Blood Moon (Moon Books) (5 page)

So when ten o’clock rolled around, I found myself approaching the old dock nervous and uncertain but hoping to see a familiar blond head glowing in the moonlight. I sighed in relief when I found him sitting on the end with his feet dangling in the water.

“Noah?”

He turned, and even in the dark I could see his face light up. “Zack! You came.” He vaulted up and jogged down the dock towards me. “Thank you so much. I said I’d leave you alone if you didn’t but—”

I held up my hand slowing him down. It was so hard not to jump into his arms. I could tell he wanted it too. “Yeah, I came, but I want you to know that I’m having a really hard time believing all of this. I mean how can you prove that...” I couldn’t even say it.

“Prove that I’m a vampire?” He took a deep breath. “You know that’s only the second time I’ve said it out loud? Anyway, I told you I could. Pretty easily in fact if you’ve read anything about vampires ever. It’s amazing how much they got right.” He leaned forward slightly and I immediately scooted back, reacting.

What the hell? Was he going to bite me or something?

Noah gave me a hurt look and held up the pocketknife he’d gotten from the back pocket of his shorts. “Zack, I’d never do anything to hurt you. I’d never intentionally hurt anyone. How could you think that?”

“Sorry. I know you wouldn’t.”

“It’s okay, just don’t do it again.” He grinned quickly and I smiled back, happy to see a glimpse of his old sense of humor. “You might want to be sitting for this. Here, watch.” He took my hand and pulled me down to the dock then pointed at his forearm with the knife. “Proof time. Ever heard the part about vampires healing really fast?”

Noah took the knife and ran it along his arm, making a deep angry looking gash. I drew in a sharp breath but held it when I saw his skin knitting itself back together before my eyes.

“Oh my god!” I’d always wanted to hope things like that were possible but I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing it. I reached out tentatively and stroked his forearm where the skin had been hanging open just moments before. He trembled slightly at the sensation of my touch.

“There’s more. Let me see your finger.” I was in so much shock I gave it to him without hesitation. “Just a prick,” he whispered and nicked my fingertip with his knife.

He squeezed my finger gently until a ruby red drop of blood welled up at the tip. Cautiously, he brought it to his mouth and licked. My skin exploded into hot shivers at the touch of his tongue and my breath felt erratic in my chest. Blood rushed to my cheeks, between my legs. I actually felt myself start to harden. Impossible!

At the taste of my blood, his eyes rolled back in ecstasy and a pair of glistening fangs slid into place. Even through my haze of desire, I heard a low growl of satisfaction coming from his throat. It was a little unnerving and just for a second I was scared of him before I remembered that it was Noah and he’d never hurt me. My eyes grew wide. Well, there ya go. That was all there was to it. You couldn’t get any more concrete proof than that.

My best friend and the guy I’d been in love for most of my life was a vampire. A vampire. Holy. Shit.

I saw it in his eyes when he drew away. He was expecting me to run. He figured I’d react like any sane person would. But the thing was, it wasn’t just any vampire sitting in front of me. It was Noah. He was looking scared and sad and a little hopeful. He looked like...like him. I didn’t have it in my heart to hurt the only guy I’d ever loved.

I pulled my hand out of his and immediately wrapped my arms around his shoulders hugging him close. Rubbing my face in his neck, I was relieved that it still felt warm and alive. I kissed his skin softly, unable to resist. Noah lifted my face with a gentle finger and looked at me for a long silent moment. His face was filled with soul deep weariness, relief, and something that looked a lot like love.

“So now you know,” he murmured. “The vampire part is true and logically you have to realize the rest of it is as well.”

“And you really stayed away from me because you were trying to protect me.”

“I really was. It hurt so much to lose you but I couldn’t think of a better solution. I nearly caved and told you the truth that day instead of telling you we couldn’t be friends anymore. It was almost impossible for me to walk away. I shouldn’t have done it.” Noah sighed. “And because I did now I’m like this.”

I tugged on his shirt with my fist until he looked at me. “You know I don’t care, right? I’m here with you now. I’ll always be here. You’re not pushing me away again, remember?”

“Are you sure about this?”

He looked shaken, weary. I stood on my own shaky legs and held out my hand. He took it and I pulled him to standing.

“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t care what happened to you, you’re still Noah and I feel the same way about you that I always did.”

“But I’m a monster. Isn’t that the word you used?”

I hugged him as close as I could. “You’re not a monster. I’m sorry I said that. I would have never used that word about you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

“I never want to hurt you again in any way. Thank you for trusting me, Zack.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t at first.”

We held each other there for a long time. I wasn’t sure if we were swaying or if the old dock wasn’t as strong as it used to be. I needed to be quiet, to soak it all in. I’d told the truth. I didn’t care what he’d become. That didn’t mean it wasn’t a lot to get used to.

Eventually I pulled my head from his shoulder and for the first time noticed the moon, huge and glowing in the night sky.

“Look at the moon, Noh. It’s amazing.”

He turned and gazed in the sky. “It’s called a Strawberry Moon. Pretty, isn’t it?”

His smile was genuine, but that little bit of bitterness was still there. I wanted to make it go away.

“C’mon. You’re coming with me. I think the two of us have been alone long enough.” I stepped back and held out my hand. He took it silently.

I guided him along the path towards our cabin. Noah followed without protest, holding my hand trustingly, silently climbing the stairs behind me and pausing at the front door. I put my finger to his lips and we tiptoed again until we were safely behind my door and sitting side by side on the narrow twin bed. After a minute, he spoke.

“Thank you again for believing me, Zack. I didn’t mean to see you that first night but once I did I realized exactly how much I still need you. It would have killed me to lose you again.” His voice was tired but he sounded happier than I’d heard since I first saw him. I pushed him down onto my bed and covered him with the green afghan my mother had made when I was a baby. I was tempted to crawl under the covers and kiss him all over, but he looked so tired I contented myself with running my fingers through his hair soothingly and brushing my lips across his forehead. He was nearly asleep when I remembered something.

“Hey what’s the real deal with you and sunlight? I don’t want you incinerating on me or anything.”

“It’s fine as long as the curtains are closed. Direct sunlight is really uncomfortable but won’t kill me right away. It takes a while. Daylight’s fine for hours as long as it’s cloudy.”

“It’s been overcast but I’m going to close the curtains anyway.”

I got up and made sure my curtains were closed. To be even safer, I draped a thick blanket over the curtain rod and stuffed it against the ledge to block out any light. By the time I was done I could hear Noah breathing softly. I stripped off my t-shirt and shoes and climbed into the bed next to him, pulling the blanket around both of us. He turned over and wrapped his arms around me, tugging until I backed all the way into his chest. We had never slept together like that before but it felt good, comfortable and right. I smiled blissfully and closed my eyes, finally able to sleep.

Questions

We were holed up in my bedroom, cuddling in the darkness. It wasn’t even sunset yet but I had the windows covered so well it seemed like it was the middle of the night. It was probably a little bit of overkill, but I wasn’t taking any chances with Noah’s safety.

We’d spent the day talking, reliving the past, getting to know each other again—for real this time. It was a relief that he was finally acting like himself: quick to laugh, witty, talkative. That huge weight that I’d sensed seemed to have lifted as soon as I’d told him that I didn’t care what he’d become. He was the best friend who I’d been comfortable with for years combined with the flirtatious sexy new boyfriend that I couldn’t keep my hands off of. Every conversation was filled with giggling, teasing, and touching, every silence filled with long, deep kisses.

It was easily the best day I’d had in years. Maybe ever. I knew my parents were confused and probably a little worried. I hadn’t said much other than “Noah’s here” and I’d barely emerged from my room since breakfast. They hadn’t even seen him yet. I was sure I’d be getting some questions fairly soon but I had no idea how I was going to answer them so I stayed hidden and hoped they didn’t come barging through the bedroom door.

It was nearing dinnertime. I decided to grab a quick snack so I could avoid the question of why Noah wasn’t eating. He said that even the smell of food made him gag since he’d been turned. When I asked if he missed eating, he said it was hard to miss something that was repulsive. I felt the same about drinking blood, so I understood. I shoveled a bowl of cereal into my mouth as quickly as possible and ducked back into my room before anyone from my family could corner me.

Noah was lounging on my bed when I returned, awake but relaxed. His eyes were sleepy and partly covered by a curtain of silky blond hair and his t-shirt was hitched up a little, showing a few inches of smoothly muscled abdomen. I wanted to lean over and run my tongue along the waist of his jeans. He looked a million times better than he had the night before, but was still a little pale and drawn—even by what I imagined vampire standards to be. It wouldn’t have mattered if he looked half dead, honestly. He’d still be the most gorgeous thing in the world to me.

I jumped on him impulsively and covered his lips with my own, still marveling at the fact that I actually got to kiss him again. Noah purred a little in his throat and hooked his leg around my thighs, returning the kiss.

“I love kissing you,” he whispered a few minutes later when we had to stop and catch our breath. I smiled and brushed my thumb across his bottom lip.

“I love kissing you too.” I followed my thumb with another small kiss. I hadn’t gotten a hundred percent used to the fact that he was really truly there with everything out in the open.

By silent mutual agreement, we’d avoided any serious topics all day but I decided it was time to start dealing with them. I needed to know what was going on. I knew our feelings for each other were the kind that lasted forever. While it normally might seem a little premature to start talking about the future after just a few days, what we had was definitely not a normal situation. Last night had changed everything.

“So what now, Noah? For you, for us?”

“Aren’t you starting school again in September?”

“Yeah and I think you should come with me to the city. I’ve got a decent apartment and no roommates yet. I mean, it could be like we wanted before.” The idea of him and me living together in my cozy little apartment made my pulse leap.

He smiled sadly. “But, Zack, it’ll never be like we used to talk about. You have to remember that I’m dangerous for you. Even if I would never hurt you, having me around isn’t a good idea.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well the rest of my family still doesn’t know what happened to me. I’ve been hiding it. I think they’ll come after me when they eventually figure out I got turned. As far as they’re concerned, a vampire’s a vampire and no longer a human with emotions and a sense of right and wrong.”

“Wait, so you think your family is going to kill you?”

He nodded.

“And you’ve been hiding from them at your parents’ house?”

“Well it’s not like grandpa and the others visit very often. We’re not close. I haven’t even seen them since my parents’ funeral and it was raining that day so I don’t think they had any idea. I keep up appearances; still go on hunts and stuff. Besides, I didn’t care all that much about them finding out about me before.”

I shoved at his chest. “You better care now!”

He laughed and pulled me into his arms toppling us both backwards on my bed. “Of course I care now.” He smothered my face with little kisses, causing me to squirm and laugh. I started tickling him in retaliation, which in retrospect was probably a mistake. In seconds he had me pinned and was tickling and pinching me until I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.

“Truce!” I called.

When we finally calmed down I looked at him seriously.

“I still want you to come with me, you know. I don’t give a shit if it’s dangerous; I’m not losing you again.”

“Are you sure?” He looked hesitant. I guessed he wasn’t a hundred percent convinced we were real yet either.

“I’m totally sure. You do want to be with me, don’t you?”

“How can you ask that? You know I do. I’ve wanted to be with you since we were kids.”

“Me too.” I smirked at him then and snuggled up close. “Does that make you my boyfriend?” I fluttered my eyelashes.

He grinned back. “Yep. You’re never getting rid of me.” Then he attacked my neck with his teasing kisses.

* * * *

An hour or so later we were lying together quietly. He had his arms around me and I was leaning on his chest. I couldn’t believe how comfortable and familiar it felt; like we’d never been away from each other, like we’d been a couple all along. I realized I had something I needed to say to him.

“You know, Noah. Your family’s wrong. I’m not the only person who’s safe around you. I don’t care what you are; you’d never hurt a thing. I mean you’re still totally you, a big softie at heart.”

He chuckled a little and then sighed. “They’d never believe you. They think all vampires aren’t to be trusted. I don’t know if my parents would’ve even seen what you see. If they’d survived, I’m not sure if I would have been given a chance to be myself before they killed me.”