Page 48 of First Bite
Chapter Seventeen
Cole and I kept it casual for the following two weeks. He had his moments, but that was typically when I decided to push him a little after feeling the energy pull toward him. It was almost agonizing to be around him without him returning the feelings that kept growing toward him.
I should have been more concerned with what the guys were finding out in New Orleans about who my biological father was, but I couldn’t focus on anything. I was a mess fighting all this shit, and Cole was buried in his office when he wasn’t running out to go get information from the local nest.
Knowing I was safe in their secured beach house with no predators around, Cole felt more comfortable leaving me here than taking me with him into an entire nest of vampires with the life-blood running in my veins.
As stupid as it made me feel, every time he left me at the house alone, I felt like I had a boyfriend who was stepping out to cheat on me. It wasn’t like me to be so possessive, and it was getting annoying. I could sense my own desperation for Cole, and the rational side of me didn’t blame him for pushing away from me for that. No one likes a clinger.
I walked into Cole’s den where his ass was pretty much superglued to his leather chair in front of his laptop. “Any word from the guys?”
“They’ve been calling you,” he said, intently studying his laptop screen. “You know as much as I do.”
I sat in the chair across from him. Cole never glanced over at the white see-through shirt I was wearing without a bra. I felt that same tingling return between my legs, followed by an aching throb that made me start to get wet from just being in his presence. I hoped the guy would pick up on my body’s need and desire for him because he was seriously starting to look like shit. The circles under his eyes were darker than ever, his emerald eyes faded to a dull green color, and his skin was so pale.
“How are they doing without feeding? It’s been two weeks.”
“Amazing how your blood works, their thirst hasn’t returned. They don’t have a desire to feed, so that’s good. Being able to track the vamps and their witch down without the distraction of needing to feed again is extremely helpful,” he said while clicking around on his laptop.
“Does that mean they don’t look like they’re desiccating like you are then?”
Cole looked over at me. “I am still able to focus right now. I don’t need to feed.”
“I don’t get it!”
Cole ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not going over this with you again.”
“Cole, it’s part of what we all are now. Why won’t you just accept it? I seriously don’t get you!” My voice rose a few octaves in frustration. “I mean, I’m not trying to distract from the important stuff, but I can’t just sit around and watch you starve.”
“Then don’t!” he growled.
I stood and shook my head. “Let me know if I can be of any help. I can’t keep at this. It’s torture for me to be around you. I can’t think of anything but making sure you’re taken care of.”
Cole exhaled in frustration. “This is exactly why I’m not letting this bond control me. I have to focus, and I don’t need the distraction of wanting to fuck you in my way.”
I closed my eyes and let out a breath. “I’m not asking you to fuck me; although every time I’m around you, that’s what I want. I just want you to feed. I can’t watch you starve.”
He shoved himself back from the desk. “Trust me, if I werestarving, I would draw your blood and drink it that way. Please, I need to focus. I’m finally getting somewhere with these vamps, and the guys will be checking in at any minute for answers.”
Blown off again. Stubborn vampire.
“So we’re closer to learning about who my real dad is?”
Cole nodded and returned his attention to his computer. “Glad to see you’re finally focusing on more important things.”
I folded my arms. “You’re just as important to me, Cole. I care about you no matter how childish you’re acting, and it’s killing me to watch you in this condition.”
“Elle, I’m fine. Like I said, if I need blood, I’ll manage to get it without drinking from you.”
“Stop blowing me off, and give me a real answer as to why you won’t drink from me.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Save the bullshit, and don’t tell me it’s because you don’t trust yourself with me. The others managed it just fine. There is no reason for this.”
“I’m not like my cousins. I can lose control.” He looked up at me. “I will definitely hurt you and probably scare the shit out of you if I drink from you while I’m in this condition. My body is desperately craving your blood, but I can function without it right now.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, “Just let me get answers, Elle.” He looked over at me. “Please. Once I drink your blood—from a blood bag—I will regain my control. Once I find out for sure that this blood gene isn’t going to fuck us all over, then I will seal the bond.”
“Wait. You think if you drink from me and seal the bond that I could be used to ruin you all?”
“I don’t trust it,” he stated. “I don’t know what happens once the bond is sealed. Will we have sealed a curse? I have no idea. I’ve been alive long enough to know that this isn’t something to just waltz into blindfolded. I don’t know why your blood is different from any other Life Blood, and I’m not taking chances. You have the others, you don’t need me right now.”
“Well, my body and everything inside of me is telling me that I need you and you need me more.”
