Page 82 of Taste of Forever
I frowned. “What?”
Her hand slid over my fist, gently unclenched it from the blanket and threaded her fingers through mine. “I already broke up with him.”
I stared at our joined hands and then at her face. “What?”
“After I saw you at the club, I went home and we…fought. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, just the straw that broke the camel’s back, I guess. I packed a bag and left. Then I called you because…I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than with you.”
Despite the elation spreading throughout my chest, I hadn’t seen the fight for myself and couldn’t tamp down my concern. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “He tried to stop me from leaving, but I slipped out of the backpack he was holding onto. So I do have to go back eventually for my stuff, but not for him. Never for him.” She looked up at me, her expression relaxed and open. “Because I’m yours.”
I traced her cheekbone with my knuckle, marveling at the mere fact that I could touch her.
“Why didn’t you say anything before I went off on my embarrassingly long and vulnerable monologue, Science Barbie?”
She snorted. “I tried, Vampire Ken, but you wouldn’t let me.”
“Oh, right.”
“It was a very sweet monologue, though. Lots of passion. I could feel every word.”
“You’re going to rub it in at every opportunity now, aren’t you?”
“Definitely.”
Her smile lifted and mine lowered until we met in the middle. I fell into the kiss just as fast as I’d fallen for her. She opened for me at the slightest flick of my tongue and I surged inside greedily. I captured her little gasp of air as delicately as holding a bird between my palms. Her wings would never be crushed because she was wholly and completely mine.
My hand found its way to the back of her head, fingers luxuriating in the softness of her hair as I pulled her closer. Her hands on me were tentative at first, light touches of her fingertips on my neck and jaw, then grasping and holding just as desperately as I was.
Each kiss was a perfectly synchronized beat, growing braver and deeper, hungrier with each taste.
“Are you really mine?” The thought escaped in an awed whisper against her mouth.
“Yes.” Heather’s tongue darted out to meet mine, playful and teasing, before drawing away abruptly. “Are you mine?”
“Yes.” I pressed her palm to the left side of my chest where my heart felt alive and beating for the first time in my life. “This is yours. Completely yours.”
Heather smiled, then her expression shifted, becoming coy. “What else is mine?”
“Everything you want.” I brought her hands to my lips and kissed her knuckles.
Her fingers uncurled and one slid under my top lip to graze the tip of my fang. I pulled her hand away, my hunger raging at the close proximity of her incredible blood. “Except for that.”
She looked confused and even a bit rejected. “Don’t you need my blood?”
“You need it more.” I dared another kiss to the center of her palm. “To heal.”
Heather pulled her hand from my grasp and let it drop to the bed between us. “Why are you like this?”
The question was abrupt, and a complete 180 from the light, happy mood of a moment ago.
I watched her expression carefully. “Like what?”
“Why are you so…caring?” She sounded genuinely frustrated, which confused me even more. “The flowers, the way you kiss, the way you make me laugh. You helped me take a shower without sneaking a single peek. You saved my life and made me fuckingsoup!”
Her explanation did not help with my confusion one bit. “Because I do care. About you. It’s just what I’m supposed to do.”
“You…” She trailed off, shook her head, then laughed quietly to herself. “You have done more for me in the few weeks I’ve known you than every boyfriend I’ve ever had, combined.”
