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           Ihadnointerestinbeingsoothed.MymomwashereandIwasrecoveringfromavampireattack."WhydidyoutellherI’mhere?"

           "Youfelldowntwoflightsofstairsandthroughawindow."Hepaused."Youhavetoadmit,itcouldhappen."

           Isighed,andithurt.Istareddownatmybodyunderthesheet,thehugelumpthatwasmyleg.

           "HowbadamI?"Iasked.

           "Youhaveabrokenleg,fourbrokenribs,somecracksinyourskull,bruisescoveringeveryinchofyourskin,andyou’velostalotofblood.Theygaveyouafewtransfusions.Ididn’tlikeit-itmadeyousmellallwrongforawhile."

           "Thatmusthavebeenanicechangeforyou."

           "No,Ilikehowyousmell."

           "Howdidyoudoit?"Iaskedquietly.HeknewwhatImeantatonce.

           "I’mnotsure."Helookedawayfrommywonderingeyes,liftingmygauze-wrappedhandfromthebedandholdingitgentlyinhis,carefulnottodisruptthewireconnectingmetooneofthemonitors.

           Iwaitedpatientlyfortherest.

           Hesighedwithoutreturningmygaze."Itwasimpossible...tostop,"hewhispered."Impossible.ButIdid."Helookedupfinally,withhalfasmile."Imustloveyou."

           "Don’tItasteasgoodasIsmell?"Ismiledinresponse.Thathurtmyface.

           "Evenbetter-betterthanI’dimagined."

           "I’msorry,"Iapologized.

           Heraisedhiseyestotheceiling."Ofallthethingstoapologizefor."

           "WhatshouldIapologizefor?"

           "Forverynearlytakingyourselfawayfrommeforever."

           "I’msorry,"Iapologizedagain.

           "Iknowwhyyoudidit."Hisvoicewascomforting."Itwasstillirrational,ofcourse.