Nolan's lips were soft and warm against Rhia's. He cradled her face so gently she could have been made of porcelain. One of his hands moved to the back of her neck, tangling in her hair, and pulling her closer into him. A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she felt a ripple of tension rush through him.

Slowly, he pulled away and let out a shallow hiss. Her eyes flicked to his mouth. His canines, both upper and lower, had elongated and sharpened. The bottom fangs weren't quite as long, but his upper fangs had become hypodermic points.

A shiver coursed through her, though not from fear. Not for the first time she imagined what it would feel like to have those fangs in her neck. To have him drag her onto a bed and pin her down with his incredible strength. To feel him take his pleasure, and pleasure her in the process. The core of her sex ached for him.

She looked back to his eyes and felt her heart jump. That red ring around his pupils was glowing with even greater intensity. There was pure desire in those eyes. Desire for her. He swallowed hard, his eyes shifting from hers to her mouth.

She reached out to tug at his tie, pulling him close again. "Don't stop." She breathed.

The red ring overtook the last of the blue, and he pulled her to him, his mouth crushing hers in intense passion. He pushed her back on the couch, keeping the hand at her neck while bracing the other against the arm of the chair. She shifted, giving him space to place a knee between her legs. He braced the other foot on the floor, creating a cage over her. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't have escaped. She very much did not want to escape.

A desperate moan filled the quiet of the room, and his tongue darted into her mouth. The sensations were overwhelming. A desperate need for his touch clawed at her mixed with the desperate need to touch him.

She shifted again to push herself against him, and the juncture between her legs made contact with his thigh. White-hot pleasure exploded through her. She gasped and flung her head back, her back arching and rubbing herself against his hard body again. Nolan chuckled low and dark, pressing his mouth against the base of her jaw. "Does it feel good, my pet?" His voice was like sandpaper, making her shudder in ecstasy.

She wanted to answer. She wanted to beg him for more.

Nova suddenly barked and then growled. Nolan was on his feet in a flash, his tie straightened, and shirt readjusted. Rhia scrambled up, running her hands through her mussed hair and looking to the door. To her absolute horror, Captain Mark Landon stood in the door. His steel-coloured eyes were fixated on Nolan. The vampire's eyes were still glowing faintly. When he smiled politely, he kept his lips closed so he wouldn't show his fangs. "Captain," she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes slid to hers and she could feel the full force of his anger hit her like a hammer on an anvil. Her heart stammered. She wanted to step behind Nolan, put something strong and immovable between her and the captain. Nolan seemed to sense this as he took a half -step forward. The captain looked back to him. "Nolan Wes, I presume." He said with barely controlled venom.

Nolan's nostrils flared like he smelled something horrific. He opened his mouth to speak, then quickly stopped. His head tilted towards Maddox. Then, as if he had entirely forgotten about the police captain glaring murder at them, crossed the room. She heard it too. A raspy, moan escaped her brother's dry lips. "Rhia..."

"Mr. Kincaid," Nolan said gently. "Welcome back to the world of the living."

He pressed a call button and asked the nurse to get the attending. Rhia slid next to the bed and took his hand. "Hey Maddy," she whispered.

He squeezed her hand weakly. "Hey kid."

A young resident walked into the room a second later. If she was wondering why Nolan was there, she blessedly didn't say anything. "Mr. Kincaid," she said in a soft professional tone. "Do you know where you are?"

"Hospital." He grunted and flinched away from the penlight she was flashing in his eyes.

"L.A. County General." The doctor specified. "My name is Doctor Faiza Rehan. Do you remember what happened?"

Maddox was quiet for a few seconds before giving Rhia a disbelieving look. "Did I get shot?"

"Yeah," Rhia almost laughed she was so happy. "You asshole, you tried to die on me."

"Did you try singing?" his lips turned up in a crooked smile. "I always said you could wake the dead with your disco."

"Dick!" she felt her face burn hot, trying to remember if she had actually been singing in the ambulance or if was all in her head.

"Disco?" Nolan raised his eyebrow and a teasing smirk spread across his lips.

"Like you don't have some weird mnemonic you think of every time!" she snapped defensively.

Maddox laughed before gasping and wincing in pain. "You know she's preparing for her C.P.R. recertification when she starts singing the Bee Gee's everywhere she goes." He grunted.

Nolan let out a bark of a laugh while Rhia's face darkened. Doctor Rehan chuckled. "Thematically appropriate, I think." She said with a wink. "I learned it to beat of ABBA."

"See!" Rhia insisted. "I'm not the only one who sings to C.P.R."

"I think it is a good sign that you're cracking jokes, Mr. Kincaid." Rehan continued. "Right now, I think you should rest. We will need to re-evaluate in the morning. What do you think, Doctor Wes?"

"I agree," Nolan nodded with a smile. "I would like to get a blood sample down to the lab tonight, though. It's important to maintain a hematological timeline."

"Sure, doc," Maddox sighed. "Whatever... any of those words mean."

Nolan turned to a cupboard while Rehan held up a button. "You are on a morphine drip. If you are in pain, press this, and it will give you a bit more. If you need anything else, call the nurse's station. They'll call me directly."

"Thank you, Doctor Rehan." Rhia smiled and took the woman's hand to shake it.

"Hey, Rhia," Maddox looked around the room as best he could. "Is Nova here?"

Upon hearing her name, Nova let out a whine. She was still standing in her spot. Rhia snapped her fingers and Nova bolted for the bed, jumping up to place her front paws beside her handler. Maddox let out a strained laugh. "There's my girl." He rasped, reaching for her favourite spot behind her ears.

"One day you're going to have to explain to some poor woman that you love this dog more than you can ever love anyone else." Rhia gave him another raised eyebrow.

"I have as much chance at a normal relationship as you do." He sounded tired. "I'm going to enjoy what I've got while I can."

A strong hand landed on Rhia's shoulder and she jumped. She had forgotten about Mark at the door. His fingertips dug into her like a set of talons. "How are you feeling, son?" he asked, not quite as comforting as he probably thought it was.

Maddox blinked a few times, as if making sure he was seeing right. "What the hell are you doing here, Landon?" he asked coolly.

"I'm not allowed to check in on my god-child?" Mark retorted, his grip on Rhia's shoulder tightening.

Rhia noticed how Nolan, sitting at the other side of the bed drawing Maddox's blood, was glowering at the hand. She shook her head a minute amount, hoping he would understand. His blue eyes met hers. There was still a faint red ring around them, but this time it had nothing to do with the passion they shared.

"We don't have that kind of relationship." Maddox hissed. "Go away."

"Watch your tone, Sergeant."

"I don't work for you, Captain." Maddox was furious. "Get the hell out."

"You can't-"

"Mr. Landon," Nolan said with a hint of warning. "The patient has made his wishes quite clear. Do I need to call security?"

Mark looked like he was going to throw something. Given his grip on her shoulder, Rhia wouldn't have been surprised if it were her. "I'll call your parents to tell them you've woken up." He turned to leave, but not before leaning into Rhia and hissing; "We will discuss your indiscretions later."

Nova let out a vicious snarl until Mark finally released Rhia and walked out of the room. An uncomfortable silence filled the room. "He seems nice." Nolan finally said sarcastically.

"You don't know the half of it, Doc." Maddox mumbled, staring blankly at Nova.

Nolan taped the gauze to Maddox's arm and stood up. "Get some rest, Mr. Kincaid." He said gently. "You're in for a long recovery."

He walked out of the room without another word. Rhia hesitated for half a second before jogging after him. "Nolan," she called, catching up to him at the empty nurse desk.

As he turned back to look at her, she felt her throat go dry. He was so, goddamned attractive and he was looking at her with more affection than she had ever known from a man. "Are you alright?" he asked, glancing down at her shoulder.

"I'm fine."

He narrowed his eyes at how casually she brushed off the question. He glanced around quickly to confirm they were alone. "Does he often put his hands on you?" his voice was dark.

She stiffened before crossing her arms defensively. "You make it sound like he abuses me."

"Does he?" Nolan set his shoulders back and seemed to swell in anger.

"No!" she snapped defensively. Damn it, this wasn't what she had in mind when she ran after him. She let out a breath and forced herself to let go of her anger. "He just wants the best for me. We disagree on what that is."

He raised an eyebrow at that. She reached out and rested her hand over his rest on the counter. She felt the tension seep out of him at her touch, and she smiled. His free hand snaked around to the small of her back and tugged her closer. "Let me make you dinner this weekend." He said, his voice softening. "Just you and me, no interrupting family."

"I'd like that."

She had no control over the broad smile stretching across her face. She lifted herself up on her toes and felt her heart do a backflip when he met her kiss softly. He broke away quickly with a groan, his eyes glowing red again. "Go take care of your brother, Rhia. I'll check in on you later."

~