Origins (A Black Novel, #1) (9 page)

One thing I did know, however, is that there was a way for me to know for sure. “Fine,” I sigh. “I’ll do it but if it turns me I swear the first thing I’m going to do is rip your head off.”

“You’d have to catch me first,” he shoots back with a lopsided grin, making me roll my eyes.

“How do we do this? Do I have to bite you?” I ask, squirming uncomfortably at the thought of doing so.

“Why, do you want to? If so, by all means go right ahead. I doubt I’d mind much,” he laughs. “No, no biting. You watch too many movies.

We’re Immortals- not vampires. We don’t run around biting people like a bunch of sissies. We don’t even have fangs. Vampires don’t exist, they’re made up- nothing but fanciful stories made from half truths about Immortals.”

“Then how…..? Are you going to cut yourself?” My stomach flips at the thought and I have to squeeze my eyes shut for a brief moment as nausea threatens to overtake me.

“Yes, unless you’d prefer doing it?” He reaches into his slacks to pull out a small silver pocketknife.

“After all you’ve put me through I’d love to….. but I don’t think I could.”

“Suit yourself but that was a one-time offer.”

“Wait,” I cut in. “Aren’t you just going to heal as soon as you do that?”

“Normally, yes, but you since you are technically part Immortal, your saliva will help keep the wound open. Plus, it’s been a few days since I’ve had the blood of a mortal so I won’t head as fast as usual.

Now, you may want to look away,” he says as he flicks open the blade one-handed.

I steel myself, refusing to turn away. If I’m going to consider becoming Immortal one day then I’m sure I’ll be forced to deal with much worse. Vraiden shrugs slightly before focusing his attention on the task at hand. Raising his left hand he flexes his fingers a few times before quickly slicing into the side of his palm. His movements are so fast, so fluid, that all I have time to process is a glint of silver before a steadily darkening line of red spreads across his skin. I watch, fascinated, as the blood wells up from beneath his skin to spill over the jagged edges. Some of the blood drips slowly to the ground near my bare feet while the rest of it seeps into his upturned palm, creating a shallow pool, before snaking down his bare arm in small rivulets.

“Are you waiting for me to bleed to death?” Vraiden asks, startling me. “If so I’m afraid we’re going to be here for a very long time.” I pull my gaze away from the enticing red torrent calling out to me and instead focus on his handsome face. His blue eyes darken, becoming stormy as he makes eye contact. “Come here.” His voice is low, inviting as he pats the log directly beside him. “I promise I won’t bite.”

I scoot closer slowly, no longer able to tear my eyes from his. I stop when my leg is pressed against his slacks, now able to feel the heat emanating from him in almost visible waves begging me to come even closer. He turns slightly, causing his knee to press gently into my thigh, and places his right hand slightly behind his body before bringing his left arm across his chest, offering me a taste of the enticing red liquid. I hesitate, suddenly afraid.
Normal people don’t
drink each other’s blood. This is crazy!
Yet it feels more real than anything from my life before. I take a deep steadying breath and shut my eyes momentarily to prepare myself before glancing once more at his hand. The red immediately calls out to me, trying to take control of my senses.

“Don’t look at
it
. Look at
me,”
he whispers as he gently grasps my chin between the fingers of his other hand and turns my face towards his own. I obey his command, falling at once into his fathomless blue eyes. I am vaguely aware of him bringing his slightly cupped hand towards my mouth in silent offering.

The smell hits me first, reminding me of home and autumn- burning leaves, apple cider and a hint of dirt and dying grass lying underneath. I am unaware of opening my mouth but know I must have because I am suddenly drinking from his hand. It tastes of chocolate and wine, cinnamon and clove. It is the best taste in the world. I bring both of my hands up to grip his firmly in place as I deepen the pull. I am no longer drinking from the pool in his hand, instead I am sucking directly from the wound itself. Vraiden raises his other hand and efficiently plucks the bobby pins in my hair out before gently weaving his fingers through it. His hand clenches in my hair, fingernails lightly scraping across my scalp. As I watch him his eyes fall shut and his head falls slightly backward in a look similar to ecstasy before he straightens once more. When he opens his eyes there is a barely contained fire burning within their depths. We sit there, time lost to us, locked in each other’s grasp, each of us unwilling to let go.

“Adelin,” he says some time later. His voice is hoarse, raw either from pain or need- I’m not sure which. “Enough.” His hand loosens its hold on my hair, snaking around to unlock my hands from his wounded one. My lips go slack, yielding, as he eases his palm away from my mouth before guiding my hands to his lap, gently covering them with his own. Slowly, slowly, he lifts a hand and trails his thumb down across my lips, my chin and down my neck before pulling away again. His eyes smoldering, he leans forward slightly. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.

All of you,” he whispers breathlessly before licking his lips and sitting back.

My breathing increases instantly, becoming ragged, as my eyes search his face. A small groan escapes my lips.

“Shhhh. Don’t tempt me,” he breathes as he closes his eyes and swallows noisily. “I want to kiss you but I can’t- not yet. It’s too dangerous but if you don’t stop breathing like that I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”

I mentally try to slow my breathing, to calm myself, but everything about him only excites me more. His smoldering blue eyes, slightly parted lips, the way his hair falls, his low seductive voice, shallow breathing…. I want to lean forward and press against him, feel his warm. “Adelin, you’re not helping,” he says, jaw clenched. “If I lose control I won’t be able to stop myself and there’s no one around to do it for me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

In a moment of clarity I close my eyes and shift backwards slightly, fighting against temptation. Not looking at him seems to help calm me some but I need to get away from his smell, his heat before I get pulled back under. “I’m sorry,” he says wearily. “This is my fault. I should have expected this.”

His words cut into me, automatically replacing my desire with embarrassment and shame. Expected what? Me to fall for him, want to kiss him? Of course he thinks that, narcissistic as he is! My eyes flip open as I scoot further down the log. I silently vow to myself not to look at him again, instead focusing on the red staining the dirt at his feet. I instantly glance down at my dress, grateful for the dark color that will be able to help conceal any blood that may have dropped onto the fabric. “Shoes,” I say as I hold out my hand. I can’t stay out here with him, not now.

“What?”
He looks almost affronted, like I had slapped him.

“Shoes. Give me my shoes,” I demand unemotionally.

“Why?” he asks, disbelief apparent in his tone.

“So I can go home. We did what you brought me out here for- now I want to go.”

“You can’t go home yet.”

“Why not?!” I snap suddenly angry. “We’re done here, aren’t we?

You got what you wanted.”

“No, we are not done here yet and you have no idea what I want.

Why the fuck are you mad at me
?!” My eyes flash to his at his tone and I can’t decide if I’m more furious that he’s keeping me here or that he doesn’t know why I’m mad. “Oh, I see. You’re pissed because I didn’t kiss you.”

I don’t see the point in denying it so instead I decide to just let out some of my anger. “If you weren’t going to kiss me then why did you say you wanted to?! Why didn’t you just tell me you
didn’t
want to?
Why did you bring me out here
?!”

“You know why I brought you out here. I told you.” He sighs and looks away.

“Yeah, yeah, ‘Our parents would freak out’,” I mimic with annoyance. “That still doesn’t explain why you brought me
here
specifically. We could’ve gone to my house or your back yard but instead you drag me all the way out here.
Why
? What’s the big deal?” My voice softens with my last words, suddenly curious. He remains silent, looking out into the distance which only enrages me more. “Fine. Why did you want me to know what being Immortal is like? Not going to answer that one either, huh? You know what-screw you! I’m out of here. I don’t give a fuck what you have to say,” I curse as I climb to my feet.

“Adelin…..”

“Fuck off!” I yell as I begin to calculate how far I can actually get away before he stops me. Th
e odds are not good.

“Adelin,” he repeats more forcefully. “You don’t want me to chase you. You know I’ll win.”

“Oh shove it up your—”

“Goddamn it, Adelin,” he cusses as he grabs my arm, firmly locking me in place.

“Get your hands OFF OF ME!” I yell. I spin around to face him, seething. Before I have time to process what’s happening he yanks me towards him, effectively trapping my arms to my sides. His eyes are ablaze with anger. “Let go of me!” I demand.

“No,” he replies simply, unaffected by my yelling.

“LET GO!” I scream as I try to break free, which I quickly realize is utterly pointless. I stop struggling and instead glare back at him before drawing my leg back and kicking as hard as I can. He dodges and spins me around, positioning himself behind me, while locking my arms across my chest and strategically placing his feet between mine. I am panting now both from anger and frustration-
So much
for being able to trust him.

V
raiden holds me in place for a good few minutes, allowing my breathing to return to normal. “I’m going to let go now.

If you try to run I’ll catch you and you don’t want that to happen, understand?”

I grit my teeth together and nod silently, hatred burning deep inside.

“Good girl,” he remarks as he releases me and steps back. I spin around and swing my arm at him, aiming for his face, and am not at all surprised when he catches my wrist easily before impact.

“
Asshole
!” I spit.

“I’ve been called worse,” he shrugs as he drops my hand. “Now be a good girl and go sit back down.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t, kill me?” I ask sarcastically.

“That option is sounding better and better and believe me when I say I would most definitely enjoy it.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, eyes narrowed.

“Try me,” he replies, eyes unwavering. “There are things I could do to you that would make you beg for me to kill you.”

“I hate you,” I bristle.

“Just so we’re clear, I’m not too keen on you either right now Sunshine. Now sit. There. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” he taunts as he sits down beside me.

“When can I leave?” I question through clenched teeth.

“When we’re done.”

“Believe me, we’re definitely done,” I remark.

“I’m not talking about
us
. I’m talking about why we’re here. We’re not done. You’d know that if you hadn’t flipped out and gotten pissed over nothing.” He lifts his steely gaze to mine, silently challenging me.

Why did he have to be so damned attractive?
It’s really hard to hate him with his eyes burning into mine like that. My pulse quickens and I mentally kick myself as I’m unable to look away. No, not unable, unwilling. The atmosphere between us seems to shift, the anger bleeds out and is replaced with something else- something raw, carnal- causing my breath to hitch in my throat. He must have noticed it as well because his eyes quickly flick to my lips, his jaw tense. I stare back silently, afraid to speak.

His eyes darken as we sit there, the air becoming more charged with each passing second. I can feel the heat emanating off of him from a foot away. “Adelin,” he says pained, “We can’t…..I can’t…..”

“Can’t….or won’t? Or don’t want to?” I ask thickly.

“You don’t know what will happen,” he replies, lowering his gaze.

“Neither do you,” I retort. “You just think you do. Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you’d even like it.”

“Oh, I have no doubts about that. That’s the problem.” He glances up at me, eyes hooded, making me want him even more.

“I don’t see how that’s a problem,” I whisper. He inches closer, causing my heart to spasm and halt my breathing.

“I’ve been known to overindulge,” he whispers back darkly. I can taste his breath on my face, intoxicating me with its sweetness and heating me to my core. “I won’t be able to promise not to hurt you. I won’t be able to stop.”

“Maybe I won’t want you to,” I croak. He’s close enough now that only a mere inch or two separate us.

Slowly, deliberately, he stretches out his arms and places them on either side of me on the log as he leans in and rests his forehead gently against mine. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Gently he pushes his forehead against my own, urging me to lay backward. I concede, exhilaration coursing through me as I ease downward beneath him.

His breath is heavy against my skin, making me heady. “What if I hurt you?”

“You won’t,” I breathe as I reach up to tangle my fingers in his hair.

His eyes widen slightly as I yank him closer, our mouths crashing together. Gently he presses his body into mine, the heat all consuming now. He groans deep in his throat as his tongue dips into my mouth, searching and caressing. His hands are suddenly under me, pulling us closer together. Yes! Oh, God, yes! My hands find their way to the front of his shirt, deftly working to undo the buttons and expose his gloriously tanned chest. I run my fingers down over his ribs, his abs, and around to his back, sighing contentedly as I scratch my way upward to his shoulders. He lets loose his hold on me and shrugs off his shirt, quickly throwing it to the ground. Our lips never once break contact.

He quickly yanks me upward into a sitting position, causing me to gasp in surprise as his hand teases the zipper at my back. He pulls away to gaze at me as he inches the zipper downward. Gingerly he gathers the material and raises it over my head before lifting me and setting me on the hard ground, angling his body just above mine. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks as his eyes bore into mine.