Sun Damage (The Sunshine Series) Read Online Free Page B

“No,” he says softly. “I won’t make you do anything. You know that.” He swallows. “But I think you should try to drink this.” He tries to get me to take the mug back from him but I don’t.
    “ I want real food,” I say.
    He hesitates but his hand comes to rest between my shoulder blades, like he wants to hug me but is afraid to—I am too. “This will help,” he says into my ear. “This is what your body needs now.”
    My stomach growls, hollow and needy at the words. I swipe the mug back and before I can think about it for a second longer, I take a sip…and immediately start gagging. I have to place a hand over my mouth in order to not spit it all over myself. I shove the mug in Myles’ direction and he doesn’t protest in taking it.
    “ Too strong?” he asks, like I just drank coffee or something.
    Strong is a bit of an understatement. It’s thick, warm tar in my mouth. It’s almost impossible to get it down, but I do, too afraid to spit it out.
    “ God,” I gasp once the metallic taste has somewhat faded. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand because they’ve begun to water.
    “ Okay.” Myles’ voice is calm as he strokes up and down my back. “We’ll try something else.” He gets up and walks into the kitchen. I hear water running.
    Jade takes the opportunity to come closer to the bed again.
    “Jade,” I say, though he’s already staring at me.
    “ Yeah?” His tone is cautious.
    My head has begun to pound; my stomach is killing me. “I just want food.” I have to clear my throat before continuing. “Please?”
    He glances into the kitchen coming closer. “What do you want?” he whispers.
    “ It doesn’t matter,” I say. “Just…something edible and not…not…” I can’t say what it is that I just drank. I know without a doubt as to what it was but if the word leaves my mouth, this whole thing will be too real too fast.
    “ I get it,” Jade finishes.
    Myles is back then, standing at the foot of the bed with the same mug. “She can’t eat food right now,” he tells Jade.
    My brother moves closer to my boyfriend now. If he even still is my boyfriend. “She wants food,” Jade says, not trying to conceal his anger. “I’m getting her food .”
    Everything is swaying, including them. Mostly them.
    Before Jade gets too mad, he steps aside , grabbing what sounds like car keys off of the table near the bed. “I’ll be back soon,” he says to me, quickly kissing me on the cheek before he leaves the room.
    Which leaves Myles and I alone.
    He sits on the edge of the bed again, but he doesn’t try to get too close. “If you eat food right now, you won’t be able to keep it down.”
    “ I don’t care.” My stomach gurgles.
    He stares at me –into me–for a long time. “Here,” he says, handing over the mug again. “I added water to it. It might be easier that way.”
    As I take it from him, I brave a glance down, and it’s exactly what I thought it would be. Deep red, only it swirls in the water, unable to become a part of it completely. I don’t know how long I watch the blood fl oat through the water and wonder if I’m supposed to consume it or not. But that’s a stupid thought. Of course I am. That’s what I do now.
    “ This isn’t supposed to happen,” I ask finally. “Is it?”
    Myles takes in a deep breath.
    “I’m supposed to want this,” I say. “I’m supposed to want to eat—drink—this, and nothing else. Right?” When I look back at him, he’s running a hand through his hair.
    “ It might just be delayed,” he says after a while. “No two people change the same way.”
    “ But all vampires drink blood.”
    He says nothing.
    “They all need it,” I say. “Right?”
    He nods.
    I don’t bother smelling it this time. I just throw back my head and gulp it down.
    Though it’s not as bad as it was the first time becau se it’s thinner, it’s still god-awful. It tastes like I’m drinking saltwater. I can’t get more than two