“Experiment?” Jane didn’t like the sound of that. She shook her head. “No, I have to go. I need to get out there and do damage control on those bodies—”
“Aidan will make them vanish. We both know he’s good at cleaning up paranormal messes.” He’d rolled the sleeves of his shirt all the way to his elbows. “Your genetic tests showed that your blood cells looked like Aidan’s. That you were a vamp with wolf power flowing through you. Aidan thought that you could only drink from werewolves because you needed the blood of your own kind to survive.”
“And I have been surviving on his blood.” Just his—only Aidan’s. The idea of biting someone else wasn’t exactly appealing. Actually, that idea made her nauseous. Having a blood diet was bad enough. Letting her teeth sink into someone else?
No, thank you.
Though technically, she had bitten one other werewolf, but the guy had met a fast and brutal death shortly after that bite. So…
Paris cleared his throat. “Well, let’s see what happens when you take my blood.” He stepped toward her. “Because I can’t have you endangering my alpha. I can’t let you change him anymore.”
Her gaze darted down to his wrist. When she concentrated hard enough, she could hear the racing thud of his pulse. Paris was nervous. So was she. “I don’t want your blood.” It was true. She didn’t. She hated drinking blood, but at least when it came from Aidan, she could tolerate it.
“Jane…” His face was hard. “There is more at play here than you realize. You want to protect Aidan, don’t you?”
Always.
“Then try my blood. Because I would damn well rather you change me than him.” He offered his wrist to her.
Jane’s hand flew up and her fingers curled around his hand. Her fangs weren’t even out. Take his blood? Every part of her rebelled against the idea. He isn’t Aidan. He isn’t.
And…she only wanted Aidan.
“No.” Jane shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Jane.” The faint lines near his mouth seemed to deepen. “I have to see what you’re doing to him. I need to feel the changes myself so that I can help him, too. He’s my best friend. I can’t have him walking through fire alone.”
Wait…in that little scenario…was she the fire?
Before she could tell him that she was not damn fire, the office door opened. Jane and Paris turned together, with her still holding his hand.
Aidan stood there. His bright blue stare swept over them and lingered on their hands. He blinked, once, twice, and the tension in the room seemed to ratchet up.
“Someone want to tell me…” Aidan said, voice low, too low. “What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing.” Jane dropped Paris’s hand. “Nothing is—”
“I want Jane to bite me.” Paris straightened his shoulders. “That’s what’s happening.”
Jeez. Just once…once…couldn’t Paris have lied to Aidan? Would that have broken the bro code too much?
Very slowly, Aidan shut the door behind him. “Want to tell me why?” His eyes glowed with the power of his beast. “Why you want my Jane to put her teeth in you?”
Paris jerked up his chin. “Because it’s too dangerous for her to keep taking from you! You’re changing, Aidan! You can’t give her any more blood—we both know it. You—”
In a flash, Aidan was across the room. He’d grabbed Paris by the front of his shirt. “Jane drinks from me. Only me.” His voice was so…deadly. She shouldn’t have found that scary growl to be sexy. She was probably messed up on the inside. Because I do think it’s sexy.
“Aidan, let him go.” Jane sprang forward and shoved between the two men. “I’d already said I wasn’t drinking before you got here. He’s just worried about you. That’s all. Because he’s your friend.” As if Aidan needed that reminder.
Aidan stared at Paris. “She drinks from me.” A cold order.
Paris gave a grim nod. “But at what cost? Do you even realize what’s happening to you?”
“I am in full control.” That was the alpha talking. She could hear the authority in Aidan’s voice.
“I sure as hell hope so.” Paris backed away. “For everyone’s sake.” Then he headed for the door.
When it closed behind him with a soft click, Jane’s shoulders slumped. “That was awkward.”
Aidan didn’t speak.
“I-I wasn’t going to drink from him.” Just so they were clear. “He’s worried about you. About what might happen and—”
Aidan grabbed Jane and pulled her close. Her hand flew against his chest as he lifted her up, holding her easily, and his mouth crashed down on hers.
The kiss was hard. Rough. Deep.
Hot.
So very Aidan.
And she loved it. Her mouth met his eagerly, her tongue tasting him, her body already yearning because when they kissed—they ignited. Imploded.
The chemistry between them had always been off the charts. But lately, since her change…
She wanted him even more.
For a vampire, physical lust and blood lust combined. Desire went soul-deep. Her hunger wasn’t sated with quick sex. She needed more. Longer. Hotter.
Aidan.
“You healed?” He bit the words off against her mouth.