Dani would need to tell him now that this relationship was over before it started. He was a good friend and she wouldn't lead him on, even to save his feelings. It would be easier to end it now. Still holding hands, they walked down the path to the dorms. She leaned her head against his arm as they neared his dorm.
"You ready for me to walk you to your dorm, or would you prefer a walk around the park first?" Jared asked.
"I would love to get out of these heels, but I'm not ready to go home yet. Maybe we could go to your room for a while and talk," she suggested.
"I'd be glad to remove your slippers, Cinderella," he teased. "But I'd hate for you to wake in the morning and see a pumpkin instead of the prince you're really after." His tone was serious. He obviously already knew this wasn't going to work out.
She stepped in front of him before they passed his dorm. "I believe you are the only prince I have ever met, Jared. I'm not going to take advantage of you. Your virtue is entirely safe with me." She winked. "I promise." Jared laughed and hugged her to his chest a bit too tightly.
"Alright, let's go get you out of those shoes." He took her hand and led her up the front steps of his dorm.
When they reached the room he shared with Steve, Dani suddenly felt sick. If she could go back in time she would start the whole evening differently. She would never have flirted or kissed Jared. Again guilt made her cheeks burn. She'd wanted to forget her troubles and she'd used Jared to help accomplish that goal. It was shameful.
Jared flicked on the light and scooped up the dirty laundry that was scattered across the floor. She sat nervously on Steve's bed and he grinned at her. "Let me make this easier for you, D. You care about me and I'm a lot of fun, but-and this is where it gets uncomfortable-you don't want to be with me. Am I getting close?" He turned to dig around in the minifridge in the corner and came out with two bottles of beer. He opened one and handed it to her. Dani took a healthy swig. She was in need of liquid courage, but it would take a hell of a lot more than this beer to give her that. Sitting across from her on his own bed, Jared smiled sadly and rolled his unopened beer between his hands.
"I'm sorry." She set the beer down on Steve's nightstand. She rested her arms on her thighs and hung her head. "I didn't mean for this to happen. You're honestly the perfect guy. Unfortunately, I'm an extremely flawed girl. I hope you can forgive me."
"It's the guy from the club, Chase, right? At first I thought you were trying to get over Lucas. Then I saw you with Chase tonight. He's the one you're trying to forget, isn't he?"
"Am I that obvious?" She was horrified. "Wait … you knew?" She looked up to find him smiling.
"Yes. As much as I would enjoy exploring a relationship with you, I knew you weren't ready. It was only a matter of time before you figured that out. Sadly for me, it didn't take long at all." He was still smiling. Dani's heart lifted a bit. He wasn't angry or truly hurt. "Why don't we just take a step back here, huh? I care about you a lot, and I don't want to lose a great friend over one night."
Jared turned the twist top of his beer and winced. "Damn! That was sharp." He rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. Blood dripped on the floor from his hand as he walked away. The scent of rich red blood cells hit Dani's senses. She gripped the bedding to keep from going after him. She was suddenly starving, and the need to feed crashed around her brain and shattered all other thoughts. She tried to breathe through it, but that only made it worse. Her fangs dropped to fill her mouth and her vision sharpened suddenly. Shit! The black-eyed freak was out in full force. She sat there shaking and praying for the strength to get up and leave before he saw her condition. The water came on in the bathroom sink.
"Ouch! That stings. It's just a tiny slice, but it burns like hell," he told her though the open doorway.
"I, uh … I gotta go. Okay? I'll see you tomorrow." She hopped up and leaped for the door. Jared stepped out of the bathroom to block her path.
"Hey, don't go yet. I want to be sure we're okay before you leave." He ran his arm up her arm and held his injured hand away. Dani looked at the floor so he wouldn't see her eyes. Fat drops of blood spattered the floor between her feet. She tried to get around him but he held onto her arm. "What's wrong? Does blood freak you out? It's just a few drops. I'll clean it up."
The heat of his body, the thrumming of his heart, pulled her into him. The scent of his blood in the air made her want to taste him. He grabbed her arms with both hands then, smearing his blood on her.
"I have to go. We need to talk, but not tonight. I have to … leave." Dani's gums throbbed. Her belly cramped painfully and she nearly hit the floor. Jared grabbed her before she collapsed.
"Easy now, D, there's no reason for you to run off. We have all night to talk." He dragged her over to his bed and pushed her back onto it. He propped himself up against the headboard, carrying her along and depositing her on his lap. He took her in his arms, but there was a different quality to the feel of his embrace now. He was once again her supportive friend, instead of a potential love interest. It wasn't a sensual hold but a reassuring one. She couldn't hear his thoughts, but she felt the concern and genuine love of a close friend flowing from him. Jared tried to look into her eyes, but she turned away. The warmth of his body under her and the steady beating of his heart were a torment. Her instinct took over. She had to feed. She would die if she didn't. Her head spun and she leaned into him, nuzzling his neck. He stiffened.
"Hey, I thought we decided we couldn't do this." His voice wavered. She panted and licked the pulse in his neck. Oh god! She couldn't stop. She was going to bite him.
"I'm sorry. Please, forgive me." There was no turning back. Unable to hold off any longer, she sank her fangs into his flesh. He stiffened, and his fear blew through her like a cold wind. She didn't know how to soothe him or make him forget what she was doing to him. So Danielle concentrated on showing him what she had become. She knew she could pick up memories and emotions from others, and she hoped for the ability to make it work in reverse. He needed to truly see her.
She wanted him to feel the urge she had to taste him. He watched her story in his mind. She showed him all her recent experiences with fangs and black eyes, Lucas's betrayal, and her attack. She allowed him to feel her fear and sense of rejection. It was very likely he would run screaming from the room when she finished. Her only hope was to help him understand her and know that she would never hurt him.
Jared had bucked at first when she broke his skin, but the strike was fast, and she immediately pulled her fangs from his neck and began to suck and lap at the hot sweet liquid. His fear abated quickly as her memories were broadcast from her mind into his. After only a moment he was groaning and writhing under her. She drank him in, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of his blood. They clung to each other and rode out the storm of hunger and need. Jared tensed beneath her and thrust his hips up against her bottom and climaxed. Feeding was a very pleasurable thing for the human involved, Dani knew from her experience with the bartender at the club. The bartender had reacted the same way when she'd bitten him. Instinctively, Danielle brushed her tongue over the wounds on his neck when she'd had enough, and the small puncture wholes began to close. Dani and Jared sat like that for long moments, while his breathing returned to normal and he absorbed what had just happened.
Finally, he whispered, "This is what you've been hiding from me?" He raised his fingers to her lips, which she parted slightly to reveal her shiny, white fangs. His eyes widened, not in fear but fascination, when he brushed the sharp points of her fangs with his thumb.
"Let me see your eyes, Danielle," he demanded, tipping her chin up. She opened them to reveal the cold black of a hunter. "I knew you were different, honey, just not exactly how." His eyes looked wild and confused. "Damn, but that shit was freaky. It was like I was you for a minute. I should have checked out your boobs while I had a chance." He joked to break the tense mood but Dani couldn't laugh. Her mind was clearing, her heart calming, and the burning ache in her belly had ceased. She could tell from the change in her vision that her eyes had just faded to blue, but she still felt like a monster. She'd just attacked her friend. Her body was returning to normal.
"I saw and … felt your need. I saw … everything. I'll admit to being a little freaked out, but I know I can trust you not to hurt me. I would rather you came to me than take a chance at getting hurt again. So, vampires … are real. We can deal with this. Now, if you were a zombie, then I'd have to shoot you in the head, but a vampire I can deal with." He chuckled. She was so relieved he hadn't run screaming, she hugged him tight. She'd shared every memory, and he was still right there by her side.