Chapter 144: A private moment

I used the moment of distraction on Captain's part to inspect JJ's state. Compared to the result of his previous scuffle with Christina, he was almost pristine. Some nicks here and there, a set of ten holes in his shirt near his heart, but no blood.

I lifted my hand to them, touched the torn skin, and frowned. "Why there's never any blood?" I muttered. "It's there, isn't it?"

"It is, but I much prefer it being inside." JJ curled his own fingers around mine, rubbed his thumb over my knuckles absentmindedly. "Thankfully, as a vampire, I have an ability to enforce that preference on it."

The humour in his voice, audible despite the exhaustion that mirrored mine despite having emotional origins more than physical, made me raise my eyes to his and smile with some relief. "That's good. No refills here for you."