Get the blood off.
Jodie had told me to throw it out or keep it, she didn’t care. There was no way I would be keeping it, even if it probably did cost as much as half my wardrobe. I struggled, twisted, andpulled. My temper rose. had frayed I felt myself beginning to crumble, tears sprung to my eyes.
The feeling of loneliness opened up inside like water pouring out of a cracked well. I missed the feeling—the comfort of being held—of knowing I had someone, anyone, to help me.I needed someone to love me.
“Just fucking undo,” I hissed, yanking on the zip. I heard the fabric rip a little, but the zip, and the dress, remained stuck.
I would have to ask Karson. Blinking back tears, I scrubbed at my eyes. Then I drew in a deep, shuddering breath, mentally dragging myself together. When I felt I had some semblance of control, I opened the door. I didn’t have to call out, he stood there waiting.
Startled, I gasped and jerked back. “Don’t tell me you heard that?”
“I did. Need some help?”
“Yes please,” I muttered, rotating so he could unfasten my dress. His fingers brushed against my skin. Delight tingled hot over my body. My heart thudded hard. He had to hear it. I grimaced and clutched the front of the dress in my hand as I heard the zip lower.
"Thank you." I felt like I was pushing through mud as I forced myself to step away and turned back to face him.
He stood, staring down. His gaze beckoned like deep, dark, enchanting pools.
I needed to be held. I needed to forget.
A current, hungry and yearning, charged between us. I could feel it, whispering like the ocean to the sands. I imagined his sleek fingers caressing me. Every cell of my body quivered, as if a feather stroked beneath my skin.
He wasn’t human. He was dangerous.
Even though it didn’t make sense, I wanted to reach out and touch him. I wanted to press my body against his, melt into him, until vampire and human became one.
I felt color bloom on my cheeks. Feeling awkward, and unsure I bit my bottom lip. His eyes tracked to my lip and fixed there.
Something hungry—too hungry in his eyes.
And yet I didn’t fear it, my blood tingled and surged through my veins bringing everything alive.
The memory of him pushing me away slammed into my mind. I couldn’t take rejection. Not now, not when I had to fight just to hold all the cracked pieces inside together.
I took a step back. I blinked.
And he was gone.
I stoodin the shower under water so hot it was scalding. Dazed and numb, I scrubbed the blood off until my skin was rubbed raw. Jefferson’s image, the moments we shared, played over and over again in my head.
Pleading with me, desperate for me to save his life. His smile bright as we chatted by the bar. His unbelievably handsome face. If he’d made a move, would I have kissed him? If I went to his office could I have saved him?
Blood slithering like a demonic snake from his mouth.
I closed my eyes and rested my head on the cold, tiled wall. The images a carrousel my mind couldn’t let go of.
Run.
Those words . . . Run, from what—or the question I really needed answered—who?
I stayed in the shower until I felt dizzy from the heat. Then I dried myself, brushed my teeth and threw on a set of shortypyjamas. The floral shorts were high-cut, just covering the cheeks of my butt, and a black, cotton tank top.
I grabbed the dress, scrunching it into a ball, careful to avoid touching the stains, and headed downstairs.
I was relieved to see Ethan seated on the far chair, and uncomfortable to see both Monique and Michael on the couch. Monique scanned my body with her resting bitch face on. Michael refused to meet my eye. Karson frowned and ran his eyes up and down my attire. I thought about turning back to get changed, but on the scale of the night’s events, being scantily dressed seemed insignificant.
I opened the front door.
