Blood Kiss

Blood Kiss: 9. Locker Room

My arms were wrapped around his neck with my legs wrapped around his waist as Ian held me close. I buried my nose against his neck to get warm. I felt oddly vulnerable at the moment, insecure and in a precarious position. What if I couldn’t satisfy him? He’s an experienced centuries old vampire. How could I possibly live up to his expectations in a relationship? Would he leave me?

Almost as if he could hear my inner turmoil Ian maneuvered so that he could stroke my hair and brush his lips against my temple in a soft kiss. Letting out a sigh I, almost impossibly, cuddled closer in his embrace, wrapping myself in his unbeknownst reassurance as he entered the girls’ locker room.

“How’d you know it was empty?” I mumbled against his skin.

“Mmm, vampire,” Ian replied.

“I think I knew that,” I said reaching to rub the side of my neck where there should have been a healing bite mark.

Ian must have felt my frown because he explained, “The chemicals in our saliva also heal the wound so it’s as if it never existed.”

I frowned harder. “Maybe I wanted your mark.”

A huge grin lit up Ian’s face as he sat me down on the bench in front of my locker. How’d he know? He’d prolly answer ‘vampire’ again.

“Even so, it’s a safety measure. It keeps our existence hidden.”

“Oh.” Ian turned to my locker, quickly spun the dial on the lock, and opened the door. My eyes bugged out. I nearly shouted, “How?”

“Vampire,” he grinned evilly. I narrowed my eyes at him. Holding his hands palm outwards towards me in a defensive nature he continued, “I listened. There’s a click each time the correct number is in place, simple right, left, right on the clicks and done.”

“Ookaaaay.” Ian smiled sheepishly before turning to rummage through my locker. It was a cute look. Taking out my PE clothes and setting them on the bench next to me, Ian then stood in front of me reaching for the bottom of my shirt. Quickly I clasped my arms around my waist preventing him from raising the shirt. Glancing up, Ian saw my frown.

“Touchy, but no look-y,” Ian’s laughter filled the room echoing off the walls. Not being able to contain my grin I made a little ‘turn around’ gesture with my hand.

“Ok, ok,” Ian ran his eyes up and down my body causing me to blush before he turned to face the lockers.

“No peeking,” I said as I quickly stood and began removing my wet clothes.

“Yes, dear,” the smile was clear in his voice. Although I stared at him while I changed I held no illusions that he probably could peek ten times over with his vampiric speed and I’d never know the difference. The scary part was that I wasn’t so sure that I minded him seeing me unclothed. My body tightened in awareness at the thought. Breaking me of my thoughts as I finished pulling down the dry t-shirt Ian asked, “What are you thinking?”

Feeling as if I got caught with my pants down (ha ha I wasn’t wearing any pants) I blushed profusely as I grabbed and put on my sweat pants. “Um…nothing important. You can turn around now.” The white t-shirt I wore was baggy, as were the red sweat pants. At least the pants had a draw string I could tighten. It’s not like I got to pick out the school’s PE uniform. I always felt small and unkempt I these clothes.

Ian looked me over, a small grin upon his face. Raising an eyebrow in inquiry, Ian just shrugged in answer as he crept closer. As much as I wanted to huddle into his body I put a hand against his chest to stop his progress. Hurt gleamed in his eyes momentarily. A look of yearning had to have been on my face but I said, “You’re still wet, and I have no other clothes to change into.”

Comprehension and relief swept over his features quickly before his beautiful smile returned and he said, “Give me a moment and I’ll be good as new.”

Once again in a blink of an eye Ian disappeared. Sighing to myself I bundled up my wet clothes as I thought of that brief look of relief. Could he be just as insecure about me as I felt about him? Maybe he’s not of my feelings for him? Why would a vampire nearly a millennia old care about a seventeen year old girl’s perception of him?

Shrugging off the thoughts I finished stuffing my wet clothes into a plastic bag from my locker when Ian popped up from around the end of the lockers. I smiled and shook my head at his attire. Faded and torn blue jeans graced his strong legs, and a long sleeved navy blue v-neck shirt hid his warm and muscled upper torso.

“What did you flash home?” I asked. The absurdity of talking about such an extraordinary thing as a normal everyday activity amused me. That sexy sheepish grin of his accompanied his nodding. I rolled my eyes as he stepped up pulling me back into the cradle of his arms.

“I don’t keep any clothes here,” Ian replied.

“Of course not.”

“Come on, class is almost over.” That shocked me. I had completely forgotten about school. Being in the building and rummaging through my PE locker hadn’t even made me realize we had ditched class for some one on one. Panic started to set in. What if someone saw? What if Jared found out? O. M. G. Frantically I pushed out of Ian’s hold.

“Come on let’s go. What am I going to tell Jared? He’ll freak out if he ever found out about this!” My voice rose with every word. Gently Ian placed a hand on my shoulder turning me to face him.

“Easy. You’ll tell him you spilled at lunch.”

“And I washed my clothes in the rain?” I asked exasperated.

“No, in the sink. You didn’t want the clothes to stain.” I gave him a slow blink and stared at him for a second.

Much calmer now I said, “Huh. It’s too simple. But he’ll know I’m lying and what about your clothes? He saw you this morning.”

Ian shrugged before saying, “We’ll part ways before he sees me again.” Disappointment flashed through me. It must have been obvious because he continued, “Don’t worry. Go to bed early and I’ll sneak in. No funny business, promise.”

The last made me smile when I wanted to protest at his bunking over. I knew Ian would keep his promise, and the thought of not seeing him until tomorrow twisted my stomach in knots. Nodding my head I said the only thing I could, “Ok.”