Page 38 of Love Lives

"Sure, think that way, but I actually need some sleep myself for once."

I exhaled. "Sorry I'm being an ass."

He closed the door and approached my bed to sit on the edge. "Don't worry. I like it when you're being an ass." His lips twisted up. "I know you're only doing it because you love me."

This vampire... He really was unbelievable. "I take my apology back."

"Not like I need you to apologize. I can handle whatever you want to throw at me."

"Like the fact that you really, really need a shower?"

He lifted his arm and sniffed his pits.

"The problem isn't the smell," I pointed out. "You've still got blood all over you."

"Oh, right." He grinned again. "Don't worry, it's all mine."

That really didn't make it any better. "Just shower."

"Fine. If that'll make you happy. Guess I better leave my clothes here." That said, he started to strip, pulling his shirt up over his head before working on his pants fly.

"Seriously?" I asked. "You lack all subtlety tonight."

"I had a bad run-in with a knife earlier. Cut me some slack. Or better yet, don't cut anything at all." In spite of my complaints, he continued undressing--and I continued watching. I wasn't sure why, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. Maybe it was just because he'd almost died?

No, it wasn't that. It was his throat that had been attacked, but my eyes stuck to the lines of his stomach--which was of course perfectly toned. Was that a glamour-charm as well or its natural state?

The vampire's eyes lit up. "Enjoying the view?"

"Just wondering how much of it is real."

"Want to touch?"

Would touching his skin tell me? Wait, was I really considering that? "Get your ass in the shower already."

"You could touch my ass too."

"I don't wanna touch your ass."

Aldrich put on a thoughtful expression. "Maybe not this ass, but how about this one?" In the blink of an eye, his body transformed. Now a beautiful woman stood before me, with long red hair and curves in all the right places. She popped a hip and smiled at me. "Is this more your type?"

I shook my head at the vampire and turned over so I couldn't see him anymore. The sound of his footsteps told me that he was finally leaving the room. Probably parading his nudity around the hallway and shocking anyone he ran into.

It was tough to believe he'd nearly been killed tonight. He sure didn't act like it.

Still, the memory of him on the floor with his throat cut open? It made my chest grow tight every time it resurfaced. Trying to shove it out of my head, I picked up my phone and looked at the news instead... which didn't do much to cheer me up. Five dead bodies had been found in the river. All of them completely drained of blood. Vampire kills? Maybe. The article didn't say. Of course not. If I called the police to explain, they'd call me crazy. Just the same way I used to call my dad crazy.

I wondered if any of those dead bodies had odd-looking birthmarks on their skin…

I had to put my phone down at that thought and set upon redressing my wounds instead while I waited for Aldrich to finish his shower. Scars came to light as I unwrapped the bandages around my forearm, making me stare. It had only been a few weeks since I got burned. These scars looked older. As if I’d healed a long time ago. That was a good thing, of course, but it was also so… so not normal.

Just like the rest of my life…

There were the visions and the fact that I lived with vampires… one of whom had been hurt today. And I’d been completely useless, puking my guts out instead of helping. Definitely not my finest hour.

After a few minutes, the door to the room opened again. Aldrich waltzed back in, a thin towel slung around his waist.

I turned to him. "You finished quickly."