Her mother’sforeheadfurrowed as the jealousy in her sizzled to fierce life, clawing at her, ripping her insides apart. “Isabelle, he’s not with anyone else.”
“How do I know that?” she snapped. “You heard Vicky and Abby! He could have his choice of women!He could have anyone and I don’t know what he’s doing with them!”
“He doesn’t want anyone but you, Isabelle. You are it, for eternity. I doubted it at first. I thought your father would grow tired of me, or find someone else, or want someone else, but it’s impossible Isabelle. As unbelievable as that may sound, itisimpossible.”
Isabelle almost slumped against the wall, but managed to catch herself in time. “Why?”
Her mother smiled softly and shrugged. “I don’t know, but if you don’t believe me, ask yourself if you would ever want anyone else?”
The answer to that question was instantaneous. “No.”
“Trust me when I tell you that it is the same for him.” Isabelle nodded wearily as she glanced around the empty living room. She was far from mollified. Her mother and father were different.Isabellewasn’t even sure how Stefan felt about her, besidesthinking that she belonged to him, and that they were soul mates, but she wanted more. She wanted his love, and she wasn’t sure that she had it. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
“Doesit hurt when dad bitesyou?”
Her mother frowned as her eyes darkened worriedly. “At firstit did, butnowit doesn’t hurt at all, why?”
Isabelle wrapped her arms around herself as she turned her gaze back to the window. “I was just wondering,” she mumbled.
“Isabelle...”
The opening of the door cut off whatever her mother was going to say. Isabelle’s heart picked up with anticipation as her arms fell back to her sides. Acute disappointment crashed over her as Ethan came strolling in with Jack, and Ian. Boxes were balanced haphazardly in their arms as they paused in the doorway to take in the half painted living room. “Looking good,” Jackcommented.
“Us, or the walls?” her mom asked happily.
“Both,” Jack replied with a bright grin. “Although, I’m not sure what has more paint on it, you guys, or the walls.”
Isabelle smiled as she glanced down at her paint splattered clothing, and arms. She was usually meticulous when she painted, but tonight she had been unable to keep her mind focused on what she was doing. “I’m going to go take a shower,” she muttered.
She left the roomquickly;ignoring the curious stares cast her way. She rushed up the stairs, suddenly needing the sanctuary of her room, and the comfort of a shower. She lingered beneath the pounding stream of water, hoping that it would ease some of the torment rolling through her body. Ease some of the tension in her muscles, and cramped chest. When it became obvious that the water wasn’t going to ease her pain, she shut it off and climbed tiredly out.
Everything in her hurt. Everything ached. Sheslidher nightgown over her head, brushed her hair, and moved back into the bedroom. Stefan’s scent lingered everywhere, only serving to reinforce the tearing loneliness ripping at her heart and stomach. She sat miserably on the bed, drew her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them in an attempt to ward off the desolation that was beginning to consume her. Tears slid silently down her cheeks as she watched time slip slowly by.
It was after eleven when the door finally swung open. Isabelle lifted her head, a cry of delight escaping her as she jumped off the bed and raced over to him. He grunted slightly from the force of her impact as she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest, clinging tightly to him as she cried. He kicked the door shut before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close against him.
The feel of him instantly caused the ache inside of her to ease, but her fear lingered as she tried desperately to get closer to him, to bury herself in him. It wasn’t enough, she couldn’t get close enough.
He lifted her chin gently with his finger, forcing her head up to meet his worried gaze. “What’s the matter love?”
She shuddered as the endearment slipped from him, wrappedinto her, and causedher insides to melt. “It hurts,” she whispered. “It hurts when you go away.” He smiled tenderly as his finger stroked her bruised cheek. “I was scared that you wouldn’t come back.”
His eyes darkened as his hand stilled on her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere Isabelle, ever.” His tone was much harsher than he had intended, but her words had instantly angered him. How could she doubt how he felt about her?
“You left once.”
He groundhis teeth as frustration seized him. “I’m not going anywhere without you Isabelle. The way that you feel when we’re apart, is the way that I feel.”
She stared doubtfully up at him, her lower lip trembling slightly as tears coursed down her cheeks. “You can have anyone you want.”
His eyes flashed as exasperation rolled through him. He was tired of constantly fighting her. She needed to know how he felt, needed to know that she washis, and that there would be no separating them. There was only one way that he knew how to do that for sure. Sharing blood would seal theirbond;allow her to see into him, and for him to see into her. He couldn’t be entirely sure of how she felt either, until he was in her mind. Until he could open upthepathway of communication between them.
He sighed wearily as he seized hold of her waist, lifted her up, and carried her swiftly over to the bed. He sat on the edge of it, gently settling her onto his lap. Her lashes fell to veil her eyes and shadow her cheeks. He nudged her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. Thevulnerabilityin her gaze tore at his heart. “Isabelle, we’re soul mates. You belong to me, you’re a part of me, and Iama part of you.”
She nodded slowly as her eyes slowly searched his face. “But...”
“There are no buts,” he said forcefully. “That’s the way it is. You may not have wanted it, hell I didn’t want it.” Her eyes darkened as pain flashed through them. He silently cursed himself. He was supposed to be easing her fears, and doubts, not adding to them. “But I wouldn’t change any of it. If I had known that you were here, I would have come for you sooner. I was growing tired of traveling, tired of living alone. When I came here, and saw how happy everyone was, I wanted the same thing. When I first met you, I wanted you with a desire that was so consuming it bordered on obsession. When I lefthereI had no control over myself, or what I was doing. Ihavethought of nothing butyousince the momentwemet.”
“What about Jess?”
