How would you like to see your family again?

How would you like me to smash your head against the pavement, Dorian? You manipulative, conniving son of a bitch.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I squeezed Jax's waist tighter, ashamed I was thinking about Dorian's invitations while being pressed against my smoking hot vampire hunter lover on his motorbike.

Jax wouldn't let me give him the helmet, and the weird obsession that we'd end up flying through the air made me grab him impossibly tight. At one point, he even separated my fingers from his ribcage, making me realise some of my vampire strength came out.

Air slammed in my face as we drove through the streets, my heart rapidly beating. By the time we've reached Jax's apartment, I was dizzy, nauseous and overwhelmed. Light-headedness followed me up the stairs, through Jax's bedroom, and through the terrace door.

"You okay?" Jax dropped the keys on the table and entered the terrace after me.

Cherry's t-shirt felt too tight around my chest, causing the inability to fully breathe in.

"Yeah." I whispered. "I think I need to get out of this shirt, though."

Jax squinted, "I still can't believe you're not cold."

A brittle laugh left my lips, "Me neither. Do you mind if I take a shower?"

"Go ahead." Jax moved from the door, allowing me to enter.

Once in the tight neon-lit bathroom, I slammed the door shot, took my clothes off: Dorian's mother's jeans and Cherry's t-shirt, grabbed the sink with both my hands, and stared into the mirror. There was a weariness to my expression that wasn't there when I was younger.

Maybe the bullet that pierced my lung also pierced through some old wounds that never properly healed. All the anger I've harboured, that festered and spread, finally morphing into need for vengeance, now dried up into something numb and sad, something resembling guilt.

With a heavy heart, I stepped into the shower and let the cold water slam into me, freeze every single nerve ending in my body, numb it all into nothing. The droplets sizzled against my skin, evaporating around me, and I breathed in the cold, sharp pain.

Shivering in the shower, I closed my eyes and let the pain overwhelm me, but what hugged my waist instead were two strong arms, one twisting the faucet to the warmer side, and the other sliding down my thighs, and curving inwards between my legs.

I leaned against Jax's strong torso as the warmer water poured on my body, enveloping my body in a snug, comfortable hug. Jax's lips fell on my neck, right as his hand travelled around my thighs and to my right butt-cheek. A moan slipped from my lips and fire began to wake up in my gut.

"I'm proud of you." Jax whispered against my ear, then lightly nibbled the soft skin.

Warmth churned inside me, "Why?"

"You're brave." He kissed my shoulder blade, and leaned against me.

I felt his naked cock press against my butt, and his hand slid between my legs again, his fingers briefly touching my clit. Desire exploded inside me sharply.

"You're caring." His other hand went to my boob, and he squeezed the tender flesh.

I leaned further back, needing him between my legs. Jax grabbed my waist and turned my around quickly. The shower looked impossibly small with him inside. His tattoos took on a dark blueish hue, and his eyes finally revealed their dark brown irises, almost black in natural light. I kissed his jaw, enjoying his scratchy stubble against my lips. Jax's held my waist and me in place as he pressed the tip of his cock against my pussy. I moaned out loud, my knees turning wobbly at the touch of him against my clit.

Jax captured my lips between his and pushed his tongue past my teeth, the pressure against my pussy increasing. Water fell all over us, turning everything wet and slippery. His left hand found my neck, and his fingers tangled in my hair, while his right hand hooked my thigh and lifted my leg off the slippery shower floor. The tip of his cock pushed against my slick entrance.

He let my lips go and whispered, "I'm sorry. For losing my temper when I found out-"

"Don't mention it." I relaxed my leg around his waist, and moved my hips, which caused the tip of his cock to slip inside my pussy.

Jax let out a moan, his hand leaving my hair and sliding down my back, all the way to my ass. He grabbed and pulled me closer.

I wanted to allow the sound of water and all these feelings to drown me, drown out everything I didn't want to think about, make believe for a second this weren't just my hopes going rampant.

"Fuck, Odette." Jax looked straight into my eyes. "You feel so good around my cock."

I put my hands around his neck, and pushed myself up with the one leg I still had on the ground. Jax's grip on my butt tightened, giving me enough support to hook my other leg around his waist. He took a step forward with me around his cock, until my back leaned against the steamy tiles. I looked down and bit my lip at the sight of his cock stretching my pussy. Jax kissed my neck again, and squeezed my boob, rolling my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, while his cock entered me impossibly slowly. I whimpered, my pussy throbbing from the lack of touch.

"Jax." I let out a moan. "You can fuck me now."

He chuckled, "Can I?"

"Please."

His cock slammed inside me, making me gasp, sending tremors of shock through my spine. Gosh, he felt so good inside me. Jax began to move in and out, holding me against the wall with his entire body. His fingers slid between my legs and he rubbed my clit.

Desire sparked through me.

"That's right." He bit my neck gently, but his voice felt rough against my skin. "Are you gonna come for me, baby?"

Fuck.

He pressed deeper, and I felt his cock filling me up completely. He just stayed there, staring into my eyes as his fingers rubbed my clit. Pressure built between my legs, and my entire body hung by the thread of his fingers, waiting for the movement that would push me over the edge.

Jax moved inside slowly, and slammed again. I gasped, my heartbeat accelerating.

He began fucking me roughly, the friction making me let out wanton moans and gasps, and I leaned forward, kissing his neck. Right then, as his fingers grazed my clit, and his cock pushed inside me, with my lips against his neck, I felt numb pain spread through my gums.

A different sort of desire pushed to the surface, the need that remained dormant for years burst through everything else, and an overwhelming compulsion to sink my teeth into his neck almost made me go wild.

I breathed in, surprised to see those feelings come alive after so much time, and focused on the friction between my legs. Jax's lips found mine, and the touch of his tongue against mine caused my resolve to slip.

Pain spread through my gums, my jaw, my teeth. Just a taste. Just a teeny tiny bite, just to feel his blood on my tongue, to claim him as my lover, brand him as mine forever.

Panic burst through me, washing away all the excitement that began to build up in my core.

Jax's hands roamed all over my body, his fingers dug into my flesh, and his cock pounded me, but I couldn't focus anymore. Not with my entire brain overwhelmed with the image of my teeth sinking into his skin.

"Jax-" I grabbed his biceps, trying to still him.

He stopped immediately, and looked at me, "You okay?"

"The steam-" My eyes roamed over his neck, his chest, to his hands still holding me against the wall, blood pumping through his body with excess adrenaline- "It's making me dizzy."

Jax's cock slipped right out of me, he put me down gently, and stepped away, trying to allow me space to breathe. Cold sweat began to coat my forehead. My nostrils were full of his scent, and his concerned gaze only teased my hunger.

"Do you want us to stop?" He asked, not even a smidge angry at my rude interruption.

"I need-" I slipped out of his reach. "I think I need some air."

"Odette-"

"Just shower." I pushed away the curtain and stepped out, water sliding off my body.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jax stopped the curtain. "Do you need something?"

"No, just air."

And a bottle of blood.

With wet hair, and just a towel around my body, I stepped out of the bathroom, and went straight for my bag and Dorian's blood bottle. Once out on the terrace, where I could easily see Jax leaving the bathroom, I opened the blood bottle and drank.

The cold liquid slid down my throat, feeding the hunger, but leaving me unsated in a visceral, primal way. Still, it was better than nothing, and I drank greedily, desperate to shake off the thoughts of drinking from Jax.

I knew what this was.

It's been so long since I've had something even remotely fresh, and when Dorian saved my life, he gave me fresh blood. Now my body craved it more than usual.

After drinking the entire bottle, I washed my teeth with water, and sat on the bed.

This night messed me up. The last couple of days messed me up. Two years ago, when I left my family home, I thought I'd never see them again. The idea that Dorian Darascu, of all people, invited me as a plus one to his aunt's ball seemed impossible a month or two ago.

I had to go, right?

After all, Edmond was a criminal, and exposing him was the least I could do for this world. Lucia said my priority should be her, but she was taken care of. She had the money and care she needed. There was nothing else I could do about that situation except offer support. It was out of my hands now.

Putting Edmond behind bars was now a priority, and if I managed to get in my father's good graces, I might be able to pull it off. In order to talk to my father, however, I needed Dorian to vote me back in.

And he just invited me to a ball as his plus one.

I had to go, right?

"Hey, you okay?"

My head snapped in the direction of the bathroom, and snapped right back to my bag almost immediately, where the empty blood bottle hid. Fortunately, I closed the bag.

"Yeah, sorry." I faced Jax again, dressed in a white t-shirt and black boxers, his hair still wet from the shower, and heat radiating off his body. "It's been a rough couple of days."

Jax walked to the table on the opposite side of the bed, pulled out a chair and sat. Then, he reached out for the bottle of scotch on the table, and unscrewed the lid. I observed the movements of his muscles, unable to drown out the memory of wanting to taste his blood. Gosh, how could I allow myself such a fucking slipup?

"How about...," Jax handed me the bottle, "...we talk about it?"

I took the bottle with caution. What would I even tell him? Hey, I'm a vampire and I want to taste your blood? My brother might be involved in human-trafficking for unknown, but most certainly devious plans that even I don't know? Lucia is pregnant with the human-trafficker's vampire baby and she might die very soon?

Or, I'm so tired that I can't close my eyes, and I'm afraid I'll pass out and die if something doesn't change?

My heart thudded.

"I wasn't lying when I said I didn't answer my phone because I was sleeping."

The bottle of whiskey felt warm against my freezing fingers, and for the first time in a while, I pulled the blanket around my body, trying to warm myself up.

I glanced up at Jax's confused expression, "I haven't slept in... months."

"What?" He frowned and leaned forward.

A scattered sigh left my lips, and my eyes darted to the carpet, "I sleep once in... fifteen, twenty days."

"Are you serious?" Jax asked.

I swallowed a gulp of whiskey, my face distorting with the sudden bitterness sliding down my throat. I shook it off and looked at Jax.

"Yes." I nodded. "I- I don't know what's going on. My mind is racing with everything that's ever happened to me, and I can't close my eyes. Yesterday – or a few days ago, I have no idea – I finally slept because I knew Lucia was safe. But now-" I began shaking my head, words pouring through my throat like vomit. "Now I'm afraid to close my eyes again, because-"

Jax leaned forward, his hands clasping mine, adding a much needed layer of warmth to my body.

"Odette, what you did for Lucia... you deserve some sleep after that. And you're safe here with me, and you can relax."

I shook my head, "I can't, I can't."

Someone tried to kill me a few nights ago. Lucia's life was constantly in danger. My own brother would have my head on a stake if he found out about Lucia's baby.

Jax kneeled in front of me, took the bottle of whiskey from me and put it on the floor, then clasped my hands and looked up at me, his eyes full of determination and hope.

"Yes, you can." He spoke. "Because everything's alright for tonight. You've done everything in your power to help her, and if you want to keep doing so, you need energy. You need rest. And you're allowed to rest, Odette. You deserved it. Now, I'm going to hug you and talk to you until you fall asleep, and if you can't sleep, I'll talk to you all night long. And if I fall asleep, you wake me up. You wake me up and I'll make you pancakes and watch movies with you."

My heart swelled in my chest, and my eyes filled with unwanted tears. Laughter bubbled in my throat, causing the tears to spill.

Jax smiled, "Is that a good idea?"

"Yes." I nodded, brushing my tears off. "I'd like that."

"Me too." Jax got off the floor, and I scooted up the bed.

My hair was still wet, but I put a towel around my head, and put on my PJs. Jax covered us with two warm blankets, and spooned me. Warmth enveloped me like a cocoon, and a content sigh left my lips, especially when Jax's placed a kiss on the nape of my neck.

I knew I wouldn't fall asleep. Hell, I've woken up a couple of hours ago from a very long nap, but I enjoyed just lying there with him.

"I know that going to Dorian was difficult for you." He whispered, my content slipping away. "But you did it for Lucia, and I'm proud of you."

My gaze escaped to the bag sitting on the chair a few feet away from the bed, where my phone quietly buzzed. I knew who sent the message without looking at it.

"Thank you."

Once Jax dozed off, I pulled off the covers and checked the phone, feeling almost like a criminal.

You have until 10PM tomorrow to decide if you want to see your family.