Page 106 of Enchanted Kisses
Carefully, I lowered his head to the pillow and withdrew the cup. Sparks crackled over his skin where my blood had stained his cheek. It took me a moment to figure out why.My blood heals. I’d forgotten. I eyed the gash on my leg, unsure of what to do. Rub my blood all over him? Make him drink it?
I set down the cup and leaned close to his face. “I know you’re weak, but I need your help. I cut myself and need to know how to heal you with my blood. Should I rub it on you or feed it to you?”
“No,” he argued weakly.
“Yes,” I shot back in a whisper. “Listen, I got blood on you. On accident and it sparked on your skin. I can’t heal you any other way. So tell me, or I waste more blood trying both.”
“Drink,” he murmured.
“Drink?” I repeated with a moment of disgust. “Okay.” I nodded. “Drink, it is.”
Unable to get my thigh up to his mouth—And how awkward would that be?—I improvised. Using the metal piece that had cut my leg, I scraped my palm on it until the skin sliced open. You’d think nothing would hurt after being burned, but this freaking did.
Blood dripped from the stinging cut and slid down my wrist. I moved my hand near Caiden’s mouth. “You’re going to have to suck. I’m sorry if it doesn’t taste good.”
I pressed my palm to his mouth when his lips parted. His tongue touched my skin. I waited for him to gag or make a disgusted face, but he didn’t. His tongue pulled back for a second, then his lips molded to my skin, like a kiss.
“That’s good.” I brushed his hair with gentle fingers. “Drink. You won’t hurt me.”
I squeezed my arm, trying to force blood to my hand. It must have worked because Caiden started to gulp. The more he drank, the more his body transformed.
His lips changed from pale and dry to red and smooth. The gashes and burns healed, and his skin returned to its normal golden glow. Lastly, his limp hair turned glossy and fluffed into its usual perfectly rumpled style.
I ran my fingers through the soft, wavy locks.
“It’s working,” I half-cried, half-laughed, overcome with relief and happiness. Tears of joy filled my eyes. I let them spill, leaning over Caiden so they fell on him. Because why not? Maybe they healed, too. The action caused my hand to slip from his mouth.
“Sorry.” I moved it back.
As soon as it touched his lips, Caiden’s hands shot to my wrist. He pushed my palm to his mouth and sucked harder.
I flinched in shock.He can move.
Eyes wide, I watched him feed on my blood.Weird. He wasn’t a vampire, yet he was drinking my blood like it tasted delicious, as if he needed it to survive. I guess, in a twisted sort of way, it was kind of romantic. And to save him, I would have done anything, given him anything.
My vision blurred and a wave of dizziness had me wobbling forward. I fell against Caiden and pushed myself up, only to be hit with another wave of vertigo. I placed my hand on the cot and tried to keep my body upright. After donating blood once, I knew this was a side effect. Even if it weren’t, I wouldn’t make Caiden stop. I wanted him to heal completely. His injuries had been so brutal.
My skin chilled and my stomach roiled with nausea. Unable to hold my head up, I rested it against Caiden’s raised hip. I had to. My body felt heavy and cold.
“Caiden,” I breathed and shivered. Darkness enveloped me like murky water. Too weak to move, I tried calling his name again, but no sound left my throat.
He roused beneath me right before I blacked out.
When I woke, I was lying down. For a second, I thought I was in my bed, until a damp, musty scent assaulted my nose. Fingers gently stroked through my hair. I opened my eyes.
Caiden.
He looked healthy but weak. His back and head rested against the wall, and I lay between his legs with my head on his lap. “Did you move the cot?”
He laughed faintly. “Only you would ask that first. How are you?”
“Tired.” I glanced at my hand, turning it so I could see the cut. The skin had healed.
“Me, too.” His smile fell. “I’m sorry, Lily. I didn’t mean to take so much. I’ve never had blood before.”
I wanted to snuggle closer to him, but I lacked the strength. “Do you feel sick?”
“Not at all. Your blood tastes like sweet wine. It’s potent, too.” He stroked my hair more.
