by S. L. Baum
“I’m doing pretty good, Charity. I’ve been pushing it one day further each time. I made it two extra days this time.” Link put his mouth back on the straw and gave a thumbs up.
“Well, I give you a thumbs down. You barely made it two extra days. I can’t believe you made it ten days. I want you to drink some more right before we leave on our trip. It is less than a week away. We will be in Vegas for a week, and I want you to recharge the moment we get back. Got it? I’ll go bridezilla on you for this one. Do not mess with me!” I pointed my index finger at both of them – to show them I was serious.
“Charity is making a valid point,” James agreed. “I won’t have access to a blood bank in Nevada, and we shouldn’t take any chances with the wedding coming up so soon.”
“I agree,” Link nodded as he drained the second bag. “I wouldn’t do anything that would put a strain on this trip. I promise nothing once we return. Come on Charity, you gotta see the logic in this.”
I did see the logic. It made perfect sense for him to discover his limitations. It was completely rational to build up a higher tolerance for less blood in his system. That way he could wean himself down, and discover the lowest possible dose of human blood required to keep his body functioning at optimum capacity. I saw it clearly. I just didn’t want to think about the toll that it might take on Lincoln.
“When we get back, you are free to experiment, with my full support. I promise.” I narrowed my eyes as I answered - to let them know that I still wasn’t completely happy about it.
“Right,” James stood up. “Well, on that note, I am headed back to the medical center. It’s been an interesting lunch break.”
He walked toward the door of Link’s bedroom.
“Thank you for saving the day.” Link gave James a gracious smile.
“I need to do something about keeping a small supply of blood here at the house for you, Lincoln. I’ll figure something out,” James concluded.
He exited the room and soon the house. Moments later, I heard the engine of his vehicle start up and the crunch of his tires on the snow, as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
“You worry me too much,” I frowned.
“I don’t want to worry you. I am so sorry. I should have approached this differently. We are in this together.”
“Together,” I agreed. “Now go rinse your mouth out with some water, please,” I smiled
Link immediately walked into the bathroom to do so. He knew the whole other people’s blood thing was not my favorite. Actually it was just the thought of kissing him after he’d consumed blood.
“Can we get back to where we were before that pesky bloodlust came over you?” I asked, as he walked back over to where I stood. “I was thoroughly enjoying the feel of your lips right here,” I pointed to my neck, “and right here,” I pointed to my lips.
“Oh, I think there was a considerable amount of good old fashioned lust involved in that kiss as well,” he smiled and pulled me closer.
His lips were instantly on mine. It was a completely different kind of craving, one that came from both of our bodies. The bond that we shared synced our pulses. I could feel the blood rushing through his veins with every beat of my heart. I closed my eyes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss.
His hands, which were resting on my hips, moved slightly lower and back. His thumbs slipped through the belt-loops of my jeans, and his fingers tucked themselves into my back pockets. I let go of his neck, let my hands wander down his sides, and then sneak up the back of his shirt. I stroked his back and grabbed onto his flesh, pulling him even closer to me.
Link trailed his lips down to my neck again and lowered the strap to my tank top. I dropped my head back as I felt his tongue and his lips caress the top of my shoulder. A warmth spread over me. I could feel my skin heat up as the blood rushed even faster through my veins.
“It’s just a week away, right?” I whispered, my eyes closed, enraptured by the feeling of his mouth on my skin.
“Less than a week,” he whispered back.
“We can wait that long, right?”
“Yes, we can,” he said as his hands snaked up the back of my shirt as well.
“You’re not making it very easy.”
“It’s never been easy for me. Why should I make it any easier for you?” he said with a smile. “Do you know how many times I have had to walk away from you wanting more?”
“Yes, I know. I really, really know,” I sighed.
“You are delicious, you know. The feel of your skin, the taste of your lips, the smell of your hair... I can’t get enough of you.”
“Lincoln,” I breathed.
“Charity, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“One week?”
“Less than a week,” I assured us both.
“I’m fine.” “He’s fine.” We both called out at the same time. “Marcus,” we each said, and sighed.
Eve’s permanent fiancé Marcus (Eve said she simply likes the way the word fiancé rolls off her tongue – but make no mistake, their commitment to each other is unwavering) had popped into our heads to ask how Link was doing. His “brain phone thingy,” as I liked to call it, was his current favorite power. It had only been a little over a month since he’d acquired the power, and he was becoming more skilled at using it, with each passing day. I wished it were a two way calling system sometimes. Marcus was able to transmit messages into a person’s head. You could hear him as clear as if he were speaking right next to you. But we had to answer him out loud, and that meant using our lips for something other than their current occupation.
Can we come up? was the next question he broadcasted.
“Yes,” we shouted in unison.
“I guess we could use the distraction,” I muttered.
Link bent his head down to my shoulder again and placed a single kiss there. “One week,” he smiled.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me he was pushing himself this way,” I accused, as Marcus and Eve walked into Link’s room.
“I have to turn it on, Charity. You know that. It is a purposeful memory scan, not a constant stream of information. I make it a point not to pry, unless I feel it is warranted.” Eve waved her hand at me.
“Well it is warranted,” I answered.
“If you want me to spy, you have to ask me to spy,” Eve responded.
“Seriously, just like that, you’d spy on me?” Link asked.
“If she asked, and I thought it was needed, I’d take a quick look,” Eve shrugged.
“There are no secrets from Eve,” I reminded Link.
“That kinda sucks,” Link shot back.
“Tell me about it,” Marcus laughed. “She doesn’t exactly have to turn it on. Do you love?” Marcus turned to Eve.
“Well...” Eve started.
“When she’s got skin contact she can’t totally control the stream of information. Things do just come through. I’ve never been able keep a secret from her. It was her first power. Gift giving is quite a challenge,” Marcus jumped in.
“You could always keep your hands, and your lips, to yourself,” Eve offered.
“Never gonna happen,” he readily admitted.
“Then don’t complain!”
“I’m just letting the boy know the whole truth. I will never complain about skin contact,” Marcus said with a smile.
“The boy... I hate that,” Link muttered.
“When you have a few more years under your belt, you can be relieved of your ‘boy’ status,” Marcus smiled.
“In the mortal world, twenty-two is not considered a boy,” Link proclaimed.
“Yes, but, you’re living in a whole other world now,” Eve reminded him.
“I hate to admit it, but Catherine and I have called you a boy as well,” I gave a guilty sigh.
“Great. Wonderful. Got it. I’m a boy!”
“You’re a wonder boy, with awesome powers. Don’t forg
et,” I smiled at him.
“We can get you some super hero tights and a cape, my friend. Is it a bird? Is it a plane?” Marcus stifled a laugh.
“Oh, Oh, and a black mask that just covers your eyes,” Eve added with a giggle as she made circles with her fingers and brought them up to her eyes, to mimic a super hero mask.
“And a utility belt to hold all your cool gadgets,” Catherine shouted out from her room.
She had obviously heard our conversation and couldn’t keep herself from joining in.
I lost it! “That’s not where I was going with that statement, but that’s too funny,” I stumbled over the words, as the giggles had caught me as well.
“I surrender,” Link’s brilliant smile appeared, and a chuckle escaped his lips.
My eyes started to water as I gave in to the laughter that was taking over my body. I think it was sweet relief from the tension that had ruled just minutes before. A good laugh helped set things right again and made me put everything in perspective. We would get through this. We would learn how to deal with the changes in Link’s body, just as the rest of our group had learned to deal with our own unique qualities. It was just another, something new.
*****
Follow the Immortal Ones
http://twitter.com/slbaum
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SL-Baum-Author-The-Immortal-Ones-Series/129575477098126
http://mywriteroad.blogspot.com/
http://slbaum.com
Thank you so much for downloading A Chance for Charity!
S.L. Baum