Chapter 74

Ciara slammed the front door shut, locking the door firmly, she turned to deposit the shopping bag in the kitchen. She walked back towards the front door doing a quick once over to make sure she didn’t miss any lock.

Rummaging through the paper bag, she found her treasure, headache pills. She’s been living off them since that night...a shiver of fear shot down her spine. Chucking two tablets down her throat, she started unpacking her groceries. Glaring at the packages lying on the cupboard before her, she reached for the frozen pizza. UGH!

Looking at her gaunt reflection in the eye level oven’s door, she knew she had to eat tonight even if it has to be a greasy pizza.

A wave of light-headedness swooped through her and she grabbed the edge of the cupboard behind her.

Flashing images of him speared into her mind. She could never understand them. Music, lights, screaming crowds,  a dark headed man with a Stetson and those flashing blue eyes...

She waited it out, knew that the wooziness would fade soon enough. What was all these visions about...could she call it that? Maybe she was going insane, the vampire’s bite made her loose her mind? She stroked the soft scars in her neck, thinking about the two puncture wounds refusing to disappear from the insides of her thigh. Those marks were her constant reminder that that night was not her imagination, somehow saving her from completely going insane but it was also increasing her fear that he might come back and finish the job.

Where was he? Was he well? Was he thinking off her?

WHAT in the HELL am I thinking?

He didn’t have feelings, he was a predator, a blood drinking creature. He took what he wanted and moved on. That’s it.

You are so wrong.

Oh hell no! Where did that come from? Are wrong? About what?

There was no answer this time, confirming her suspicions that she might be losing it big time. Looking at the pizza one more time she huffed. The verdict is out, no pizza tonight, her stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it anyway.

A cup of java and a biscuit or two would have to do.

Opening the kitchen window, Ciara called out to her companion.

“Garfield! Come boy! Time to eat...ssspppsssssspppppsssss!”

Filling the kittybowl , one with food and the other with a treat of milk, she heard the rustling at the window.

“It’s about time Mr.! Come on now...” She turned...nothing. “I heard you fatty, are you too lazy to jump up?” Snorting loudly, she unlocked the backdoor, moving out of the way so the furball could get in.

There was no sign of her cat, worried that he might be injured she walked out, calling out to him.

“Garfield....come sweetie...spspspspspspssssssssss.” Feeling a bit annoyed at the silly cat, she suddenly felt the hair in her neck prick.

Something was behind her and it wasn’t Garfield!

“Hello Ciara.” That voice! The centre of her dreams and nightmares of the last couple of weeks was standing behind her!

Twirling around she swallowed, the scream lodging in her throat. He was standing there, as big as life itself, his eyes glittering from the darkness.

Her body swung into motion and her feet pedalled backwards, heading for the backdoor.  Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest as nausea pushed up her throat.

The slam of the door and the turn of the lock brought some relief. She stood frozen, waiting for him to come crashing through at any moment.

“Do you really think you can run away from me?” His lips touched the lobe of her ear and her knees buckled even her screech sounded pitiful in her ears.

“Oh please God, not this again, please no.” Her eyeballs ached as her eyelids scrunched tightly.

“Did I hurt you in any way? “ Jon’s hands were itching to touch her but he refrained.

The slight shake of her head brought a smile to his face. She was positively horrified, too scared to even move her head properly.

A sudden rush of hunger flashed through Jon and he nipped at the soft shell of her ear, feeling her shudder as a trickle of blood smeared onto his tongue.

“Ooohhhhhhhhhhhh.....yesssssssssss.....” he snarled, gripping her arms, he pulled her back into his chest, capturing her. He was hungry... hungry as hell for her!

Winding one arm around her waist, he took his free hand, brushing the soft tresses aside. Her veins were bulging in her neck, ticking wildly, inviting him to taste.

Grabbing her chin, he turned her face towards his, feeling the rush of her breath blowing against his lips.  The pink poutiness showed just a hint of white underneath and he licked his lips, suddenly dry mouthed. Wide emeralds demanded his attention and he gave it just that...lowering ever so slowly, he brushed the soft lids, feeing the soft bristles of her lashes tickle his lips.

Her body softened momentarily and her weight shifted. She was in a dead faint.

Sliding her weight into his arms, he marched towards the bedroom, laying her down on the soft sheets moments later. Jon found himself staring at her beauty. Hunger roared in his ears but for the life of him he couldn’t get himself so far as to actually feed from her. What if he couldn’t stop this time, he had tasted her sweet essence, she was a drug he just couldn’t give up. His craving for her was destructive in its nature, threatening to destroy everything he had worked so hard at achieving since he had turned.

A tiny grunt had his eyes on her. The moment she saw him, she cringed.  She could see him even in the darkness of the room.

“Are you here to kill me...finish the job?” he was drowning in her shimmering pools.

“I don’t know...yet.” his fangs flashed and she gulped. Why did he scare her even more? She was terrified out of her mind and still he wanted to...

 He wanted to tell her how he craved making love to her, how gentle he’d be...but the darkness inside him loved the smell of fear, even the pain. He didn’t want it for her though never for her...

“Make it quick, if you need to do this, at least make it painless.” Her chin jutted upwards, pride shone in her eyes. She would not beg, if she had to die this way, so be it.

Her stubbornness lit a match in Jon’s body and he surged forward, trapping her on the mattress as his hands pushed down beside her face. Fangs protruded all the way passed his lips, his eyes blazing. He liked feisty!

“YOU don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do...I’ll take you just as I see fit. I like the fire in you, it might make for a spicy dinner.”  He sniffed at her neck, scraping his fangs along the little pulsing river.