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I squeeze my eyes shut and exhale sharply.This is too much to handle. I take a step back to get more distance between us.
“Why are you so afraid of me?” he demands. “For Christ’s sake, Carly, I saved your father’s life!”
“I-I know, and I’m very grateful to you for that. Words can’t begin to describe just how grateful. But Nick, this is insane. How can you expect menotto be afraid of you? You’re a vampire. You drink people’s blood!”
He flexes his shoulders and takes a few breaths. His expression is stormy. When he speaks again, his voice is worryingly calm. “Okay, so my eating habits disgust you. I get that. But ask yourself this: why, when there was still an opportunity to get out, didn’t you take it? Why didn’t you run? I told you right from the start to stay away from me; you knew I was trouble, but still you pursued me relentlessly. Because of that you’ve got to at least take some responsibility for the position you now find yourself in.” He pauses and looks me dead in the eye. “Why, when I’m at my most vulnerable, are you incapable of loving me the way I need to be loved?”
“I-I don’t know,” I mumble. “I don’t know what you expect me to say.”
“I love you. Please come back to me. A week ago you wanted to marry me, Carly. You said you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me. You can’t just switch your emotions off that quickly.”
“But that was before …” I break off. “Dammit, I can’t think straight. I’m so confused about everything.”
“Since you ran out on me, I haven’t been able to sleep, haven’t been able to do a single thing. All I can think about is you.” He licks his lips. “What happened to forever, Carly? I thought you were in this for the long haul, but it seems I was wrong. If you really and truly loved me, it shouldn’t matter to you what I am.”
“But Nick, you can’t just expect me to—” I falter. This is crazy. Totally fucking crazy. Why am I talking so calmly to a vampire? Why do I have to defend not wanting to love a creature that feeds on human blood and could well be planning to make me his next victim? I’ve got to hand it to him though. He’s succeeded in turning the tables and made me feel like I owehiman apology.
“You know how good we are together,” Nick whispers. “You know how perfect we are for each other, but you’re not listening to your heart, Carly. You’re letting your fear of the unknown and your prejudice blind you to what you truly feel. No matter how many times you reject me, no matter how many times you beat me down, I’m never going to stop wanting you; I’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth if I have to. My desire for you will never be sated.”
I swallow painfully. An inferno of longing burns between my legs as I imagine him fucking me hard on the kitchen floor; fucking me raw, taking me from behind, banging me up against the wall. The first trickles of juice soak through my knickers and coat my inner thighs. Desperately, I try to push the thoughts from my head, but it isn’t easy. His voice is like an aphrodisiac; sweet as a box of chocolates, coercing me to submit to my basest instincts.
“I-I have to go,” I murmur. “I can’t stay here.”
“Yes you can. You’ve got to. I need you.”
“But I can’t! This feels wrong, Nick. I want to be brave; I want to be all of these things you’re telling me to be, but I can’t. I have too many reservations.”
“Such as?”
“Well for one, I still don’t know if you killed Jessica.”
“I told you, I never laid a finger on her. I’ll admit I’ve done a lot of things in my time I’m not proud of, but murdering Jessica isn’t one of them.”
“Then who did? Tell me that, Nick. Her body was drained of blood; she was one of your patients; you acted strangely when I first told you about her death. It was almost like you’d been expecting it, like you had inside information. You’ve got to admit that’s pretty incriminating.”
“I agree, but I still tell you, I didn’t do it.”
“But how do I know for sure?”
“You don’t, so you’ll just have to trust me. But know this: I wouldn’t lie to you about something like this. And besides, Jessica had a daughter.”
“What has that to do with it?”
“I told you, I never target people with children. It’s unethical.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s one coincidence too many. She was drained of blood, Nick. Are you telling me there are two vampires on the loose in London killing people?” When he remains silent, I start to get a sick feeling. “Fuck! I’ve hit the nail on the head. I’m right, aren’t I? Therearemore of you.”
He refuses to answer the question. I’m struck dumb, unable to get my head around the enormity of this revelation and what it means in the bigger scheme of things. It’s too much to comprehend, too much to even think about.
Turning away from him, I hurry over to the sink. “I-I need a drink.” Taking a glass from the rack, I run the cold tap and take a long drink of water. Wiping my mouth, I put down the glass and try to hold it together. Suddenly, Nick’s behind me, so close I can feel his breath on my neck. We’re almost touching, but I refuse to turn around and face him. I’m afraid if I do, I won’t be able to control myself.
“Why must you deny your feelings?” he purrs. “I want you Carly, and I think you want me too. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammer.
“Oh, I think you do …” Gently, he reaches out and runs his fingers through my wet hair. I shiver. His hands are warm and soothingly persuasive, travelling up and down my head, gathering my hair into clumps, before stroking their way back to my temples.
“Does that feel good, baby?” he breathes. “Am I making you feel good?”
