, but I could feel the hunger ebbing when I stopped him.

“Well, we can’t talk like that. We can talk about anything but blood or biting or sex.”

“Sure, take out all the fun things,” Jack grumbled.

“It’s for your safety as well as mine.” I shot him a warning look, and he stiffened a little

“Okay. You’re right. Sorry.”

“Do you think maybe we should stop hanging out?” I didn’t want to, not even slightly, but it would be the safest way to avoid anything.

If being around each other would lead to our probable death, then let’s just not be around each other. I had spent over seventeen years without him, and he had spent almost half a century. We could just as easily go back to our lives the way they were before we met, which I would probably end up doing anyway since Peter refused to have anything to do with me.

“No,” Jack answered too quickly. He let out a deep breath, then looked nervously at me. “Why? Do you?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I still want to hang out with you but…” I admitted softly.

My answer hurt him, and at times like that, I hated that I could feel anything he felt. When we had been making out upstairs, it had been amazing, but these situations were murder. His emotions were always so raw and intense.

He had very little self-control when it came to the way he felt.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I could stop even if I wanted to,” Jack said finally. The sky glowed oddly blue-gray as the sun neared the horizon, and the color seemed to match perfectly with Jack’s eyes as he looked over at me.

“Yeah, me neither,” I agreed and forced a smile at him.

For good or bad, there would be no way I could ever back to my life before. If it meant that I had to die trying to live this one, then so be it. But who can really go back to studying for history exams and flirting with drunk guys at a party when there are vampires and the ecstasy that goes along with bloodlust?

Could anyone really shut the door on immortality?

When he dropped me in front of my house, he smiled grimly, and promised that he’d talk to me later on. As I rode up the elevator to my apartment, I had to believe that everything would work out, one way or another.