Page 46 of To Save a Vampire
His sweet, sad words warm my chest, and my eyes start to water as I realize I lost Micah, a boy I’ll never know, but Asher lost his brother, the only person who understood him.
“I feel guilty and blessed every time you look at me. Like Micah should be here in my place, but I can’t stop myself. I’m addicted to your smile and your resilience and your ability to look past what someone appears to be.” His voice is a whisper, his eyes blink rapidly. “I ruined his life just by existing. First my mother’s, then his … and now yours.” I shake my head at him, rejecting his words, but he keeps going. “What if I hurt you, too? My own trifecta of tragedy.” His fingers trace my jaw line, his eyes study me.
I’m reminded again how human he really is. He’s not invincible. He’s not perfect, as much as he might seem to be. He has regrets and flaws and insecurities.
I squeeze his hand in mine. My heart breaks for him, but I can’t fix his past. I can’t even fix my life; how can I fix his?
“Just because he isn’t here doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be. So I matched your brother as a life partner?” His brows rise as I all but agree with him. Yeah, I’m pretty terrible at this.
“So what? It’s my life, Asher. I could have lived decades following the rules with Micah,” I take a big breath, preparing to lay my erratic heart at his feet, “or I could have lived five minutes in your arms and felt things I’ve never felt my entire life. A feeling that tells me I hadn’t lived at all until I met you.”
I once thought Asher lived a sedated life, but he wasn’t the only one. My life lit up when we met. I can’t go back to the fumbling darkness I had before. Not when my world has been illuminated with him in it.
My confession isn’t one of love, not really. I think our society has twisted the idea of love so much that I might never recognize the emotion. But I know how this amazing mystic makes me feel whenever he’s around me. I may not be able to put the feelings into words, but I know … I know that it’s special.
His eyes search my face, amazement glowing in his wide eyes. He spent all that time avoiding my gaze and now I have his complete attention. My nerves hum under his scrutiny. He’s leaning into me, and I’m arching toward him. The panels of the metal bite into my side, but I don’t fully feel it.
He licks his lips slowly, and I’m mesmerized by the simple gesture. He leans closer to me, dissolving the space between us. My body is pulled toward him on pure instinct. He pauses when our lips brush faintly. The small contact feels electric and pushes the air from my lungs. His eyes search mine, his deep stare looking into my heart that I have all but released to him.
Just when I think I can’t take the anticipation any longer, his lips press softly against mine. His hand drifts to my waist, pulling me closer to him as my fingers dig into his shoulders. His other hand cradles my head, his fingers pushing through my loose hair. My eyes drift closed, falling into the sensation of our bodies finally together.
I arch my back into him as he parts my lips and his tongue slips slowly against mine. A feeling kindles low in my stomach, furling into an energy I can’t understand or control.
Asher moves toward me, his weight settling over me. His body aligns perfectly with mine, his lips never leaving mine in the process. His hand travels over my hip and against my stomach, his light fingers warm against my skin. A tingle follows the path of his hand over my body. A euphoric haze fills my mind; the world and our past fall away. Only the two of us matter right now. The feel of his hands against my body is all I can think about.
My fingers trail down his chest, pushing at his soft shirt until they find the contact they need. Smooth, hard skin tenses beneath my drifting touch. My heart races but then calms slightly as my palm flattens against his chest, just over his heart. It beats recklessly against my fingertips, mirroring my own emotions.
His hips push into mine, and I deepen the kiss like I’ve waited my entire life to feel his lips. He pulls away and takes a ragged breath; disappointment bubbles in me for mere seconds before he begins kissing slowly down my jaw. I tilt my head to the side for him as he sucks lightly at my pulse. My eyes flutter as the sensation spreads over and through me; my breath catches audibly. We really could stay here like this forever.
Everything is perfect.
The ripping sound of metal shredding and vibrating beneath us separates us instantly. I’m still dazed and my chest rises and falls unevenly, but the euphoric feeling I had just moments ago is torn away.
Long limbs shadow ominously against the starry night sky. Crouching on the opposite end of the roof is a veil. Its claws are sunk deep into the now crumpled panes of the roof. Foam drips down its mouth and a high shriek is emitted from its lips. The grayness of its body appears even more ashen under the moonlight.
Asher stands, his hand already silently pulling the length of the Crimson Sword from its sheath. I fumble against the slick roof. Once my feet are under me, I reach for the gun holstered at my waist. The weight of the weapon steadies my shaking hand. I try to focus on my breathing. Try to allow the oxygen to calm my racing heart.
My gun won’t be enough to harm the creature.
Asher backs up until my chest is against his back. He grabs my arm, pulling until it’s wrapped around his waist. He slowly takes my other arm and wraps it around his waist as well. The creature senses us, turning his head from side to side.
It’s as confused as I am.
“Hang on tight,” Asher says quietly.
The sound of his voice sends the veil into a shrieking fit as it stands to its full height, its long shadow reaching up to us against the moonlight.
Asher doesn’t hesitate. He grips my wrists that are fastened around his waist. My hand still clings to the gun in my fist.
And then he jumps.
Wind beats violently against my hair as we free falling from the roof of the house. My breath falters. I press my face into his shirt. My legs cling to him out of fear of the brutal landing we’ll inevitably have.
With a slamming impact, we meet the dirt. Asher stands tall with me in tow.
I’m somehow unharmed.
Asher’s attention is toward the sky, to the roofline above. I climb ungracefully down from him, trying to catch my breath as my heart hammers away at my ribs.
