MinetoChase (5 page)

He shook his head. “I already told you I’d never hurt you
and you can always speak your mind.”

“Good. I planned to, regardless of how you’d react. I’m not
the submissive type. You were just a jerk to your sister.”

His lips twitched. “I see.”

“She said she doesn’t work for you but you just treated her
as though she does. Worse, actually. I have a housekeeper and I’d never speak
to her that way. I’d politely ask her to do something instead of just snap out
orders.”

“Any other suggestions?”

“There shouldn’t be any rules concerning your sister and me
talking. This mate thing is like marriage. That’s what you said. That would
mean she’s going to be my sister-in-law if I agree, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then there shouldn’t be any rules about us talking.”

“Fine.”

It surprised her that he’d caved so easily. “You mean that?”

“I’m not accustomed to being corrected.” Amusement sparked
in his eyes. “I apologize.”

“I think you should tell that to your sister.”

“I will.” His hand lifted and fingertips caressed her cheek.
“How did you sleep?”

“Great.”

“You’ve eaten.”

“How did you know that?”

“By smell. You had cereal with milk.”

Jasmine covered her mouth. “Do I have bad breath? I’m
sorry.”

“I love that brand of cereal and I drink milk.”

And blood
. She wasn’t about to forget that. “You
really do eat food then?”

He peered into her eyes and she felt something inside her
head. It was a faint tingle at the back of her mind.

“Vampires don’t need to eat food but some of them do. They
enjoy the taste of it and some believe it keeps them more human to partake in
the experience. Werewolves eat a lot of food because they need it to survive. I
love my meals and yes, I drink blood as well. I need both.” He paused. “It
wouldn’t be good if I didn’t drink blood. My body needs it or there are side
effects that would eventually kill me.”

“You’re reading my mind again.” She wasn’t comfortable with
it and placed her hand on his chest. It was warm and firm. “Stop.”

“Sorry.” He shrugged. “It’s another adjustment I need to
make. It comes naturally to me. I don’t mean to invade your privacy or make you
uncomfortable.”

“It’s not fair. I can’t read your thoughts so just stay out
of my head.”

“I’ll try.”

“Do you mean that?” The tingling stopped as if something
withdrew from her mind. “I felt that!”

“What?” He frowned.

“You probing my head.”

The tingling returned sharply and she pushed at him. “You’re
doing it again, aren’t you? Get out.”

He stepped back. “Amazing.”

“Get out!” The tingling stopped.

“You can feel it. It must be my blood inside you.”

“That would do it?” She wondered what else had changed about
her.

“Yes. I gave you a lot. You were severely injured. Your
organs were shutting down.” His hand wrapped around the back of her neck as he
drew closer. “May I attempt something?”

“Stay out of my head.”

“Not that. I want to see if you can read my thoughts.”

“I can’t do that.”

“You might.” He paused. “Close your eyes and clear all
thoughts away.”

Jasmine hesitated but then did as he asked. It took her time
to push back all the questions she still had. It wasn’t possible to actually
read minds but that belief wasn’t set in stone anymore since Chase had proven
otherwise.

“Can you hear me?”

“Of course.”

“Damn.”

The deepness of his voice surprised her and she opened her
eyes to look at him. “What is wrong? My hearing is fine.”

“Honey,” he whispered, “I didn’t say that aloud.”

“Say what?”

He stared at her.

“Say what aloud?”

His eyes narrowed.
Can you hear me?

Jasmine gasped, almost tripping on her own feet when she
stumbled back. No sound came from Chase but his voice was inside her head all
the same.

“I’m shouting in my mind but you heard that, didn’t you?” he
asked aloud.

“Yes.”

“It’s my blood. I knew I probably gave you too much.”

“What does that mean?” It was a frightening moment. “Am I
turning into what you are?”

Anger tensed his features. “It’s the damn vampire traits.”
He suddenly closed the distance and gripped her chin, forcing her head up. His
other hand touched her face, pulling down her bottom eyelid for a second.
“Shit.”

“What?” Alarm was a mild description for what she felt.

“I gave you too much. You’re slowly turning.”

“Turning into what? What you are?”

“Vampire.”

That wasn’t good. She didn’t need to be told that since he
paled and his voice deepened into a snarl. Panic rose but she tried to fight it
down, remain calm. Freaking out wouldn’t do anything but make the situation
worse.

“I told you that I’d give you time but this changes things.
We have to mate or you’re going to actually die.”

“You gave me blood to save me. Now it’s killing me?”

“It would be a vampire death. You won’t remain dead.”

Jasmine didn’t know what to say. Her mouth opened but no
words came.

“It means you’ll be totally vampire if we don’t mate.”

“And that’s bad?”
Of course it is
. The shock of what
he said made her heart race and her mind wanted to shut down to avoid the unpleasant
truth.

“Do you like the sun, honey?”

She nodded, sealing her lips.

“Then yes, it would be bad. Even my blood wouldn’t protect
you from burning in the sunlight if we allow you to fully turn. You need more
of my blood on a regular basis to keep you alive. You were too drained from
that damn rogue. Shit.” He released her, combing his fingers through his hair.
“You were too close to death but I didn’t realize this would happen. I thought
my blood would just heal you.”

“I don’t want to have to drink blood to survive.” More
disturbing consequences filled her thoughts of what it would mean if she became
the undead. That one just topped her list of what she’d hate most.

“It would only be mine. We’ve been through this.”

“How long do I have? I feel fine.”

“We need to mate within twenty-four hours. No longer than
that or it’s going to be too late. You’ll go into an unnatural death and once
your body dies, you will be completely vampire when you wake. I’d prefer we do
it right now.”

That wasn’t good at all. Jasmine stared up at him and tried
to remain calm. It wasn’t easy. The new world she’d been exposed to was too
foreign and she had tough choices to make. Chase made it sound simple—just
accept being his mate—but she wanted more time.

Twenty-four hours.
She could almost hear the ticking
of a clock inside her head. “I need to be alone. I need to think this through.”

He didn’t appear happy with her request but he nodded.

Chapter Five

Chase paced the kitchen until his sister entered, just back
from the grocery store. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Jasmine pointed out that I don’t appreciate you enough for
all you do.”

Jenny had started putting away the steaks but paused to gape
at him.

“What?” Irritation flashed inside him. “Quit staring at me
that way.”

She recovered and closed the fridge. “You protect me and
give me a home. I don’t know what I’d do if you hadn’t taken me in.”

“It doesn’t mean I should be an ass. I have been.”

“Yes.” She suddenly smiled. “I wasn’t sure about you taking
a mate but I like it so far.”

“Why wouldn’t you be happy about it?”

“She’s human but I suppose it’s better that you ended up
with one of them instead of a werewolf.”

He scowled. “What would it matter?”

“Most werewolf bitches are power hungry. I wanted more for
you than to end up locked to someone who would never truly love you.” She
stepped closer. “Jasmine really didn’t know what you were?”

“No.”

“You met her before but waited until she nearly died to
claim her? Why?”

“I was deeply attracted to her but she was too sweet and
good to enter this life. I felt very protective.”

Jenny nodded. “I understand. I met a human but avoid him now
because he can’t ever find out what I am.”

That statement drew a frown from Chase and a sense of worry.
“What human?”

“He’s a neighbor. I have run into him more than a few times
where our land meets at the river. He enjoys fishing.”

“Single?”

“No scent of a woman is on him.”

“Is he interested in you?”

“He’s male, Chase.” She grinned. “What do you think?” She
sobered. “I’m really attracted to him, he smells so good and he’s funny.”

“Why don’t you date him and see where it leads?”

“We both know what would happen. He’d either freak out if he
learned what I am or, if I mated him, he’d go on a power trip. Sharing my blood
would make him stronger, more aggressive, and change him for the worse. He
wasn’t raised with that kind of strength.”

“He could be different than most.”

“He might not be.” She walked to the counter to unpack a
bag. “You’d have to kill him and I couldn’t stand it.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

She peered up at him. “You’d have to if he started showing
off to his human friends. Can you imagine? ‘Hey, look at me. I can lift a
car!’” She rolled her eyes. “Rule number one is keeping the secret of our
existence.”

“You could return to Alaska and our clan.”

Jenny’s expression hardened. “No.”

“Mother?”

She gave a sharp nod. “She attempted to make me a vampire’s
companion.”

Anger burned through Chase. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I knew you’d be furious. She thinks that’s what is best,
Chase. I came to stay with you before she could get me to London. That’s where
most of the old masters live.”

“I’m glad you came to me.” He silently swore to have a talk
with their mother. “Is that where she is? I don’t keep in contact.”

“Probably.” Jenny shrugged. “I ditched her at the airport
and haven’t spoken to her since. I refuse to return to Alaska, though, on the
off chance that she’s returned.”

“You could mate with someone from the clan to get our mother
off your back.”

“No thanks!” The sadness in her eyes belied her laugh.

“Do they believe you’d be too cold to mate?”

“No. That was just you because you were always such a hard
ass. I just don’t find all that growling and aggressiveness charming.”

“Understood. I get enough of that shit from my pack.”

Her eyes sparked with real amusement. “If the clan could
only see you now.”

“Shut up.” He playfully swatted her arm. “It’s a necessity.”

“Why do you work for vampires?”

“Blaron and Lethal aren’t like the others. They are good
souls.”

“Some say vampires don’t have those.”

“Those two do. They aren’t anything like our fathers.”

“You mean they wouldn’t abandon their companion and their
young just because they’re an embarrassment with their mixed bloodlines?”

His humor died. “No.”

“Have you heard from your father?”

“Not since he wanted me to take out one of his vampire
enemies.”

“You didn’t!”

He shook his head, sighing loudly. “I’m not a weapon to be
used when he needs an assassin during daylight hours.”

“Mine was the one who suggested to our mother that I become
a companion to one of his friends. I think she still loves him.”

“We don’t need them. We never did. Mother needs to realize
she was used by them to have offspring. The concept fascinated them but the
reality didn’t fulfill their expectations.”

Jenny suddenly stepped forward and pressed her hand to the
center of his chest. “Do you love Jasmine?”

“I believe I do. I think I have since we first met.”

“Be sure. Mating is forever.”

“I’ve never felt anything this strong before. She makes me
happy and I really look forward to a future with her. She’s all I think about.”

“You’re such a dork.” She laughed, grinning. “That’s love.”

“Now I just have to get her to immediately agree to mate
with me.”

“I thought you were going to give her time.”

“She’s turning.”

“Shit.” Jenny backed away. “Why are you standing here
talking to me? Get it done. You don’t want to doom her to an existence without
sunshine and cause her to be weaker than she needs to be. Your mate shouldn’t
have to endure vampire flaws.”

“I don’t want her to regret it.”

“She’d hate bursting into flames if she ventured outside
during the day and having to drink blood on a daily basis. Jasmine doesn’t know
enough to make that kind of decision, Chase, but you do. Do what is best for
her.”

He knew his sister was right. “I’ll go find her.” He
sniffed. “She’s not upstairs.”

“She headed downstairs last I saw.”

“She’ll be suffering exhaustion while her body goes through
the first stages of transformation.”

“Go mate her.”

Chase spun on his heel and stalked to the basement. “Do you
mind cooking dinner in an hour? She’ll be hungry.”

“I’ve got this. You deal with her.”

He paused by the door and turned, holding his sister’s
stare. “About the human you mentioned?”

“What about him?”

“I wouldn’t kill him. I’d just guide him until he understood
how important it was to protect you and what we are. I don’t want you to be
alone.”

“You mean you’d scare him into submission and beat him if
needed.”

“Better me than someone else attempt to kill him for
revealing too much.”

“That’s true. I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

He closed the door after him, following Jasmine’s faint
scent still lingering in the air, tracking her to his bedroom.

Jasmine stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of
everything. A slight noise drew her attention and she sat up as Chase entered
his room. It was a bit awkward since they didn’t know each other that well. No
words came to mind as he slowly stalked closer.

She noticed the way he moved, graceful but with an aura of
danger. He wasn’t a typical guy, had never been one, but now she knew what was
so different about him. Being part werewolf and vampire was a lethal
combination. His dark stare didn’t frighten her though, but instead made her
aware of various parts of her body. Her belly tightened and her nipples
tingled. Another part of her reacted too but she tried to ignore that.

“How are you feeling?”

She wasn’t sure why he didn’t just read her mind. That
ability still unnerved her. “Okay. A little tired but restless. I couldn’t fall
asleep.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight dipping that side
slightly as he shifted to face her. “Are your eyes sensitive to the light in
here? Any numbness in your body?”

She wished the second part was a symptom she experienced.
Every time Chase was near it was impossible not to notice the way her body
reacted to him. It had been that way since the first time they’d met at her
office. One look and her heart rate had increased and her palms had been sweaty
when they’d shaken hands.

“No. I’m good.”

“It’s a slow process, fortunately.” He reached out but he
didn’t touch her. Instead his fingers traced a crease in the bedding. “We still
have a few hours.”

“Before I turn into a full-on vampire?”

“Yes.”

“Will it hurt?” That was a real fear.

“No. Your body will start going numb while it shuts down
until you fall asleep. Your heart will stop beating at that point and you’ll
die.” He glanced anywhere but at her. “The next evening, after the process is
finished, you’ll wake.”

“Will I still have a beating heart?”

He hesitated. “It does to a degree.”

“What does that mean? It either does or it doesn’t.”

“It will slow to a standstill if you haven’t eaten or if
you’re sleeping during the day. When you wake and feed, it accelerates. The
fresher the blood in your system, the more it will pump at a normal rate.”

“What about air? Will I need to breathe?”

He hesitated. “You could go without for quite a while. You
technically don’t need it but it isn’t pretty when your body is starved of
oxygen for extended periods of time.”

“Can you elaborate? I don’t know any real facts about
vampires, just the fiction I’ve read in books.”

“Think white or a greenish tint, depending on whether you’re
in a dry or wet climate.” He grimaced. “We need to take care of this situation,
Jasmine.”

She knew what that meant. “You want to make me your mate.”

“You know I do.” He leaned closer, holding her gaze. “I
promise you’ll never regret it.”

“How can you possibly do that?”

He hesitated. “I’m over a hundred years old, Jasmine.”

She studied his features closely. He didn’t appear older
than early thirties, if even that. She bit her lip, trying to guess his point,
besides shocking her.

You can hear me when I concentrate on projecting my
thoughts to you.

The sound of his voice inside her head was as clear as if
he’d spoken the words aloud.

Believe in what you think is impossible. I’m proof of
that, my love. I’ll always keep my promises to you.

Hot tears filled her eyes while she gazed into his. The
brown irises turned cobalt as she watched, more proof that everything she’d
once know to be factual wasn’t quite true. Chase changed everything. Her life
turned upside down by his very existence.

“Take a chance,” he murmured, inching closer, staring deeply
into her gaze. “You have everything to gain.” His voice deepened. “My love. Me.
Happiness.” He paused before giving her a sexy, devastating grin. “Great sex.”

He wasn’t playing fair. He was too close, smelled really
good, and who was she kidding? She adored Chase Woods. It ran deeper than that
though, had almost been an obsession since they’d first met. He was the man
who’d captured her fantasies on a nightly basis, made other men insignificant
in comparison, and he’d saved her life.

“I’ll lose my house, my job, my friends and family if I
agree, right?”
How can I do that to be with this man?
It went against
everything she’d ever believed in. She was a strong, capable woman. The concept
of walking away from her life to be with Chase left her feeling lost and
confused.

“I know it’s difficult but if the rogue had a master, you’re
still in danger. He will consider you his and come after you. He would destroy
the people you care about to get to you. I’m strong enough to defeat him.
You’re my mate, Jasmine. I won’t let anyone harm you. And there are other
things to consider. How will you explain the changes you’ve undergone,
especially over time? People will notice. That will put you at risk, cause you
pain. That would hurt you more. And that would hurt me.”

“I didn’t ask for this.” Bitterness rose over the impossible
situation she’d been placed in.

“The rogue did this, not me. I walked away from you once
when it was the last thing I wanted to do. I did it because your happiness came
first. “His tone softened and so did the look in his eyes. “I’d do anything for
you.”

“Can’t you fix me so I don’t turn into a vampire? Can’t we
just date and my normal life can resume? I need more time.”

Chase hesitated, a pained look crossing his handsome face.
“I’d give you anything if it were possible. The rogue harmed you too much for a
hospital to save your life. My blood was the only option to keep you alive. I
didn’t mean for this to happen, for you to start to turn into a vampire, but
he’d taken you too close to death. You have only two options now—become one of
them or agree to be my mate. Either way, I can’t turn back the clock and undo
what has been done.”

Jasmine didn’t like it but she knew he spoke the truth. He
had supernatural powers but time travel wasn’t one of them. Putting anyone else
in danger wasn’t something she’d ever willingly do.

“I’d die for you, Jasmine.” Sincerity deepened his voice. “I
know it’s asking a lot, perhaps too much, but please agree to be my mate. I
swear you won’t regret it. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. We’ll
work out all the issues.”

Her heart squeezed inside tightly while she stared deeply
into his beautiful eyes. He meant every word. She believed that and the love
she felt for him grew stronger until it was tough to breathe. It was a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with him forever. Her concerns and fears
faded as they watched each other.

“Yes.” The one word came from her lips.

She wasn’t sure who was more surprised by her agreement.
Becoming his mate was a lifelong commitment. He’d made sure she understood
there would be no turning back and they’d live for a very long time. Chase’s
smile faded as a low growl emanated from deep within his chest.