Kate's senses seem to be on overdrive whenever Richie is close, but it's nothing to compared to how much more intense everything gets when his hands are on her body, touching her, stroking her, his mouth claiming hers. He kisses her like a dying man desperate for a lifeline; she knows exactly how that feels. Her knees weaken, her insides turn into liquids, and all that remains of her is a throbbing bundle of nerves.

She's pressed up against him, so tight she can't even breathe. His hands clutch her back, picking her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. Oh god, there's that mad rush of fever again, elevating her body temperature until it feels like she's burning from the inside out.

There is no pain, no anguish, just pure, potent lust and the need to connect in a way that leaves her completely unhinged.

Her back is against a wall, the door handle digging into her skin, and it finally occurs to her they're back at the motel. She doesn't even remember getting here. He fumbles with her bag to pull out the key card, somehow still managing to trace his lips down the column of her neck, nipping her skin, teasing it . They stumble into the room backwards, clutching each other. The cold air blasting from the AC unit is a welcome respite from the heat of his touch that courses through her veins.

She unbuttons his jacket, sliding it past his shoulders. He drops her on the bed closest to the window, finally tearing his mouth away from her.

She stares up at him, startled to find him so... crazed. His sharp blue eyes are darkened, troubled, his hair no longer slicked back thanks to her busy fingers constantly running through them. He doesn't need to breathe but he's heaving, and she wonders if it's simply a habit back from when he was still human. There is so much uncertainty in his face, even fear, and it's both unsettling and comforting to see that he's as affected as her.

There's pressure on her hands, increasingly tightening; she realises it's because Richie's gripping her wrists, holding her arms tightly above her head. Then, out of the blue he's withdrawn, distant. He was right here a second ago, but now appears to be a million miles away. "Richie?" she whispers, hoping her voice will lead him back to her.

"Richard." Still perched above, and once again attentive. he peers down at her. "Call me Richard."

"But I like Richie."

His gaze softens, reminding her of a lost little boy in desperate need of comfort. Easing his grasp he lies down on her, his head tucked against her breasts, his body heavy atop hers. She cradles him in her arms, playing with his hair. It doesn't escape her notice they're both staring at Seth's empty bed.

"Seth calls me Richard when he's pissed off or frustrated," he says, finally breaking the silence.

"I know."

"Don't be upset with him. Be mad at me."

She stiffens. "Seth is not a child; he made the decision to leave. And you gave him the push he needed. You're both assholes as far as I'm concerned."

Richie climbs up her body, fingers playing with the long strands of her hair while his eyes remain locked on hers. She swallows an audible breath, feeling his hips grind down on hers. He's hard, and she's scared.

"Do you want him back?" he asks.

"Yes."

"Even though you think he abandoned you?"

Unable to hold his stare, her attention trails downs to his lips. "You never give up on the people you love. You just have to find a way to forgive them and move past it." When her eyes finally drift up to meet his, the expression on his face gives her pause. The way he's admiring her reminds Kate a lot of how her daddy used to look at mom - with a sense of wonderment, love, pride that she'd chosen to be with him.

It doesn't make any sense for Richie to feel this way; frankly, it makes her anxious.

"I don't understand how you do that, how you can forgive people so easily," he murmurs.

His eyes linger on her, taking her in, and it makes her feel extraordinary, like she's something to be cherished. Her stomach is aflutter with butterflies at the genuine awe in his voice.

"You have such a big heart, and this amazing ability to forgive." His lips trace the curve of her bottom lip, as light as a feather. "And that's why they'll always come after you. There's so much good in you, you glow with it, and it shines through for everyone to see. They want to grab it, take it for themselves. They never want to let you go."

"The people I love don't seem to share that sentiment."

He shifts up, levels her with a blank stare. "Can you stop with the pity party?"

How he could be so warm and gentle one second and an absolute jerk the next she has no idea. "You're an arrogant son of a bitch, you know that?"

"I have every reason to be."

"Shut up."

Suddenly he pulls away, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She sits up, confused, watching as he reaches for his jacket. "What, you can dish it out but you can't take it?"

He looks over his shoulder at her. "I need to eat."

"Oh." Nervous, she bites her bottom lip. "Didn't you feed on those two guys earlier?"

"The assholes who had every intention of raping you? No. I didn't. I'm extremely picky about my food and I don't want my system filling up with nasty cretins."

As he slips into his jacket, panic unfurls in her stomach at the thought of being left alone again. "Don't go. Please."

"I'll be back. I promise." He walks to the door.

Spotting the earnestness in his eyes, she smiles with relief, but then it occurs to her he's about to take an innocent life to satisfy his hunger. Guilt surges through her. "How much blood do you need?"

"Not a lot, but it's different for every vampire."

"How come?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know."

"Didn't Santanico tell you why?"

There is a hard glint in his eyes and Kate knows she crossed a line.

"I don't want to talk about her."

Although relieved he won't be killing anyone, she's still not sure of the pain involved. "Does it hurt when you feed from someone?"

"Does it hurt them? Yes, if I want it to." He quirks his eyebrow. "I can be gentle, or I can rip someone's throat out. Depends on my mood."

"It looked so painful at the Twister."

"Well, that was a massacre. I try and avoid those now. They're a waste of time."

"The people you feed on, do they turn into vampires?"

"No. I have to want to turn someone, and I'm always careful not to do that. There are enough vampires running around in this place without me adding to the bastard population." He teases her with a smile. "Can we play twenty questions after I come back? I'm starving."

"You can have my blood," she declares, much to her own surprise. From the stunned expression on his face, he's shocked as well.

"Why would you say that? Are you worried I'm going to take off and not come back?"

"No, you promised you would. I believe you."

"Then why, Kate? I know it scares you, you find the whole thing disgusting. So why the offer to be my midnight snack?

She'd assumed a vampire's heart no longer beats, but she doesn't really know for sure. Closing the distance between them, she reaches up to touch the spot where his heart resides, but he stiffens immediately. Rigid, and even defensive, he glares at her with animosity, making her wonder why such a tender gesture puts him on edge. "There's so much I don't know about you. Who you were as a human, who you are as a vampire. I feel like if you..." Her voice trails off, unsure if he'll mock her for her sentimentality.

"If I what?"

"If you drink from me, it's something that will connect us together. I want to understand you, be a part of you, and maybe this is a good way to start that."

"You're not just saying this to manipulate me?"

"No, of course not." She cradles his face in her hands. "I'm not gonna lie to you. It did disgust me. The fangs, all that blood spurting out, the whole thing grossed me out."

"It won't be like that." His mouth shapes into a cocky smile. "I'm neat, and a lot more civilised."

"I trust you."

He starts unbuttoning his jacket, his keen gaze fixated on her. A sharp thrill of excitement runs through her body when his hands grab her behind to pick her up. With her legs curved around his waist, he carries her back to bed.