“Ruby!” I tapped her cheek lightly with my fingers. “Ruby, it’s Cassie, can you hear me?”
She groaned, her eyes opening slowly. Ruby shook her head from side to side as she blinked to get her eyes back in focus.
“What’s the matter?” I asked. “What happened? Are you dizzy?”
She pushed up to seated, her eyes on her lap. I noticed that her hand was shaking. My inner vamp was freaking out, desperate to know what was wrong with our mate.
“No, I uh… sometimes I faint at the sight of blood. It’s stupid I know, but I can’t help it. I’ve been this way since I was a kid.”
I’d never heard her voice sound so small.
“Blood? Are you bleeding?” I asked in confusion.
My eyes scanned her body, but I didn’t see any injuries.
She shook her head and risked a look up at me. “No, it’s you. You had blood on your mouth.”
She winced. “Still do.”
I lifted my shirt and wiped my mouth, making sure I got it all off.
“I’m sorry,” I said contritely. “I had no idea.”
“It’s fine. I just need to get used to seeing you drinking blood in my kitchen I guess.”
When she started to get up I jumped to my feet, offering her a hand, then led her to a chair.
“I’ll use a cup instead of a glass next time, that will help make it less visible.”
Turning away from her, I downed the rest of my therapeutic blood in one shot, rinsing the glass thoroughly before putting it into the dishwasher. Then I opened the refrigerator and moved my remaining bottles to the back of the bottom shelf, where they wouldn’t be seen. I poured Ruby a small glass of orange juice and took it to her at the table. She still looked a little shaky and I figured the fructose would be good for her.
She drank it without comment and by the time she was finished, the color was coming back to her face.
“Vampires have to have blood,” I offered softly. “It’s like medicine for us. But I know it may seem… barbaric.”
Her eyes flew to mine, and I saw the concern there. “No, please, it’s not that at all. I’m not trying to be judgmental or make things weird. I just wasn’t expecting it, it took me by surprise. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious because I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.”
Impulsively I reached for her hand, wrapping her small fingers in mine. My entire body hummed with something that felt like contentment. Like everything in the world was fine now that I was touching her. Ruby stared at our joined hands, a look of wonder on her face, like she felt the same thing I did.
“What’s happening?” she whispered. “Whenever we’re close I feel… strange. I’ve never felt this way before.”
I wondered if she was remembering our kiss yesterday. How could she not? It had been incredible.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this or not,” I said slowly, thinking I should have discussed this with Lois or one of the other agents before I got into this position.
“Tell me what?”
I stared at her for a long, charged moment. “You’re my fated mate. What you’re feeling, what I’m feeling too, is the formation of the mate bond. It will grow stronger the more time we spend together.”
“Fated mate?” She frowned, her forehead doing the most adorable crinkling motion. “Like in a paranormal romance book?”
I shrugged. “I guess? I’ve never read one, but I imagine the concept is the same.”
She pulled her hand away, a look on her face I couldn’t quite read. Shock, maybe revulsion. My stomach cramped painfully as I worried that my mate was about to reject me. Why hadn’t I asked one of my mated friends how to best handle this? I didn’t want to mess it up.
“So you’re saying you want to… to bite me?”
