ReAwakened

by Ada Adams

  “So, you’re trying to tell me that no part of you enjoyed it? No part at all?”

  “That’s right,” I lied.

  “Not even a little bit?”

  “Not even a little bit.”

  “Hmm…”

  “Can we just drop this, please?” I asked, opening the window. The car suddenly felt hot and stuffy.

  “You really need to learn how to relax, D.” Razor laughed and shot me a long, sideways glance. “By the way...” he began coyly.

  “What now?”

  “Well, as you know, a Born vampire’s blood is compatible with her Made so that they can have a child.”

  “Yes...” I muttered. “We just went over that.”

  “But there’s another purpose behind that blood link.”

  “What other purpose?”

  “A really fun one,” Razor said.

  “Huh?”

  A wicked grin tugged at the corners of his lips as his eyes landed on mine. “Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t tell you. Maybe I should just let you experience it for yourself.”

  “Experience what?” I demanded. He was getting way too much enjoyment from my discomfort.

  “Are you sure you can handle this?”

  “Razor…”

  “Well, you see, when a Born vampire woman and her Made man love each other very, very much—”

  “Razor!”

  “—they often feel certain urges.” He paused for dramatic effect. “You know…exciting, sexy urges.”

  “Razor!” I swatted his shoulder. The car swerved slightly. “I don’t need to hear the vampire birds and bees talk from you, thank you very much.”

  Razor chuckled, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel. “I’m trying to explain that, when a Born and her Made exchange blood, their passion increases. Big time.”

  “What are you talking about?” I mentally kicked myself for asking. I didn’t want to know.

  “I thought you were all caught up on your birds and bees,” Razor teased. His eyes caressed my face, pausing briefly on my lips as he mulled over a thought. It was, without a doubt, an inappropriate one.

  “Shut up.” I punched him again, this time, harder.

  The hit didn't deter Razor from speaking. “Sharing blood causes a Born and her Made to become bonded for a short period of time,” he said. “Through attraction. Wild attraction. It’s like a sexy spell.”

  I groaned. “I don’t believe you. You can’t be serious.”

  Razor shrugged. “What can I say? It's an evolutionary trait that's supposed to aid with the baby-making,” he said, smirking. “The couple experiences an unyielding attraction and the two vamps are essentially unable to think about anything but ripping each other's clothes off.”

  I bit my bottom lip, stifling a gasp.

  “You finally understand what I’m saying, right? Or should I demonstrate the ‘no clothes’ part for you?” he asked mischievously as he shifted closer toward my seat. My pulse quickened under his intense gaze.

  “No demonstrations,” I ordered, pressing myself against the door. If Razor decided to start undressing, I would jump out of the car, I decided. “Anyway, you don’t have to worry about Sebastian and me. There will be no ripping off of any clothes on either of our parts.”

  “You say that now, but you won’t be able to resist your carnal urges.”

  The car was becoming unbearably hot. “I will not be getting any carnal urges. Trust me.”

  “Hmm…is it because you’d rather get carnal with someone else?” He winked, smiling impishly.

  “Gross!” I buried my head in my hands, partly annoyed by Razor’s cockiness, partly worried about the possibility of “getting carnal” in general. “Why don’t you pull over and let me out of the car. I’ll run the rest of the way and meet you at Sebastian’s.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “I'm sure. I need to let off some steam.”

  “I bet you do,” Razor smirked, giving me a heated look.

  I grumbled angrily as he let me out of the car.

  There was no way, Sebastian and I would succumb to some wild temptation spell, I vowed.

  No way…

  On the way to the York house, I stopped by the cottage to shower and change. I cleaned my wounds, most of which had already healed, then cursed my long hair for taking forever to dry and comb through. I rummaged through the closet for the lightest, most comfortable attire I could find in the shortest amount of time. The morning was cool and breezy, but I was feeling overwhelmingly hot. I settled on a gray tank top and black jeans, then rushed across the forest to find Razor’s car parked in the driveway.

  I was anxious to see Sebastian, not because of Razor’s stupid “getting carnal” caution, but to make sure that he really was okay. Despite the infuriating frustration I felt over his decision to leave me behind and venture off with Lena, seeing him in such a weak and helpless state, struggling for his last breath, had awoken within me an unbearable fear for his safety.

  Razor greeted me at the door. It was only in the bright light of the day, that I realized just how exhausted he was. Dark circles had formed underneath his eyes, his skin was pale, and his jaw tense. Nevertheless, a slight smile cut through the tiredness.

  “Did you and Sebastian have a chance to talk yet?” I asked, making my way into the house.

  He nodded. “He’s changed a lot over the years,” he said. “He’s now very…he’s…”

  “Sebastian,” I finished his sentence. No matter how often I tried to pinpoint the exact thing that made Sebastian tick, I could never quite find the right words to describe him.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “It’s so odd…I bid goodbye to a young kid of seventeen when I left for Canada. A century later, I’m now dealing with an old vampire of twenty-one—one much different from the brother I once knew.”

  “But it went well?” I asked. “I mean, he’s happy to see you?”

  Razor’s smile wavered a bit. “As well as something like this could go, I guess. I apologized for not believing in vampires. He apologized for accidentally killing me. You know, just normal brother stuff,” he said sarcastically. Softening, he added, “There’ll be time for more catching up when we’re all feeling better.”

  “Where is he now?” I asked. My need to see Sebastian had been mounting since the rescue.

  Razor glanced up toward the second floor. “Upstairs. Showering. He should be done by now.”

  I started for the stairs, then hesitated. My feet stuck to the floor as if I needed Razor’s permission to proceed further. I turned to look at him.

  He gave me a probing look, then said, “Remember what I told you…you’re both going to feel things—things that I can tell are already there—and you’ll feel them grow stronger and stronger.” His voice changed as a slow smirk spread across his lips. “Have fun. Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “The thought of doing something stupid hasn’t even crossed my mind,” I lied, chastising myself for the sudden craving swelling within me.

  Razor chuckled. “Whatever you say. Just remember, I’m too young to be an uncle right now.” He picked up a wad of cash from the table and stuffed it into his jacket. “Lena is resting in one of the guest bedrooms. I’m going to drive that lady you rescued into town. She managed to contact her husband and he’ll meet us shortly,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  “And, D?”

  “Yes?”

  “Behave.”

  “I will, Mom.”

  I made a big show of rolling my eyes and stomping up the stairs, but by the time my foot left the last step and my fingers slipped from the banister, my bravado had dwindled. I was only a few feet from Sebastian, and I felt unprepared to face him. Ignoring the turbulent storm raging within me, I crept toward the master bedroom. Every thud of my heart brought me a step closer. By the time I was at the door, there was no turning back. I knocked lightly. Receiving no answer, I pushed it open.

  My bold entrance occurred just as Sebas
tian stepped out of the bathroom, completely bare save for the towel around his waist. His dark curls were wet from the shower, sending tiny droplets of water down his body. I watched as one glistening drop slid along the curve of his neck, caressing his collarbone on a slow voyage south. It continued downward, slowly gliding over his perfectly sculpted chest, savoring every moment it spent on his skin. It plunged even lower, licking the ridges of his abdominal muscles, clinging on for dear life as it advanced on more dangerous territory. Accelerating, it approached the sharp triangular muscle peeking out just above the towel.

  Impulse battled desire as I fought to look away. While my brain waged a war against my body, Sebastian had yet to register my arrival. He placed his hands on the makeshift waistband of the towel, disturbing the droplet’s journey as he prepared to dress. In that moment, his eyes connected with mine. They widened in surprise, then narrowed in amusement as he took in my stunned expression.

  My heart pounding wildly, I gave out a small yelp and slammed the door behind me. Leaning my back against it, I tried to subdue my ragged breathing. I squeezed my eyes shut in an attempt to expunge the image of Sebastian’s body from my mind. It was easier said than done. A small part of me clung on tightly, committing every curve of every muscle to memory.

  Without warning, the door swung open, sending me tumbling backwards into Sebastian’s arms. We stood still for a moment—or rather, I hung in limbo as he held me. I tried to ignore the sensation of his bare skin against my body, forcing myself to look anywhere but at the towel hanging dangerously low on his hips.

  “Come in,” he said, smirking. “I don’t bite.”

  My hand impulsively went to the tiny red mark on my neck.

  Something dark flashed in his eyes. “Dawn, I—”

  “You had to.” I didn’t want him to apologize for what he’d done to survive. I was, however, upset at the bigger picture. Suddenly, it didn’t matter what he was wearing—or not wearing—all the fear and betrayal I’d felt over the past two weeks poured out from within me. “What you didn’t have to do,” I growled, “is go off and try to do this without me! You lied to me!”

  “I was trying to protect you,” he said, his voice low.

  “And how did that work out for you?”

  He looked down at the wounds marbling his chest. “I’m sorry, Dawn. I hope that you know how incredibly horrible I feel. Not being able to help them...having you come to my rescue…I hate myself for it all.”

  “You should.” I cringed at the harsh words spilling out of my mouth. “If you ever treat me like some damsel in distress again, I’m not coming to your rescue.”

  “I was worried—”

  “Worrying doesn’t suit you!” I snapped angrily. “Go back to brooding.”

  Sebastian sighed. “I wish I could,” he said, clenching his fists.

  We were silent for a while, stuck in a heated deadlock. Having him back was both a blessing and a curse. It forced me to face the intense anger I’d been bottling up inside, but it also freed me from the terrifying concern I’d harbored over his safety. It was like a weight had finally been lifted off my chest, alleviating the pressure I’d been suffering through for weeks, allowing me to breathe. I glared at him, lips parted, breathing heavily; fighting both the desire to hit him, and the urge to kiss him.

  Sebastian was the first to break the stalemate. He moved in front of me. “Don’t you get it?” he asked, towering over me. “I can’t not worry, Dawn.” His eyes pierced through me. “You planted yourself inside my head and now I can’t get you out.”

  “You should.”

  “I’ve tried, believe me.”

  “Well, you should try harder,” I mumbled, my fury slowly fizzling away.

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure that I want to. I like how you feel inside my head.” He ran a hand through his wet hair, then rested it against the open door behind me. The gesture caused him to lean forward, bringing him even closer.

  Suddenly, all I could think about was the hard curve of his full, enticing lips.

  If I just tilted my head slightly…

  Snap out of it! my subconscious warned as I bit down on my lip.

  “Those feelings you have are a lie!” I blurted out, pulling back. “It’s all because I gave you my blood and accidentally ingested yours. Your brother warned me that the exchange will make us feel...strange things. It’s like some kind of a Born-Made blood curse,” I said, though this—whatever it was—felt nothing like a curse.

  “Are you telling me that I must ignore every thought that’s going through my mind right now?” he asked, moving closer.

  I took a tiny step back. “Yes. Definitely.”

  “What about my feelings?”

  “Uh-huh. Those too.”

  “Every one of them?” His voice was low and husky.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Fine.” He inched even closer.

  “Good.” I retreated further into the partially open door.

  The cool sensation of the wood soothed my burning skin. My back pressed against the door, forcing it shut. Sebastian’s arm buckled under the rapid shift, sending him tumbling into me. He caught himself mere inches from me, his hand now on the other side of my head.

  There was nowhere to run.

  And even if I could, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to. My head spun as I soaked in the fragrance of his body. Soap and bare skin and something more severe. Icy. Dangerous. His breath held a hint of cool mint, and I was overcome with the desire to taste him. Trying to expel the thought, I bit my lip, desperately pleading with my heart to still.

  He’s the last person you should be thinking about kissing right now! the rational part of my mind screamed. The less rational part craved his lips and thirsted for his touch.

  “Do your wounds hurt?” I asked in a frantic attempt to change the subject.

  “No. Do yours?” He cradled the back of my neck with his hand, gently touching the two small scars with his thumb.

  I shook my head and closed my eyes, losing myself in the sensation.

  “Good,” he whispered.

  An astounding wave of pleasure surged through my body as he pressed his mouth to the wound, igniting the memory of his fangs against my skin. He trailed tender kisses along the side of my neck, down to my clavicle, then back up toward my jaw. His lips grew more fierce and his kisses deepened as his mouth finally found mine. Parting my lips, I pulled him tighter to me, forgetting all about my intention to fight him. As I entwined my hands through his damp hair, tugging gently at his curls, his hands glided under my tank-top, trailing across my abdomen to my back, sending shivers up my spine.

  Somewhere amid the kisses, I remembered that I was supposed to be angry, but the thought quickly dissipated as he thrust me farther into the door, running his lips across my skin. I gasped excitedly as the coolness of his hands alternated with the heat of his mouth; the clashing sensations vibrating rapidly through every inch of my body. I was trapped in a scorching inferno one moment, only to be plunged into the depths of an icy ocean the next.

  Without warning, like a flash of deadly lightning, Aurora emerged out of the shadows of my mind, ripping away at my bliss. A piercing pain tore through my head. She was suddenly in my ear, spewing threats.

  Get away from Sebastian! Get away from him!

  Her voice was sharp and menacing, laced with pure hatred. I cringed, breaking our kiss.

  “Are you alright?” Sebastian whispered, pulling away. His pupils were dilated and his gaze pulsated with desire, but concern was reflected in his eyes.

  “Yes,” I lied, drawing him back into me.

  His fingers slid through the belt loop of my jeans, grasping my hips, melting away the space between us. As our lips met, the ache in my head grew stronger, morphing into a crippling throbbing.

  If you know what’s good for you—if you know what’s good for him—you’ll stay away.

  Aurora was like a disease; a parasite that had somehow latched onto my b
rain and sprouted seeds of insecurity within me. She was louder and more clear now than she’d ever been in my dreams. And she seemed determined to break me.

  I’m warning you.

  Her voice raked across my brain like nails on a chalkboard

  You don’t know what I’m capable of.

  I swallowed a scream.

  Last warning. And then I hurt him.

  My mind was on fire; I was combusting from the inside.

  “We can’t do this!” I finally blurted out, once again severing our kiss.

  The detachment pained me, but Aurora’s internal grip seemed to loosen. The hazy intoxication I’d felt in the midst of my passionate moment with Sebastian was entirely usurped with a cold wave of sobriety.

  Good girl.

  It’s not you he really wants anyway.

  You know it.

  I know it.

  And he knows it.

  I fought the tidal wave of nausea rising within me.

  “What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s eyes searched mine as our foreheads touched.

  “We have to stop,” I whispered, drawing in a shaky breath. My entire body trembled as I struggled to find my voice. “What we’re feeling…it’s all just the aftereffect of the blood exchange.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t say that.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything.” I said, lying to us both.

  The longing in his eyes told me that he thought otherwise. “Tell me what’s really bothering you, Dawn. You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  He had no idea how right his words were.

  “Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his eyes hard. “I got carried away…not seeing you for two weeks, wondering if I’d ever see you again—”

  “We both got carried away. It was stupid and careless.” I hated myself for those words. “This craving you’re feeling will wear off eventually,” I said, repeating what Razor had told me. “After that, you won’t feel this way anymore. Trust me.”

  “Yeah, I guess I won’t,” he said, turning away from me.

  I wanted to kick myself. More than anything, I wanted to kick Aurora. How could someone who had been dead for well over a century have so much control over my life?