Chapter 159

The eternal crash of the waves washed the dark shadows to the back of her mind. Standing on the beach with the breeze blowing her hair from her face, her toes dug into the grainy sand, she searched the horizon, watching the sinking sun, praying for peace for her restless, tortured soul.

Arms encircled her from behind and she sighed, leaning back into his immeasurable strength.

Her tormented heart pained him. Tugging her even closer into him, he rested his face on the soft crown of her blowing curls, his gaze fixed on the pink sky.

Ciara reminded herself to keep breathing.

You can do it. In…out…

“Is being alive so painful to you?” The hurt in his voice was unexpected. “How can I ease your pain? What do you want me to do?”

Ciara shook her head wordlessly.

Nothing. I need to do this on my own.

The slight shrug of her shoulders loosened his embrace and she stepped from his arms.

She edged towards the breaking waves and he intended to follow but she turned halfway, her hand stilled him.

“Jon…please…”

Rejection darkened his eyes to a swirling mauve.

He nodded and turned from her making his way towards the beach house, his fists jammed in his pockets.

Ciara was sure it was the saltiness of the ocean air she tasted on her lips, but the warm drops pooling on her lips told her otherwise.

The cool water rushed over her feet and stole her attention from him. Digging her toes even deeper into the wet sand she dropped to the ground, not caring about the intense difference between the ocean waves and her burning skin.

Ciara rested a cheek onto her drawn up knees. Staring at the wave breaking over her and then slowly pulling back, she traced slow patterns on the sand only to watch it disappear with the next crash of salty water.

As the hours tick by, Ciara felt the undeniable built inside her. Her pelvis throbbed, a dull, warm ache pulsed between her thighs, her heart thudded heavily in her chest…she wanted Jon. Her body demanded him inside her, the taste of his blood, the hard thrust of his body but it had been days since he made love to her and every day became harder on her, more painful, more earnest.

Why couldn’t she just go to him, leaving the past where it belonged? Why did she feel this ridiculous responsibility towards Xander? Why did Chimala haunted her dreams…Gorgios? Why couldn’t they let her be and let her go on with her life? And why in the hell couldn’t she share it all with Jon.

How are you going to tell him you wanted another vampire’s touch? How many times you have come close to making love to him….you even tasted his blood.

The taunting pushed her to her feet. The stars were already splattered across the sky, wrapping her arms around herself she trudged home. Her heart was at her feet.

He was waiting for her on the porch, his shimmering eyes were staring at the glimmering ocean, his outstretched legs were propped on the railings, his hands resting on his thighs.

“You ok?”

“Yes, thank you.”

She turned to go.

“I made you dinner.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to go out for a while.”

There was no need to explain why.

“G’night.”

Jon gritted so hard, he thought he might snap his jaw. He wanted her to say no, don’t go. But she didn’t give a damn! Rejection didn’t sit well with Jon and he shot into the night air, his vicious snarl echoing in the night air.

Jon swooped down in the deserted streets of New Jersey. He could have searched for a meal closer to the Hamptons but he needed to get away from her and her dark thoughts.

A young girl came stumbling his way and he licked at his stabbing fangs, feeling the rush of adrenaline shooting through his veins.

He waited silently until she crashed into him.

“Oh! I’m soorrrry. Oh!....” the girl giggled. “ Gooodddd….you are Jon Bon Jovi aren’t you?” She tripped over her own heeled foot and he grabbed her arm, steadying her.

“That I am honey.” Pulling her into him, he dragged her to a secluded corner.

Swiping her hair aside he moved in. His bite was quick and deep.

“Oouuuuccccccchhhh!” She whimpered in her drunken state.

Her blood was heavy with alcohol and he knew better than to overfeed but he refused to let go, centering all his hunger and frustration on the neck bent against his lips.

When he finally shoved her from him he could feel the consequence of the alcohol filled blood.

Wiping her mind, he turned from her moving into the dark night without looking back.

He found another meal not to further down the road, and stepping back from her his head was spinning even more.

It was a Saturday night and the only people in the streets at this time of night were druggies, drunks or the homeless.

Jon stumbled into the front door a few hours later, her food was untouched on the table and he grimaced irritatingly. All that effort and she didn’t even taste it….

“Jon?” Her heat speared through his cool skin. “Is that you?” Her fear billowed around her slim form.

“Yeah…I’m back.”

She stood there in her sheer night gown, the backlight of the moon illuminating her curves perfectly.

He swallowed at the knot in his throat.

She watched as he swayed slightly, he seemed disheveled…drunk.

“Are you ok?”

“Yeeaaahh…fuck isn’t it warm in here?” He slipped the tight shirt over his head, throwing it to the floor.

“Its me probably…” she couldn’t drag her eyes from those tight abs….

“Its been days since you’ve fed …you need my blood to cool you down …” She didn’t just need his blood and they both knew it.

Finding that her thoughts traveled the same direction as his, he swung the front door open, heading for the porch. He wasn’t going through another rejection again..

He heard her feet padded behind him and he gripped the railing even harder.

Her fingertips traced down his spine and Jon shivered.

“Will you?...Let me feed from you?”

“Don’t think its such a great idea…I had some serious alcoholic blood tonight.”

Her touch wavered.

He felt the soft swish of her nightgown as she turned from him.