Chapter 155

Ciara felt her knees buckle as his blood spurted past his mouth. Easing his fangs from his skin, he felt the dark liquid stream though the puncture wounds.

Ciara felt shame as her heart galloped by the mere thought of her using him for her own needs. He turned towards her, waiting…

“Drink up…” her mouth suddenly meshed with his, tasting the warm, fresh blood on his lips she moaned. He didn’t allow the kiss for too long and moved slightly from her, directing her towards his offering.

She latched on like a starving baby, suckling greedily she grab hold of his wrist, keeping him there.

She didn’t realise her eyes had drifted close until they shot open when his growl reached her ears.

His blonde head was tilted backwards, his face bathed by the moon streaming through the window. He swallowed, his adam’s apple jumping in his throat.

The urge to feel it moving underneath her tongue was greater than her hunger and she changed her focus. Spanning his chest with her hands, she stroked upwards, touching the bulge in his neck tentatively. Closing the last remaining space between them she sighed as her lips found its target. He swallowed again and she nibbled, nipping at the skin drawn to tightly over the bulge in his neck.

“Ciara!”

His hands tangled in her hair, keepin her right there, he gave her full reign. Her swollen lips mapped along his throat, tasting, teasing.

Scenes suddenly flashed in his mind and Jon stilled, his veins chilled by the things he had seen in her darkest, troubled memories.

Ciara felt him stiffen.

An akward silence fell over them as Jon refused to meet her questioning gaze.

“You need to rest.” His tongue flicked over the puncture wounds, hie eyes seemed dark, stormy…

Shame washed over her heated limbs and she stumbled over her words.

“I…I am tired. I think I need to shower first.” Her hands touched the stickiness of his blood smeared in her hair. She would do anything right now just to get away from his aloofness. Was it judgement she saw in his eyes or disdain?

“I’ll be right here if you need me.” He rubbed his eyes and turned away. Her thoughts cut though him, was he that obvious? Would he ever be able to erase the scenes from his mind?

Ciara stepped out of the shower her mind in a rush but her craving soothed, satisfied with the blood her mate had given her.

Slipping the towel from her overheated skin, she searched the room for Jon but she was alone, feeling deserted…unwanted.

Sliding onto the cool, fresh sheets she fought to keep her eyelids open, she wanted to wait for him but her body had decided otherwise.

Staring at the soft rustle of the curtains dancing in the breeze, she sighed as sleep claimed her, his name on her lips.

Jon stepped from the shadows, his eyes burning onto the slim, naked woman in his bed. Her face was relaxed in deep sleep, her arms, clutched his pillow like a child would cradle a teddy bear. From where he stood he could feel the heat radiating from her, could smell the sickly scent of another vampire stamped into her skin. His eyes drifted towards the dark puncture wounds taunting him just above the dark womanly curls covering her womanhood.

The smell of his own blood alerted him that his nails were digging into his palms and he flicked the open cuts towards his mouth, closing it.

He felt the irresistible urge to rip Xander’s stamp from her skin, replacing it with his own, but as he lowered his mouth towards the tiny holes, he licked tentatively, willing them to heal, watching as they sealed shut.

A soft sigh whispered from her lips, easing onto her back, he swallowed at the saliva pooling into his mouth. Even in sleep, she begged for his touch…his or Xander’s?

Hatred cut like barbed wire through his guts and he felt the deft slice as his fangs ripped through his gums. Peeling his lips back he swore he could taste her on his tongue already, her thick, sweet nectar spilling into his mouth, streaming down his throat.

He was about to swoop down and take what he craved when her body stiffened, her hands coming up in defense.

“Please Jon, not like this…I…just can’t…”

Shame threatened to choke him. The fear in her eyes and the shiver in her voice froze him and all he could do was stare at her quivering body, cursing himself for being so unrestrained.

Jon knifed from the bed.

“Jon! Please don’t …don’t leave me alone. I’m scared of my own nightmares…will you stay with me and when it gets too bad, will you wake me up?”

She was almost sure he was going to walk away. It was in his stiff shoulders and the way his fists bulged but he turned around nonetheless, the human Jon stared down at her, his handsome face tight, his jaw ticking.

She waited for his response, her beautiful, flushed face stared expectantly at his. The planes of her curves, were worshipped by the playfulness of the moonlight, dipping into the dark crevices and hightlighting the soft swelling stretching from her delicate neck to her feminine feet.

He stretched out beside her, pulling the sheet up and over her form, he waited …for God knows what.

Just as he thought she had fallen asleep, she turned towards him, her tiny voice driting towards his oversensitive ears.

“Will you hold me?”

His body was coiled like a snake ready to strike but he paced himself, turning slowly towards her, he opened his arms, feeling her shuffle closer, her hair brushed his arm, the scent of roses tickled his nostrils.

Ciara buried her flaming cheeks against his cool chest, sighing softly, she felt him shiver as her hot breath fanned his skin.

“Are you comfortable with your clothes on?” Her nose was rubbing across his naked chest, one hand clamped his shirt, the other brushing his cool skin.

“Yeah…I’m ok.”

She stilled for a moment, her breath hitched.

Rejection was a painful thing, especially if it came from Jon.

“G’night.” Her lips moved against his skin as the words got lost there.

“G’night Ciara.”

He didn’t say a word after that even when he felt her scalding tears soaked in his skin. There were no words only understanding for her pain and confusion.

His hand tangled into the dark, silky curls, stroking softly, he soothed her fear and guilt, lulling her until a deep slumber claimed her overwrought body.