Everyone turned to look at Cassidy as she stood huddled behind Stefan. "We just wanted to look," she sobbed.
Vicky walked over, wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders, and pulled her against her side.
"Is he going to be okay?" David demanded.
"I think so," Stefan said.
Isabelle couldn't stop herself from touching him again. She needed to feel him and be reassured by his presence.
"Do you want me to do that?" her mother asked as she waved toward Stefan's wrist.
Stefan looked at her and shook his head. "My blood is stronger; it will help more."
Her mother nodded weakly as her father wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him. Stefan’s hand clenched Isabelle's as Kyle bit into his wrist. Relief flowed through him as he drank deeply, and with relish. He relaxed his grip on Isabelle's trembling hand, but she refused to release him.
Eventually, Kyle's bite eased as his thirst for blood lessened. Stefan pulled the towel back to reveal the wounds. They were still vicious looking, but they were no longer bleeding, and bone, muscle, and skin now knitted neatly back together. He pulled his wrist away from Kyle's mouth as the boy released him.
"He'll be all right," he said. "He'll need more blood, and he probably won't awaken for a while, but he'll be fine."
He stood and moved away so Liam and Sera could get closer to their son.
"Are you okay?" Isabelle asked him worriedly.
He glanced up at her as he nodded. She wrapped her arms around herself as she tried to ease the trembling from her remaining concern for Kyle, and the shock of her realization about Stefan. Isabelle rushed forward and flung her arms around his waist as she buried her head against his chest. Tears of relief slid down her cheeks when he enveloped her.
Isabelle felt drained as she sat at the kitchen table. She shifted and leaned back against Stefan. His arms tightened around her waist as she dropped her head to his shoulder and nuzzled against his neck. His familiar scent of crisp air, woods, soap, and pure male filled her nostrils. Beneath his familiar scent, she could suddenly smell the copper tint of his blood.
She stiffened as the powerful urge to taste his blood flooded her. She had never experienced such an intense urge before, hadn't thought it was possible, but she suddenly wanted it to fill her. She closed her eyes against the yearning, but the smell of it, and the power radiating from it caused her mouth to water. She wanted to whimper from the hunger blazing through her, but she forced herself not to reveal the sudden discomfort consuming her.
She turned her head away from the throbbing pulse in his throat and rested her head against his chest. She forced her attention away from him and to the vampires surrounding them. Ethan, Ian, Mike, Doug, Jack, and David sat silently around the table, their faces as tired and strained-looking as she felt. Vicky, Abby, and Julian sat on the island, leaning tiredly against each other. Willow walked in from the living room; her shoulders slumped as she glanced at them through shadowed eyes.
"Is he awake?" Doug asked.
"No." Isabelle sighed and closed her eyes as she snuggled closer to Stefan's warmth, allowing herself to be comforted by the steady beat of his heart. She stifled a yawn as a wave of exhaustion swept her.
Stefan dropped his head down to rest on hers and inhaled her sweet, reassuring scent. She had taken a shower, her hair was still damp, and the smell of it was clean and refreshing. Beneath the baggy pants and shirt she wore, he knew she was completely naked. That knowledge caused him to grow erect long ago, and he was desperately fighting against his baser instincts as she snuggled closer to him. The movement caused his erection to jump and throb.
He clenched his teeth against the growing ache in his loins as he shifted the obvious swell away from the curve of her ass. She was completely exhausted, both emotionally and physically, the last thing she needed right now was to know what he was thinking.
He glanced down at her bandaged foot, knowing the gash was healed by now, but the sight of the blood-dampened bandage caused anger, and fear, to course through him. He was going to talk with her later about putting herself in danger. He knew she wouldn't like it, but he'd be damned if she got injured or something worse. She needed to start thinking about herself, about him, if something happened to her...
The thought alone unleashed something primitive in him. It made him want to destroy the world and everyone in it. As long as he was alive, nothing was ever going to happen to her, and if she didn't start taking better care of herself, he was going to lock her up somewhere safe. He didn't care if she hated him for it, but he would do it if it meant keeping her protected, and alive. He didn't think he could survive without her.
The realization brought a stream of emotions forth. She lifted her head to stare questioningly at him, but he forced his face to remain blank as he met her gaze. He would figure it all out later, talk to her later about it, but not now. She had enough on her mind now. He had enough on his mind now.
He kissed her on the tip of her nose, and she smiled. That smile clenched at his heart and caused him to harden even more. He shifted as he tried to ease the growing pressure in his cock, and she dropped her head to his shoulder again. Her long lashes brushed against his neck as her eyes closed.
Liam appeared in the doorway; his face was drawn as he leaned against the frame.
"Is he awake?" Abby demanded.
"No,” Liam replied. “You should all go on up to bed; you look
