Page 78 of Bonded Through Bite

“No! Why?”

“Let me make sure you are ready,” he says and I can’t help but laugh. Ready? Can’t he feel how ready I am? Burning for him. I move, but strong and warm arms wind around me, stopping me. My heart flutters at his strength.

Wait.

What?

Freezing in my place, I stop and take stock. There’s a slight burn in my chest, like a muscle that’s been working too hard and is ready to cramp. Slowly, I lift my hand and rub my sternum. A muscle inside me, my heart.

I have a heartbeat!

“What? How?” I stutter and slump against Zack.

“I don’t know how,” Rafael answers. “But your heart is beating again.”

“She—what?” Santiago shouts and lunges closer.

“Dove,” Zack rumbles, “will you be pissed off if we discuss this now?”

“Um, I don’t know,” I whisper, still reeling.

“Samantha, look at me,” Rafael says with that resonant voice of his I can’t resist. “Are you really turned on right now, or do you only think you are? Think through it. How do you really feel?”

And it hits me right then. The reason he stopped me is because I’m not ready to take him in. In fact, my body is barely hanging in there. It’s my mind that is running the show. The rest of me is exhausted and aching.

“I—I’m tired. And my mind is on overdrive, seriously over the top.”

“That’s what I thought,” Rafael says and sits up, gently running his hand down my cheek. “We basically gave you a full-body blood transfusion. It’s bound to mess up your system for a while.”

“Still doesn’t explain the fucking heartbeat,” Santiago says. He’s moved to sit on the floor next to us and his fingers press on my wrist.

“When…”

“After I started drinking the alpha’s blood from the vein. It took me a moment to realize what was going on,” Rafael explains.

“You still smell like a vamp to me, dove. But also, something more.” Zack noses my neck. “Like fresh mountain air mixed with honey and blood.”

I try to focus, but his heartbeat keeps distracting me. And so does some annoying tug at the back of my mind. It’s all too much to process when I still crave Rafael’s blood and cock. I need him to soothe me and I have no idea why.

“Rafael.” It comes out straight up whiny and I lift my arms up for him to take me from Zack’s lap.

“I have you, sweetheart,” he says and gently moves me to him. Zack lets me go, but I know he’s not happy. I know it, like he’s part of me. We are all conveniently ignoring my undressed state.

“Did I bond with Zack?” I ask faintly and bury my face against Rafael’s neck. “I mean even more than before.”

“Yes, dove, I can feel more of you. If I took your blood now, I bet the bond would snap in with full force.” Even if he doesn’t sound upset, I can’t help but shiver.

“Fuck,” Santiago says and I turn to look at him. “Your heartbeat, darling, it seems to react to him somewhat.”

“How?” Zack snatches my other arm and traces the veins inside my wrist.

“Talk to Rafael about the weather or whatever,” Santiago says.

“The weather? The weather sucks. Been raining too much lately.”

“Personally, I don’t mind the rain,” Rafael replies.

“Now, tell Samantha something,” Santiago says while holding my gaze.