After a few seconds of them glaring at each other, I walk between them and up the veranda stairs. I turn the handle, walk inside and collapse on the couch. I’m not there long before I’m scooped up and taken to the downstairs bathroom. The bathroom is similar to the one upstairs, only difference is the floor tiles are black, not gray and it doesn’t have a bath, just one giant shower, which is actually bigger than the one upstairs.
Theo starts the shower, and I strip my clothes off and step in. I notice Tobias doesn’t come in and can feel he is still angry.
“Don’t worry about him, he will calm down,” Theo says, pulling me under the stream of water.
The entire shower floor is red with blood, some even congealed in his hair and he has to wash his hair three times to get it all out. The steam in the bathroom makes the entire room smell of blood and mud, making me gag. Theo reaches up above his head and opens the window since the exhaust fan isn’t doing much to rid the room of the pungent smell. Once he washes what he can see off, I grab the soap.
“Turn around,” he does, and I run the soap and loofah over his back, washing until he is no longer bloody. When I’m done, I start washing myself, hissing every time the soap burns the grazes on my skin.
When I wash my hair, I nearly jump completely onto Theo. “What is it?”
“I smacked my head on the door, when they ripped me out of the car.” I tell him. My head is burning, I touch it and there is a huge lump. Theo pushes my hands away and examines it.
“Yeah, ouch, that looks painful. Got a nice egg on your head and a cut.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” I say, sarcastically.
Tobias suddenly walks in, a towel around his waist. He must have had a shower upstairs. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” He demands.
“No, I’m fine,” I say before getting out and wrapping a towel around me tightly.
“Imogen, I know you’re hurt, I can feel it.”
“Seriously Tobias, I am fine. Promise.” He eyes me for a few seconds but lets me pass. I climb the stairs, heading up to the bedroom. After finding out they only have to kill me to make me like them after I drink their blood, I’m not willing to take the risk of them forcefully changing me and using a bump on the head as an excuse.
When I’m putting my pajamas on, I hear them walk in.
“Is that really what you think that we are trying to trick you into drinking our blood just so we can change you?” Theo asks, pulling some pants off the shelf above my head in the walk-in.
“Stay out of my head, Theo.” It annoys me slightly that he feels the need to invade my personal thoughts.
“I wouldn’t do that, Imogen. I know you would hate me for it. I will let you make your own decisions. It’s not worth losing you, not after tonight.” Theo tells me. I feel no deceit from him coming through the bond.
Tobias, however. “Speak for yourself because I would. It needs to be done.” Exactly my point. I may have let them bring me back, but I still don’t trust them, especially with how strong Tobias’s feelings are coming through the bond. I can tell he is growing impatient with me not deciding.
“I won’t let him, I promise. Not tonight anyway,” Theo says, giving Tobias a pointed look. Tobias growls lowly in his chest but says nothing. I can tell he wants to yell at Theo and disagree.
“I won’t,” Tobias confirms.
“You won’t, what? Kill me tonight?” I ask.
I see him cringe at my words, but nod his head. I’m about to climb in the bed when I feel Theo’s arm snake around my waist, pulling me against him. Sparks fly all over my body. I wonder if it will always feel like that or if I will eventually become desensitized to them after a while. Theo bites into his wrist and brings it to my lips. I watch Tobias and he’s watching me, waiting to see what I’ll do.
I hesitate until I feel Theo’s lips next to my ear. “I promised, didn’t I? I meant it, love. I won’t let him change you, not tonight.” His husky voice makes my stomach tighten before I open my mouth, waiting for the initial gross taste of his blood. Only it never comes. His blood fills my mouth and I moan loudly before swallowing. I can already feel the bump on my head leave, my grazes heal and once I have no pain I suddenly stop. Tobias adjusts his pants, and I can tell he has a hard on.
I nearly run when I see him start to move towards me. But Theo’s grip just tightens on my waist. Tobias hand goes to my face and I tremble slightly, a shudder running through me. Will he do it now? Is he going to kill me?
I cringe back from his touch when he places his hand on my cheek, his thumb brushing my lip softly. And I relax when I feel through the bond that he just wants to touch me. I reach my arms out, wrapping them around his neck. Theo lets go and Tobias pulls me to him before picking me up. I wrap my legs around his waist tightly.
I giggle when I feel his stubble brush my neck as he dips his head to inhale my scent. His stubble tickles my skin again when he realizes that he’s tickling me. He does it deliberately, rubbing his chin on the side of my neck, my body cringing away from it, my face rubbing on his, trying to get his face away from my neck.
“Someone’s ticklish,” I hear him say.
“We better get to bed. I have work in the morning,” he states. I’m about to ask if I’m allowed to go, but he speaks before I can utter another word. “Just wait till your heat is gone, I don’t want a repeat of today, please.”
I nod instantly, remembering the feeling of that disgusting man’s tongue on my face. I shiver remembering, it makes me feel dirty, despite the fact I just showered, like I can still feel him touching me.