16. Sixteen
Sixteen
A raised voice stirs me. My body aches and my head is pounding. Slowly, I open my eyes. The scene in front of me is… Well, I don’t know what it is. Erin has her back to me. She’s standing at the foot of my bed. Hands on hips, legs slightly apart. She’s in full protection mode. In front of her are ten tall Lochs and one Dr. Mendhi. The raised voice is Erin’s.
“Don’t tell me this is an ulcer, because I will reply, you’re all full of shit!”
“Erin,” Mother pleads. I wonder how long this standoff has been going on.
“No, Victoria. I’m not stupid. This is more than a stomach ulcer.”
“It isn’t an ulcer,” Lucille states.
“Lucille,” my father warns.
“No, she’s right. Enough lying. That said, it’s up to Amelia to tell you the truth. ”
“Erin,” I rasp. Ugh, my throat feels dry, and I can still taste blood. You’d think that with me being an avid drinker of the red stuff, my own blood wouldn’t bother me, but it does. Erin spins round. She’s next to me in a second.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, I promise.”
“That’s horseshit. Don’t spout crap just to make me feel better. I saw you, Amelia.” Gone is her fear. Now she is back to the little firecracker I first met. I prefer to see her that way.
“Fine, I feel like crap.” I give her a brief grin, which does absolutely nothing to puncture her ire. It’s inappropriate timing, but she’s turning me on again.
“What’s wrong with you?” Her question is direct, her gaze fierce .
“I’ll tell you; I swear. But not now, please.” I’m in no fit state to be having this conversation. She studies me for a second longer before nodding, her shoulders dropping.
“Can I have a minute alone with Amelia, please?” Dr. Mendhi asks.
Erin reluctantly agrees and leaves with the rest of the family. After that display, I don’t have to be worried about Erin not holding her own. I don’t know many vampires, let alone humans that would stand up to the whole family the way she just did.
“You skipped doses,” Dr. Mendhi says. He’s not asking.
“I forgot,” I say weakly.
“And you almost killed yourself because of it. Amelia, the serum, will only help for so long as it is. Being this close to Erin but not sealing your union is going to catch up to you, and soon.”
“I hear you. I’m going to talk to her.”
“Do it quickly. That was a severe attack. I honestly don’t know if you’d survive another one.”
“Well, it’s better than going slowly crazy, I suppose,” I say deadpan. He doesn’t find me amusing.
“Rest for the next day or two. Doctor’s orders. I have given you enough serum for the next four hours. After that, you must go back to regular injections. You mustn’t miss a single dose. I thought I was clear with you before?”
“Yes, I promise, I’ll take it.”
“Okay. I’ll leave you to sleep for a little while.” He moves from the bed but pauses. His face registers some amusement. “You’ve got yourself a live one there, Amelia,” he grins.
“Ha, you’re telling me.”
My mother is the next person to visit. She looks a little worse for wear. “How are you, love?”
“Could be better.”
“No waiting, Amelia. You have to tell her.”
“I know,” I sigh. “Let me get stronger first. I think I’m going to need the energy to get through this in one piece.”
“She never left your side. I know there is a lot to discuss, and I doubt the path forward will be an easy one for you both, but Amelia, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that she doesn’t feel the way you do. Or is at least getting there. I imagine she’s still confused by her feelings but… my, my, she gave us all a good dressing down. I was a little scared, if I’m honest.” I laugh at my mom’s startled face as she relives whatever Erin put them all through.
“I told you she was a fiery one.”
“Indeed. Erin wants to come in. Is that okay?”
“Yes, please. ”
Mother leans over and kisses my head. “I love you, Amelia.”
“You too, Mom.”
I take a few calming breaths. Erin dashes into the room, climbing straight onto the bed. My heart already feels lighter. She takes me in her arms, which aren’t that big. We must look a strange sight. Me being so much bigger, nestled in her tiny frame.
“You scared me, Amelia,” she whispers in my hair.
“I’m sorry.” I should also apologize for kissing her with blood oozing out of my mouth.
“Claire is back now. I called her.”
“What time is it?” Erin is still in her birthday dress. “How long was I asleep?”
“Three hours.”
“Erin, I’m so sorry. I ruined your birthday.”
“No, don’t bother.”
“Don’t bother?”
“Feeling guilty. I loved my birthday, but it’s nothing compared to your health.”
“Still.”
“No, enough!” I’m having mistress fantasies. Erin would look superb in black leather. “I’m staying with you until you feel well enough to go home.”
“Get comfy then, because I’m about to fall asleep.” Erin wiggles herself into a better position. She is so comfortable. I breathe in her cherry smell and let myself fall just a little more.
For three days and nights, Erin stays by my side. Having her hold me through the night increases my healing substantially. Now, though, she is getting irritated with me. She wants me to tell her the truth, but I’m not ready.
“Okay, you’ve finished brunch and you’ve had an hour sunbathing,” Erin begins, her tone curt. We are still at my parents’ house. “You’re obviously feeling better, so it’s time to talk.”
Sitting up from my position on the sun lounger, I prepare myself. “Okay.” Erin seems a little surprised I’ve agreed. “You’re right. I don’t have an ulcer. I do have a…” What? Disease? Virus? “…health issue that is rare. The injections help but aren’t a cure.”
“Is there a cure?”
“Not as yet. But Dr. Mendhi is positive he is close.”
“Why do I feel you’re still lying to me?” Christ.
“Erin, I know I scared you, and I can’t promise I won’t fall ill again. But I don’t want our relationship to be all about it. We’ve gone on a handful of dates. I want to concentrate on that, on us.”
“I’m not going to push you, Amelia. But, if you want there to be an us, you have to trust me.”
“Please trust me that, in time, I will tell you everything. Please, Erin, just let me have this time with you.” I scoot closer to her, my face pleading.
“Fine,” she grumbles, but it’s playful. I smile widely, taking her face in my hands and kissing her breathless .
“Want to take a nap with me?” My voice is silky smooth. I have no intention of napping. My libido is through the roof.
“Are you trying to take advantage of me, Ms. Loch?” God, I love it when she says my name like that.
“Well, we’ve had three dates. Aren’t you supposed to put out now?” That earns me a smack upside the head.
“That’s no way to charm a lady into bed, Amelia.”
“How about the floor? Couch? Oh, kitchen worktop. You wouldn’t believe the things I could do to you on that!” Her eyes widen and her nose flares. Yeah, she’s as turned on as me. We’ve been fighting this for a while now. I’m almost positive that if I hadn’t had that unfortunate bloody episode, we would have been with each other physically that night.
“Where are your many family members?” she asks against my lips.
“They took the boat out for the day,” I reply, taking her bottom lip between my teeth.
Erin moves with such speed I’m almost bowled over. Straddling my thighs, I hold her close with my hands planted firmly on her ass. The kiss we share is far from sweet. It is demanding and forceful. Clearly Erin is as frustrated as me.
We’re only dressed in bikinis, so stripping Erin down to her delicious skin will take me seconds. However, I want to savor her, trace every inch of her body as she pushes into me, her pussy seeking purchase through her scanty swimwear.
Erin has her hands in my hair. The gentle scrape of her nails is driving me wild. Slowly, I guide us down to the floor. Making our way to my room isn’t an option. It’s too far away and I’m losing control. In one swift move, I rip off her top, causing her breasts to spill out. They are perfect and ready to be in my mouth. My tongue has a mind of its own, as do my hands. As my fingertips skim over her ass cheeks, my mouth devours her left nipple.
“Christ, Amelia, touch me,” Erin whimpers. I’m having too much fun sucking on her nipples and massaging her ass. “Amelia,” she groans. There is something stirring in me. A frenzied energy I can feel building from my toes.
Shifting, I tug her bikini bottoms off, throwing them to the side. My ears are buzzing. I can only see Erin’s body, only hear her breathy moans. My world has narrowed to an Erin-shaped pinpoint. My knees are on fire from the hard floor, but it’s nothing compared to the avidity I have for Erin’s pleasure. I want her dripping down my face as she writhes.
Her nipple pops from my mouth as I travel lower, grazing my teeth down her stomach. My hands leave the curves of her ass to slide up the back of her thighs. As soon as they reach her knees, I open her wide. The moment deserves a second of silent reverence. Erin is spectacular. Her soft wet folds glisten under the Californian sun. My eyes drift from her pussy up her abdomen to her flushed chest.
Sapphire blue eyes penetrate through to my wanting soul. I am helplessly propelled toward her. I take as much of her into my mouth as I can. Erin’s hips move in time with my tongue. The hold she has on my hair is painful and I want her to do it more.
“Oh fuck,” she pants. I eat her out with an insatiable appetite. The frenzied energy that was building is now a swarm in my head. I’m deaf to the world, even to Erin. Something is changing. It’s like I’m on the precipice of something wonderful, but I can’t quite reach it .
The sound of Erin screaming my name hits my auditory senses like a crashing cymbal. Erin’s pussy pulls away from my mouth, her hips dropping to the floor. I hadn’t realized I’d hooked her legs over my shoulder and had her ass off the floor as I fucked her.
I so desperately want that feeling back, I want to reach out and grab whatever it was I could feel inside. But it’s gone, just a ghost of a feeling imprinted on my heart. I’m so disconnected I don’t even realize Erin has moved from her spot on the floor. My shoulders are gently pushed and then my senses return. Erin is standing, offering me her hand. I take it because I need her to lead for a while. I feel disjointed. This can’t be what a bond with your mate feels like. Maybe because I haven’t come, the bond is only half fixed. As soon as I’m on my feet, Erin turns me. She settles herself on the lounger, pulling me onto her.
“On my face,” she purrs. With my knees on either side of her body, I make my way up slowly to her head. With a flick of her dainty fingers, she relieves me of my bikini bottoms. I still have the top on, but neither of us seems to care. Erin is already grabbing my hips, pulling me forcefully into her mouth. The pleasure is instantaneous, but the swarm I felt mere minutes ago doesn’t return. I ride her face, painting her chin and nose with my flowing excitement. I can feel the orgasm building as I grind harder. My hands grip the back of the lounger, steadying my body as I come.
With heaving breaths, I slide down her body, positioning myself at her side. We hold each other as we regain our composure. Erin buries herself into my side. We have done it; we have bonded physically.
So why does it feel wrong?