“Alice!” Sitting up, he looked at me directly. “Okay, fine, you want the truth? Yes! The vampire in me does want the blood in you, more than you can ever imagine.

“But if that was it, then I would’ve just bitten you a long time ago, or just forgotten about you. I’ve been hungry before. I’ve tasted things better than you, okay? You might be a fine wine in the vampire realm, but you’re not the only one and you’re certainly not the finest on the shelf.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it’s really not,” I mumbled, and he shook his head.

“No, I’m just saying your blood isn’t that amazing,” Jack said. “It’s not the only thing binding me to you. If it were, then I wouldn’t want you to turn so bad, and I cannot wait for you turn. You, not your blood, are amazing.”

“You really can’t wait for me turn?” I looked at him hopefully, biting my lip.

“Are you kidding?” Jack laughed. “I’m dying to kiss you.”

“Humans are capable of kissing just as much as you are.” I leaned in towards him, and while he didn’t move in closer, he didn’t move away either. His breathing had deepened and his eyes met mine, searching for resistance.

He placed his hand on my cheek, resting his thumb on my skin, and leaned in to kiss me. I’m sure it was supposed to be a sweet, short kiss, but whenever he touched me, it ignited something inside me I couldn’t control. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him greedily, and I loved the frantic feel of his tongue against mine.

Wonderful hot tingles spread through me and my stomach fluttered. He sat back on the couch, and I moved onto his lap so I straddled him. His hands searched all over me, smoldering against my skin.

He kissed me so desperately, as if he was terrified to stop. I dug my fingers into his hair, pulling him as close to me as I possibly could.

I stopped kissing him just long enough for me to pull his shirt off. He looked at me questioningly, but I pressed my mouth to his before either of us could think about it. Pushing myself against him, his fingers dug hungrily into my flesh. 

My mind became a delirious fog, and I realized we could be closer still. With him, there were more ways than one, and both of them sounded too tantalizing to pass up. The way his lips touched my neck, I knew which one he wanted the most, but I wanted one that would least likely lead to our deaths.

I looped my fingers into the elastic of his boxers, and he moaned with surprise.

- 15 -

“Sorry to interrupt, but I thought I’d let you know I was home.” Ezra’s deep voice filled the room, making my heart stop. I looked over my shoulder to see him standing in the doorway to the living room.

“Oh, shit,” Jack groaned.

We had stopped kissing, and he let me slide off his lap. He wrapped the blanket around us both and kept an arm around me, warmly pressed up against him. I buried my head in his shoulder and tried to hide under the covers.

“Are you hell bent on getting her killed?” Ezra asked wearily.

Jack dropped his eyes to the floor instead of answering, and Ezra flicked on the living room lights. He went over and sat in the chair across from us. Leaning back, he crossed his leg over his knee.

“Well?” Ezra looked at us expectantly.

“What?” Jack asked, and I moved closer to him.

“I’m waiting for you to explain what is going on with you,” Ezra rested a hand on his chin, looking at Jack solemnly. “What do you think you’re doing with all of this?”

“I-I don’t know,” Jack stumbled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t really thinking. We were just having fun.”

“That’s your answer for this and for taking her to the club?” Ezra asked, and Jack nodded. “I see.”

“This wasn’t-” Jack gestured to me but then floundered. “It wasn’t anything. I mean, it was under control.”

“Jack, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you don’t seem to ever be in control of matters that involve Alice,” Ezra told him dryly. “Honestly, what do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t walked in? Do you think you’d be able to stop yourself?” Jack flinched and pulled away from me.

“I screwed up,” Jack sighed. “I get it. I always screw up. You don’t need to rub it in.”

“That’s what you think I’m trying to do?” Ezra sounded offended. “I am trying to keep you both alive.”

“I keep her safe,” Jack said defensively.

“A vampire club? Jack, really?” Ezra raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “Did you forget what happened when you were human? You nearly died. Vampires may try very hard to live a civilized life, but you know what they’re capable of.”

“Milo just wanted to check it out, and Alice wanted to get out and do something fun,” Jack shifted, and by now, he wasn’t touching me at all. Several inches of cold distance sat between us. “I’d been there before, and people go there all the time and they’re fine.”

“It takes so little to take it all away,” Ezra said quietly. “She is so fragile.”

“Then why can’t we just turn her?” Jack asked plaintively. “Then nobody would have to worry about me accidentally killing her.”

“You know I can’t do that right now” Ezra rubbed his eyes tiredly.

“Why not?” Jack asked.