Page 30 of Liberty

His hand left the table and rested on my hip as he continued, “Very Oakish. Sterling had just swung at me. I ducked, and he missed, the movement landing Oak in my field of vision. I saw it then. His entire body strained as he tried to fight off this man – creature – so much stronger than him. It was too late, though. By the time I got to his side, James had already torn into his neck, severing the artery, draining him unconscious. I saw it, the terrified look in his eyes before they closed, and then James was on us. Both of us. His strength so vast compared to anything I’ve ever encountered.”

“Did it hurt?” I didn’t want the answer, but I had to know.

“Extremely. We were tense and afraid. It only feels good if you want it.” He tilted his head. Then a smile broke out.

“What?” I asked, smiling, too, because when Ellis smiled, it was contagious.

“I was just thinking, James didn’t eat for like two weeks after feasting on us.”

I scrunched up my nose. “How often do you usually, um, eat?”

“Most will eat every four days or so.” He leaned forward, and I swore he smelled my hair.

“That wasn’t my question. I asked how often you, as in Ellis, prefer to eat,” I pointed out.

He was quiet for longer than it should take to answer. “The longest I have pushed is a week and a half. I hate it, Liberty. I hate how everything about it makes me feel. But I also can’t let myself die.”

“So you last fed . . .” I trailed off.

“Last Sunday,” he confirmed.

No wonder he looked run down and tired. Most vampires fed every four days; he’s gone a week now. I wondered how long it took him to train his body to go on such long stretches. Without thinking, my hand reached up and cradled his cheek. It was crazy to think he was both alive and dead. That two hundred years ago, his heart was beating. It thrived and now . . . but he felt so warm and alive under my touch.

His cheek nuzzled against my hand like just the simple touch was something he was dying for. “Are you hungry?”

I felt the movement as he swallowed hard. “I’ve been hungrier.”

“Does it weaken you?” My thumb grazed his skin, and he shuttered.

“Weaker by the day,” he admitted.

“If you’re to keep me safe,” I stood on my toes. “I’ll need you to stay strong.”

His head bobbed as he nodded, never taking his eyes off me, and I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. It certainly wasn’t a wise choice. But still, I pushed up on my toes and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips. If I had expected him to pull away, I would have been disappointed. If anything, his body caved into mine, pinning my hips with his own. His fingers squeezed my hip, and his lips chased my retreating one.

His other hand left the table and dug into my hair as he pulled my lips back to his, crushing them with a kiss that had my toes curling and my body heating. Had I known that two hundred years meant two hundred years’ worth of perfecting the art of kissing, I might have introduced myself to all of them with a kiss.

A moan left my mouth, and he captured it, consuming it like that alone would give him strength, would power him through another week of nearly starving himself. I was pulling him back; he was pushing me forward, and still, we couldn’t seem to get close enough. My skin was fire, my blood its flame, and with his skin on me, I felt it pull toward him, responding to the inaudible sound of a silent siren.

There was a loud bang, and we both jumped. Ellis pulled back to allow a few inches of space between us before looking toward the door where Oak stood. His large hand was poised to knock over the wood again, though his eyes were locked directly on me.

“I’m sorry to intrude.” I’m positive, based on the look he was giving us, that he felt no regret. “But, I need to meet someone in an hour. Liberty, you are coming with me.”

“Why?” Ellis asked before I could get the words out.

“I contacted some witches I know; they have a few protections to offer her.”

Ellis nodded, realizing the importance of it. “Need me to come?”

“I think I can handle it,” Oak grumbled.

I sighed and pushed past Ellis. Spending time with Oak was hardly a hardship, though I wished he had better timing. “I’ll get my coat and meet you in the foyer.”

I ducked under Oak’s arm as I left the room, and I swear, even as I rounded the corner, I felt both men’s eyes still on me.