“Yes,” I answered, nervously running my hands through my hair.
Christopher scooted closer, touching my hair. “It’s always been beautiful, but I love it long.”
“Oh? I was thinking about cutting it.”
His eyes darkened. “If you must, but I find your long hair very appealing.” His voice was throaty, low, sexy. If he didn’t want me to cut it, I wouldn’t.
At least not right now, my inner voice huffed.
When Cindy braided my hair earlier, she dyed a chunk of it red. The color was still there, and he flicked it between his fingers.
“Cindy,” I said, feeling like he wanted an explanation. “It’ll be gone by sunrise.”
He let the strands fall. “I may stay until then, just to make sure. His fingers stroked my collarbones, and his thumbs brushed my neck.
I shuddered at his touch. I knew what was coming. As though our bodies were two ends of the same string, we moved closer. He pushed the covers off the bed.
“What if I get cold,” I teased.
“You won’t,” he smirked. “And I don’t want to get tangled in them.” His eyes said so much more than his words. While I watched, he unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off his body, revealing his beautifully taut chest, the muscles on his arms, his rippled abs, and the small wooden bear he wore around his neck.
A little noise escaped my throat, and he smiled. “I know, Frosty.”
My fangs pushed against the inside of my mouth. It didn’t even matter that he was teasing with my nickname. I wanted to fall on top of him, and take more of his delicious blood. But it was his turn.
Acknowledging my intended patience, I lay back on my pillow, watching him pull off his socks and his belt. For some reason seeing him undress made me squirm. I wanted to help, rip them off, and be done with it. I wanted him to hurry. The sooner he took his turn, the sooner I got mine.
His eyes darkened, and he walked on his knees over to where I lay. “Are you going to let me go first? You look like you’re about to burst.”
I didn’t speak, just nodded.
“I’m impressed.” He lay on his side, next to me, and I turned to face him. “You can go again,” he said, his eyes smoldering.
“No, I want you—” my breath caught as he pulled me to him, his warm body covering mine.
Chapter 11
I tilted my head, giving him easier access. His breath tickled, in a good way. He pressed his soft lips to my throat, leaving a trail of heat across my neck. “Snow. I’m so glad you’re back, that you aren’t hurt. I was going crazy without you.”
“Me too.” I wrapped my legs around his hips, pressing myself closer. He felt so good, so incredibly right. He was a vampire, like me. He understood my needs, shared them even, and accepted me for what I was. I didn’t have to be anything but myself with Christopher.
Was that love?
I didn’t know, but I was willing to find out.
Christopher sank his fangs into my vein slowly, and my eyes rolled back. I enjoyed drinking from him, but having him drink from me was amazing.
“Christopher,” I sighed.
He began sucking, but almost immediately let out a cry, and pushed away.
“What’s wrong?”
He wiped his mouth with the back on his hand. “Your blood, it’s changed. It tastes like…” He stopped.
“Like what?” His face reminded me of the first time I tried a lemon.
He leaned up, resting his hands on his thighs. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever had, and it burns.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“I wonder if it’s because of the Seal.” He climbed off the bed, pulling on his socks and boots. “I should tell Kenmei.”
“So, we’re done?” I asked, sliding closer. I didn’t want him to stop. I wanted him to do more than drink from me. I wanted him to kiss me, and…
He buttoned his shirt. “I think we have to be.”
“But—”
“Frosty, you have no idea how badly I think this stinks.” He buckled his belt, and pulled his sword over his head. “It’s just that if you’re blood—”
A thick, red-black fog swirled in the air next to Christopher.
“What is that?” I asked.
The haze cleared, and Sharra was standing in my room, her blue-black gown rustling around her.
“Hello, Snow.
“Sharra, what are you doing here?”
She turned, facing Christopher. Without a word, she shoved her hands into his chest and ripped him open.
A bewildered look flickered across Christopher’s face.
I screamed.
Christopher’s blood sprayed the Queen, my white bedding, the white carpet, and me, like the mist from a spray can.
Anger burned, hard and fast. “Get your filthy hands off him.” The power of the Seal pulsed and vibrated. I wanted to crush her, twist off her head, and burn her to ash. Kill her for hurting my Hunter. I grabbed her arm, and she screamed.
Horrified pain spread across her features, and Sharra vanished.
Chapter 12
Before the last of Sharra’s red-black haze disappeared, I ran to Christopher’s side. He lay on his back, his chest spread so wide I could see his beating heart. He wasn’t breathing, and his eyes were closed. Blood was everywhere.
“Christopher!” I wanted to comfort him, fix him, but he looked so bad I wasn’t sure where to begin. “What can I do?”
Tenderly, I tried pushing his chest closed, but stopped short when someone pounded on the door.
“Open the door!” It was Gabe.
He beat on the door again.
Then Dorian said, “I’ve got a key.”
“Crap. Crap. Crap.” My hands shook.
The bedroom door flung open. Seven brothers, and Professor Pops stumbled through the door and froze.
I tried to imagine what the scene before them must look like. Me, kneeling on the floor next to Christopher. His bloodied body. Blood all over me.
“Help,” was all I could utter.
The brothers let out a stream of profanity.
Professor Pops came forward. “Are you alright?”
“The blood isn’t mine.”
“What happened?” he asked, touching Christopher’s forehead.
“Sharra,” I responded, my voice hard. “She tried to kill him.” I touched Christopher’s chest. “His heart. She would’ve ripped it out.” Angry tears filled my eyes.
Dorian knelt beside me, and took my hand.
“Don’t,” I said, pulling away.
Gabe, the rest of the brothers, and Professor Pops circled us.
Professor Pops said, “But she didn’t. How did you stop her?”
I searched his face. Did I tell him? “I was angry, and I touched her.”
“That’s it,” Gabe asked, looking like he didn’t believe me.
“Yeah! I wanted to slay her. Turn her to dust, but as soon as my fingers brushed her arm, she screamed and vanished.” My breathing was heavy as I spoke.
“Well, you saved him. It’s going to take a while for his body to heal though. He needs blood.” He glanced over. “Understand?”
I shook my head. “He said my blood tastes different, that it burns. He thought it had something to do with the Seal.” My bottom lip trembled, and a tear hit my cheek. I wiped it away furiously.
“He said your blood burned him?” Professor Pops said, his voice shocked.
“Yes.”
He patted my shoulder. “I’m sorry this happened, but he’s going to be alright, and it’s urgent I speak with Kenmei.”
“That’s what Christopher said, too.”
I leaned over, pressing my lips to Christopher’s. “Hang in there, Hunter.” As I spoke, two of my tears dripped onto Christopher’s cheek. They turned violet and glimmered, spreading across his face, and down his arms, his neck. When it reached his chest, the gaping hole stitched itself back together.
I gasped.
“What did
you do?” Gabe asked, disappointed.
“I-I don’t know,” I whispered excitedly.
Christopher’s eyes flashed open. The hazel color they used to be was gone. Instead, his eyes were a silvery-violet—the color of Envy’s unicorn horn.
My Hunter jumped up, surprising us all. Then he pulled me, so my chest rested against his. Affectionately, he touched my cheek, kissed my lips.
“You saved me again, Snow White.”
Afterword
Thank you for reading “Love Bleeds,” volume 9 of 12 in the Blood and Snow series. In this volume, Snow is able to learn more about those around her. She also realizes she has feelings for her Hunter.
If you enjoyed “Love Bleeds,” please leave a review on Amazon. It only takes a couple of minutes, but helps me out a great deal.
Sincerely,
RaShelle Workman
Additional Works by RaShelle Workman
YA Series
Blood and Snow volumes 1-4 (Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises)
“Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love’s blood, become the Vampire, Snow White.” Every thousand years the Vampire Queen selects a new body, always the fairest in the land, and this time she’s chosen Snow White. To purchase the Blood and Snow 4 pack, click Blood and Snow volumes 1-4 (Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises)
Blood and Snow volumes 5-8 (Prey and Magic, Masquerade’s Moon, Seal of Gabriel, Telltale Kisses)
Blood and Snow 5-8 (Prey and Magic, Masquerade's Moon, Seal of Gabriel, Telltale Kisses)
Immortal Essence Box Set (Aligned: An Immortal Essence Short Story, Exiled, Beguiled)
Immortal Essence Box Set (Aligned: An Immortal Essence Short Story, Exiled, Beguiled)
Romantic Suspense (Dead Roses) Series
Sleeping Roses
Dead Roses series, book 1. Her marriage is dangerous, but leaving him could be deadly. If you’d like to purchase “Sleeping Roses,” click HERE.
“Rose, Undercover” (Dead Roses #1.1)
To catch a killer, nineteen-year-old detective, Rose Hansen, must go undercover as a stripper on Christmas Eve. ***Think Psych meets Veronica Mars*** To purchase “Rose, Undercover,” click HERE.
Indelible writers you might enjoy reading, and their purchase links, can be found by clicking HERE.
About the Author
RaShelle Workman is the bestselling author of the Blood and Snow series, the Immortal Essence series, and the Dead Roses series. When she isn’t writing she’s baking cupcakes, making toffee, or watching a movie with her family.
Contact Information
RaShelle Workman would love to hear from you.
Send your questions or comments to: [email protected]
Website: www.rashelleworkman.com
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Copyright Information
License Notes:
ASIN: B00AZBY86G
All rights reserved. Copyright @2013 RaShelle Workman
Cover design by: Steven Novak http://www.novakillustration.com
Design copyright @2013 RaShelle Workman
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard word of this author.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written consent of the author, RaShelle Workman, P.O. Box Bountiful, Ut. 84010.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the creation of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition is published by Polished Pen Press.
Table of Contents
Main Menu
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Afterword
Additional Works by RaShelle Workman
Indelibles Link
Contact Information
Copyright Information
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Main Menu
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Afterword
Additional Works by
Contact Information
Copyright Information
Table of Contents
Blood and Snow 9: Love Bleeds Page 4
