Page 52 of A Bond Beyond Blood
Chapter Sixteen
Jack
In the aftermath of Eli’s swift departure, my pulse thrummed rhythmically in my ears, fast and steady like...
Ugh.Like the wings of a hummingbird.
Petit colibri.
I closed my eyes in a long blink, annoyed that even when he wasn’t here and invading my head, Eli was still in my thoughts.Centerfuckingstage.
“Jacqueline,” Vinny whispered.He’d walked to the door, shutting it now as I watched, then he clicked the lock into place.He listened for a moment, inhumanly still, then he gave a curt nod.“He’s gone.”
My eyes closed again as a rush of relief filled me for the first time in hours.
“Please tell me I misunderstood, that he wasn’t inside your head.”
I opened my eyes and Vinny’s chestnut gaze was just inches away.He’d settled back onto the coffee table directly in front of me, hands resting on the tops of my thighs.I gave a slight smile and shrugged as much as I could without agony.
Vinny winced, almost imperceptibly, then his eyes bore into mine as seconds stretched into minutes of heavy silence.He searched my eyes as if he, too, might find a way inside my brain to uncover my every thought.
Honestly, I kinda wished he could.All the things I wanted to say, questions that needed answers, sat jumbled up in my mind.
“It’s okay,” he lied.“We’ll figure this out.”He squeezed my thigh and I winced as the pressure of his fingertips triggered a throbbing pain.“You need to rest now, little Fiorino.”
Sliding down off the coffee table, Vinny knelt before me on the floor, carefully cradling my face in his hands before I could even find the courage to attempt to lie back down.“He’s right, you know.”His eyes searched mine, then flicked around my face, cataloging the bruises, no doubt.“If you had even just a small sip of my blood—”
“No.”I forced all of my strength into that single word, that singlesyllable, praying he’d leave it at that.
“You’ve tasted me before, sweet girl.When I bit my lip?”Eyes pleading, he searched my gaze, but I shook my head.
That was different.I was caught up in the moment, dick-drunk and not thinking straight.
I’d had a taste,fine.But that didn’t mean I had todrinkfrom him.
I wouldn’t dothat.
Vinny closed his eyes, then nodded.“Okay.”He reached for the water bottle and the painkillers.“Double the dose, at least.Please.”
I nodded, then opened my mouth when he brought four ibuprofen tablets to my lips.He placed them on my tongue, then carefully tipped the water bottle to my lips so I could swallow them down.A bit of water trickled down my chin and he swiped his thumb over my skin to catch the droplet, eyes holding mine unwaveringly.
“I know I told you not to try talking, but I can’t read minds.”He laughed bitterly as his gaze flicked to the front door, then back to me.“You’re going to have to tell me about your pain.”
“It sucks.”
Vinny’s lips twitched.“I know, sweet girl.Where are you injured?”
I closed my eyes and chuckled, but the movement shook my torso and I winced at the renewed pain.“Everywhere,” I whispered.“My ribs.My tailbone.”I grimaced.“I think it’s broken.”
“Do you want to lie down out here or in your bed?”Vinny rested his forehead against mine.“I can carry you,” he whispered.“It’ll only hurt for a second.”
“Vampire speed?”
He nodded, the movement nudging my head.“Yeah, baby, vampire speed.”
“Okay.”I swallowed hard, braced myself, then said, “Bed.”
