Read Blood Moon (Moon Books) for Free Online Page A

and jogged down the dock towards me. “Thank you so much. I said I’d leave you alone if you didn’t but—”
    I held up my hand slowing him down. It was so hard not to jump into his arms. I could tell he wanted it too. “Yeah, I came, but I want you to know that I’m having a really hard time believing all of this. I mean how can you prove that...” I couldn’t even say it.
    “Prove that I’m a vampire?” He took a deep breath. “You know that’s only the second time I’ve said it out loud? Anyway, I told you I could. Pretty easily in fact if you’ve read anything about vampires ever. It’s amazing how much they got right.” He leaned forward slightly and I immediately scooted back, reacting.
    What the hell? Was he going to bite me or something?
    Noah gave me a hurt look and held up the pocketknife he’d gotten from the back pocket of his shorts. “Zack, I’d never do anything to hurt you. I’d never intentionally hurt anyone. How could you think that?”
    “Sorry. I know you wouldn’t.”
    “It’s okay, just don’t do it again.” He grinned quickly and I smiled back, happy to see a glimpse of his old sense of humor. “You might want to be sitting for this. Here, watch.” He took my hand and pulled me down to the dock then pointed at his forearm with the knife. “Proof time. Ever heard the part about vampires healing really fast?”
    Noah took the knife and ran it along his arm, making a deep angry looking gash. I drew in a sharp breath but held it when I saw his skin knitting itself back together before my eyes.
    “Oh my god!” I’d always wanted to hope things like that were possible but I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing it. I reached out tentatively and stroked his forearm where the skin had been hanging open just moments before. He trembled slightly at the sensation of my touch.
    “There’s more. Let me see your finger.” I was in so much shock I gave it to him without hesitation. “Just a prick,” he whispered and nicked my fingertip with his knife.
    He squeezed my finger gently until a ruby red drop of blood welled up at the tip. Cautiously, he brought it to his mouth and licked. My skin exploded into hot shivers at the touch of his tongue and my breath felt erratic in my chest. Blood rushed to my cheeks, between my legs. I actually felt myself start to harden. Impossible!
    At the taste of my blood, his eyes rolled back in ecstasy and a pair of glistening fangs slid into place. Even through my haze of desire, I heard a low growl of satisfaction coming from his throat. It was a little unnerving and just for a second I was scared of him before I remembered that it was Noah and he’d never hurt me. My eyes grew wide. Well, there ya go. That was all there was to it. You couldn’t get any more concrete proof than that.
    My best friend and the guy I’d been in love for most of my life was a vampire. A vampire. Holy. Shit.
    I saw it in his eyes when he drew away. He was expecting me to run. He figured I’d react like any sane person would. But the thing was, it wasn’t just any vampire sitting in front of me. It was Noah. He was looking scared and sad and a little hopeful. He looked like...like him. I didn’t have it in my heart to hurt the only guy I’d ever loved.
    I pulled my hand out of his and immediately wrapped my arms around his shoulders hugging him close. Rubbing my face in his neck, I was relieved that it still felt warm and alive. I kissed his skin softly, unable to resist. Noah lifted my face with a gentle finger and looked at me for a long silent moment. His face was filled with soul deep weariness, relief, and something that looked a lot like love.
    “So now you know,” he murmured. “The vampire part is true and logically you have to realize the rest of it is as well.”
    “And you really stayed away from me because you were trying to protect me.”
    “I really was. It hurt so much to lose you but I couldn’t think of a better solution. I nearly caved