“No, but—”
“But what?” she interrupted.
“I warned you about the mating bond.”
“I only gave you enough to get the bullets out of you so you could heal. And it worked; you healed faster than I anticipated.”
“Yes, because I’m your mate. Your blood makes me stronger and joins me to you.”
“I didn’t give you much,” she insisted.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve been inside you, Istilltaste you, and I crave more. If we don’t complete the bond, I’ll become increasingly volatile until we’re mated.”
“I’m sure you can control your urges.”
“No,” he said. “I won’t be able to. I’ve seen normally calm and controlled vamps lose their shit when the bond isn’t complete.”
He told her about what happened between Liam and Sera when their bond wasn’t complete. He revealed everything he witnessed while watching one of his best friends go from easygoing to murderous.
“Itwillhappen to me,” he said. “And most likely you too, but I will unravel first as I’ve also tasted your blood.”
Charlie didn’t move when he finished speaking. She had no idea what to say or how to respond, but she needed some space. Unfortunately, there was no space to be had in this tiny cave. She tugged her hand away from his and leaned against the wall. The rocks bit into her skin, but she didn’t pay them any attention as her mind spun.
She had no idea what to say or do.
Her gaze fell on her wrist, but her bites were gone. What had she done by giving him her blood?
What had to be done.
“You wouldn’t have healed so fast without it,” she said.
“No, I wouldn’t have.”
They stared at each other before Charlie ducked her head. She wanted to believe he was wrong, that he was lying to her, or exaggerating, but Jack wasn’t one for spinning tales, and he didn’t strike her as someone who exaggerated things. More than that, she’d seen the truth and desperation in his eyes.
Shefeltthe truth within her. Something about him called to something within her. Sex with Jack and feeding him had been two of the greatest pleasures of her life. All she wanted was to close the distance separating them, crawl into his lap, and take him inside her again.
Closing her eyes, she tried to steady her breathing and bury the image of riding him from her mind. She would give anything to be with him again.
Chapter Thirty
“Jack?”she asked as she lifted her head.
He winced as he pushed himself up higher against the wall. “Yeah?”
“This whole ‘mate’ debacle—”
Jack chuckled. “I often thought about it that way too, until I met you.”
“And how do you think about it now?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But for the first time in years, I’m excited about something in my life again.”
That wasn’t something he wanted to admit to her, but seeing the shocked look on her face, he was glad he did.
Charlie kept waiting for him to take his words back, but he didn’t. It took her a few minutes to recall what she’d been about to ask.
“So, ah… this whole mate thing”—she couldn’t call it a debacle again after what he said—“what would happen if we ever did get off this island?”
