Youâll both be fine.â They locked eyes, a mutual understanding growing in scant seconds. âI have to go.â
The woman nodded and knelt beside Mike. She started talking to him in low, soothing tones. Satisfied, Jasmine stood. Heâd be fine. They both would be.
âI have to go,â she repeated, backing away. A confirmation for herself.
The crowd had closed in on both sides, and she marveled that all of these people had come out of nowhere and now had nothing better to do than gawk. Some of them reached out to pat her, or offer words of encouragement. Not like sheâd done much, but their sentiment still filled her with a measured sense of pride. This is why sheâd become a nurse. This good feeling that allowed her to put her head on her pillow at night and succumb to dreamless sleep.
Shaking her head, she moved away, heading in the direction of the clinic. She really needed to back up and think all of this through logically. Damn Corin for not telling her more.
Get to the clinic. Figure out how to survive. All other plansâfinding out more about her supposed change, learning more about the council Corin reported to, meeting with her mysterious John Doeâall of those things had to be of secondary importance. She ran her tongue over her teeth, now extending even farther, and solidified her decision to seek shelter. The inside of her mouth pulsed with a familiar ache and she pulled her tongue back quickly, not wanting to chance arousing the hunger Corin had successfully sated twice now.
Hell.
Her breath caught at the memories and she bit back a small moan. Damned heat rose again. She had to go. Now.
Once clear of everyone and about to resume her slow jog, her nerves started to tingle. A feeling of being watched. Skin crawling, Jasmine turned and scanned the crowd behind her. No one paid attention to her, most of the people focused either on the two people at the center, a few people watching the street for the rapidly approaching ambulance whose siren could be heard in the distance. She went through the faces again, one by one, trying to figure out why she couldnât shake the disconcerting sensation. But then a man stepped away from the throng, with eyes as dark as night, intent on her every move.
Swallowing a shriek, Jasmine took one look at Corin and ran.
Footsteps thudded against the pavement, approaching her at a full run. Pushing aside mounting arousal, Jasmine broke into a cold sweat, fear and adrenaline urging her forward. She used them to her advantage, running in the direction of the clinic once again. She didnât dare turn, and maybe the sounds just belonged to some afternoon joggers, but scrambling nerves didnât believe so.
Now fingers actually grazed through the ends of her hair. Not grasping, but close. It wasnât the hysterical imaginings of a scared mind. Not this time. Her lungs burned, a stitch slowly weaving its way through her side, but she couldnât slow down. Didnât slow down.
A linebacker or something damned close to it plowed into her. Scant seconds later, he kicked her feet out from under her. She went sprawling. Before the rapidly approaching ground met her face, the same bulk of raw power hauled her against him. She didnât have to look into his face to know how angry he was. But her immediate reaction to him was cause for concern. She wasnât sure she liked that his scent, the flare of heat that flowed through her body as it melted against his, could be caused by this man.
He yanked her to his chest. A growlâa growl!âissued out of his mouth as he stared her down, his incisors bared.
His mouth crashed down on hers and, unthinking, Jasmine brought her hands to his shoulders and clung to him. Her mind cleared enough for her to realize the kiss probably erased the doubts of any onlooker who saw her get chased and then caught. There was no passion or affection in his kiss. Just simple erotic possession.
Corin
The woman nodded and knelt beside Mike. She started talking to him in low, soothing tones. Satisfied, Jasmine stood. Heâd be fine. They both would be.
âI have to go,â she repeated, backing away. A confirmation for herself.
The crowd had closed in on both sides, and she marveled that all of these people had come out of nowhere and now had nothing better to do than gawk. Some of them reached out to pat her, or offer words of encouragement. Not like sheâd done much, but their sentiment still filled her with a measured sense of pride. This is why sheâd become a nurse. This good feeling that allowed her to put her head on her pillow at night and succumb to dreamless sleep.
Shaking her head, she moved away, heading in the direction of the clinic. She really needed to back up and think all of this through logically. Damn Corin for not telling her more.
Get to the clinic. Figure out how to survive. All other plansâfinding out more about her supposed change, learning more about the council Corin reported to, meeting with her mysterious John Doeâall of those things had to be of secondary importance. She ran her tongue over her teeth, now extending even farther, and solidified her decision to seek shelter. The inside of her mouth pulsed with a familiar ache and she pulled her tongue back quickly, not wanting to chance arousing the hunger Corin had successfully sated twice now.
Hell.
Her breath caught at the memories and she bit back a small moan. Damned heat rose again. She had to go. Now.
Once clear of everyone and about to resume her slow jog, her nerves started to tingle. A feeling of being watched. Skin crawling, Jasmine turned and scanned the crowd behind her. No one paid attention to her, most of the people focused either on the two people at the center, a few people watching the street for the rapidly approaching ambulance whose siren could be heard in the distance. She went through the faces again, one by one, trying to figure out why she couldnât shake the disconcerting sensation. But then a man stepped away from the throng, with eyes as dark as night, intent on her every move.
Swallowing a shriek, Jasmine took one look at Corin and ran.
Footsteps thudded against the pavement, approaching her at a full run. Pushing aside mounting arousal, Jasmine broke into a cold sweat, fear and adrenaline urging her forward. She used them to her advantage, running in the direction of the clinic once again. She didnât dare turn, and maybe the sounds just belonged to some afternoon joggers, but scrambling nerves didnât believe so.
Now fingers actually grazed through the ends of her hair. Not grasping, but close. It wasnât the hysterical imaginings of a scared mind. Not this time. Her lungs burned, a stitch slowly weaving its way through her side, but she couldnât slow down. Didnât slow down.
A linebacker or something damned close to it plowed into her. Scant seconds later, he kicked her feet out from under her. She went sprawling. Before the rapidly approaching ground met her face, the same bulk of raw power hauled her against him. She didnât have to look into his face to know how angry he was. But her immediate reaction to him was cause for concern. She wasnât sure she liked that his scent, the flare of heat that flowed through her body as it melted against his, could be caused by this man.
He yanked her to his chest. A growlâa growl!âissued out of his mouth as he stared her down, his incisors bared.
His mouth crashed down on hers and, unthinking, Jasmine brought her hands to his shoulders and clung to him. Her mind cleared enough for her to realize the kiss probably erased the doubts of any onlooker who saw her get chased and then caught. There was no passion or affection in his kiss. Just simple erotic possession.
Corin
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