“Whatever makes you feel good, Ellie Doll.” He gave me a stunning smile, followed by a wink that could stop hearts, and he took off before I could recover.
Focus on Braden, Elle!
I walked over to the fridge and grabbed a container of yogurt and some cut-up fruit. I knew I needed to get some food in my system if I was going to donate my blood again. Hopefully, this next donation would be enough for him. I sure as hell didn’t want to keep getting drained, but for him, I felt that I would give him every last drop if he needed it…and that thought scared the hell out of me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Iwatched Logan and Cole’s eyes do that swirling, mystical thing again the second the needle pricked my skin.
“Is this tough for you two?” I asked.
Both vampires looked at me curiously, “We need to focus,” Cole said in a mechanical voice.
Soooo, I guess that’s a yes.
I closed my eyes and tried not to think of the fact that two vampires were hovering over me, trying their hardest not to sink their teeth in and drain me completely dry.
“Done,” Cole said. “I’ll get this to Braden. He’s getting better, but the chains aren’t going to hold him down if this doesn’t satiate him.”
Cole was gone, leaving the sterile smell of alcohol over the vein on my arm. “Logan,” I stopped him from following Cole out of the room.
“I’ll be downstairs,” he said as he walked out of the room.
“Good God!” I said, annoyed.
I shot up and out the door and hopped down the steps to where Logan was disappearing through a side door. Once I got to the door, I peeked my head in and saw him open a fridge filled with blood bags. He snatched one out and started knocking it back like he was chugging a beer.
“Is it really that bad?” I asked curiously. It actually hurt me to see them in this state. I knew I was causing them pain.
Logan spun around, kicked the fridge closed, and wiped his bottom lip with the back of his hand.
“It’s tough,” he smiled. “I’m sorry you saw that. Probably shouldn’t have followed a hangry vamp out to the garage.”
“Hangry?” I shook my head with a laugh. “If you need more blood, I can go.”
“Just give me a sec, and I’ll be right in.”
I ran my hands along the slate countertop of the bar in the kitchen and let my emotions consume me. I wanted to connect with these guys. Bits and pieces of me were already being drawn to them, and it was almost nauseating to hold these emotions back now.
Logan, Braden, Zac, and Cole were part of me just as much as I was part of them. I sensed more of who they were without seeing it on display. Cole was the one who would support me, yet always try and maintain his control through all of this. He was kind, loving, and understanding, but he wasn’t quite there yet.
Zac was arrogant and impossible to convince of anything. As crazy stupid as our moment was in the front of the lodge, he needed it. He needed to see the effect he could have on me, and me on him.
“Jesus,” Logan called out, snapping me out of my thoughts, “You look like you’re going to pass out!”
I was in his arms before I could answer him, sitting in his lap in an oversized chair. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling the strength he exuded.
“Damn it,” his said, running his hand along my bare legs. Goosebumps followed his warm, soothing touch, “This is why we can't feed on you. Ever,” he said harshly.
I watched his long fingers graze over my skin, “I don’t think it was the blood loss,” I said, keeping my head rested on his shoulder. This felt amazing, being in his strong, protective arms. “I was just trying to think like you guys think. I wanted to try to open up more without my human rationalization getting in the way.”
“Well, that probablyisdue to the blood loss,” he leaned his cheek onto my head. “We can’t hurt you, Ellie. I won’t let it happen.”
“You’re not hurting me,” I leaned up and captured his striking eyes. I ran my hand through his shiny, black hair, feeling its softness. As he stared intensely into my soul, I peeled my eyes from his and traced my fingers over his high cheekbones, feeling the smooth perfection of his god-like face. His lips were soft and parted when my fingers brushed over them. The stubble on his face, his strong jawline—something all the Banners had in common—he was perfect and beautiful.
“You’re so handsome,” I said.
His eyes bore through mine when I got the courage back to look at him, “You are more beautiful than I can say, Ellie, and it’s painful to put you through all of this. I’m so sorry this happened to you so fast.”
