I don't know how long we stayed there. We fell asleep together and I have to say, it was blissful. All my fear had been washed away in his arms. It was cold in the dark underground room, but laying against him was warm. I never would have thought it! I was swooning even in my sleep. To think I would fall for a man, and a stuck up one for that matter, was crazy.

But I was awakened by the loud creak of the door opening. I listened to the heavy steps that moved inward without opening my eyes, fear coursing through my body again. It was him. I don't know why my heart jolted with excitement, like I was wanting him there. I wanted to look at him, to see his sexy body. To see that brooding face of his. It was unnatural how badly I wanted to feel those strong hands grip me. But it never came. Instead, I heard his voice.

"Charley." It was softer than I had expected, warm, like he wished he had been the one soothing me. I could feel it in my bones that he was jealous. His footsteps grew quieter now and I could feel that he was close, possibly even standing right over us. I wanted Peter to wake up, but I didn't want his peaceful state ruined. But we had to fight back. Right?

I pulled on his jacket, still too scared to look up at Jerry. And then I felt the vampire hunter stir and I heard him gasp. He must have opened his eyes. So I took that as a chance to open mine and look up at the vampire. He was staring at Peter with loathing. It was terrifying. Peter pushed me away and quickly stood up but I didn't want him to, I fell back and I stared up at them with wide eyes. I knew I must have looked like I was in shock. Because I was. I really was.

"Get the fuck out of here you bloody vampire!" It was pretty bold, in an attractive way. He was standing up for himself, and who didn't like a man with confidence? But it was a huge mistake, because Jerry suddenly grabbed him by the throat and held him in the air. Peter struggled and then it happened so fast. I saw it but I didn't want to believe it. Jerry had brought him close and in less than a second he was biting into him, draining him so fast that I felt it myself. My chest was heaving and I crawled backwards until my back hit the wall. To think those were Peter's last words, and to think we never got to get to know each other. But at least I would always hold that tender moment in my memory.

Jerry dropped him and he crumpled to the floor, then he just stood there, his chest heaving as well, staring a nothing. It felt like minutes before he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and then looked at me. He was glowering, but then his expression softened and he went to move toward me, but he hesitated. It looked like he was still holding back, but I didn't know why. I didn't want to say anything, but my body wanted to. "Y-you, you killed him. What the fuck? Stay away from me!"

It could have been bad. Real bad. But he didn't rush at me, he still looked hesitant. A little hurt even. But he seemed to push through it and came to me. He knelt down before me and his eyes showed something like care. It was unexpected after something so brutal. I thought he hated me. "You made me do it, Charley."

I shook my head, though it was subtle, I was still in too much shock to move. He reached his hand out then to caress my cheek with his knuckles. "Yes, you did." Before I knew it he was leaning in, and all of a sudden his nose was at the crook of my neck and he breathed in deeply, I could even hear it, his face turning as he did it until his mouth was by my ear. "You could have left."

I didn't want to push him away. The closeness felt so good. It was hot, the way he nuzzled into me, his chest right in front of me. I wanted to lift my hand and touch it. I was in awe. But then I felt his fangs against my skin and I felt him tense. He made something like a pained sound, but it also sounded like a moan. Then he snapped back. He looked down and ran a hand through his hair. He looked so conflicted, so sad. My lips parted and I sat up a bit, now that I felt like I was safe. Kind of.

"Do you remember me?" It was a question I hadn't expected and one I didn't know how to answer at all. I thought he had went a bit senile for a moment. I croaked and I somehow answered. "I'm your neighbor."

"No…" It almost sounded taunting. "No, Charley. Long ago." He looked at me then. "So long ago. I gave you my blood. You are a part of me. You are the one I always promised to protect."

I stuttered, in disbelief. What was he talking about? "I, I don't know what you're saying. I have never seen you before you moved in. I… what do you mean I'm part of you?" It sounded insane.

He sighed. "Centuries ago there was a young man. You. I found you so beautiful, I had to have you. I swore no one else would have you, and that I would never let anything happen to you. I gave you my blood, but I never tasted you." He bit his fist then, his stare intense. "How badly I want to taste you, Charley."

"I don't understand." Of course I didn't. It made no sense. How could I have lived so long ago? "How am I here? I have a mother, I was born. I'm not like you." I sounded so wimpy, I was slightly embarrassed, if I could be embarrassed at a time like this.

He drew closer again, speaking deeply. "No, you're not. You died, Charley. Without me taking your blood, you were still mortal. But you are linked to me through the blood you have consumed. Immortal in the sense that you come back. You are always born again. I had lost you, and I vowed I would find you. And I did."

"So… so…" I couldn't' find words, I was overwhelmed with information. It couldn't be true. But I remembered the trance, I remembered the stream of blood in my dream. How I craved it. How I craved him. There had to be a connection between us. I could never get him out of my head.

Then he cupped my cheek. "Shh…" He pulled me close. "I want you, Charley. Let me have you. Be with me."

I couldn't believe that in that moment I was actually contemplating it. With Peter's dead body just across the room. How unfair it would be to him. But I had a longing too, I wanted to be with him. It got my blood racing, I felt warm inside, like Jerry was home. I didn't mean to but I nodded. It was a fatal error but one that wasn't deadly. It only hurt a little when he carefully drew near and with a bit of hesitation, he bit into me. I whimpered and he moaned. Loud. Drawn out like he had never felt something so good. I felt his hand sliding to my neck, gripping, his long nails digging into me. He was pulling me even closer, sucking even harder, like he couldn't get enough.

Then I couldn't keep it inside, I moaned. I moaned because the sexiest man I had ever known was on my neck, so intensely. So, so hot. But a moment later he pulled away with a deep inhale of air like he had been swimming and ran out of breath. "Oh, Charley…" It was a deep groan, like he wanted more than just a taste of my blood. And I was right as he was so quick in delving forward and kissing me hard. I finally touched his chest then, so hard and perfect. I melted into him. I couldn't stop whimpering. And he couldn't keep quiet either. It was so deep, so passionate, I never would have thought anyone would ever kiss me like this. It felt too good.

When he broke the kiss he held both of my cheeks in his hands, staring deep into my eyes. "I love you, Charley. Stay here with me."