Vampires Rule // Colby Brock

|~23~|

Lydia Drake
I'm woken up from my nap on the couch by a gentle knock on the front door. My first thought is that it's Tara because it was so light but when I glance at the time, I know it's Colby. It's the same time he always comes over.

I get up from the couch, brushing my fingers through my hair as I walk to the door and open it. He's on the other side with his hands in his pockets staring down at the ground. I'm guessing he hasn't had a girlfriend in a while and I haven't seen him since he left yesterday so he's not sure what to do.

So I take the lead. "Hey." I pull him inside by his arm and catch him off guard by kissing him. He sucks in a breath but after a second, one of his hands moves to my exposed waist and the other goes to the side of my face. My hands are resting on his chest now since he's gotten closer. Much closer.

He pulls back, resting our foreheads together so we can both catch our breath a little. I hear the door shut behind him and next thing I know, he's lifting me off of the ground and I'm instinctively wrapping my legs around his waist. I wrap my arms loosely around his neck.

"Don't um . . . don't catch me off guard like that." He whispers close to me. I don't have time to look at him in confusion because he places me quickly back down and pries my arms from around him, going to the couch. I feel a tiny bit hurt but I go over anyway and leave some space between us.

"So, what do you want to eat today?"

"Why did you do that?" He asks out of nowhere. I glance up at his face to see that he's staring right into my eyes. When he sees I don't know what he means, he reaches over and grabs my hips to pull me on his lap—straddling his legs. "You don't have to sit so far away."

"Colby, I'm gonna say this now. You're not in charge of me. You can't tell me not to catch you off guard then catch me off guard. That's not how it's going to work." I pause, making sure I have his attention. "Got it?"

"I'm sorry." He nods and gives me a little smile then wraps his arms fully around my waist, which pulls me right up into his chest. "I have to tell you something too." I nod. "I have . . . a short fuse."

"I already know that." I playfully roll my eyes but he shakes his head.

"More than just with anger. It's . . . well, sometimes I can lose control and bad things happen." I frown slightly at him. "If you catch me off guard, there's a possibility that I will lose control."

"Has this got something to do with your big secret?"

"A little." I bite my lip as I stare at him and he glances down at the action. My conversation with Katrina is flashing in and out of my head. The risk and the feeling. Which is stronger? Sitting on top of him like this is sending all sorts of tingles throughout my body, let alone the butterflies in my stomach. I mean, his arms are literally around my waist touching my bare skin, which has the spot feeling warm and admittedly nice. Very nice, actually.

"Being with you is going to be difficult, isn't it?"

"And maybe dangerous." He agrees. I sigh and nod, leaning my forehead down to rest against his and closing my eyes. We sit there like that for a little while until my stomach rumbles and I end up laughing at myself.

"Guess we should get something to eat." I say, still amused. When I pull my head up and look at him, I notice that his eyes are closed and he's just sitting there. I lean down, gently pressing my lips against his. He responds but only for a second.

"What are you feeling like?"

"Hm . . . pizza." I grin and he nods, standing up whilst holding my legs so that I come with him. He places me gently down on the couch as he pulls his phone out. I watch him walk to the other side of the room before I turn the TV on and bring my knees up against my chest.

After a couple of minutes, the couch dips beside me and an arm slithers around my waist. I fall into Colby, letting my legs rest over the top of his and my head on his shoulder. He doesn't seem to mind too much.

"So . . . when am I going to be coming over to yours instead?" I ask innocently without daring to look at his face. I feel the way he looks down at me.

"You mean: when am I going to reveal you as my girlfriend?"

"Yes." I smile at the idea, though I'm not sure how we've gotten here so fast at all. It makes no sense and seems fast . . . but it feels so right to be here with him.

"Tomorrow, maybe?" He questions quietly like he's unsure. I feel my eyebrows rise as I look up at him. He's still looking at me and our eyes lock.

"Really? You're ready to ruin your reputation tomorrow?" A smile builds on his face and he pulls me closer with his one arm, wrapping the other around me too.

"It won't ruin my reputation and even if it does, you're worth it." I can't help it when I blush at his words. He seems to freeze in his spot as he looks at me, which I find kinda weird. He composes himself and smiles at me before shuffling the tiniest bit away.

"Are you okay?" I ask nervously, a frown building on my face. He stares at me, then my neck. I watch as the pupils of his eyes suddenly begins to get bigger. "Colby?" Before I even know what's happening, I'm on the couch and he's across the room from me facing away. "Colby?!" He says nothing but just stands there. What the hell is going on? How did he do that and what was happening with his eyes? Am I . . . am I sleeping or something? Is this a dream?

"Lydia, I'm sorry." He mumbles. "I . . . I almost lost control." Lost control but over what? That's what doesn't really make sense to me. He says that sometimes he can lose control but not what he does and what it is he's losing control of. Does he get violent? I have so many questions that he won't answer and that's ten times more infuriating than the guy himself. Because I know that I won't get any answers for a long time. But I don't know if I'm willing to have that sort of neglect.

He says I'm worth possibly ruining his reputation. I can't be selfish. He could be giving something up for me so I have to do the same in return and the only way I'll do that is by letting this one thing go. If I'm worth it, then he is too.