***NOTE: The idea of Pure Born belongs to user Eggie. Because my love and genuine interest for the story, I asked for her permission to continue Pure Born after she discontinued it, and she is graciously allowing me to continue it. The first three chapters and a part of the fourth are written by her and only include minor editorial changes made by me. Also, for the most part, I will be following the chapter outline Eggie posted for Pure Born. So, I also really didn't come up with the plot, but I will be adding what I, as a fan and a writer, want to see with Pure Born.

So fans...Pure Born is backkk!

PURE BORN

Chapter 1 - A Rumble in Manhattan

The 4:15 bus was running a little late this evening.

Cold, frosty, arctic…these were the only words my mind could comprehend at the moment.

I was rubbing my hands together to keep warm as my eyes searched frantically down the busy street. My impatience caused me to release a heavy sigh and my breath was a burst of puffy cloud into the chilly air.

Livery cars and a sea of yellow taxies passed me on the slushy street, and I wished I had some money on me. I wouldn’t hesitate to hail a cab right about now. I could imagine stepping into the cozy warmth of the car’s interior because I bet all the cab drivers had their heat on full-blast. All I had to get me to work was a measly bus pass.

I could feel my fingertips becoming numb and I berated myself internally for forgetting my favorite mittens at home.

A shiver passed through me as the winter chill bit right through my baby-blue parka. My cheeks stung as an ice-cold breeze hit me on my left side. I was partially blinded and my stiff, icy fingers tried to tame my long, chestnut hair so I could see clearly.

I quickly put on my hood with the faux fur trim to shield myself from any further arctic blasts. It was mid-January in New York City and one of the coldest days of the month; definitely not the ideal temperature for waiting at a bus stop.

I stuffed my semi-frozen hands deep inside my coat pockets and hunched my shoulders to try to stay warm. As I looked around, I noticed I wasn’t the only one suffering this relentless winter weather. I heard teeth chattering and the sound of hands rubbing together. The other people waiting for the bus with me were all freezing their asses off.

“Oh come on, where the fuck is the bus?!?” one man shouted in frustration. I looked at him and instantly felt a sliver of warmth. He was tall and lanky; wearing a flimsy windbreaker with a knit scarf, and I know the cold was eating him alive. Who wears a windbreaker in January? He was just asking for hypothermia. This is not southern California.

A svelte young woman wearing a very chic fur hat and a long, beige trench coat seemed to speak for all of us when the bus was finally within eyesight. “Oh, thank God!” she exclaimed in relief.

Yeah…thank God. Because now I couldn’t feel my toes.

It better be warm in there.

As soon as the bus pulled up in front of us, no one knew how to form an orderly line. Everyone was pushing and shoving; trying to get some relief from the bitter cold. I was stuck somewhere in the middle of the line and the wind wasn’t showing any mercy.

I went cross-eyed for a brief moment when I felt a snowflake land directly on my nose. Oh great, just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it started to snow. I was getting even more anxious to step aboard the late bus. Come on people, hurry it up.

I felt a sudden pressure at the back of my head, the feeling you get when you’re being watched. I overrode the impulse and looked back behind me.

Nothing. Just people and fluffy white stuff.

Then something stirred in the shadows. I stood on my tiptoes and squinted my eyes to get a better look.

Suddenly, the lady behind me gave a gentle shove.

I tore my eyes from the darkness and gave her a half-hearted smile. “Sorry,” I said as I pushed my thoughts aside.

The closer I got to the door, the more I could feel the heat coming from inside the bus. I could also hear the driver apologizing profusely.

The man with the windbreaker was talking again and I could tell he was still agitated. Old Man Winter probably gnawed his skinny ass off by now. “Man, you’re twenty minutes late! We were all freezing our asses off out here! Don’t you know it’s below zero?”

I seriously doubt it, but it sure felt like it.

My bus ride was relatively peaceful. I didn’t have a seatmate, and I was kind of grateful because it wasn’t often the bus wasn’t packed with passengers. It was already dark outside but the city lights lit up the streets.

I was warm and toasty now; looking out the window at the poor souls walking up and down the sidewalks. Even though I’m used to winter weather, it doesn’t mean I like it.

The other chatter on the bus began to fade out as my mind started to wander. My inner thoughts took me to a place where it’s never cold and it never snows. I found myself on a tropical island soaking up the sun and not having a single thought about pulling out my winter wardrobe.

I have big dreams to move out of the city. I was born and raised here and desperately looking for an escape. I’m currently working towards a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in piano at the prestigious and expensive Juilliard School of Music.

Even though I’m on a full scholarship, it doesn’t cover all my expenses. Luckily, I’m in my last year and hopefully I’ll be graduating in a few months. I’m aspiring to be a classical pianist but nothing is guaranteed. I just hope my talent leads me somewhere where my permanent residence is surrounded by palm trees.

Until then, I’m going to school during the day and working nights as a full-time waitress at the Tic-Toc diner.

Tic-Toc is your classic ‘mom & pop’ place owned by one of the nicest guys in the whole world; my boss Burt Clemmons. He took over ownership of the diner from his father, who inherited it from his grandfather. The place has been on the same corner on the same block since the early 1930’s.

Burt has told me on many occasions that he plans to pass the family-owned establishment down to his own son Jeremy. Jeremy is only eleven years old, but Burt has already allowed him to get his feet wet in the restaurant business. Sometimes he comes to the diner on the weekend with his father and takes our phone orders.

Because my bus was running behind schedule, I knew I would be late for work. I pulled my cell phone from my purse to check the time and it was already five minutes past five o’clock; the time I usually start my shift.

We still had a couple blocks to go and the bus wasn’t moving any faster. With another impatient sigh, I pressed the number stored for the diner. After a couple rings, I heard my co-worker Kenya pick up the phone. “Tic-Toc diner, how can I help you?”

“Hey Kenya, it’s Liz.”

“Hey girl, where you at?”

“My bus was late, but I’m almost there. Tell Burt I’m going to be a few minutes late.”

She laughed. “Uh, he kinda figured that. Don’t worry about it Liz, just get here when you can. It’s no big deal. We’re not really busy right now anyway. And we probably won’t be. If people are smart, they’ll keep their asses home in this kind of weather.”

I glanced out the bus window and finally noticed the snow was coming down in big, white chunks. “Yeah, I hope so,” I said wistfully.

“Well, I gotta go. I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Alright, bye.”

It was another fifteen minutes before the bus reached my stop.

When I got off the bus, the bitter wind nipped at my face and pierced through my thick parka. This was some seriously cold weather tonight and I had a feeling it was going to be worse when my shift ended at two A.M.

My leather boots shuffled quickly through the blanket of light snow on the sidewalk. I crossed the street cautiously and I was thankful the pavement wasn’t too slick. I remember last winter when I took a nasty spill on some black ice. I actually twisted my ankle and missed school and work for a couple days.

I entered the diner through the front doors and I immediately realized that Kenya was right. Only a few tables were occupied and the atmosphere was quiet and calm.

Our hostess Megan greeted me first with a smile. She and I were the same age, but in contrast to my brown hair and matching eyes, she had wheat-colored hair and azure eyes. She was thin and attractive and I always saw her as the ‘All American Girl’. “Hey Liz, it’s cold out there, huh?”

“Understatement,” I said with a scoff.

I headed straight for the back to hang up my coat and put my purse in my own personal locker. I made it to the counter when Kenya walked out of the kitchen with a pitcher of soda in her hand. When she noticed me, a wide toothy smile broke out on her pretty face. I know she was headed towards one of her tables, but she quickly changed directions and came over to me.

Kenya’s mother is a mixture of German, Dutch, and Hungarian ancestry, and her father is African-American, and she’s a mixture of all that. She’s 5’6”with a smooth, honey complexion. Her thick, raven hair was styled in loose curls that brushed her shoulders. She was wearing the same basic monochrome uniform I had under my coat; a white polo shirt with a tiny clock on the left breast. Above the clock were the words Tic-Toc Diner. Black jeans and a simple pair of black leather oxfords completed her waitress attire. Burt required us to wear black and white; usually white on the top and black on the bottom.

When she reached me, her smile disappeared and a tiny wrinkle appeared in the middle of her perfectly shaped eyebrows. “Is it getting bad out there?” she asked casually.

“Yeah, you could say that. I mean, the snow is starting to come down and it’s really, really cold outside.”

Kenya swore under her breath. “I hate walking home in that shit.”

“I know what you mean. The wind is no joke. I hope you have a hat or your coat has a hood or else you’re going to be a human icicle by the time you get home.”

I started thinking that maybe the skinny guy wearing the windbreaker at the bus stop was right and it really was below zero. I never considered the wind-chill factor. Huh.

Kenya seemed to be mulling my words over in her head. She sucked her teeth and let out a breath through her nose. “Damn, and I have three hours left on my shift too.” I shrugged apologetically.

All of a sudden, she grinned as she glanced over my shoulder. Her coffee-brown eyes were framed by long, dark lashes and when they met mine, she said, “You can take the couple that just came in.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw a middle-aged man and woman come in through the front doors. They were brushing snow off their coats and stomping their shoes on the carpet. I also noticed they were shivering. “Hurry up girl,” Kenya said as she walked away towards her table.

I saw Meg greet the couple with a friendly, “Welcome to Tic-Toc diner. Table for two?” and seat them.

I quickly walked to the back to get ready for my shift. I passed Burt’s office, but I heard him call out to me, so I backpedaled and poked my head in the doorway. “What’s up?”

“You’re over fifteen minutes late, Lizzy.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. The bus was---”

Burt waved his hand in a dismissive manner, which cut off my sentence. “It’s alright. I understand the buses are running late because of the weather. Just punch in your normal time, okay.” He gave me a friendly smile and I saw the crinkles on the sides of his hazel eyes. I couldn’t help but to smile back.

One thing I liked about Burt was that he was a very understanding boss. There were a couple of times I had to end my shift early because of menstrual cramps. As soon as I mentioned the word ‘cramps’, he didn’t bother to question me any further. He just told me to go home. In addition to his son Jeremy, Burt has three daughters and a wife. He learned quickly to never question a female about her ‘woman problems’.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem, kiddo.” He put his head down, which was covered with brown and gray hairs, and resumed whatever task he was doing at his desk. He didn’t meet my eyes when he said, “Now get to work.”

It was about eleven P.M.; six hours into my shift when my roommate Brittany made an unexpected entrance. You would’ve thought the front doors blew open as she arrived because she walked in like she owned the place.

Her long, wavy brown hair streaked with bronze hung to the middle of her back. She was dressed in all black; from her wool pea coat to her high-heel patent-leather boots. Even though she was wearing a pair of black, fluffy earmuffs, she looked like a rock star. A gothic rock star was more like it. She made a bee-line towards the counter and took a seat on one of the stools.

Kenya and I made eye contact from across the diner and smiled at each other. She knew Britt too because sometimes she visited the diner during my shift.

Truth be told, it was the only time I saw her because she slept during the day when I was in school and was out all night with her boyfriend while I was working. She told me that she had a job but I never saw her get ready for work. I didn’t even know where she worked and whenever I would ask her, she’d either brush me off or give me a vague answer like, ‘I work with my boyfriend’. But somehow, her half of the bills were getting paid and I wondered if perhaps her boyfriend was the one paying her expenses. I never met him, but Britt did tell me once that he was very wealthy.

Since Kenya and I didn’t have any new customers and the ones who were still lingering around were pretty content, we decided to join Miss Love at the counter. Brittany’s real surname is Love; it’s not her ‘stage name’. She was admiring her black polished fingernails when I took a seat next to her. Kenya came around the other side of the counter and leaned towards her. Her expression was one of pure amusement. “What’s up Britt? Where you goin’ all dressed up like that? You are looking something fierce tonight, mama.”

Britt’s smile was nothing but feminine. Her skin was milky white, which made her dramatic eye makeup stand out even more. “I’m meeting Sebastian tonight.”

“Don’t you do that every night?” I asked dryly.

She whipped her head towards me and gave me a condescending look. “Yes. Don’t be jealous, darling.” She patted my arm, and I pursed my lips and looked at her though narrowed-eyes.

Yes, I was single. And yes, I secretly wished I had a boyfriend too; someone who would show up unexpected at my work instead of her. But I hated when she rubbed it in. “We’re going to a club tonight,” she added.

I decided to tease her. “Is it a vampire club?”

Kenya’s eyes widened in surprise but Britt didn’t look embarrassed in the least. I looked over at Kenya as I brought her up to speed on Britt’s obsession. “Oh didn’t you know? Sebastian is a vampire.”

Kenya gave a short laugh. “What?”

Britt interjected. “Yeah, he’s a vampire. So what?”

Kenya and I both laughed. It was so easy to make fun of Britt. “A poser is more like it,” I said.

Now it was Britt’s turn to glare. “He’s not a poser, Liz. He’s really a vamp.”

“Yeah, she lets him bite her and everything. He has fangs, right? I wonder how much that kind of dental work costs.”

Kenya’s facial expression turned to one of disgust, but she spoke with incredulity. “You let him bite you?” Britt nodded like it was no big deal. “Girl, have you ever heard of HIV? Or shit…what about Hepatitis? And you let some dude bite on you? Are you crazy?”

I watched her dark eyes scan Britt’s neck for evidence; i.e. bite marks, while Britt replied nonchalantly. “Vampires don’t carry our diseases. They can’t even catch the common cold. And yes, I let him bite me. We’ve bonded and he’s marked me. Plus, I’m his sole source of nourishment.”

Kenya was just full of questions tonight. “Mark you? What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I’m his…and I’m protected by vampires. No other vamp can touch me…or bite me. When they see Sebastian’s mark, they know I’m taken.” I noticed Kenya’s expression and I had to intervene because Britt was sucking my co-worker into her world of make-believe. And the last thing I wanted was for Kenya to be gullible.

“Kenya, don’t listen to her. Her and her friends are a bunch of Goth kids who obsess over vampires. I mean, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles are like their bible.” Britt scoffed. “And this is the girl whose favorite movie is Interview with a Vampire.”

“Actually, it’s Queen of the Damned,” she corrected.

“Whatever,” I said as I sucked my teeth in annoyance.

“I don’t see any bite marks on your neck,” Kenya said.

“That’s because he heals them. Humans can’t see the marks.” She laughed haughtily. “What would I look like with bite marks all over me?” All of a sudden, her blue eyes looked at Kenya through lowered lids, and her voice took on a more seductive tone. “He doesn’t just bite my neck, you know.” Kenya’s eyes widened in surprise again. “But other vampires can see the marks. Their eyesight is far more superior compared to ours.”

“Girl, are you shittin’ me?”

Britt laughed lightly. “No, I’m not. Look, I know Lizzy doesn’t believe me but I’m telling the truth.”

“Then how come I never met Sebastian?” I challenged.

“Because he can’t reveal his true self to humans.”

Kenya opened her mouth and I know what question she was about to ask because I’ve asked it myself in the past. Britt sensed it too and answered before Kenya could even form one syllable. “Sebastian and I met by accident. He didn’t reveal himself to me; I saw him…” She spoke her next words slowly. “Vamping…out.”

Kenya and I wore identical expressions of confusion so she elaborated by saying, “I saw him feeding…on a human. He should’ve killed me too; that’s their law…no human witnesses. But he didn’t. He said he knew at that moment that I was his mate. He was destined to be with me. So he couldn’t kill me. He inducted me into their world and I’ve been a part of it ever since.”

My words were dripping with sarcasm. “But you’re telling us about him. Are we marked for death now?”

“I can tell whoever I want. But…” She looked back and forth between me and Kenya. “Who would believe me?” She settled her gaze on me. “Vampires don’t exist. Remember?” She ended her sentence a lot louder than necessary.

I just rolled my eyes.

I detected amusement in Kenya’s voice when she asked, “So you sleep with a cold, dead body every night, huh? How could you do that? And I know you’re having sex with this dude. Let me ask you somethin’. Is it like fucking a popsicle?”

I choked on a laugh before I gave her a friendly reminder. “Kenya, vampires aren’t real.”

“Yes, they are,” Britt said with strong conviction. “Unfortunately, my beloved’s body can’t get warm. He’s a Made vampire.”

I laughed again. “A Made vampire. Like…what…he’s in the vampire mob or something?” I just couldn’t stop laughing and it wasn’t long until Kenya joined in.

Britt continued to defend her ‘beloved’ and I could tell she was getting annoyed with us. But that’s what she gets for telling bold-faced lies. “No, you bitch. A Made vampire is a vampire who was once human and was turned. When they turn, their human body dies and consuming blood can’t raise their body temperature. Sebastian was turned in the late 1800’s in England when he was twenty-seven years old. He’ll always be twenty-seven, and he’ll never age.”

We just couldn’t stop laughing. As I took a moment to wipe a tear from my eye, I happened to see Burt come out of the kitchen. He stood behind the counter but closer to the wall. His back was to us and he began arranging glasses on the shelves. But I had a strong feeling he was listening to our conversation.

Britt didn’t care, and she continued to profess her undying love for her undead significant other. “I love Sebastian and I let him drink my blood. He enjoys it immensely and so do I. And afterwards, we have the kind of sex that I can’t even begin to describe. I don’t ever have to worry about him giving me diseases. After being with a vamp, I’ll never go back to dating human guys again. And one day…Sebastian will turn me so we can be together forever.”

Then Kenya asked an interesting question and I saw Britt really get upset for the first time tonight. “So, you’ll never be able to have kids with him, right? ‘Cause he’s dead?”

“Yeah,” she replied quietly. “He’s not a Pure Born.”

Now I was curious. She never mentioned those words before. “What’s a---”

“I’m not paying you to have girl-talk,” Burt interrupted.

“I have to leave anyway,” Britt said. She got up swiftly from her stool. Then she gave me a superior look and it was reflected in her voice. “Have fun waiting tables, darling. I have a gorgeous vamp waiting for me and an exclusive club to go to.” She took a few steps but stopped so she could turn her head and give me one last look. “Ciao!” And she flipped her hair over her shoulder. Her high-heels clicked on the tile floor until she made it to the carpet in front of the door. She didn’t look back again and she exited the diner and disappeared into the snow flurries.

I was still looking after Britt as she left the diner, and I’ll admit that I was beginning to wonder about what she told us tonight. Kenya interrupted my reverie when she entered my line of vision. “Take care of your girl, okay?” she said quietly.

I looked up at her and I could see true concern etched into her face. I got up from my stool. “I already tried. She’s a lost cause. She won’t give up on her belief and she really believes Sebastian’s lies.”

Kenya’s facial expression was nothing but serious. “Maybe he ain’t lyin’.”

I sighed. “Oh God, not you too.” I searched her eyes for some kind of sign that she was joking. I deflated internally when I didn’t see any. “Kenya, vampires don’t exist. If they did, don’t you think we would’ve found out by now?”

We both walked away from the counter, but before we headed towards our separate tables, she said, “Maybe that’s their thing. They want us to believe they don’t exist. ‘Cause if we believe they don’t exist…then they’re safe.”

“They’re safe? Why would vampires be afraid of us? Aren’t they supposed to be stronger, faster…immortal?”

Kenya moved closer to me and her voice was a soft whisper. “In case you haven’t noticed…we run this. We’re the majority. This is our world. If there really was a war against vampires…who do you think would win? Remember, we have sunlight on our side. Don’t those things go up in smoke if sunlight hits them?”

As she was talking, I was gaping at her in shock. I couldn’t believe Britt converted her into a ‘believer’. I shook my head. “You believe Britt?” She didn’t answer me. “I can’t believe it.” I ended our conversation when I walked away.

Since I was late for work, I ended up staying at the diner until 2:30 to make up for lost time. I dreaded going back outside; especially when I saw there was at least a couple inches of snow packed on the sidewalk. But I had to go home and I had to get up early for my 9 A.M. class.

I crossed the street and walked towards the bus stop, which was at the end of the block. My feet were crunching on the snow-packed ground and I began to feel the intense cold seeping through my parka; right down to my bones.

Usually, walking this late at night, alone, didn’t bother me too much. Besides it was just only a block. It was walking in the snow that I hated…

Right on cue, the urge from earlier slipped into my mind. I wanted to look around, but I didn’t. It would be a little obvious…especially, if someone was actually there.

I could feel the chills travel up my spine, not from the cold, but from fear. Once again, I pushed the thoughts away and continued on.

I was halfway to the bus stop when a loud rumble caused me to halt my steps. It sounded like a building was shaking and I actually felt the vibrations under my feet.

I gasped and I could see my breath coming out in puffs against the night air. Were we having an earthquake…in New York? Or was it a bomb or a horrifying repeat of Nine-Eleven?

With my eyes as wide as saucers, I stared wildly into a dark alley between the two buildings where I heard the frightening sound; squinting as I tried to see something…anything.

That’s when I saw and heard debris falling to the ground; like large bricks or pieces of cement falling from the sky or the rooftops.

Then I heard voices. Grunting and muffled yelling. I looked up because it sounded like someone was having a fight on the roof. I was frozen in my tracks…literally.

I peeled my eyes away from the alley and looked around at my surroundings. No one. No where. Just me…about to go and stand alone at the bus stop.

I never made it to my destination because then I heard an awful guttural sound. Someone yelled as they were falling. Oh my God. I whipped my head towards the alley and I knew my eyes were not playing tricks on me.

I saw a body fall to the ground.

Suddenly, the yell was cut off and it was followed by a loud crash. Again, I felt the vibration under my feet. The body landed in the alley. I was sure of it…but it was too dark to see and I was too afraid to move.

But I had to move. It was my duty as a civilian to see if the person who landed was dead or alive. I thawed myself from my spot and ran quickly into the dark alley. I still couldn’t see anything so I called out in a trembling voice, “Hello? Anyone there?”

I heard a noise; a muffled cry followed by a gurgle. I sighed in relief. The person was alive…or barely.

I was panting rapidly; my eyes searching for this mystery person. I was taking slow, baby-steps but I accidentally kicked something and it skidded against the wall; making more noise in the quiet alleyway. Then I heard another sound like shuffling or scraping.

There was a faint golden light hanging from the side of one of the buildings. It illuminated my path just enough for me to make out shapes and shadows. And that’s when I saw the body.

It was man. A young man. He was thrashing on the ground and gasping. I moved closer and saw that his hair was blond. He was wearing a black coat but it was open and I could see a white shirt underneath. A few more steps and I saw he was wearing black pants. His legs continued to writhe on the snow-covered ground. He was grabbing his neck and whimpering.

Then I saw the blood. A large dark stain spreading quickly on the pristine snow. I had to help him.

I was right next to his body now and I could see the extent of his damage. His arms and legs weren’t broken but the front of his shirt was stained with blood. His eyes were squeezed shut and his lips were nothing but a thin line. His pale hands were covered in blood too as he grasped his neck. Dark crimson oozed thickly out from between his fingers and I had to assume he had a serious neck wound. I kneeled next to him in the bloody snow.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” I repeated. I was in a state of complete and utter panic and I couldn’t catch my breath. My knees had turned to ice within a matter of seconds but I didn’t care. My eyes surveyed his face and it was deathly white and almost translucent. I could even see delicate, blue veins underneath his skin like an intricate spider’s web.

All of a sudden, his eyes shot open and I was met with a pair of pale, colorless orbs. They were wide with fear with black pupils that were so tiny they looked like little dots. He grimaced and before I could speak again, one of his hands reached out and grabbed mine. It was ice-cold but so was mine. He opened his mouth and then I began trembling in fear. I saw two, long canines…fangs…pearly white and glimmering in the semi-darkness.

I gasped again and tried to find my voice. It caught in my throat when I realized what I was looking at. Was he one of Britt’s ‘poser’ friends or was he--- I gulped at the thought--- a real vampire? His voice was barely above a whisper. “Help…me.” He made a gurgling sound like liquid was in his mouth or in the back of his throat.

I hesitated for a split second before I reached for my purse. “Okay…okay. Just hold on.”

His grip on my wrist tightened and he pulled his other hand away from his neck. I gasped so loudly that I almost choked. His throat was slashed and blood continued to seep from the life-threatening wound. “I’m going to call an ambulance. Just hold on, okay.”

“No,” he wheezed. “Don’t…” All of a sudden his eyes welled up with tears. His voice was pleading; desperate…and it pulled at my heartstrings. “Please…I don’t…want…to…die.” I could detect a faint British accent in his soft words.

I swallowed hard and I saw his colorless eyes roll up into his skull. Oh God, I was losing him. My voice was loud and frantic. “You don’t want me to call an ambulance? What do you want me to do? Tell me!”

His eyes focused on me. Even though they were eerie and lacking pigment, they were also beautiful…and so was the rest of his face. He opened his mouth again and I could see the blood coating the inside. He let out a strangled whisper. It was very quiet but my ears picked up his one-word answer. “Blood.”

“What?” I whispered back. I know what I heard but I needed him to repeat that one more time.

“I need…your…blood. Please.”

This blond vampire guy started to cry but it only lasted a few seconds because he took a shaky breath and I saw his eyelids begin to close. They were now just a white slit. The grip he had on my wrist slackened considerably and his hand dropped onto his chest. His breaths were shallow and uneven. He was dying.

I quickly made a decision because I didn’t want him to die either. Oh God, why hasn’t anyone else come to investigate? Why just me? This is the city that never sleeps. Was everyone sleeping through the rumbling in Manhattan?

I yelled again to get his attention and to also wake him up. “Okay, I’ll give it to you!”

He slowly opened his eyes. I was shivering from head-to-toe and my teeth were chattering.

I extended my hand slowly towards his mouth and I thought he was going to bite my hand. He didn’t reach for it. His eyes began to close again and suddenly his chest stop moving. “Bite me!” I yelled. I shoved the side of my hand directly against his frozen lips. “Come on!” For some reason…I started to cry.

My tears nearly froze on my cheeks as they trickled down. This beautiful vampire was dying right in front me; just when I was offering my lifeblood to him. The nerve!

To my surprise I felt his lips move slightly against my skin. Then he reached up and grasped my wrist again.

His grip was weak this time and he turned my wrist slowly and bit down into me…deeply. I felt his sharp fangs pierce me; right into my sensitive flesh. I yelped in pain and fought the urge to pull away. Even though my hand was an ice-cube right about now, I could still feel the pressure as his mouth became a vacuum and sucked my blood into his own body.

His eyelids were still closed; the skin was like a thin membrane of lavender with the tiny blue veins underneath. I could see his eyes slowly moving behind them. His blond eyelashes were long…as most boys’ are…and they were fanned out on top of his high cheekbones. They fluttered ever so slightly.

He sucked and sucked and his grip tightened. Then a quiet moan escaped his throat followed by a low growl. My eyes widened in surprise at this feral sound, and his eyes shot open once again. They bore right into mine as he continued to drink from me.

Suddenly…a strange sensation came over me. As we locked our gaze, comforting warmth flowed through my entire body. It tickled my insides and rippled throughout each of my nerve endings. It actually felt good and I released a sigh of contentment.

That’s when I noticed the change in his eyes. Now they had color and were no longer white. A shade of green was emerging slowly and steadily. I could see it filling his irises; surrounding the black pupil that was also growing in size to appear more normal.

I also noticed something else. My wrist felt warm because his skin was warming up. With my other hand, I touched his cheek and I was surprised to feel that it was flushed too. Oh my God. My blood was warming him.

When he released me with a gasp, he was breathless. His mouth was opened slightly as he took deep breaths, and I could see the tips of his lethal fangs…stained with blood.

My blood. I pulled my hand away quickly and clutched it to my chest. I stared in fascination as he moaned louder and moved slowly against the snow. Actually, he looked like he was squirming.

Then I covered my mouth to smother my scream. My hand was trembling as I watched his neck wound heal right before my eyes. No human being could heal that fast. But then again…he was no human being. I was sure of it now.

The skin came together as it rebuilt itself and the wound closed completely and sealed into a faint, pink line that was raised slightly above his skin. And in less than ten seconds…it vanished. Nothing. As if there was never an ugly gash that split his neck wide open and almost caused him to bleed to death.

His Adam’s apple moved in his throat and I saw him swallow and close his eyes again. I also noticed he was breathing more evenly now.

My own state of health was registering in my brain and I realized I was the one on the verge of dying…from hypothermia. My teeth were chattering uncontrollably and my face, hands, knees, legs, and feet were nearly frozen.

I had to get up and get out of here…fast. But I couldn’t leave the vampire here lying in the bloody snow with blood on his shirt, and no evidence as to what caused the horrific mess.

I made another quick decision and shook his body to rouse him. “Come on, get up.” I was breathing hard and straining as I tried to get him to sit upright. “Come on man, help me out here. I know you can move. Oh God, please tell me you can move. I gave you my blood and you’re healed now.”

He sat up slowly and I saw him look at me beneath his dark lashes. It took another minute for me to get him to his feet; mainly because I was struggling to thaw my frozen form from my kneeling position.

I walked with him slowly out of the alley because he staggered and stumbled even though I was supporting him with my weight. He was really tall too; at least six feet and he was lean like a swimmer or a male model. He didn’t weigh as much as I thought he would. And he didn’t speak. He didn’t make one sound was we walked out to the sidewalk.

To my relief, we made it to the bus stop on the corner and I sat him down on the bench. I stood in front of him with my hands deep inside my pockets and my hood pulled over my head because I was afraid he’d fall off the bench.

His head was leaned forward; resting between his shoulders. His blond hair was ear-length and it curled on the ends and covered his face.

As we stood there waiting for the next bus, I tried to make small talk with him just to make sure he was still conscious. “So, what’s your name?”

No response.

“What happened to you? Who attacked you?”

No response.

“I’m Lisbeth, by the way. But you can call me Liz or Lizzy.”

Still no response.

Okay…maybe he wasn’t much of a talker. Or maybe he was asleep.

I reached out and touched the top of his head. His hair was silky soft to the touch and I had the sudden urge to thread my fingers through it. I decided to exhibit some boldness so I lifted his head. It fell back easily and his blond fringe fell against his forehead.

My God…he was gorgeous. The street lamp provided enough lighting that I could see his face more clearly. A perfect, straight nose. Full, sensual lips and a strong, masculine jaw.

The lines on his face were chiseled and his cheekbones were sharp. And he looked young; like maybe he was in his late-teens or early-twenties. But if he was vampire, he could be five hundred years old for all I know.

I found myself spellbound by his beauty and I couldn’t stop my fingers from trailing gently down the side of his face.

I wasn’t expecting his eyes to open. With a gasp, I pulled my hand away and shoved it back into my pocket.

His head didn’t lull forward again; he actually held my gaze for few seconds. His expression was blank, but a flicker of something else…something I couldn’t quite place…crossed his features for a brief moment. Was it…curiosity?

The unmistakable sound of the bus engine caused me to tear my eyes away from his inhuman beauty.

The bus pulled up right in front of us and suddenly I remembered I had to convince the driver to let us both aboard. I wasn’t worried about me, but my traveling companion was donning a shirt stained with blood…and lots of it.

The doors to the bus opened and I quickly helped Mr. Hot Vampire Guy to his feet once again. “Come on. We have to get on this bus.”

He didn’t argue or question me. He just allowed me to help him stand up and he took a few steps towards the bus door.

The driver looked down at me with a look of apprehension. I couldn’t really blame him. I mean, the sight of the vampire was slightly horrifying.

Well, the driver didn’t know he was a vampire. He wasn’t flashing his fangs or anything. But the blood-stained shirt alone was enough to cause alarm.

This is when the lessons I took in my one acting class a couple years ago kicked into gear. “Uh, please sir,” I said in a weak and pleading voice as I held my male companion in a way that made it look like I was really struggling. “I have to get him home. He’s been in a fight and---”

“Home? Shouldn’t you be taking your friend to a hospital, lady?”

“He’s already been to the hospital. They said I can take him home now. He needs lots of rest. The thing is…” I paused for effect. “I only have one bus pass. I know it’s late but can you please make an exception? Can you let him get on the bus?” I quickly whipped up some fake tears to make my eyes glassy. “Please, sir. I need your help.”

I was surprised that he bought my act so quickly. “Yeah, sure. C’mon.”

I yelled in triumph in my head and looked over at the vampire. His eyes were closed and his head was down. I bit back a smile and thanked him silently for helping me with the act. Even though a part of me knew he probably wasn’t acting.

The bus was completely empty and we were the only passengers. The vampire was sitting in the window seat with his head leaning against the glass.

His eyes were closed again. Since he couldn’t see me watching him, I took another moment to appraise his Adonis form.

The lighting in the bus was ridiculously bright and I could see every detail of him better than ever. His clothing wasn’t expensive or designer. They were simple and casual. His hair was a sandy blond and once again, I wanted to touch it when I remembered how soft it was.

Even though his skin was pale, I could no longer see the blue veins underneath. Now I saw faint brown freckles and there was definitely more pigment than when I first found him in the alley.

The alley. My mind took me back and I wondered who he was fighting with.

Was it another vampire or a human? Who was strong enough to inflict this kind of injury on him?

I leaned over towards him and whispered in his ear. “How are you feeling?” To my surprise, he let out a quiet moan. “What do you need?” I swallowed against the lump in my throat when I asked my third question. “More…blood?”

He didn’t answer me right away. But then he whispered softly, “Sleep.”

It was a real chore getting him inside my apartment. When we entered the living room, we were engulfed in darkness.

I switched on the light and called out to my roommate. She was a vampire expert so I knew she’d be able to help. “Hey Britt! I need your help!”

No answer. Dammit! She wasn’t home. Oh yeah, I forgot. She was with Sebastian. Jealousy clouded my thoughts and I imagined her laid up in some ritzy penthouse on the Upper East Side with her rich, vampire boyfriend.

My vampire’s knees buckled and I quickly helped him regain his balance. I almost fell over with him and I struggled to keep him upright.

This was ridiculous. If he wanted to sleep…I was going to let him. “Come on,” I said impatiently as I dragged him to my bedroom; not the sofa which would’ve been the more logical choice since it was only a few feet away.

I don’t know where my head was. It must’ve been affected by the extreme cold and the fact that I witnessed a real vampire bleeding to death in a dark alley. And then he drank my blood.

We reached my bedroom and I deposited him onto the bed. To my surprise, he moved on his own and scooted up the bed to lie more comfortably. He actually balled up into a fetal position and wrapped his arms around himself. I started to feel sympathy for him and I was about to cover him with my comforter when I remembered he was still wearing his blood-stained shirt.

I stood next to him and whispered, “Will you let me remove your shirt? It’s stained with blood.”

Sea green eyes peered sleepily up at me and he gave me a small nod. I leaned over him and that’s when I noticed the tears on the back of his jacket.

There were two large holes like something ripped through the material. I could actually see his bare skin through the holes so I knew his shirt was torn as well. It was the strangest thing and I couldn’t believe I didn’t notice it before.

He sat up slightly to allow me to remove his shredded clothing, and then he quickly laid back down.

As I stared at the garments in my hands, I knew they couldn’t be salvaged. I decided that I’d go to the store tomorrow after school and get him a new shirt and coat.

I left the bedroom and entered the kitchen to throw his clothes in the trash. When I returned, his back was to me and I noticed something odd on his skin.

Upon closer inspection, I realized it was an outline of something. I reached out like I was going to trace the pattern with my fingers but I decided against it. Instead, my eyes followed the path of this peculiar marking.

The skin was raised very slightly as the lines curved and traveled all the way down and disappeared into the back of his pants.

What was that? It didn’t look like a tattoo. It resembled a scar because it looked carved into his skin, but underneath his skin.

I didn’t dare touch it because I was afraid of what may happen if I did. Maybe he didn’t like people touching his…uhhh…carved line thingy.

I covered him with my comforter and my fingers brushed against his right shoulder.

There was another marking, but this time I knew it was a tattoo. And it was clearly readable: What goes around comes around. I smiled. A vampire who believes in karma. How interesting.

I also noticed his skin was ice-cold again. I remembered how my blood seemed to warm him but I guess the effect had worn off. Oh no. Did that mean he’d be craving more blood soon?

I looked at my wrist; the one I offered to him and I gasped in fright. There were no bite marks…no scar…no nothing. I looked down at the sleeping body with my eyes wide in sheer disbelief.

Holy shit, I have a vampire in my bed.

I gave him one last look before I switched off the light and closed the bedroom door.

I dashed into the living room where I dropped my purse and fumbled for my cell phone. There was only one person I desperately needed to speak to.

When Britt answered the phone, she was giggling like a schoolgirl. She cleared her throat and I could hear low music in the background; the electric violin was distinct and it was her favorite: Emily Autumn. “Uh, hello?”

“Britt, it’s Liz. Don’t you look at your Caller ID?” I said gruffly. I thought: Stop having a good time and help me dammit!

“Oh hey, Liz. What’s up?” she asked cheerfully.

“Britt, I need you to come home. We have a serious emergency.”

“Really? What is it?” She giggled again and I heard her say, “Sebastian…no, not right now. I’m on the phone.”

Then I heard a male voice reply in a British accent, “I don’t care, love. I want you to come over here.”

I interrupted their playful, whatever-they-were-doing by saying flatly, “There’s a vampire in my bed.”

There was a pause on her end. Ha, that got her attention! After a few seconds, she sputtered, “What…what do you mean there’s a vampire in your bed?”

“You heard me.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in vamps.”

I heard Sebastian ask, “There’s a vampire in her bed? Who?”

“I don’t know his name,” I replied. “Can Sebastian hear me?

“Yes,” Britt said.

“What?”

“Yes, Sebastian can hear you.” Then as an afterthought she added, “And you’re not on speaker. Vamps just have exceptional hearing. I told you that.”

“Yeah, well now I believe you, okay. Go ahead and say ‘I told you so’. Look, I found one…wounded in an alley a block from the diner. He fell from the roof and I think someone cut his throat. He almost bled to death but I gave him my blood and---”

“You gave him your blood?” Britt asked quietly. But the way she said it made it sound like I did something bad.

“Yes.” All of a sudden I panicked. “Why, was I not supposed to?!?” I could feel myself beginning to hyperventilate. “Does it mean I’m going to turn into a vampire?” I looked at my wrist again that showed no sign of a vampire bite. “Or is it that whole ‘three bites’ thing?”

To my surprise and annoyance, she laughed. “No, Liz. It doesn’t work that way. I’m just surprised that you let him bite you. I thought you’d be all squeamish and girly. Like, ‘Ewww, I’m not letting a vampire bite me. I don’t want to contract any diseases’. Even though I told you they don’t carry any.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, he was dying,” I said loudly. “I mean, I couldn’t let him die and I couldn’t just leave him there.”

“So, what did he say about your blood? About how it tasted?”

“What?!? What kind of question is that?” Now I was on-edge.

But Brittany Love was as cool as the Cheeto's cheetah. “Well…if he said he really liked it, then he may come back for more.” I swallowed hard. I was also speechless. She abruptly changed the topic of our conversation by saying, “So, he’s healed, right?”

My throat was suddenly dry as a bone. “Yeah,” I croaked.

“And I’m assuming he’s asleep. Vampires need a lot of sleep after they’ve heal themselves; especially if they’ve lost a lot of blood, because their bodies use a lot of energy to do it.” Before I could get another word in, she continued. “It’ll be dawn soon so he’ll sleep through the day. But Liz…” She paused and her next words caused an uncomfortable chill to run down my spine. She spoke quietly and I think she was purposely trying to creep me out. “When he wakes up at dusk…he’s going to be very thirsty. Vamps are most thirsty when they first wake. He’ll probably attack you.”

How could she say that last part so nonchalantly? I was trembling in my waitress uniform. “What...do you mean…attack me?”

She didn’t answer my question. She just said, “Unless…you offer him your blood again.”

“I don’t want him to bite me again! That shit really hurt!” But yet, it felt really good too. I didn’t forget about that part.

“Well then…if you don’t want him to feed from you…you’re going to have to get him an animal.”

This was getting weirder by the minute. “What do you mean get him an animal? Why don’t I just go to a butcher and buy a bucket of damn pig’s blood?”

She spoke back to me as if she was speaking to a child and I wanted to slap her through the phone. “Vampires can’t drink dead blood, honey. It’s toxic. He’ll need fresh blood from a live human or animal. Now, unless you want to bribe some nasty prostitute up to our apartment and let him feed from her, you’re going to have to get him an animal. Just be prepared to clean up the mess and explain to our neighbors about the screams.”

“Where am I going to get a live animal, huh? Do you expect me to---”

“Liz, it’s New York City. There’s lots of strays around here. Pick up a couple cats or bring a dog home. It’s either that…or you. Trust me, when he wakes up…he’s not going to leave the apartment until he’s fed. Plus, the fact he’s slept longer than normal because he healed himself…” She laughed. “Oh yeah, he’s going to be parched.”

My mind was racing. But I was also exhausted and worn out. And I had to be at school in a few hours. I couldn’t miss another day because I had mid-terms this week.

Jesus! Why did a vampire have to fall from a rooftop when I was leaving work? And why did he have to fall so close to my bus stop?

Damn you sexy, blond vampire! I think I was lost in my internal reverie because I heard Britt speak through the phone. “Hey, Earth to Liz. Are you still there?”

“Yes,” I said wearily.

“Look, he won’t wake up until dusk and that’s like about 4:30 or something. So pick up an animal on your way home after school. Get some sleep and don’t worry about it right now.”

Suddenly I was struck with a brilliant idea. “Can’t you come home now and take care of this? Or can’t he stay with Sebastian?” It’s only logical to pass this kind of problem onto someone else more qualified.

Unfortunately, Britt had to deflate my hope bubble. “I can’t right now. Sebastian will be going to sleep in a little while and I sleep with him.”

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “You sleep with Sebastian?!?” I had a very disturbing image in my mind and it gave me a chill. “So you sleep in a coffin?” My next words were more to myself. “No wonder you never sleep in your bed.”

She laughed loudly. “Oh my God! No! Geez, you watch too many Hollywood movies. I’ve told you so much about vampires but I guess you never listened to me, huh? They don’t sleep in stupid coffins, okay. But like I said…vamps are most thirsty when they first wake, and Sebastian likes it when I’m there with him. He smells my scent next to him and he immediately feeds.” She paused again, and she had no idea I was hanging on her every word. “Then we fuck like bunny rabbits and scream each other’s names into the night. It’s the most amazing feeling ever. Maybe you should try it one day with your vamp.”

“Now, wait a minute. He’s not my vamp. Let’s get one thing straight, okay. He’s sorta like my charity case. I’m only keeping him here until he gets better. Then it’s adìos amigo, you know what I mean?”

She laughed again. I think I was highly amusing her. “Whatever you say, Lizzy.”

We hung up with each other and I returned to the bedroom.

God, I felt like the walking-dead; except I wasn’t the dead one in the room. Reality was setting in while I watched the blond, sleeping vampire in my bed.

He actually shifted positions and now he was lying on his back with his arms splayed out. I honestly expected him to sleep on his back with his hands crossed over his chest…like they do in the Hollywood movies.

The comforter was pushed down to his waist and his lean, bare chest was fully exposed.

The light from the hallway allowed me to see that his chest was hairless and he had ripped six-pack abs. Yum.

I walked closer to the bed and noticed another tattoo. Now this one was bizarre. He actually had a cross; a Celtic cross it looked like, on his right pectoral. Aren’t vampires vulnerable to crucifixes? Spike and Angel were.

Unless…they were like Anne Rice’s vampires. I remember Brad Pitt saying he was quite fond of them. I guess my vampire was fond of them too.

I caught myself immediately after I said it: my vampire. He wasn’t mine, and I really didn’t want him here. Did I?

Maybe I did. Because I found myself crawling in bed next to him. I didn’t even bother to change into my pajamas; I was too exhausted.

I kept as much distance between us as I could but my bare arm accidentally brushed against his chest. Holy moly! His entire body was like a huge ice-cube! How the hell did Britt sleep with a cold, dead vampire every night? I hope she kept the heat on full-blast.

I fell asleep quickly and I dreamt I was on the beach. It was nighttime and the blond vampire was lying on the sand next to me. There were lit torches a few feet away from us and we gazed lovingly into each other eyes in the firelight. And we were both as naked as the day we were born. He moved closer to me and reached out to caress my cheek with the back of his hand. I was prepared to flinch because of his frigid body temperature, but I didn’t because his body was as warm as mine. We embraced each other and he whispered my name against my lips. I was lost in sea green pools and I combed my fingers through his thick, golden locks.

His kiss was like delicious heat on my lips. Our tongues entwined and we explored every corner and crevice in each other’s mouth and savored our different tastes. We moaned in unison and I felt him grow hard right between my legs. My body reacted immediately. My womanly flower leaked its feminine nectar and it was a clear signal that I was ready for him; aching for him to take me swiftly and without mercy.

A sly grin graced his handsome face and his nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. He picked up my female scent…and it was his personal invitation to share his body with me.

This was a vampire…not a human. And the way he made love was raw, unyielding, like the dangerous creature he was. His body covered me and his own arousal caused a dark, lush scent to wash over me. It was an intoxicating fragrance and unlike anything I’ve ever smelled. It was all over my skin and even in my hair. The look in his eyes conveyed one single message: You’re mine.

“Yes,” I answered breathlessly.

He didn’t hesitate to mark me as he plunged his rock-hard erection deep inside my dripping core at the same time. His fangs unsheathed and pierced the skin of my neck. He drew my blood deeply and greedily, and ground his hips into me in wanton passion. I arched my body to him and he held me tighter and molded his body to mine. He took my life force as he pounded into me harder and harder. And I gave it to him willingly with no restraint. I lifted my pelvis and met him stroke for stroke as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I moaned loudly in absolute bliss as he took every part of my body and soul.

He retracted his lethal weapons and released my neck with a gasp. But not before I felt his wet tongue dart out and soothe the tiny wounds. I knew I was healed instantly. He raised his head and I watched him lick my blood from his pouty lips and relish my unique flavor. He slammed into me hard and growled deep in his throat as his vampire eyes lit up with an emerald fire.

My new mate moved inside me with a power I’ve never known, and my inner muscles clenched him; letting him know this was where he belonged. Our rhythm was desperate and frenzied as our bodies rocked against each other. He entangled his fingers in my sable strands, and leaned his head down to nibble my earlobes. He was careful with his fangs as he nipped at the delicate flesh across my jaw and down to my collarbone. He lingered at the hollow of my neck and delved his warm tongue inside.

Gasps and moans of pleasure filled the night air. The sounds of our bodies coming together repeatedly echoed in our ears. Faster and faster; higher and higher we were climbing until we reached our sexual plateau. We held onto each other and made the great leap into ecstasy. The spectacular climax between us had arrived and we both cried out in passion. On the deserted beach, no one could hear our screams.

But I heard a real scream that woke me out of my sleep. My eyes shot open immediately because the room was filled with an agonizing scream of pain. I sat up quickly and looked around. I saw nothing at first until my eyes followed the terrifying sound. I looked over the side of the bed and my vampire was writhing on the floor. “Oh my God!” I yelled.

A continuous scream ripped from his throat as the innocent sunlight began to scorch his beautiful skin.

The sunlight! Oh shit! It was streaming through a space in my curtains like it always does every morning; totally harmless to me and actually quite refreshing. But to the young man being burned alive on my carpet, it was anything but harmless; it was fatal.

I jumped off the bed to close the curtains but he was still screaming bloody murder.

The ray of sun was no longer touching him but it was obvious that he was still in pain. The left side of his face and upper body was red and blistering.

I was shaking in fear but I had to act quickly. I snatched the comforter off the bed and covered him with it. Then I started apologizing. “I’m so sorry, oh my God. Are you okay?”

Duh, I knew he wasn’t okay. He had third-degree burns on his body. I saw him move underneath the comforter and I watched him scramble under my bed to take refuge in the darkness.

I could hear him panting rapidly and whimpering under my bed like a suffering animal. I couldn’t catch my breath either and I stared at the rumpled comforter on the floor.

He was no longer underneath it. The smell of burnt flesh invaded my nostrils and I felt even worse. I slowly kneeled down and looked under the bed. His eyes were wide and actually glowing; a wild green unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He was holding the left side of his face and trembling from head-to-toe. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I forgot about the sun.”

I noticed his breathing began to steady. He swallowed thickly before he opened his mouth to speak. “It’s okay.” Then he actually gave me a small grin.

I averted my eyes from him and lifted my head. I searched around my room for a place where the sunlight wouldn’t reach him. Then I kneeled back down. “You can sleep in my closet. It’s dark in there and the sunlight can’t touch you.”

I reached over and grabbed the comforter again. “Let me cover you with this while you crawl over to the closet. Do you want to do that?”

He nodded. Then he moved very slowly and I heard him grunt in pain as his tender flesh rubbed against the rough carpet.

Once he was completely covered with the thick comforter, I saw him shaking underneath as I guided him towards my closet. I gently removed it from his body when he was safely inside.

I watched him make a little space for himself next to my shoes. His tall form was curled up again in a fetal position and he was quiet.

As I looked at his partially burned body, I had a sneaking suspicion what he needed to feel better. I approached him slowly and cautiously and sat next to him.

The closet was actually big enough for the both us once I threw everything that was on the floor out into the bedroom. I brought the comforter in too, and covered him gently.

He looked up at me and I took the opportunity to ask, “Do you need my blood again? You know, to heal yourself?”

His steady gaze on me didn’t waver in the slightest, and I wondered if he was actually going to respond. After a couple seconds, he whispered, “Yes.”

For some unknown reason, I didn’t hesitate this time. I offered him my wrist again. He must’ve noticed my willingness because his eyes widened slightly. He took my offering swiftly and I bit my lip to hold back a yell as I felt his sharp fangs pierce the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist.

He fed for at least a full minute and when he had his fill, he moaned deep in his throat again; just like he did last night. Then he closed his eyes and released a low growl that strangely turned into a purr.

His body seemed to stretch and contort like the feeling was pleasurable for him. Maybe it was, because I was feeling tingly and slightly aroused myself when he was drinking from me.

I watched in astonishment as his burns healed instantly and the pigment of his skin began to blend in with the rest of his body. It was truly an amazing sight to see.

His green eyes opened halfway and another grin appeared on his beautiful face. When his lips parted, his voice was laced with a British accent, and it rumbled softly in the dark closet. “Thank you…Lisbeth.”

I smiled and answered faintly, “You’re welcome.” In the next second, he was out like a light.

I crawled out of the closet and closed the door with a quiet ‘click’. I stood up and happened to glance at the alarm clock on my nightstand. I calculated that I could sleep for about two more hours before I had to get ready for school.

I needed all the sleep I could get, so I decided to get back into bed. But suddenly…I had second thoughts.

I turned around and my hand hovered next to the doorknob for a brief moment. Then I finalized my decision and opened the closet door again. If Britt could sleep with a vampire…why couldn’t I? At least my vampire was warm right now, and he’d probably be warm for the next two hours.

I didn’t shy away from him this time and I snuggled up close under the comforter. I felt him put his arm around my waist before I slipped into another peaceful slumber. I really hoped I could continue my dream, and my vampire and I could pick up where we left off.