I wanted to do that. To look into his beautiful purple eyes, to take in that face-changing grin. I wanted his lips, his hands…I wanted him.
“You can do it, Sam. You’re strong.” The glide of his hand over the top of mine was like a buzz of electricity, and my eyes snapped open.
He smiled. He was so beautiful.
“There you are.” He caressed my cheek and damn, he felt good.
“What…”
“You’ve been asleep for three days.”
I gasped but didn’t move. Why was I so still?
“We were walking to the shop, and you collapsed, Sam. Blood dripped from your nose. By the time I got you back here, you were writhing in pain, baby.”
I remembered. We’d planned to meet everyone there one last time before I had to disappear for a month. It had been bittersweet but exciting.
“You carried me.”
“I did.”
I managed to lift my arm, and there was an IV in it.Shit…I’m not being turned…I’m dying.
“Hey.” Gently, Lukas turned my head so I was giving him my attention. “Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong. I had to use an IV to get my blood into you. You were unconscious, Sam, and I wasn’t going to cut you and pour my blood into your body. That’s barbaric.”
“Your blood.” I stared at my arm again. I watched as he tenderly removed the IV, and giggled when the wound healed instantly. “I’m…”
“Yeah, Sam.”
Tears pricked my eyes. So I could still cry—good to know. I pressed my hand to my heart, and I felt it. I wasn’t cold, I wasn’t in pain. I sat up, and Lukas watched me like a hawk.
“I’m going to live…”
“Forever.”
I stared at my hands. “No cancer?”
“Gone.”
I looked up at him, and with strength I didn’t know I possessed, I jumped him. He chuckled but wrapped his arms around me. I cried like I never had before. It wasn’t sadness. No, for the first time ever, I cried tears of happiness. I cried for the boy who would never have to watch life pass him by because he was too weak, tired, or hurting to participate. I cried for theteenager who couldn’t go to school dances, or receive a hug he desperately needed because no one wanted to get him sick. I cried for the man who was going to demolish his bucket list, live for an eternity with the most amazing person he’d ever met.
I pulled away and kissed Lukas. I put everything I was feeling into it—all my love, happiness, and relief…and my gratefulness.
“Thank you,” I whispered over and over again between kisses.
One arm held me tight while he cradled the back of my head with the opposite hand.
“No, Sam, thank you.”
I wasn’t sure what he was thanking me for exactly. Maybe for saying yes, for staying alive. I rested my face against his neck and inhaled his amazing scent. Then I got it. He was thanking me for saving myself…for saving him.
We didn’t speak. We stayed tangled together for a while…I didn’t know how long.
“You need more blood, Sam.”
I scrunched my nose and he laughed. “Sorry, it sounds weird.”
“And maybe unappealing, but the moment you smell it, I promise it will be all you can think of.”
