Finding Amber (Book 5) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 6

Amber 


He hates me, and he doesn’t even know me. The way he looked at me in the dome; like he despised me deeply, and my very existence was sickening. You don’t view a victim that way. That’s how a monster like Mica looks at me. Why the sudden change? I don’t buy it. Too bad he’s attractive as hell. I think that’s why I can’t stay quiet, and I prefer pissing him off, or maybe I just want to push him to do his worst and get it over with. Call me a stickler, but first, impressions stick with me. Something about him is suspect.
What about what he said when he first met me? “I’m sorry you’re like me?” And who the hell is Devlin? Needless to say, I need a break from his overbearing proximity to get my thoughts in order. The sun will set in less than an hour, is my guess, and I’ve gotten pretty accurate. I’m still a little pissed about him holding me back with my broken little rhino so close, but I let it slide. Biting my tongue wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell him the rhino and I have a connection, but it’s best I keep that tidbit to myself. It could be used to my advantage later. If the animal ever comes back. 
The dark becomes increasingly lighter, and there’s no sign of Estevan. Great, I just may be on my own all ready. Swallowing my fear, I assure myself I’m better off now than this morning. There’s a cluster of dead trees nearby that are already leaning. If I could find some form of coverage, it would be the perfect spot. 
I gather dead branches and stack them with moss between and on top. I create enough layers that if an animal happens to explore, I’d have ample time to defend my makeshift shelter. Once, I have three somewhat solid walls. I clear out the area, leaving a layer of moss.
“Impressive.”
I startle, jumping up and knock off a few branches. I can’t tell if he’s sincere, so I say nothing. One thing I notice is that he never looks straight at me. His makeshift walls are extensively more impressive than mine. He has used dead bark and some type of material; maybe plant? To build actual walls. They are solid and tidy. To his credit, he leaves my work untouched building around it.
I step back, wiping the sweat from my brow as hunger begins to gnaw at my stomach, and weakness settles in. An audible growl sounds from my empty belly. Estevan pauses and waves a hand in the direction he came from.
“Eat. It’s still warm.” He says to me. My brows dip in confusion.  What exactly am I supposed to eat? He does know I’m a vampire, doesn’t he? I humor him, looking in the general direction of his hand and gasp.
In the leaves, a few feet from me, lays Bambi… dead as a doornail. 
“What did you do?” I yell hysterically.  Rushing over to the animal, I feel for a pulse, but stop when I see the odd angle of its neck. I can feel Estevan approaching, and I turn on him in anger. Before I get a word out, he starts.
“What is the problem? There are no soda machines with cans of blood here... What else would you have me do?”
When I don’t respond, he goes back to his task. I may not know him, but I can tell I’ve pissed him off. Of course, he’s right, but I won’t openly admit it. Even though I’m starving, I don’t know where to start. It feels wrong. Estevan drops what he’s doing and grasps the deer, making a shallow cut at its neck. The smell causes my mouth to water and my stomach to loosen a loud grumble. I look at Estevan pleadingly, even I don’t understand what I’m asking. Somehow, in his harsh way, he says the right thing.
“You’ve been drinking pigs’ blood Amber, and they were slaughtered cruelly; no doubt. The deer felt nothing. it's done. Don’t let its death be in vain.”
It’s enough for me. I sink my aching teeth into its neck. The taste isn’t the best, but it's food and much more quantity than I’ve been given. Estevan doesn’t immediately look away, and I’m too hungry to be polite. His lip curls up in distaste. I close my eyes and when I open them again his mouth is slightly open... Estevan looks aroused? No, that can’t be right. My feel-o-meter is totally off. I stop drinking when I feel full. It’s a luxury I haven’t had since before my capture, and it feels blissful. My body begins to fill out my clothing, stretching the fabric tight. I’m astounded once again at the results. Just like that I’m me again, but not.   
“Thank you.” I tell Estevan sincerely and laugh when he looks for hidden sarcasm that isn’t there. Can’t say I blame him. I haven’t been a very grateful rescuee. He grunts awkwardly, finishing my coverage in the nick of time, too. I can see the color changing in the sky. The sun will rise in minutes. I don’t wait for an invitation. I crawl in and get comfy. It’s not until Estevan follows behind that I object.
“What are you doing?” I squawk. Even in the dark, I can see his glare. When he offers no explanation, I continue.
“You can’t stay in here with me.”
His deep laugh sounds threatening, and a chill of slight fear causes me to shiver. 
“As gentlemanly as I can be burning to death will serve us no purpose, and you are not worth my demise.”
“You’re a vampire too?” I ask; not believing that to be the case at all. Then again, what he said when I first met him would make sense. “You’re like me.” But then why didn’t he eat?
“What else would I be?” 
His tone is full of aggravation. I don’t let it deter me.
“Prove it.” I bite out.
He’s on top of me faster than I can exhale. I’m motionless as his body pins mine against the cold ground. Estevan’s eyes glow in the dark. I wonder if mine do too. A hiss sounds from his mouth. When I look down, his teeth are bared; the tips razor sharp. Fear keeps me perfectly still. I don’t believe he would hurt me, but something about him sets it off. 
“I used to love you beneath me.” he whispers. I jolt, not just because his words disturb me, but because I can feel him harden against me. His thick length digging into my hip. 
“Get off!” I yell. My angry demand seems to break his trance, and he pushes off of me lightning fast. I hear him mumble an apology, but I ignore it. I’m too angry to respond. It’s not just him I’m mad at. A part of me didn’t want him to get off or did. Something about him draws me. Obviously, the feeling’s mutual, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it. That pisses me off even more. What is it about me that’s so bad in his eyes? Doesn’t matter. We’re stuck together in this small, dank space for the next fourteen hours, regardless.
Estevan turns over, falling asleep within minutes while I struggle for hours. I can’t relax enough. Maybe I got used to being alone or, more likely, it’s my company. By the time the sun goes down, I’ve had about four or five brief bouts of 10 minutes naps. I’m exhausted. Not bothering to wake him, I ease the makeshift door open. A hand grasps my wrist from behind. 
“Wait, let me make sure it’s safe.” Estevan explains while moving past me.
“I thought you were asleep?” I say because he was. At least, I thought he was. He gives me a look that belongs to a fourteen-year-old girl. It packs more sass than a semi.
“With how much you move around? The dead couldn’t rest.”
I gasp, thoroughly offend. I was very careful not to bump into him often. The space is tight, and that’s not my fault. His massive form exits the tiny area with ease as I flop out behind him. All five-foot-two, one hundred and thirty pounds of me; as stealthy as a bull. He’s got to be over two hundred, yet he floats on air.
“There is no immediate danger in sight.”
Yeah, no shit; I say to myself. He starts walking after a quick stretch, and I follow him with a sour expression. He’s obviously a morning person. 
“Why didn’t you drink the deer?” I ask, out of curiosity. It’s been bugging me, but I didn’t want to disturb him.  
“I don’t drink animal blood.” He says flatly, like it’s no big deal. That’s not the reassuring answer I wanted to hear. My thoughts must be obvious because he continues to explain.
“I drink human blood, but not from the flesh. I have a supply of donor blood.” 
Ugh, gross. I gag at the thought. Estevan chuckles. 
“That’s what you think because you have never tried it... would you like to?” he holds out his wrist, and I feel like I’m on a really bad peer pressure commercial. Shaking my head, I back up.
“No, thanks.” I tell him with a twist of my lips. He gets closer, inhaling deeply while looking down at me. He’s so damn tall he makes me feel like a child. It’s one of the very few times he’s actually looked at me. Right now, I’m thankful it’s not often. The guy is intense. His eyes bore into me, and I have no idea what he’s thinking or feeling, just that he’s doing so on a very deep level I can’t comprehend.
“You must never drink from the flesh, Amber. It is forbidden. If you do. You will succumb to a deadly disease that will be your end.” his tone is somber, edgy as his eyes bore deeply into mine. I swallow at the seriousness of the situation; he makes me nervous. 
“Okay! drinking people is a no, no. I get it.” 
Finally, he backs off to continue walking ahead of me. The conversation has raised a whole flurry of new questions like: Can vampires drink from each other? What are the symptoms of this deadly disease? Is there a cure? Or better yet, a reversal to being a vampire? But I think I know the answer to that last one: a big fat NO!
When we come across a river, I gasp with anticipation. My hair is matted, I stink, and my once white shirt is nearly black.
“STOP!” 
He listens, doubling back faster than even my heightened eyesight can track.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Estevan’s frantic tone has me biting back a smirk. Jeez, I didn’t realize he cared so much. He looks me up and down, then around us.
“I just want to stop for a few minutes to take a swim in the river. I could use a wash.” I rush out.
He looks to the river, then at me. I expect him to bitch and complain, but he gives me a nod and sits on a rock facing the water. I don’t wait for verbal permission, but I’m definitely wary of his change in character. Could he be warming up to me?
The moment my feet hit the warm water, I sigh at the pleasure. The temperature is perfect. Once the water level hits my hips, I sink my head, rinsing weeks of dirt away. I scrub extra hard, remembering the blood that was dumped on me and the dirt I slept in last night. Who knows when I’ll get this luxury again. Most of the mats come out with a little finger combing in the water. I use my tooth to clip away a stubborn one. 
As I’m cleaning my fingernails, I catch sight of Estevan leaning forward, watching me. The way he looks at me reminds me of his sudden arousal in our makeshift den. My hands still as I become aware of his interest. He’s so up and down I don’t know what to make of it? One thing I’m sure of is my attraction to him. Trust is a whole separate entity I’m lacking when it comes to Estevan, or anyone for that matter; thanks to Mica.
What I’m thinking is so unlike me and it’s a dangerous game but I play it. 
Giving him my back, I remove my shirt and begin to “clean” it. A minute or two later, I peek over my shoulder to see his reaction. He’s gone! I turn completely around and gasp. Estevan is behind me in the water. I didn’t even hear him get in. 
“What are you doing?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from sounding too prudish. The man looks hungry. His glowing eyes feel like they’re burning my skin as they eat up anything visible above the water.
“I’ve determined the lake could potentially be dangerous and I can’t protect you from afar.”
Oh, he has determined, has he? I don’t believe him for a second and if he was looking at my face, my smirk would show that.
“Good, then you can hold these for me.” I say, as I toss my shirt and jeans on his shoulder. Estevan catches them and gulps in silence. I’m not usually like this. I’m as far from a tease as a woman can possibly be, but there’s something about Estevan that makes me this way. The way he looks at me, like he knows something is in me that I’m unaware of. Maybe it’s the hot and cold that drives me crazy; my competitive side wants to win him over. Who knows, but whatever he invokes in me is undeniably strong. I can’t resist its pull. 
Slowly turning away, I stand up, exposing half of my bikini-clad bottom to him. I hear the water splash as he moves. Estevan releases a puff of air directly behind me. His fingertips brush my shoulders. The gentle touch makes my heart race and I become excited with anticipation of what’s coming. A gut-wrenching whine has me whipping my head toward the shore… It’s my rhino!