Page 65 of Vanessa’s Bravery

“Like I said: when it’s done right, there won’t be any pain. I’ve been bitten plenty of times, and I’ve bitten my lovers too, and there’s nothing better than to share that pleasure with the one you love.”

Ethan’s eyes suddenly began to shimmer golden. It reminded him of how Vanessa’s eyes had shimmered when they’d made love.

He stretched out his hand. “Your eyes… they’re golden… just like Vanessa’s when…”

Ethan smirked. “I’ll let Nessie explain that to you. Now, let’s move. She needs you.”

Cole reached for his car keys.

“We’ll take my car,” Ethan said “I’ll have to let you into the house, because she’s not gonna open the door in the state that she’s in.”

“If I just show up there, isn’t she gonna know that you let me in?”

“If she asks, and I doubt that she will, tell her you picked the lock. Under no circumstances can you let her know that I made you go see her. Understood?”

“Ethan…”

“What?”

“You’re not making me do anything. I was already pretty close to going to talk to her before you came.”

“I’m happy to hear that, bro.”

Ethan opened the door, and Cole snatched his house keys, and followed him out.

31

After Ethan unlocked the front door to the Giles’s Edwardian home, Cole entered the house. He looked over his shoulder, waving back at Ethan who was returning to his car, and pulled the door shut behind him. The lights in the foyer and the hallway that led to the stairs were on, but the rest of the house was wrapped in darkness. Cole listened for sounds. It was quiet except for the sound of water running through the old pipes in the house.

Cole ascended the stairs to the second floor and stopped in front of Vanessa’s room. He lifted his hand to knock, but then decided otherwise and simply opened the door and entered. Inside the bedroom, only a small lamp on the bedside table was illuminated, but the room was empty. From the open bathroom door, more light shone into the room. He could clearly hear the shower running. As he walked toward it, he noticed Vanessa’s clothes strewn all over the floor.

At the entrance to the bathroom, he stopped. Vanessa was cowering in one corner of the shower, curled up into a ball, her arms hugging her knees, her head on her thighs, while water rained down on her. She hadn’t heard him yet. When he noticed how her torso trembled, he recognized that she was crying, and his heart contracted in pain. He had done this to her. He’d hurt her, and now it was up to him to fix what he’d destroyed—because he never wanted to see Vanessa in pain again. He loved her too much for that, he acknowledged that now.

Cole kicked his shoes off, pulled his shirt over his head, and dropped his pants, tossing them behind him, before he approached the shower only wearing his boxer briefs. With a start, Vanessa lifted her head. Their eyes met, and shock charged through him. Blood was streaming from her eyes down her cheeks.

Concerned, he rushed toward her. “You’re injured.”

“What are you doing here?” Her words were clipped. She turned her head away.

Cole stepped into the shower and crouched down to her. “Vanessa, your face is bloody. Let me help you.”

When he reached for her, she pushed his hands away. “I don’t need your help. I’m not injured.”

“But there’s blood on your face.”

Defiantly she tipped her chin up. “It’s tears. Happy now?”

The revelation that a vampire’s tears were blood-red made him see her in a vulnerable light. “No, I’m not happy about you crying. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want your pity,” she spat.

Cole grabbed her shoulders. “You think I pity you?” He shook his head. “I’m here to apologize for what I’ve done. For hurting you.”

She met his gaze then, the expression in her eyes changing, but she didn’t speak. It appeared that he’d have to work harder to be forgiven.

“Vanessa, baby, I didn’t mean the things I said to you. I should have never said them. And I’m willing to do anything to earn your forgiveness. But right now, we have more important things to do. You’re in heat. You need sex.”

He rose, pulling her up with him, but she drew back and shook off his hold. “I don’t want pity sex.”