I am more powerful than a vampire, little red hair. I hunt them down and destroy them. I will have no trouble keeping you at my side.
“I’ll just have to make it my business to annoy you to the point that you’ll be happy to get rid of me.” She poured the last unit of blood into a glass for him. “I can do that, you know. My patients always are glad to see the last of me.”
I may be insane, Shea. I have thought about it for a long while. I know my nature is that of a predator. He sounded very thoughtful, giving each of her worries his strict attention. But if I am truly insane, then I cannot be without you. I will need you every moment by my side to ensure the safety of all mankind.
Shea started to laugh, but as his serious tone registered, her smile faded. He was not teasing her. He was being as honest as he could be. Jacques didn’t know whether he was insane or not. “Sometimes, wild man, you break my heart,” she said softly.
You want to leave me, Shea. I feel the need in you to put distance between us.
“I have spent more time with you than I have with anyone in my life. I’ve told you more about myself, talked, laughed, and… and…” She hesitated, blushing wildly.
Jacques opened his eyes, turned his head to look at her.
“Other things,” she went on decisively. “It isn’t like I’m thinking of deserting you. I just need space now and then, don’t you?”
He merged with her immediately. At once she felt stark emptiness. A black void that could never be filled. Her heart beat hard, pounding in near terror. The world was gray and black, dark and ugly. There was no relief, no hope, only the terrible emptiness of total despair.
Her breath caught in her throat. She touched his hair with gentle fingers, ran a fingertip along his jaw in a small caress. “You really dislike being alone.”
I think the word dislike is not nearly strong enough, he answered dryly. I cannot breathe unless you are close to me.
“I didn’t realize it was so terrible for you. I’m sorry I was so insensitive, Jacques. I wasn’t meaning to be. I have a tendency to plan things out far in advance. What you’re picking up in my mind is something altogether different. Our situation is becoming desperate. I have to drive into one of the villages and get us some supplies. Blood, clothes for you.” She held up a hand. Merged as she was with him, she felt his instant rejection of her plan. “We don’t have a choice, Jacques. I’m going to have to leave immediately in order to get down to the village first thing in the morning.”
No! It is not safe. I will not allow such a thing. It is too risky.
She ignored his protest. “It is the only way that I can get back here by nightfall. I don’t want to leave you alone during the daylight hours, but we need blood, Jacques. You’re not healing as fast as you expect because we don’t have the amount of blood you need. And as much as I hate to think about it, I know you’re supplying me with blood. I was so weak before, but now I’m stronger. You gave me your blood, didn’t you?”
You cannot go.
She understood the terrible dread, the empty void he would feel if she left him alone now. The dark, ugly hole that swallowed him when he was without her. Her heart ached for him. To be imprisoned underground all those years, with no memory, only pain and darkness and starvation, had to have left mental scars.
I cannot be without you. His hand found hers, his fingers lacing with hers, a bond. To him it was simple. She was his balance, his sanity, or what little remained of it. She was light to his darkness. She could not leave him. He carried her fingertips to the warmth of his mouth.
She felt the jolt of sensual awareness right down to her toes.