Addicted

99

"On that note, I'll be downstairs. Glad you're okay Chloe. When you're ready, everyone is waiting to see you." Sam smiled at us, nodded, then walked out, closing the door behind him.

I turned my head to watch him go and felt a tug on my neck.I reached up to see what it was. There was a huge bandage across my skin, where I remembered Colby biting me.

 I hadn't needed one last time.

Why this time? I looked questioningly at Colby, and I swear he would have blushed if he could have.

His eyes dropped from mine again, looking down at the bed.

 "I lost control and I hurt you. I swear I stopped as soon as I realized how bad it was. I'm so sorr-"

I put my hand over his mouth and he brought his eyes back up to meet mine.

"You didn't lose control." I moved my hand and kissed his lightly, letting my lips linger over his for moment. "I'm alive, aren't I? I could've died. Honestly thought I was going to." Shadows cast over his eyes. "No, not because you were being too rough!" I exclaimed, feeling my face heat up. "Because of how intense and...wonderful it was. I've never...felt anything like that before." He smirked a little, but still looked upset. "Colby, I swear to God, it was amazing! You didn't hurt me. I told you that you wouldn't."

He looked at me incredulously. "Do you not understand that you were in an actual coma for like three days? And I almost ripped your neck open! If that isn't hurting you, then I don't wanna know what is! You have no sense of self preservation. I thought that protecting you was a full time job. Now I know it is, but I have to protect you from yourself and from me." His voice went hard and loud, like he was mad at me, and his eyes started flashing.

 "Why are you yelling at me? I'm trying to tell you that I'm fine! You didn't kill me! That's progress right?" I didn't understand why he was mad.

 I thought we did good for the first time. He rolled his eyes at me. I was starting to get pissed.

 I was happy, damn it, and it was ruining it!

"Progress? Because I didn't kill you, like I killed Emilie?" He scoffed and stood up. "Yeah Chloe, I guess it is progress. What happens if I can't control myself, next time I tear into you? What then? You're just dead...and it'll be my fault because I knew better. I can't do this!" He grabbed his head with both of his ring clad hands and ran them roughly through his hair before looking at me. "I can't lose you!"

I stood up next to him, but the room started spinning and I fell back down onto the bed. "Oof, guess I stood up too fast." I muttered.

 Colby sighed and sat back down next to me.

"Don't you get it? As much as I hate to believe in some stupid ass vampire legend, I have to admit that I don't think that I can live without you now." He circled his fingers around my upper arms. "I especially can't be the one that causes your death. You've only been in my life for a short while but I need you. You're the only one for me Chloe. You're my One."

Tears sprang to my eyes at his confession. He mood was changing so fast, it was hard for me to keep up.

 "You're my One too Colby. I love you...but you have to know that you would have stopped last night, if I had told you to. Don't you remember checking on me? Asking me was I ready? I saw your eyes watching me, making sure that I was still okay. When you bit me, yeah, it hurt a little more than I would've liked, but I'm fine. You stopped." I put my hand on his cheek and stared into his sad blue eyes. "You did that. You stopped to keep from hurting me more. Just like I knew you would. I trust you with my life and my heart. It belongs to you. Always."

He stared at me for a moment, taking in what I said. Then he crashed his lips against mine. It seemed like he was trying to pour out every emotion that he had in that one kiss. Anger, frustration, love, relief, and so much more.

His hands were tender against my skin, as he pulled me towards him, and broke the kiss. I laid my head against his chest as his arms came around me. I was content.

 My body was sore, and spent, but I hadn't been this relaxed in years, if ever. I was in love. I loved Colby more than I had ever loved anyone, ever.

He felt like home now. I hadn't even considered going back to my apartment, even though I knew that I had to. Hell, I had work tomorrow.

Oh wait, fuck! Work was 3 days ago! I sat up straight, feeling Colby's arms drop from around me.

 "Work!" I exclaimed, too anxious to get the entire sentence out of my mouth.

He creases his forehead.

 "Work? Oh I called in for you. Told preppy boy Jeff that you had the flu. He didn't really seem to like that I was calling in for you or the fact that I told him that I was taking good care of you but," He shrugged and grinned wickedly, "he said he hopes you feel better and to call when you do."

 I pushed his shoulder and smiled. "Damn it, I was worried that I lost my job."

Colby rolled his eyes. "He's not going to fire you. He likes you, which I'm not crazy about that, by the way...but you don't need to work anyways. I'll take care of you." He said this so matter of factually, that it took me by surprise.

 My eyes widened.

 "What?"

He shrugged again. "Yeah, no big deal. I have plenty of money."

I shook my head. "No, I can't do that. I like to make my own way, earn my own money. I'm not living off of you." I was determined about this.

 I wouldn't be a 'kept woman' or whatever. I needed to be independent. I always had been.

He waved his hand in the air like it didn't matter.

 "Whatever, we'll talk about it some other time." He stood up again, and pulled me up gently beside him. "Ready to go downstairs and face the music?"