Chapter 8

Jesse floated somewhere on the fringes of consciousness when he felt Gideon retract his fangs. His soothing tongue licked over the puncture wounds, while his arm stole between Jess and Frankie’s chests to hold him closer.

“Anything for my boy,” Gideon said into his skin.

Jesse tried to say, “Thank you,” but his voice failed, and he could only mouth the words.

* * * *

Jesse felt great, but he couldn’t very well demonstrate that. When he emerged from the bathroom in a long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of jeans, all the vampires looked a little crestfallen, like Gideon had taken away their favorite toy. He still wore the collar, but only to disguise the fact that Gideon and Frankie’s bites had already healed. Gideon placed him at the bar and ordered him to stay there and not to talk to anybody. Jesse obeyed, but his gaze never strayed from Gideon as he moved through the small group of vampires, talking to and even kissing them when the mood struck.