The Vampire SEAL Collection, page 76
God, I wasn’t afraid of him. It was me I was worried about. My body was about to shatter for some reason.
I blew out a breath and slowly ambled toward his bed.
“Sit here.” He patted the small space next to him as he scooted over.
Easing up on the bed, I placed my hands in my lap. They didn’t stay there long. He grabbed one of them. His touch was cool, not warm like it usually was. He probably still needed more blood, and I noticed his skin had lost the greyish color.
“Are…you…going to be…” Where was my voice?
“I just need to rest and Dr. Vieira is making one of those bloodshakes you like. He says it should help energize and heal my system a little faster.”
“Minus my dad’s blood, I hope.”
“I’m sure he’ll add the right blood.” Raising my hand to his mouth, he kissed it. “Look at me.”
Tears escaped, streaming down all of sudden. Between his voice, his lips on my hand, and the fact I was sitting close to him, I lost it.
“Hey, beautiful. Please don’t cry.” He wrapped me in his arms. “I’m going to be fine. Why don’t you put your legs up on the bed? You’ll be more comfortable.”
I stopped breathing.
As if he sensed the change in me he said, “Relax. It’s okay.”
I adjusted my body so I was curled up next to him, with my head on his chest and his right arm over mine.
“Now, close your eyes. I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered.
I released a sigh as my head rose and fell with every breath he took.
“Webb, I’m sorry. I tried to stop them.”
“Shhh. Is that what has you so upset? You blame yourself? None of this is your fault. Don’t ever think that. Let’s rest,” he said in a silky tone, kissing my temple.
“I should go. My dad will lose a fang. He told me not to stay long.”
Images of Dad yelling and growling flooded my mind. Although he had said he knew I liked Webb, and he had left us alone. Still, relaxing against the gorgeous vampire might be quite difficult. Not only because of Dad, but…
“Don’t worry about your father.”
Okay, that statement got my attention.
“What does that mean?” I tried to sit up.
He wouldn’t let me.
“It means I know your father. He knows I’d never to do anything to hurt you. Let’s just lay here.”
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to rest for a while. Closing my eyes, I snuggled deeper, adjusting my right arm so it wrapped around his stomach.
“That’s better,” he moaned.
His voice, his breathing, his touch all lulled me into a world that I could get lost in forever. As sleep tugged at me, my mind cleared and my body relaxed. The earth tilted on it axis for the tenth time in a matter of days, but my intuition told me that it wouldn’t stay like this for long.
26
Someone was playing with my hair while the light in the room burned my eyelids. I squinted, then rubbed my eyes with my right hand. I had no feeling in my left arm. Then it dawned on me. I couldn’t have slept the entire time in Webb’s arms.
I blinked several times to clear my vision, but I didn’t have to. Webb’s body against my face and his hands in my hair told me I was still lying next to him in his hospital bed. Oh God. How long had I been asleep? Dad was going to stake me.
“Hey there,” Webb whispered. “Feel better?”
Okay, I didn’t know how to answer that. Did I feel better? Noooo way. I fell asleep with the gorgeous vampire.
“Your heart is beating hard. Don’t panic. Your father came in a couple of times.”
It was a good thing he couldn’t see the horror on my face.
“Dad…came…in…here?” Yeah. My tongue could barely move.
“He did. We talked about several things while you slept.”
“And?” Oh, I had to hear this part.
“And nothing. I told him you were fine. Not to move you.”
I swallowed so hard it echoed in the room. Or maybe I choked. If I could’ve jumped off the bed I would have, but my left arm was asleep and so were my legs. I must’ve stayed in the same position for hours.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“About ten in the morning. By the way, Sam spoke with Petty Officer Hunter. Ben woke up a few hours ago. We’re having him transported back here. Dr. Vieira needs to run a series of tests on Ben following Edmund’s experiments on him.”
I lifted my upper body, but the strong vampire wouldn’t let me up yet.
“Not so fast, beautiful.”
“Why?” I loved that he didn’t want me to move.
“I like you next to me,” he said, stroking my arm. “And we need to talk.”
My heart rolled off the bed. He sounded as though he were about to deliver bad news. Any time anyone said, “We needed to talk” it was never good.
“A lot has happened in the past couple of days.”
Boy, that was the understatement of the century.
“And I’m sorry that you’ve had a rough go of it as a vampire. Some of it, of course, was your own stubbornness.”
“Hey, are you trying to get to a point about something?” I asked. “Remember, my limbs are going to fall off if I don’t move soon.”
“I am. I’m also sorry that Kate used you in her quest to support Edmund. What she’s done devastates me beyond belief. I don’t know how I’m going to process all of it. I know right this moment, I’m numb. I’m telling you all this because I know you’re worried about me, and I don’t want you to be. I don’t want you to bear this burden. It’s mine to bear and mine alone. Okay?”
“My dad told you that I was worried, didn’t he?”
“He did, but he also didn’t have to. I sensed it when you walked into the room.”
I raised my head. “I need to stand, Webb. My left arm lost circulation hours ago.”
“One minute. I’m not quite finished.” He let out a breath and his heart rate picked up.
What was he so nervous about?
“After we settle things with Ben and Darcy, we all need some quiet time.” He cupped my face, peering down through mile-long lashes that framed those amazing eyes of his. “I would like to show you a special place of mine this afternoon,” he said, his gaze sweeping over me.
My heart stopped beating, or did it beat so fast it just seemed that way? Was Webb London, gorgeous vampire, asking me out?
“You can close your mouth. Don’t be so shocked. Since the day I laid eyes on you in Mr. Jackson’s office, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. And I think those few times we’ve been alone recently are proof of that.”
Silence grew like a thick fog on a humid night.
“I have to…ask my….dad,” I said, cutting through the soupy silence.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“It depends on my dad,” I lied.
Dad could try to barricade me in one of his prison cells, but there was no way I was missing this. Not in a zillion years.
Webb grinned. “Your father will agree.”
“You’re sure?” I knitted my brows together.
“I already asked him,” he said, smiling.
“You did?” My voice hitched. “Doesn’t matter. I still need to ask him.”
“Jo, your father is a very old-fashioned vampire. He believes a man should ask permission to court his daughter. I acknowledge that. And he is my boss, so I need to respect him as such.”
“Still, I need to have my own conversation with him. But the answer is yes.”
He bowed his head, his lips brushing mine. A bag of feathers exploded in my stomach, raining down, tickling the lining.
“Thank you. Now you can get up.”
I eased out of bed and walked around, trying to get the blood circulating.
“Are you feeling well enough to move around?” I asked as my limbs came alive. The blood was flowing now.
“I’m fine. Dr. Vieira gave me one of those shakes while you were sleeping. It seemed to do the trick.”
Yeah, Dr. Vieira and I had to talk. I wanted to know all the ingredients he put in one of those shakes.
“Are they bringing Ben here now?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Sam has the information.”
“Come here, Jo.”
I didn’t hesitate. I walked over to the bed.
We stared at each other as he searched my face.
“You never answered my question. Are you feeling okay this morning?” he said, his tone husky.
My heart was beating so fast as I continued to get lost in his blue depths. I wasn’t sure I could speak, so I nodded.
Before I knew what was happening he reached up, his hands framing my face, and his lips caressed mine. A soft, feather-like kiss that made me shudder.
“I’ll see you this afternoon,” he breathed against my lips.
Then he sat back against the bed.
Wow! What a way to get the blood flowing, but I wasn’t sure I could move. The only thing that made me head for the door, although on shaky legs, was the thought of a shower, a desperately needed shower.
When I was halfway out of the room, I turned. “Webb, what if I’d said no?”
“I wouldn’t have let you get off this bed.” A playful grin tugged at the edges of his luscious lips.
I smiled, then walked out. I didn’t even want to think how that would’ve worked. Right now, I needed to get as far away from his room as possible before I decided to jump back in bed with the vampire who was stealing my heart more and more every day.
After I left Webb’s room I ran to the apartment. Halfway there I remembered Darcy had been in one of the rooms next to Webb. I almost backtracked to see her, but a shower topped my list, and I was hungry.
Once in the apartment, I snagged a container of blood from the fridge, then went to my room, and flopped on the bed. My mind raced with all kinds of questions this morning. Was Ben still human? Would he be okay? Where were the Plutariums now? What was next on their agenda? Then school loomed in the distance. I had the hearing to attend regarding the death of Blake Turner. Was I facing a murder sentence? Not to mention Dad’s plight over the death of the Secretary of the Navy. Boy, the future was stacking up to be quite a blowout.
I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I knew, Sam’s voice penetrated through my hazy brain.
“Jo, wake up.”
I lifted my head to find my brother standing over me.
“Hey,” he said. “I just spoke to Webb. He told me that he’s taking you off base today.
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my eyes.
“Like a date?” Sam asked.
“I guess.” I sat up.
Sam scrunched his eyebrows together. “Where is he taking you?”
“A special place of his.”
“Mmm,” he murmured.
I waited for him to say more or complain or even tell me I couldn’t go. But he just stood there, arms crossed over his chest with a blank expression on his face.
“No words of wisdom?” I asked.
He smiled. “I hope you have a good time.”
Ooookay. Was this my brother? The one who tried to beat the crap out of Webb? The one who pulled a gun on Webb?
“You aren’t going to stop me?” I asked questioningly.
The mattress dipped as he sat down. “No. I told you that he cares for you. I feel his emotions, Jo. Besides he knows that I’ll kill him if he hurts you.”
I didn’t want to think about that last statement.
So changing the subject, I asked, “When does Ben arrive?”
“He’s been here for a couple of hours already.”
“Really?” I looked at the clock. “It’s one in the afternoon?”
I guess I did more than just dozed off.
He shrugged. “Everyone is waiting for you. Dad and Darcy are talking with Ben right now.”
“Where’s Webb?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for a couple of hours. Come on, sis.” Sam stood.
“I have to take a shower.”
“Then get moving.” Sam ambled to the door. “I’ll wait for you in the family room.” Then he was gone.
The shower felt good as I scrubbed the crud off me. I washed my hair three times just to get all the dust and debris out of it.
As I toweled off, a ball of knots took root in my stomach. I was about to see Ben, and I had no idea what I was going to say. And, I had a date with a handsome vampire. Anxiety and excitement waged a serious war in me.
I combed through my wet hair and took one last look in the mirror before getting dressed.
I’d settled for a pair of jeans, a light pink blouse that had a wide band underneath my breasts that tied in the back, a pair of flats, and a light sweater. The weather was warm, but I didn’t know how long Webb and I would be gone. When the sun set it still got cool in the evenings.
Satisfied, I joined Sam at the front door.
“Nice, sis,” he said, sizing me up.
My brother had changed from his jeans to a black cargo uniform, as though he were going on another mission.
“Why are you wearing that?” I asked.
“I’m off to train with Tripp out in the woods this afternoon,” he said.
“Train?”
“We’re going to be crawling around, shooting, sword fighting—all the things the Sentinels train for,” he said as we walked to the medical facility.
He was taking all this training seriously.
“Do we know if Ben is…”
“Human?” Sam finished my sentence.
I nodded.
“Dr. V. didn’t say,” Sam added.
I really wished I knew before I walked in to see him. I guess it didn’t matter. In the end I had to thank him for saving my life.
We made it to the medical facility and stopped at the double doors. Dad had given Sam access to a few of the security locks and retina displays for now. I didn’t have access yet, but that was the last thing on my mind. Besides, the codes changed frequently, especially now that Kate had made herself known as a traitor.
“You ready?” Sam held open the door.
“As I’ll ever be,” I said, shrugging.
I didn’t know what I was walking into, but mere minutes would reveal the answer.
A mixture of scents lingered in the lab. Cotton candy dominated over the alcohol. As I drew closer to Ben’s room, I sniffed, trying to capture that burned-sugar fragrance of his, but Darcy’s scent overpowered everything.
Sam stalked in before me with confidence, as though he owned the place. He sure was morphing into a different person. I didn’t know if I were happy or scared. During the past two months our lives had whizzed by like a bullet train. Day by day, Sam and I both seemed to be growing and changing constantly, not only in our physical appearance, but the way we thought, acted, and lived. Maybe because we were vampires now. Maybe because we had our father back. Or maybe because we were getting older. Whatever the case, the future made me nervous as hell.
Ben was sitting up in bed while Darcy stood on one side and Sam was on the other. My brother had engaged Ben and Darcy in conversation by the time I walked in. They jerked their heads in my direction as I sidled up to Dad, who was standing near the door. I smiled and waved to them.
Darcy looked ten times better than she did yesterday. The rest she’d gotten from the sedative worked wonders. It looked as though she had taken a shower. Her silky blonde hair spilled over her shoulders and her skin had a soft glow to it.
“Come here, Jo.” She waved her hand.
“Just a minute,” I replied to Darcy while looking at Ben.
His eyes met mine and he smiled. I couldn’t help return the gesture. I was a sucker for his dimples.
He blinked, motioning with his head for me to join them. He seemed to be ignoring whatever Sam was saying.
I nodded, keeping my eyes locked on his as I subtly inhaled, trying to scent if he was still human.
Dad’s voice resonated in my head. For some reason, I didn’t feel any pain associated with his telepathic connection like I usually did.
He’s human. Dr. Vieira had a complete DNA and blood screening workup when Ben came out of the coma. The results just came in.
You’re sure?
Dad nodded.
So do we know why he was immune to the serum? I asked.
That will take more time. Ben’s father is on his way, and so is Mr. Rose. I talked to them both this morning. This doesn’t look good for us. Mr. Jackson has friends in high places, and he has made a lot of waves over this, which I was afraid would happen.
Uh-oh! I thought to myself.
What about Mr. Rose? Edmund kidnapped Darcy because of a debt he owes.
That, pumpkin, is a topic I’m not sure we’re going to get to the bottom of anytime soon.
So…we trust Ben not to tell his dad about vampires, but what about Darcy?
I looked up at Dad.
Wait, I’ve never trusted the boy. On the other hand, I’m not too worried about Darcy. If her father owes a debt to a friend of Edmund’s, I can promise you Mr. Rose is very well aware of vampires. And after speaking with Webb, it turns out Mr. Rose has defended a few vampires over the years. His eyebrows were pinched together.
Okay, I wasn’t touching all that right now. Though it did confirm why Webb growled when I said Mr. Rose defended criminals.
Speaking of the gorgeous vampire, he sauntered in. His hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. He wore a pair of jeans that hung low on his hips and a T-shirt that showed off his toned biceps and broad chest. I took in a heartening breath at the sight of him. It was the first time I had seen Webb in blue jeans. I swept my gaze over him, trying not to make my racing heart known. It was useless.
He flashed me a grin as he moved next to Dad. A fusion of heat built inside me, causing the butterflies to go wild. I swallowed hard as I read the words stamped on the front of his T-shirt: SEALs rule.
Boy, wasn’t that the truth. This vampire without a doubt ruled my heart, and quite possibly my soul. I realized at this moment that it was the first time I had paid more attention to him than Ben when they were in the same room. In the past, I’d always given Ben my full attention, but not today. The tables had just turned a hundred and eighty degrees, as had the temperature of my skin.
