Chapter 8
Tessa headed downstairs, the aroma of bacon making her stomach grumble. The sight of Jared standing over her stove barefoot flipping the grease popping bacon sent a zing of yearning through her and that was so not a good thing.
“Hey sis.” Adam smiled while making a pot of coffee, looking happier than she’d seen him since this whole ordeal began.
“How you feeling?” Tessa noticed there wasn’t any eggs out yet and headed to the fridge.
“Awesome.” Adam beat her to it and handed her the carton of eggs. “Haven’t felt this good in a while.” His grin widened when Jared chuckled as he worked over the bacon. “Gonna grab a shower. Make a lot of scrambled eggs, I’m starved.” He gave her a big goofy grin before heading upstairs.
Figuring she really didn’t want to know what was so funny, Tessa reached up into the cabinet above the stove to grab a bowl, but as usual she was too short. Stretching up on tip toes she reached further.
A hand landed beside hers on the counter as a body pressed against her back pinning her against the counter. A muscular arm reached beside her face up to where her hand reached taking control of the bowl she was going for. “Let me get that for you.” Jared’s breath tickled her arm raising goose bumps where goose bumps hadn’t been for a long time.
“Thanks.” Tessa’s voice betrayed her with its huskiness as she took the bowl from him without turning around.
He leaned down close. “You’re welcome.” This time his breath moved her hair, tickling her ear.
Before turning she glanced down at her shirt hoping to God her nipples were behaving, and sure enough they weren’t. Damn him and her nips. Grabbing the eggs, she broke them into the bowl, added salt, pepper and a little milk. Reaching over Tessa grabbed the handle on the skillet Jared had used for the bacon so she could get some grease for the eggs, dropping it instantly grabbing her burnt fingers. “Ouch.”
Jared caught the skillet before it hit the floor. “Careful.” He grabbed her hand, seeing angry red welts on her fingers he quickly put one in his mouth cooling the burn instantly with his tongue.
Tessa couldn’t take her eyes off her finger in Jared’s mouth. Never had she had her finger sucked on by a man let alone a man who looked like this and damn if she didn’t like it…a lot.
Tessa pulled her finger out of Jared’s mouth with a loud pop, a hot flush burning her cheeks. “What are you doing?” She grabbed her hand to her chest.
“It should help.” Jared chuckled, but his eyes burned her to the spot. “Our salvia speeds up healing.”
Eyeing him she lifted her hand and looked at her finger, which wasn’t burning anymore and by the looks of it the redness was gone.
“Let me see your other fingers.” Jared reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
“Ah….no, I’m good.” She lied, she wasn’t good. She wanted her other fingers in his mouth to feel the soothing touch of his tongue. What the hell was he doing to her?
“Hey.” Matt walked into the kitchen his hair an indication he just woke up.
“What!” Tessa jumped away from Jared her voice so loud Matt jumped his eyes widening. More embarrassment colored her cheeks when Jared cocked his eyebrow at her.
“What’s wrong with you?” Adam asked as he came back into the kitchen fresh from his quick shower.
“Nothing! Why?” Tessa flipped her burned hand around then slung it behind her back. “Nothing’s wrong.” God she sounded like a freakin idiot. Peeking up at Jared she frowned when he tried to cover his grin.
“Ah…okay.” Adam eyed her, popping a piece of bacon in his mouth. “Them eggs done yet?”
Flustered, Tessa turned away from everyone happy to hide her red face as she finished the eggs before placing them on the table.
Everyone made their way to the table, the aroma of bacon too hard to resist. Jared stopped Adam as he started digging in the food. “Wait for your sister.
“Come on Tess.” Adam eyed the food on the table. “I’m starved.”
Grabbing her steaming cup of coffee Tessa sat down. “Go for it.” She nodded at the food.
Everyone was quiet, the only sound was the cling of utensils against plates. Tessa did her best to keep her eyes off the warrior sitting at her kitchen table like he owned it. His presence was overwhelming to say the least.
“Can I ask you a question?” Matt broke the silence, directing the question to Jared.
Jared looked up from his plate, his steady gaze landing directly on the boy. “Yes?”
“Will I ever get as big as you?” Matt, who was a small sixteen year old when he’d been turned, asked with hope.
“No.”
Tessa was slightly disappointed at his one word response. Looking at Matt nearly broke her heart. His face filled with disappointment, he looked so sad and lost. She opened her mouth to say something to hopefully make him feel better, but Jared spoke.
Jared pushed his plate away leaning back in his chair. He rubbed his hand down his face before looking at the boy again. “Has anyone talked to you about it?”
“No.” Matt replied picking up his fork lightly tapping on the table. “Not really.”
“Jesus.” Jared hissed under his breath looking around the table of curious eyes, eyes of five kids who had a life where life stood still. “Has anyone talked to you guys about anything at all?”
Most shook their heads no, except the one who wanted to appear like a badass shrugged his shoulder like he didn’t care, but his eyes said different. “Most of our parents put us out because they couldn’t handle having their kid being a vampire. We’ve been staying here with Adam and Tessa. No one really gives a shit about us.” Dillon spoke up.
“Dillon.” Tessa scolded.
“Well they don’t.” He frowned.
“Matt.” Jared began, glancing at the boy trying to show no pity, something the boy definitely did not need. “You will always be the same as you are now.”
“But that’s not fair!” Matt slammed his fork down rattling the whole table. “I don’t want to live like this forever.”
“Are you getting picked on?” Jared glared back at Dillon and another boy named Jeff.
“Sometimes.” Matt frowned. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“If it’s bothering you then yeah, you should have brought it up.” Jared pushed back his chair as he stood. “All of you should be helping each other.”
Tessa nodded looking at Jill, the only female, who she knew of, that had been turned. She never said a word, keeping to herself. She was a smart beautiful girl, but never opened up to anyone. Tessa had tried, but nothing she did ever worked.
Jared looked around at all five of the half-breeds. “One of the most prominent leaders in the Council is fourteen years old. He is one of the smartest most fearless people I have ever met. Another warrior told me once that he would never want to go up against him in a fight because he would surely lose.”
“Fourteen?” Jeff piped up. “No way could a fourteen year old beat a warrior.”
“Matt, come here.” Jared waited until Matt got up from the table to stop in front of him. “Adam do you think Matt could beat you at arm wrestling?”
The room became charged with excitement. Adam looked at Matt sizing him up then shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe.”
“Why maybe?” Jared asked waving for Adam to come over.
“Depends on if he’s come into his full power.” Adam replied staring down at Matt. “I haven’t yet.”
“Do you think you can beat Adam?” Jared asked Matt who stood at least three maybe four inches shorter than Adam. Where Adam had muscles, Matt was stick thin.
“No.” Matt frowned, shifting from one foot to the other not liking the attention he was getting.
Jared pushed plates to the middle of the table out of the way. “Well, let’s find out.” The excitement built around the room. Once they were seated Jared had them clasp hands in the classic arm wrestling grasp. “When I let go that’s your signal to start.” His large hand sat on top of theirs.
As soon as he raised his hand Matt and Adam fought against each other, the room erupted in cheers, shouts of encouragement and advice on how to best one another. Tessa smiled enjoying the moment. Most days these kids were quiet and didn’t seem to enjoy much out of life. Adam ended up winning, but Matt actually gave him a run for his money. Adam patted Matt on the back as did Jeff and Dillon to everyone’s surprise.
“I want to take Adam on.” Jeff called Adam out.
Adam’s grin was full of arrogance. “Bring it.” He rolled up his shirt sleeve this time and sat back down across from Jeff.
After many rounds of arm wrestling everyone had a turn, some twice after being called out by someone else, except for Jill. “Jill, who do you want to go up against?”
Glancing up surprised that Jared had spoken to her, she shook her head and went back to doodling on the notebook she always carried with her.
“Ahhh, she’s just a girl anyway. Girls can’t arm wrestle.” Jeff snorted blowing off the fact that Jill didn’t have a turn.
To Tessa’s surprise, Jill stood her eyes narrowed with anger. “I’ll take him on.” Her words were spoken lightly, but had a confident edge to them.
Jeff snorted again taking a seat across from her landing his elbow hard on the table in an attempt to intimidate. Once they clasped hands Jeff’s eyes widened slightly. As soon as Jared’s hand lifted from the top of theirs Jill moved so fast and hard that the table cracked and the match was over before anyone could cheer. Everyone was frozen in shock with their mouths wide open.
“She cheated!” Jeff recovered first rubbing his elbow. “I wasn’t ready.”
“No, she didn’t.” Jared replied a grin replacing his shocked expression. “You both had the chance to start at the same time. I didn’t feel any movement while my hand was on top of yours.”
“We can go again if you want?” Jill threw that out on the table. Jeff just gave her a hard glare, stomping back to his chair where he plopped down holding his arm.
“Well I guess my point was proven. Size or sex doesn’t matter. It’s what’s in here…” He pointed to Matt’s head. “and here.” He pointed just above his heart.
Tessa was so excited she wanted to give Jill a knuckle bump when she passed but she just smiled at her. “Good job Jill.”
“Thanks.” Jill headed back to her chair to start doodling again.
“Tessa hasn’t gone yet.” Adam announced with a huge grin.
“Oh no.” Tessa stood grabbing dirty dishes, ignoring the urging from the kids. “I’m too competitive to take on a sure loss.”
“Ah come on Tessa” Matt pouted. “You gotta do it.”
“Yeah, Tessa.” Jared teased. “You gotta.”
“Uhm, I can’t compete with any of you.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “I’m not a vampire and like I said there is no way I’m competing on a sure loss. I’m way too competitive.”
“Come on.” Jared sat down putting his arm up on the table. “You can use both hands.”
Tessa snorted sounding like one of the kids. “Oh and that will make a difference.”
“What kind of example are you setting for them?” Jared smiled at the look she threw his way. “Remember it’s not the size or sex if you want it bad enough.”
Her eyes flew to his in shock, but his innocent look made her think her mind was the only one in the gutter. “Everybody scrape your plates and set them in the sink.”
“Chicken.” Jared teased, then laughed out loud when someone made a clucking noise.
Tessa slammed the dishes in the sink, rolled up her shirt sleeve and headed toward Jared. “Adam.” She nodded toward Jared’s large hand that swallowed hers.
Cheers and bets were already bouncing around the room. Tessa looked up at Jared who gave her a smirk. Taking a glance around to make sure everyone’s attention was up on their hands Tessa toed her shoe off. As soon as Adam lifted his hand Tessa found Jared’s leg with her bare foot running it up the inside calf heading toward his knee and higher. His eyes shot to hers as she slammed his hand down on the table. Screams and shouts echoed throughout the room.
Jared’s head snapped back, his laughter booming in the small kitchen. When he finished laughing he shook his head. “You cheated.” He whispered across the table.
“You bet I did.” Tessa grinned not feeling the least bit embarrassed. “Told you I was competitive.”