Love Is Fear Read Online Free Page A

wanted dead vampires he would have used one of  them . I can’t think of any reason why he’d choose you .”
    She blushed, and he squinted at her.
    “ My good fashion sense?”
    “ So, it is you he wants.” Big pause as Jack took a predatory step towards her.
    Uh oh.
    “ But you don't want him, right?” His voice washed over her, dark as chocolate.
    She shook her head.
    He moved towards her slowly, silvery eyes locked on hers, his pull magnetic. “Because you want me?”
    Val looked at the ground. Her hands flew to her cheeks, covering her blush. Cold compared to the heat blazing off of the rest of her. She risked a look at his face.
    His eyes were intent on her lips as he crowded into her personal space. “You want to go to Hawaii?”
    “ What?” Was she this stupid, or was he hard to follow?
    “ I asked if you are really saying you want to be with me?”
    That’s what I thought he said. And yet it still makes no sense.  “Yes! I do. Things are done with Lucas. It’s always been…you know….” she trailed off.
    “ Actually, I don’t think I do. I’m not sure I have any idea what you’re going to say,” he said, arms crossed over his chest.
    Talking out problems, sucks.  “I have…always been…in love with you.”
    Jack appeared to be thinking so hard she thought he might have an aneurism. Finally, he blew out a breath and then nodded. “Okay then. That’s settled then.”
    “ What? What is settled?” Val whispered.
    “ We'll go to Hawaii and be a happy couple.” He stopped right in front of her, his finger tracing her cheek, voice husky and low. “I'll show you how good I am in the sack, and then we can see where we are.” He shook his head slightly, absently. “I can’t make any promises, Val.”
    Valerie was frozen, his words not sticking, like a wet Band-Aid. Did he just say ‘yes’? Jack would give them a chance, take a break from killing, and see if he could be the white-picket-fence guy?
    Shouting ‘Whoot!’ seemed like an insufficient response. She threw herself into his arms, and Jack grabbed her tightly, squeezing her hard against him. She gripped him back, as though holding him tight enough would mean she couldn’t think about anyone else.
    And yet, she had the oddest sensation that they were both feeling the same way. Both running away from something and bumping into each other to make their problem go away. But Jack didn’t have a problem, did he?
    Relief flooded her, desperate happiness—like a life raft just as her mouth filled with sea water.
    Jack was here. She could feel him, touch him, smell him. His hand went to her neck, holding her still so that he could kiss her deeply.
    His lips were soft and full,  so warm,  she thought, then hated herself for comparing Lucas and Jack in any way. She opened to him, felt his tongue surge inside then retreat, licking her lower lip lightly as though he wanted to taste every part of her mouth.
    Valerie felt panicky. She wanted to kiss Jack, but the night had been too much. She was frazzled, too much had happened and she needed a break. The gore of all those bodies, the evilness of what she’d seen at the Challenge—Lucas killing all those vampires with his bare hands, the way he had reveled in it. It all clung to her like a miasma, contaminating this perfect moment with Jack.
    When they were older, she wanted to look back at this moment and not have Lucas' heavy shadow intruding upon them. They would go away, learn each other, talk to each other and resolve all of this first. Then they would hit the sack. And she wouldn't leave him or the bedroom, even to eat. They’d order room service for a week.
    She pulled away from him, looking into his heavily lashed eyes, looking for affirmation of what he'd said.
    He gave her a small smile, rubbed his thumb lightly over her bottom lip, as though he wasn't ready to stop touching her. He stepped back and gave her a slight nod. Jack went to the door and opened it “We'll talk some