Page 87 of Heartbeat Girl

“No,” Liam growled, glowering at Steve and Pete. “Our emotions do.”

I watched as they scowled and puffed their chests out at each other.

Pete sighed. “It’s the first timeanyof us have cared for someone besides each other…” He looked at Steve, then Liam. “In a long time. Makes you a lethal creature, Jayne, to remind three undead men what we’re capable of feeling.”

I smiled. Clumsily, I touched Pete’s hand. “It took meeting three vampires to find a unique friendship. One I desperately needed.”

Since Ruth’s departure, I thought I’d never be close to anyone again. The band proved that wrong. It made me a little sad I held off for so long. I could have had this sooner.

Pete squeezed my hand in return.

I sniffed. “But I’ll shove a broom up your ass, if you get all black eyes and fangs on me and want my blood. I…” I peeked over his shoulder at Liam, who was focused on me. “I would offer my blood immediately to save any of you,but—”

“Yeah, I get it. Feeding can be personal and should be treated differently when…” Pete winked and glanced back at Liam.

Yes. It was intimate, and I only wanted to share that with Liam. It was why I was sick to my stomach thinking about my frail body and its lack of blood. If Liam drank like that every night, there was no way I could feed him alone.

Steve reached down and tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear. “Liam can’t drink from you so recklessly, though.”

Liam smacked his arm away. “I won’t overdo it.”

“You already did. As your affection grows, your self-control will bend like it did last night,” Steve fired back.

Liam's eyes widened, watering slightly before his shoulders and head drooped. “I wouldn’t have gone too far... I’d kill myself before I—”

“I encouraged you, Liam,” I said, smiling at my lover. “We both knew what we were doing. I’m tired, not dying. We’ll get better at this.”

Moving toward me, Liam plopped down beside me and nuzzled my neck. He breathed me in. Goosebumps broke over my skin when he pressed his lips against my ear. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. I knew they heard everything with their heightened senses, but those words weremineand meant for me. A promise to do better. “Eat,” he said, breaking away and putting distance between us.

Something about that image. Him walking away hit me hard in the chest. It terrified me.

+++

After eating a burger and finishing the water, I fell asleep with my vampires chattering in my room. None of them seemed inclined to leave my motel room, and I was too worn out to complain. Not that I minded. Before sleep claimed me, I tried carrying a conversation with them.

I didn’t know how long I rested before I woke up long enough to relieve myself and eat some cold chicken nuggets—Liam said he would get me hot food. When I refused, he handed me another bottled water. I drank that before passing out again.

When I awakened again, we were on the bus. I couldn’t remember Liam carrying me there, either. I wore shorts beneath the robe, so at least he didn’t take me out completely naked. My hair was a tangled mess since I fell asleep with it wet.

Music drifted through the doorway. I recognized The Oppressors’ dark melody and Liam’s haunting voice just as someone turned the sound off. Yawning, I sat up and stretched. I felt so much better—hungry, but less weak. I noticed how quiet they got before I even reached the door.Must be nice to have enhanced hearing.

“Hungry?” Pete asked as I opened the door.

I nodded, then disappeared into the bathroom. When I came out, Liam was opening a salad and a turkey sandwich that looked heavenly. Since I was the only one that ate, I plopped down in the booth where the food waited for me.

“Thanks.” Instead of sitting beside me, he went to the other side of the table. Well, okay. I would have preferred him beside me, but I didn’t want to be too crazy. I’d show that part of me to him slowly. I frowned and asked, “Did you carry me?”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to wake you.” Liam wouldn’t meet my eyes as he spoke.

“Liam?”

“Eat.” Balling his hand into a fist, Liam stood abruptly and walked past me. I watched him make his way to the sofa. He smacked Steve’s legs to the side, clearing a spot to sit.

Was Liam avoiding me?

When I glanced at my meal, Pete sat in Liam’s vacated seat. Resting his chin on his palm, he chuckled. “This is entertaining.” When I scrunched up my nose, he pushed the salad at me. “Eat and grow strong, human. You’re going to need it.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine