LOVE, LIKE BLOOD

el like goi

k. It wasn't just attraction-it was something d

ed myself, I woul

t have just be

ve been a

e I was afraid of what I could've do

ceiling, trying to breathe thr

s changing in me, it wasn't slowing

my legs over the side of the bed. The ap

hed cold water on my face, and

the normal pale, it looked sickly. There was a

and followed the faint

k in one hand and a glass in the other. Thick, dark liqui

, though morning di

cold air hit my face as I scanned the

run for you yet, hon," she

ck. My stomach tightened-not from c

gaze sharp. "You do

d the room, gently tilting my chin up with her fi

uietly. "And I don't mean past

break the contact. "I'm fine.

dull, and your pulse is off

d I'm

olding back. I told you, when the

shed in my mind. The pulse in h

. That's not strength, that's dangerous.

nimal blood will hold you until then;

m not drinking from so

breaks you?" Her voice wasn't angry, just tired. "That's not

de it th

wly. "Barely. And now

I could feel it every time I got close to Aiden-a

idn't stop me. She just sigh

he air was crisp, brushing agai

eets we

my pockets, eyes scanning the empty sidewalk. I

coffee shop tucked between a dus

read something cheesy about

aus

ood, but it

armth wrapped around me instantly-coffee, sugar, and the fa

, I felt him be

owed the pul

, a black hat casting

The R

dy skipping," he said,

n't a

ol?" he added. "Especially for a vampire who's go

said it loud enough

"Relax. Everyone here is one of us. You'd

ath and slid into the

I asked, glancing a

s, blood, alcohol, and coffee. I figured I'd give them a

led at that,

ing? The obsession? It's normal before your first feed," he said, ey

could read me so easily. After

acticed ease. "Come with me," he requested

st for a second

trolled till we were off the

uiet, tucked away, and shadowed by tall trees. That's wh

ce fro

the words before he took off,

e, stunned by the sheer speed o

ra

ever moved before-faster than any one human could. My feet barely

s far

felt like a reminder-of how new I wa

ready waiting-leaning against a tre

d," he

thless I was. "You put all t

"Only the pr

y to the House of S

ow-surrounded by nothing bu

pped w

something first. This is the bes

not sure I liked

t me out he

ftened, but his v

ng. But if you don't settle yourself w

rd. "Isn't the

e me flinch. He turned t

t starts, your body will know what to do," he

your eyes. Lis

di

yers-the heartbeat of a deer, the rustle of

hed. Something

nt had