Chapter 21
After Jared left Tessa couldn’t go to sleep so she got up to shower again. Stepping out she wiped the steam from the glass staring at her reflection smiling at herself. The reflection looking back at her looked happy. Shaking her head Tessa dried off, dressed and walked out into the room. Jared had left some bandages for her feet on the dresser. Stopping, she looked around and noticed there was nothing personal of his in the room. No pictures, no nothing. She would have never known this was his room if he hadn’t brought her in.
Grabbing the bandages she limped to the bed and started to wrap her feet after applying the medicine he also left. She looked up when the door opened. Jared walked in spotting her on the bed.
“What are you doing up?” Jared frowned as he walked toward her. Kneeling down he picked up the foot she just wrapped.
Tessa shrugged her shoulder. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“You need your rest.” He grabbed the medicine spreading it on her other foot.
“So do you.” She countered jerking her foot not from pain, but because she was ticklish.
“I’m a vampire Tessa.” Jared smirked. “I don’t need sleep.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “Sorry. I seem to keep forgetting that.”
“And that is truly refreshing.” Jared held her foot still when she jerked again. “Stop moving.”
Tessa laughed. “I can’t help it.”
Jared quickly wrapped her foot then stood leaning over her with a wicked gleam in his golden eyes. "You ticklish?”
Leaning back on her elbows she stared up at him. “No.”
“No?” Jared grinned inching toward her.
Tessa scooted backwards up the bed. “Don’t even think about it.” She giggled when he grabbed her calf, careful not to touch her feet, pulling her toward him.
“Where you going?” He teased putting a knee on the bed pulling her under him, his hand moving to her ribs.
“Jared don’t.” Tessa tried to wiggle out from under him. When his smile grew larger Tessa grabbed his hand to still it. “I’m serious.”
“Oh, you’re serious?” He smirked wiggling his fingers on her ribs. She squealed making him laugh. “I thought you weren’t ticklish?”
“I’m not!” She twisted and kicked, her laughter ringing through the room when he tickled her harder. “Please stop!”
He did laying his weight on top of her. “I could listen to your laugh all day.” He kissed her forehead, down her nose finally making it to her mouth.
Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. They were going hot and heavy until her stomach growled and she wanted to die. How freakin embarrassing.
Pulling his mouth from hers he frowned down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry?”
“I’m not.” She lied. She was hungry, but having him to herself was enough for her right now. She could eat later. She tried to pull him back down, but he wouldn’t budge.
“You’re going to eat.” He rolled off her careful not to hurt her. He chuckled when she moaned. Reaching down he held his hand out. “Come on. I promise you we will take up where we left off.”
Taking his hand she let him pull her up. “No tickling.” She grumbled with a small grin.
“I don’t know about that.” Jared opened the door. “I really like the way you wiggle when I’m tickling you.” He tossed her a wink making her face flame.
Tessa was surprised when they walked into a large kitchen. Her grandfather sat at a table with a large stack of steaming pancakes in front of him. Tessa let go of Jared’s hand and headed his way. Leaning down, she placed a kiss on his weathered face.
“Hey Gramps.” Tessa pulled out a seat and sat down next to him. He’d already eaten half the stack. She turned to stare wide eyed at Sid who stood at the stove flipping pancakes like a pro. “How did you get him to eat? All he would ever eat was French fries.”
“He said the food they served at the home tasted like a…..skunks ass.” Sid glanced over at her grandfather his eyebrows raised. “Did I get that right Gramps?”
Tessa looked at her grandfather who was staring at Sid with a crooked grin. “You can read him too?” She asked Sid without taking her eyes off her grandfather’s happy smile.
“Sure can.” Sid walked over placing a mountain of hot steaming pancakes in front of her. “And he said you need to eat….so eat.”
“I can’t eat all of that.” Tessa frowned. She might as well just syrup the pancakes up and stick them on her ass cause that’s where they were going anyway. “Don’t you have a banana or something?”
Sid and Jared looked horrified. “Banana?” They echoed each other.
“Yeah, you know…yellow, long thing that monkeys eat.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “Fruit. Do you have any fruit?”
Sid placed his hands on his aproned hips, a spatula in one hand and a look of disgust on his face. “No Ms. Fit.” Sid frowned. “We have pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage….”
“Okay, I get it.” Tessa held her hands up in defeat yet she couldn’t help but smile at the picture Sid made in his apron. He looked like Brad Pitt on steroids doing a Food Network show…. Cooking with Vampires. “No fruit.”
Sid nodded before turning back to the stove. “Damn straight no fruit.” He grumbled, then snorted. “Banana.”
Jared walked up, leaning close. “I think you hurt his feelings. He takes great pride in his cooking.” He whispered. “You better eat.”
Tessa glanced at Sid doubtful she could hurt his feelings, but watching him turn back to the stove with a frown she felt bad. Picking up the fork she cut into the fluffy pancakes and took a bite, they melted in her mouth and sent her eyes rolling to the back of her head.
“Mmmmm.” Tessa moaned before taking another bite. “These are amazing.” Moaning through a mouthful.
Jared walked around to the other side of the table with a plate full of everything. Sitting down he reached over grabbing her hand his golden eyes glowing dark. “If you don’t stop moaning like that you won’t get to finish those.” He warned loud enough for her ears, his eyes narrowed intently on her mouth.
Tessa’s stomach dipped and flipped all over the place. Excited by his words and the intensity of his stare she moaned again, but this time it had nothing to do with food.
“Sid you are my hero!” Adam came into the large kitchen grabbing a plate and making a beeline to where Sid was frying bacon.
“You got that right boy.” Sid dished him up some pancakes along with bacon, sausage and eggs.
Tessa rolled her eyes when Adam sat down next to her with food hanging off the edges of his plate. “You suck.” She grumbled before stealing a piece of bacon.
“Hey, keep your paws off my food human.” He bared his fangs at her.
Snorting Tessa took a bite of stolen bacon. “I hope you gain thirty pounds eating all that.”
“I don’t gain weight anymore.” He forked in a mound of eggs, chewed, then smiled at her. “I could eat fifty plates like this and not gain an ounce.”
“Yeah, you definitely suck.” Tessa glanced at the pancakes she had taken five bites out of and pushed it away even though she wanted to face plant into the damn things then lick the plate after she was done.
“You hear her Gramps?” Adam pointed at Tessa with his empty fork.
Tessa gasped in surprise. “You can read him? You never told me that.”
“Ah yeah.” Adam shrugged his shoulder. “And he says you need to be nice to me.”
Her eyes shooting to her grandfather back to Adam. “No he didn’t.” She frowned knowing her grandfather better than that. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I just figured it out last night.” Adam sighed.
“So if I became a half-breed like you I could talk to him.” Hope filled her eyes as she stared back at her grandfather.
“No!” Both Adam and Jared answered with a firm, not on your life, answer.
“Why not?” Tessa frowned looking between both Adam and Jared.
“You don’t want this Tessa.” Adam replied between piling food into his mouth.
“What’s so bad about it?” She snorted tossing her hand toward his plate. “You can eat a freakin cow and not gain an ounce, you have superhuman strength, you don’t have to sleep and you get to hold a conversation with Gramps.”
“I never gained an ounce before, having superhuman strength is not a big deal and you can have a conversation with Gramps.” Adam pushed his half empty plate away. “Having people look at me like I’m a freak isn’t something I would wish on anybody.”
“Who’s looking at you like a freak?” Tessa demanded her red head temper bubbling to the surface.
“What? You gonna kick their asses?” Adam grinned winking at Jared who chuckled.
“Just give me names.” Tessa frowned at Jared who was grinning at his plate.
“It would be easier to tell you who don’t.” Adam snorted. “It’s the whole town. I can’t go anywhere without someone I’ve known all my life side stepping out of my way or completely turning around to avoid me.”
“The little blonde seems to be pretty into you.” Sid sat down with a full plate of food.
Adam grinned, shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah.”
“Well, you got friends here now and Angelina has always had a crush on you.” Tessa nudged him. “Those other people aren’t even worth your time.”
“You knew she liked me?” Adam looked surprised.
“Everyone in the county knew it.” Tessa laughed shaking her head. “Never knew why you didn’t ask her out?”
Looking at his phone he frowned. “Well, I wish someone would have told me. I had no clue she had feelings for me.”
Tessa glanced at Gramps who started getting fidgety. “You ready to go to your room Gramps?” When he didn’t respond she glanced at Jared who was also looking at her grandfather.
“Yeah, he’s ready.” Jared started to stand to help Tessa take him to his room, but Adam stopped him.
“I got it.” Adam took his plate to the sink then headed toward his grandfather. “Come on Gramps. Let’s go take a nap.”
“Adam, I need you to unblock Tessa.” Jared looked away from Adam to Tessa.
“Why?” Adam asked cautiously.
Jared was not one to have to explain himself, but he knew how protective Adam was of his sister. “Last night the half-breed claimed to be her mate. I need to see if I can read her.”
“He’s not her mate.” Adam stated firmly.
Tessa frowned. She vaguely remembered the mate thing, but with the fear for her grandfather and the chaos she had totally forgotten about that. “What exactly does that mean?” When no one answered she looked at Jared. “I don’t even know this guy so how can I be his mate.”
Jared’s gaze didn’t waver. “In our world it is thought that all vampires have mates. The feelings for our mates are unlike anything imaginable, very intense.” His eyes darkened slightly. “We cannot read our mates.”
“Doesn’t the other person need to have these feelings also.” Tessa was really not liking where this was going. “Because the only thing I feel for this person is anger for putting my grandfather and friends in danger.”
“It usually works that way.” Sid spoke up. “Jared here doesn’t have much faith in the mate thing, never has. But it’s the way of our world whether he likes it or not.”
Tessa stared at Jared while listening to Sid. “Do you have a mate?” She was proud that her voice held strong, not a single crack.
Jared cocked his eyebrow as he leaned forward. “Do you really need to ask me that?”
Cheeks flaming Tessa looked away. Maybe that question was better asked when they were alone. Instead of saying anything she just shook her head.
“She’s unblocked.” Adam announced still standing with their grandfather by the door.
Their eyes locked when Tessa brought her hopeful gaze back to his to see a grin spread across his face. “Well?”
“Nothing.” Jared voice had deepened. “Total blank.”
“Usually not something a girl wants to hear.” Tessa replied, but felt her heart skip a beat. If she had a mate Jared would be her only choice.
A loud clatter of a utensil hitting a plate brought everyone’s attention to Sid who was looking at Tessa with a horrified expression. “Umm bro. Don’t kill me, but….” Sid looked at Jared with the same horrified expression.
“Don’t even f*cking say it.” Jared growled pushing angrily away from the table.
Sid shot Tessa a look of disbelief. “Are you sure she’s unblocked.” Sid shot the question to Adam.
Adam didn’t say a word, just nodded.
“She’s a total f*cking blank.” Sid’s words echoed in the totally quite room.