Page 31 of This Blood That Binds Us

She watched me for a minute. “Aaron, if I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be here...besides, I think, if you were gonna kill me, it would probably have been easier like a week ago. And now, you’ve added my DNA into your room, so you’re screwed.”

I joined her in laughter. “Damn, I didn’t think this one through. Now my master plan is ruined.”

She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Okay, let’s do this shoulder thing.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m tired of it hurting. Plus, I’ll save money, so win-win. I have to warn you, though, I have a low pain tolerance.”

“This will be quick. Okay, I’m gonna move your sleeve over, so just don’t freak out, okay?”

“Okay, wait.” She pulled away.

“Yes?”

“I just don’t want this to be weird . . . you know, vampires . . . like in the movies, it’s all . . . like . . . sexual.” She grimaced, forcing the last word out.

“Woah! You’re the one bringing the S-word in here. I’m just trying to relieve the pain in your shoulder.” I held up my hands.

“Okay, I’m just double checking.”

“This is a move-free zone. I’m going to touch your shoulder in the least sexual way possible. I’m just going to poke little pricks around your scar and then I’m gonna gently press on the skin to massage it out.”

“What?! You never said that. You’re gonna have to milk it out of me like a cow?” She groaned before placing her head in her hands.

“Now you’re just being gross. Hold still. I’m about to touch your arm...but it’s just a friendship touch. F-R-I-E-N-D.”

“Oh, shut up and just do it!” A nervous laugh escaped her before she pulled her hands to her lap and squeezed them together.

I rolled up her sleeve. She, admittedly, looked a thousand times better in it than I did.

“Ow!”

“Kim, I haven’t started yet . . .”

“I’m sorry. I’m nervous.”

“I know, it’s okay. I’ll be quick.”

I had to concentrate fully on the amount of pressure I was putting on her skin. Tiny little pin pricks brought little beads of blood to the surface. I wiped it gently with a napkin.

Her blood smells good.Do you remember the taste?

My hand slipped, and she yelped. I quickly apologized and readjusted my focus. The voice could talk all it wanted to. I’d just have to drown it out.

Kimberly’s soft counting distracted me. I peeked my head up to figure out what she might be looking at. My guess was she was counting the hangers in my closet.

“Why do you do that?” I asked before pricking her with the needle again.

She grunted. “Do what?”

“Count. I can hear you under your breath.” I pressed my hand harder into her shoulder. “Almost done.”

“Uh, I don’t know. I’ve done it since I was a kid. It calms me down.”

“Take a deep breath.” I waited for her to fill her lungs with air before I applied more pressure to her shoulder on her exhale.

“Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.”