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Letting out a dry laugh, I leaned back to look at his face. His handsome face was lined with worry and a lock of his straight blond hair fell across his forehead. I reached up to cup his cheek, my thumb tracing the taut skin over his cheekbone.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I told Kian that I would kill to keep you safe. That if it came down to losing you or keeping you with me, I would do anything. "
His eyes sparkled as he stared down at me. "You are my match in every way. How I lived centuries without you mystifies me. "
"So let's keep each other safe, ok?"
He nodded and grinned. His hand started traveling down my back to cup my ass lightly, squeezing my one of my cheeks in his large hand. "Did you actually call Kian a megalomaniac?"
"I took psychology courses in college," I retorted. "If the shoe fits. . . "
"Dr. Anderson, can you diagnose me?" His voice was teasing as he kissed my nose and pressed a light kiss on my mouth. I pecked at his lip with my teeth and he growled lightly as I drew blood. I traced the outline of his lips with my tongue and licked the blood away, moaning softly at the taste of his bittersweet blood in my mouth.
"You are a sexy beast with control issues. You can be overbearing, dominating and scheming," I murmured softly. Stefan looked offended for a moment. He started to speak and I pressed the tip of my index finger against his lips. "You also happen to be the most generous, wonderful, loving, over-protective vampire I know. I love you, Stefan. Until the stars stop shining. "
"You say things such as this and have the nerve to call me a sweet talker," Stefan admonished and kissed me lightly. "Promise me that if you go out you will take someone with you, either myself or Lukas. "
"I promise. "
* * *
We'd fallen asleep tangled in each other's arms. It was early evening and the room was glowing with the warm colors of sunset. Glancing at the clock, I wiped at the moisture that had beaded on my forehead. I was cocooned in Stefan's arms and normally his cool body kept me comfortable, however our combined body heat had caused a sheen of sweat to dampen my clothing. I placed my hand against his cheek, shocked to find his face warm underneath my palm. I moved my hand to his arm and his skin felt the same: warm. How had this happened? And why?
"Stefan. " I shook his shoulder.
He groaned and slumped deeper into the pillow. I shook him again.
"Stefan, you need to wake up. "
He slowly opened his eyes, staring at me with unfocused eyes. "Josephine?"
"You're warm!"
"What are you talking about, vackra?" Rubbing his face with his hand, he was struggling to catch up.
"Something has happened. When I woke up I felt like I was on fire. You're warm," I blurted out. I probably wasn't making a lot of sense. "Feel me. "
Stefan was fully awake when I said that. His look of confusion changed to a sultry smirk, his eyebrows waggling suggestively at my words.
"I don't mean what you're thinking, Romeo. " I smacked his arm in exasperation.
Stefan sat up and massaged his arm where I hit him. His eyes widened as he moved his hand from his arm to touch the side of my face. His long fingers were tepid against my face.
"I am not warmer. You are the same temperature as me," Stefan replied, his voice barely audible. "You are changing. "
"Changing?"
Stefan exhaled a heavy breath. "When we were at the carriage house and you were resting, Kian told me that you would change to become more like a vampire. My influence and blood has only accelerated the process. "
"Oh. " My response didn't sound very intelligent. I really wasn't sure what to say.
"You are stronger. " He rubbed his arm again. "Not so fragile and breakable. I will not have to be as gentle with you now. "
His unguarded thoughts flooded my mind. He was imaging all the things he could do now that I was a much sturdier version of Josephine.
"What else is going to change?" I bit my lip. Was I going to keep changing day by day? Would I have fangs tomorrow? Swallowing nervously, I tried to fight the panic that was rising inside of me. I twisted my hands nervously in my lap as I glanced at him.
