Till Death Do Us Part

by Lari Smythe

  Chapter 30

  Consciousness slowly began to return. While my senses were still dulled, I could feel Elizabeth's arms still around me. My eyelids were too heavy to open but the space around us—presumably still the ICU was quiet. I tried to speak, but couldn't. I inhaled an odorless breath—that seemed odd, there was always something, but I dismissed it as the pulse of a heartbeat against my back drew all my attention. Did the potion work? That couldn't be Elizabeth, it had to be Jason—I wasn't supporting his neck. The heartbeat was strong, much stronger than I remembered. We were on our sides. My arms were heavy, but I managed to intertwine my fingers between his. I pulled his arms tighter around me. The chemistry between us was strong, but lacked the heat I'd grown so accustom too.

  "Ugh."

  "Jason?"

  "Izzy?" His arms tightened around me.

  "You're alive."

  "Am I?"

  I let go of his hands, and rolled in his arms until we were facing one another. "You're perfect."

  "Did you change me? I mean we're the same temperature." He pressed his lips to mine and we kissed. The chemistry—the heart warming elation was incredibly, beautiful. He pulled back even though I resisted. "I love you." He squeezed my hip, then my shoulder, and then cupped my cheek in his hand and kissed me again.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to change you—I swore." My lips brushed his and we exchanged a tender kiss this time.

  "You don't have to apologize—I always hoped—expected, but I had no idea the feelings between us could be so much more. This feeling is amazing—you're beautiful."

  "You're even more magnificent than I dreamed you would be." His sandy hair reflected the bluish tint of the florescent overhead lights. His hair curled at his neck and temples. The stubble of adolescent facial hair descended from the curls at his temples, following his rugged jaw-line, completing the outline of his exquisite face. His heavy brow, lifted when our eyes met. His a dark chocolate brown, so dark his pupils were almost lost. My gaze continued down the crest of his nose. His nostrils flared as my gaze came to rest on his soft, moist lips. They parted as I moved in and kissed him. After a moment—too short, he pushed me back. "You're stronger than me." I said through a smile.

  Jason smiled back, our lips still almost touching. He fell back on the bed, pulling me up on top of him. Our lips bumped together.

  "Ouch." we both said.

  "Wait a minute." I pushed back, sitting up next to him. "That hurt."

  "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was like that between our kind." His eyes widened. "If we're both immortal, then who's heartbeat is that?"

  I looked at him closer—stared. "Your lip's bleeding. Oh my God, it worked—you're still human!" I dropped down on him and kissed him over and over. "I can't believe it!" I kissed him again. His energy pulsed through me bringing with it an incredible feeling of love—tenderness and passion. The same feelings were reflected in his eyes. Suddenly he rolled us over until I was on my back and he was hovering over me.

  "I'm still human?"

  "Yes, your lip's bleeding. Poor baby, I'm sorry."

  Jason wiped his finger across his lip, looked at it a moment and then abruptly pressed his bloody finger into my mouth. He rubbed it against my tongue before pulling it out. "What do you taste?"

  "A salty, rusty, metalic taste."

  "And your thirst?"

  "Nothing, but that went away while I was breathing for you."

  "You were breathing for me?"

  "I'd do anything to save your life."

  Jason's loving expression turned anxious. "Trust me?"

  "Always."

  He lifted a hand and began to move it slowly toward my breast.

  "Jason." I warned.

  "Trust me."

  I closed my eyes and nodded.

  His hand gently touched my chest, between my breasts—he pressed harder and I could feel his heartbeat in the palm of his hand.

  I opened my eyes as he pulled it away. "What's wrong?"

  Jason reached over to the hospital tray next to us and pulled a tissue out of it's box. "I just want to wipe my blood off your face."

  "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

  Jason nodded as he wiped my lips with the tissue. He licked the corner of the tissue, wiped my lips again and then tossed the tissue in the trash container by the wall.

  "Nice shot." I looked back up into his eyes. "What is it? You're scaring me."

  Jason reached down and touched my upper lip with his finger. He pulled it back until it was between us. "You're bleeding."

  "I don't—" I stared at the blood on his finger and then touched my lip. I held my finger up next to his. I lay there frozen.

  Jason licked my blood off his finger and then pressed his hand against my chest again. "Feel that?"

  "Your heartbeat."

  "Press your hand against my chest." he said.

  "Why? I don't see—"

  "Just do it." His voice was tender, but firm.

  "Okay." I placed my hand against his bare, perfectly sculpted chest.

  Jason pressed his weight against my hand. "Feel that?"

  "Yes, your heartbeat."

  "And?"

  The rhythm in his hand against my chest was faster. "They're not the same—that's impossible." I tried to get up, but couldn't lift him. Jason must have realized and eased back. I sat up next to him and grabbed the stethoscope off the hospital table. I put the curved pieces in my ears and pressed the rubber disc on the other end against my chest. My heart was beating—there was no question. I pulled the stethoscope out of my ears and let it fall to the floor.

  "You gave up immortality—for me?" Jason said.

  "No—yes—I don't know. Benjamin's potion, it must have used my strength to heal you and in doing so—" I turned slowly to look at him. I could feel the joy radiating from my face like waves of heat. "I'm human. Do you know what this means?"

  Jason hesitated.

  "I love you." I reached for him.

  Jason pulled me onto his lap in an embrace and kissed me. "Till death do us part."

  "Till death do us part."