Marked by Destiny
Page 28
“You know it will be hell, yet you still want me to walk down the fiery path?”
He towered above me with a desperate look on his face. He peered into my eyes, as if I was his only hope. “It’s your choice, and it won’t be easy, but I can’t stand to be apart from you.”
“Jesse, please tell me you didn’t kill those women I keep hearing about in the news.”
He sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly. “I didn’t.”
“If you say you didn’t, I believe you, but have you ever killed anyone? I have to know.”
“No. I’m not a murderer.”
“That makes me feel better.”
“I’m also not perfect, Taylor. A war rages in me constantly between human compassion and the vampire urges I was born with. I feel like I need to make more changes for you to even consider being with somebody like me.”
“You don’t need to change a thing,” I said. “You’re the most wonderful person I know. When I see how you act with those animals at the zoo, I couldn’t imagine you hurting anybody.”
He lifted his hand to the invisible barrier, his lips settling into a serious line. “I’m broken.”
I touched his hand that was resting on the invisible wall. “Who isn’t?”
He took a deep breath, then continued, “You couldn’t begin to fix me.”
“Who says you need fixing?” I said. “Perfection is overrated anyway. For me, you’re perfect just the way you are. I want you for you, the guy I’m staring at this very second.”
“But I’ve messed up, and—”
“Who doesn’t? Heck, I’ve messed up a million times. When I do, I just get back on my feet and try again.”
“It’s hard to keep moving forward when life has thrown so many disappointments at me. Sometimes I think I’m, uh…”
“Misunderstood?”
His lips pressed into a grim line. “Yes.”
Our eyes connected, and we held the gaze for a long moment.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re the only one who gets me.”
“You get me too,” I said. “We can’t use our mistakes as an excuse to avoid getting back up. We can’t undo the past, but we can always start over again.”
“Let’s forget all about our pasts.”
“And begin again…together?” I said softly. “Do you believe in fresh starts, in new beginnings?”
“Yes.”
“Just remember, Jesse, that life is what you make it. Even if you’re gonna live for thousands of years, you must make every day count.”
“Do you believe in fate?” he asked.
“I do.”
“You and me are already set in motion, Taylor. We couldn’t stop if we tried.”
I stared into his eyes, and I couldn’t deny the truth of his words. “You’re far more than the charming vampire from Big Bear Lake, California.”
“Do you trust me, Taylor?” he asked.
Emotion flooded his features, and tears welled up in his eyes. I could see how much he cared about me. We were clearly meant to be together. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt it all the way to the core of my being. I knew life would be better with him by my side, in spite of what he was—or maybe because of it.
I stared deeply into his eyes. “Of course I trust you.”
His penetrating gaze pierced my soul, and my knees threatened to buckle.
“Then prove it,” he said.
The intensity between us began to grow. I drew another breath, deeper than before. A thousand flames coursed through me, threatening to consume me; I could actually feel the heat rising. I’m dying for his touch. Even still, I knew if I stepped out that door, I’d have no defenses against him. I had promised Julie, my new best friend, that I wouldn’t risk too much, but the inexplicable connection between us was luring me with fierce temptation. Should I take him up on his dare? Should I take the risk when every logical impulse is screaming for me to run? If I step out that door, am I walking into danger’s arms?
He had a gravitational pull I couldn’t deny, like a tractor beam, pulling me in. I was drawn to him in every way. I had never believed in that kind of attraction; I’d always thought it was exaggerated for books and movies because I’d never experienced it for myself. Now, standing there in front of him, I felt helpless against its pull, against that butterfly-flying-to-the-moon-and-back sensation. Jesse was him, the guy I’d been looking for, the one who ignited a fire inside of me, the person with whom I felt the strongest, most amazing connection I’d ever felt before.
He held out his hand, and I inhaled deeply. I didn’t know if I was going to die or not, but I trusted him with all my heart.
I stared at his beaming smile as I stepped through the doorway, into his strong arms. His twinkling eyes shone as he gazed straight into my brown ones. The chemistry between us was electric and mind-blowing, but our bond was stronger than that and was steadily growing. I could feel his heart, his love, his emotion, and his strong affection.
Our eyes locked, and everything around me disappeared. I breathed in the scent of his skin. In a flash, his strong arms lifted me off the ground, and within milliseconds, my back was pinned against the outer wall of the house. An electric shock shot through me as his lips crashed into mine. His body pressed against mine, and I let out a soft moan. His breath was hot on my skin, and heat rushed to my cheeks. I tugged at his shirt, allowing him to deepen our kiss. My entire body ignited. Hunger roared inside me as I burned with desire. He tasted so good that I couldn’t stop.
Hot tingles flooded through my body like a giant tidal wave. I loved when his mouth crushed mine, when his strong hands cupped the back of my head as his soft tongue swirled around mine in circles. I slid my hands up his back and wrapped them around his strong shoulders. The mesmerizing kiss grew bolder, turning into something so passionate, so intense, so wild and crazy and everything Jesse represented. The Earth stopped, and everything around me faded other than the beating of my racing heart. I felt like I’d been scorched by a bolt of lightning. When we pulled away, I was gasping for air and breathing heavily. It wasn’t every day I’d met a myth, let alone kissed one.
I had never, ever been kissed like that before, not even in my sexiest fantasies. I’d heard people talk about fireworks, symphonies, and electricity when describing kisses, but the sensation of our lips meeting was a million times more amazing than anything I’d ever imagined. My heart continued beating faster than the wings of a humming bird. I had him in my arms, and I was never going to let go.
I tangled my fingers through his thick, soft hair as the kiss deepened into a passionate lip-lock—long, fast, and intense. He poured all of his mind, body, soul, and emotion into the mind-blowing moment, then kissed me again. This time, it was slow, tender, and passionate—so perfect, so right, and so romantic. Sparks flew as I opened and closed my mouth to the rhythm, wanting to devour him.
He rested his forehead against mine as we took long, slow breaths, his intense eyes burning as he gazed into my very core, right into my soul.
“You stole my breath,” I said, “but I should’ve expected that. You’re supposed to give hot, deadly kisses. It’s what your kind are known for.”
He touched his forehead against mine, and every inch of my body tingled, desperately longed for his touch.
“You’re trouble,” I said.
His winter-blue eyes held mine. “Yet you stay.”
I drew another breath. “I should go.”
A grin creased his face. “But you won’t.”
“When I see something I want, I don’t run just because of a few hurdles.”
“Lucky for me.”
I smiled.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you that deeply from the very second I laid eyes on you in the forest,” he said.
“Me too,” I said, caressing his sweet face. “That was amazing. You’re a great kisser, Jesse…for a dead guy.”
He laughed. “I’m not dead. Please don’t mistake me for on
e of those walking corpses.”
“Sorry.”
He smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I kissed his lips again as rays of light passed through the clouds and shone on our faces. “It’s been cloudy all day…until now,” I said when I pulled away and looked at his beautiful, angelic face.
“See? Even the universe is starting to take notice,” he said, gently weaving his hands through my hair.
I grinned. “Maybe it’s a great and glorious sign that we’re meant for each other.”
“I don’t need signs. I knew it the moment I saw you.” He kissed my lips ever so softly, mesmerizing me as his warm breath hovered there. “Am I everything you thought a vampire would be?”
“Hmm. You’re missing the white, frilly shirt and billowing, black cape,” I retorted.
He smirked. “My mom told me to stay hip with today’s styles and not to wear the cape, no matter how good it looks on me.”
I laughed. “And you’re also missing the slicked-back hair, fake blood, the white-painted face with dark circles, and, last but not least, the plastic fangs.”
“Plastic fangs would make me talk with a lisp. Mine are all natural.”
I touched his lips. “Wow. I just kissed the most prolific monster in the history of movies and television and lived to tell about it.”
“Hollywood is so confused about us,” he said. “I’m far more layered and complex than they’ll ever know.”
“You don’t have an overwhelming desire to bite me, do you?” I asked with a smile.
“Well…maybe, but not for blood.”
“You can control your bloodlust for me?”
“I’m not saying it’s easy. I feed before work, even though I only need to once a week. My mom has a source who supplies us from a blood bank he works at. Eating every day helps keep me in check. Also, Sam taught me how to keep my urges under control, and Kierra showed me what to do when I feel like I’m going to explode. Mom worked with me a lot to teach me how to be around humans and animals. If I couldn’t keep it under control, I could never work at the zoo.”
“Well, you’re doing a good job fitting in,” I said.
I still didn’t understand how I could crave someone like him, someone who was nothing but trouble. Sure, he was dangerous, wild, and untamed, but I found those qualities intriguing as the unquenchable desire flooding through me whenever I looked at him. My heart beat a million times a minute every time I was around him, but I couldn’t run. Yes, Jesse was a vampire, but I felt safer around him than I’d ever felt with anyone before.
“I didn’t get this way overnight,” he said. “It was…well, a long process.”
I knew he was telling the truth. Life is crazy, I thought, or maybe it’s just fate. All I knew was that I’d been thrown a major curveball, and I had no idea what to expect. Jesse was a puzzle, and I planned to put every piece together until I had the full picture of him. I knew I shouldn’t kiss someone so dangerous, someone with such a dark secret flowing through his veins, but our deliciously wicked kiss played over and over in my head, and I simply couldn’t turn away.
Jesse’s thumb grazed my lips as he stared deeply into my eyes. “There must be something wrong with my eyes,” he softly said.
“What? Why?”
“I-I can’t seem to take them off you.”
I smiled widely. He was my addiction, my drug, and no force on Earth could keep me away. I kissed a vampire…and I liked it, I thought to the tune of that Katy Perry song. A jolt shot down my spine as I gazed into his eyes, still regarding me with that look that told me he couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss either.
The problem was, Jesse was a vampire, while I was a mere human. Not only that, but he wasn’t just a normal vampire, the Dracula sort or one of those baseball-playing, twinkly ones from the movies. No, my vampire was a rare species, a supernatural wonder who could actually walk in the light. When I really thought about that, I was floored.
Will we actually make it? I wondered. Truthfully, I had no idea. I still couldn’t fathom jumping into the world of the paranormal, the darkness of vampire legend. I couldn’t imagine anything more dangerous. Then again, I didn’t care, because I couldn’t imagine anything more intriguing either. I knew the high stakes and the risk, but I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything or anyone.
Yes, I knew he was toxic, but sometimes we can’t control what the heart wants—and mine screamed for Jesse with every beat.
Taylor’s story continues with Book 2: Crash, now available (see pic below)
Amazon link to Crash - Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HBVTUCK
If you enjoyed this story, please let others know by adding a review. This helps others find new authors that they may have never heard of before, but may enjoy. Thank you, I appreciate it so much. Thank you for your support. Link to Crush: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FBRKH8M
Thank you so much for sharing Taylor’s journey. It was a pleasure having you along. I hope you enjoyed the story just as much as I enjoyed writing it. Connect with me online!
Chrissy’s blog: https://chrissypeebles.blogspot.com/
Facebook Fan Page: (I’d love to hear your comments and thoughts!) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.351121651567296&type=2#!/pages/Chrissy-Peebles/351121651567296
The Crush Saga Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/4eMF8KXEUc4
Eternal Vows (free read): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HPDFBC
Eternal Vows UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007HPDFBC
This book (CRUSH) is being featured in an anthology called, DARLINGS OF DARKNESS. There are 9 other vampire stories. This is a FREE read on Amazon US.
Meet THE DARLINGS OF DARKNESS: https://chrissypeebles.blogspot.com/2013/09/meet-queens-of-darnkess.html
DARLINGS OF DARKNESS Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darlings-of-Darkness-Author-Page/207919009369511
Amazon Link for Darlings of Darkness: https://www.amazon.com/Darlings-Darkness-Vampire-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00FCN82BO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379876020&sr=8-1&keywords=darlings+of+darkness+peebles
Amazon UK Link for Darlings of Darkness: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darlings-Darkness-Vampire-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00FCN82BO/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379875931&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=darlings+of+darkness+peebels
Zombie Series
If you like vampires, you might like zombies. If you do, I have a zombie series out in e-book, paperback, and audio. Book 1 is FREE! It’s called, THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES.
*This is a young adult book series. Each chronicle will feature Dean's struggles as he tries to survive in this new world. And thus the name, The Zombie Chronicles. I hope you enjoy this series, and thank you for giving book one a chance.*
Warning: Mild violence. For mature teens or older.
BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/ociUHiL1g70
Val was bitten by a zombie and now she’s scheduled for lethal injection. Breaking all the rules, eighteen year old, Dean Walters snags an experimental serum. But it can’t be tested until Val turns into a zombie: something authorities won’t allow. Her execution is scheduled to happen before transformation is complete, giving Dean only hours to break her out.
When their helicopter crashes straight into the heart of Zombie Land, his rescue mission becomes a fight for survival…and giving up on Val is NOT an option.
The Zombie Chronicles Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008R53WBO
The Zombie Chronicles Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008R53WBO
The Zombie Chronicles Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Chronicles-Apocalypse-Infection-Unleashed/dp/1484131738/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1379757116&sr=1-1
The Zombie Chronicles Audio: https://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Chronicles-Apocalypse-Infection-Unleashed/dp/B00DP0HVSG/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1379757116
Zombie stories from thirty-two of your favorite female authors in this Bestselling Zombie Anthology
DARLINGS OF DECAY is absolutely FREE! (
On Amazon US)
Meet the DARLINGS OF DECAY: https://www.zombiepop.net/the-queens-of-zombie-present-darlings-of-decay/
Darlings of Decay Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Darlings-Of-Decay-ebook/dp/B00DQ1P3S4
Darlings of Decay Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darlings-Of-Decay-ebook/dp/B00DQ1P3S4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379876157&sr=8-1&keywords=darlings+of+decay
DARLINGS OF DECAY Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darlings-of-Decay-Author-Page/348258665304670
Featuring stories and excerpts from –
Tamara Rose Blodgett
Vanessa Booke
Chantal Boudreau
Laura Bretz
Tonia Brown
Catt Dahman
Mia Darien
CM Doporto
Jacqueline Druga
Dana Fredsti
Belinda Frisch
April Grey
Michelle Kilmer
Rebecca Hansen
Lori R. Lopez
Suzi M.
Tara Maya
Shannon Mayer
Lyra McKen
Cynthia Melton
Kristen Middleton
Chrissy Peebles
Jeannie Rae
Suzanne Robb
Julianne Snow
Rebecca Snow
Anna Taborska
Ally Thomas
C,A, Verstraete
A.R. Von
Annie Walls
Jen Wilde
With over 325,000 words and featuring some of Amazon's Best Selling Female Authors of Horror, this is certainly not your typical anthology book!
Sit back as your favorite authors of zombie lit take you on a wild, horrifying ride that will leave you breathless. Come and meet the women who love to entertain you with their own unique versions of the zombie apocalypse.