A deep growl rumbled from him. "You know better."

His sister lowered her chin and gaze. "I apologize. I didn't think you'd mind."

"Bulls.h.i.t. You didn't expect me back so fast and didn't hear me enter the house. Go upstairs and stay there until dinner. We'd like steaks, and you're cooking."

"We don't have any. I bought chicken."

"Then go back to the store."

She nodded quickly. "Of course." Jenny fled up the stairs.

Jasmine got to her unsteady feet, a little afraid and nervous. Chase watched her, unmoving.

"I asked her those questions. Get angry at me if you're upset."

He scowled.

"She's your sister, not your servant. You go to the store if you want steaks, and I'll cook them."

It was slightly scary when he pushed away from the wall and stalked closer. He had exchanged his jeans for black leather pants that molded across muscular thighs and lean hips. The black cotton shirt outlined his broad shoulders, chest and muscular arms where it stretched tight around his upper body. He stopped a foot away. They almost touched.

Jasmine had to tilt her head to keep eye contact with him, a reminder of how tall he was. Her fear increased as the silence grew uncomfortable. "She didn't do anything wrong." Her voice came out soft-a whisper-but she refused to back down the way his sister had. "I had questions and you weren't here to answer them."

"Don't interfere again with Jenny. She knows the rules."

"Is this how mating works? I'm supposed to do everything you say? Are you going to punish me if I disobey?"

He shook his head. "I already told you I'd never hurt you, and you can always speak your mind."

"Good. I planned to, regardless of how you'd react. I'm not the submissive type. You were just a jerk to your sister."

His lips twitched. "I see."

"She said she doesn't work for you, but you just treated her as though she does. Worse, actually. I have a housekeeper that comes in a few days a week, and I'd never speak to her that way. I'd politely ask her to do something instead of just snap out orders."

"Any other suggestions?"

"There shouldn't be any rules concerning your sister and me talking. This mate thing is like marriage. That's what you said. That would mean she's going to be my sister-in-law if I agree, right?"

"Yes."

"Then there shouldn't be any rules about us talking."

"Fine."

It surprised her that he'd caved so easily. "You mean that?"

"I'm not accustomed to being corrected." Amus.e.m.e.nt sparked in his eyes. "I apologize."

"I think you should tell that to your sister."

"I will." He lifted his hand and used his fingertips to caress her cheek. "How did you sleep?"

"Great."

"You've eaten."

"How did you know that?"

"By smell. You had cereal with milk."

Jasmine covered her mouth. "Do I have bad breath? I'm sorry."

"I love that brand of cereal, and I drink milk."

And blood. She wasn't about to forget that. "You really do eat food then?"

He peered into her eyes and she felt something inside her head. It was a faint tingle at the back of her mind.

"Vampires don't need to eat food but some of them do. They enjoy the taste of it and some believe it keeps them more human to partake in the experience. Werewolves eat a lot of food because they need it to survive. I love my meals, and yes, I drink blood as well. I need both." He paused. "It wouldn't be good if I didn't drink blood. My body needs it or there are side effects that would eventually kill me."

"You're reading my mind again." She wasn't comfortable with it and placed her hand on his chest. It was warm and firm. "Stop."

"Sorry." He shrugged. "It's another adjustment I need to make. It comes naturally to me. I don't mean to invade your privacy or make you uncomfortable."

"It's not fair. I can't read your thoughts so just stay out of my head."

"I'll try."

"Do you mean that?" The tingling stopped as if something withdrew from her mind. "I felt that!"

"What?" He frowned.

"You leaving my head."

The tingling returned sharply and she pushed at him. "You're doing it again, aren't you? Get out."

He stepped back. "Amazing."

"Get out!"

The tingling stopped.

"You can feel it. It must be my blood inside you."

"That would do it?" She wondered what else had changed about her.

"Yes. I gave you a lot. You were severely injured. Your organs were shutting down." His hand wrapped around the back of her neck as he drew closer. "May I attempt something?"

"Stay out of my head."

"Not that. I want to see if you can read my thoughts."

"I can't do that."

"You might." He paused. "Close your eyes and clear all thoughts away."

Jasmine hesitated but then did as he asked. It took her time to push back all the questions she still had. She hadn't thought it was possible to actually read minds but that belief wasn't set in stone anymore since Chase had proven otherwise.

"Can you hear me?"

"Of course."

"d.a.m.n!"

The deepness of his voice surprised her and she opened her eyes to look at him. "What's wrong? My hearing is fine."

"Honey," he whispered, "I didn't say that aloud."

"Say what?"

He stared at her.

"Say what aloud?"

His eyes narrowed. Can you hear me?

Jasmine gasped, almost tripping on her own feet when she stumbled back. No sound came from Chase but his voice was inside her head all the same.

"I'm shouting in my mind but you heard that, didn't you?" he asked aloud.

"Yes."

"It's my blood. I knew I probably gave you too much."

"What does that mean?" It was a frightening moment. "Am I turning into what you are?"

Anger tensed his features. "It's the d.a.m.n vampire traits." He suddenly closed the distance and gripped her chin, forcing her head up. His other hand touched her face, pulling down her bottom eyelid for a second. "s.h.i.t."

"What?" Alarm was a mild description for what she felt.

"I gave you too much. You're slowly turning."

"Turning into what? What you are?"

"Vampire."

That wasn't good. She didn't need to be told that, since he paled and his voice deepened into a snarl. Panic rose but she tried to fight it down, to remain calm. Freaking out wouldn't do anything but make the situation worse.

"I told you that I'd give you time, but this changes things. We have to mate or you're going to actually die."

"You gave me blood to save me. Now it's killing me?"

"It would be a vampire death. You won't remain dead."

Jasmine didn't know what to say. Her mouth opened but no words came.

"It means you'll be totally vampire if we don't mate."

"And that's bad?" Of course it is. The shock of what he said made her heart race, and her mind wanted to shut down to avoid the unpleasant truth.

"Do you like the sun, honey?"

She nodded, sealing her lips.

"Then yes, it would be bad. Even my blood wouldn't protect you from burning in the sunlight if we allow you to fully turn. You need more of my blood on a regular basis to keep you alive. You were too drained from that d.a.m.n rogue. s.h.i.t." He released her, combing his fingers through his hair. "You were too close to death but I didn't realize this would happen. I thought my blood would just heal you."

"I don't want to have to drink blood to survive." More disturbing consequences filled her thoughts of what it would mean if she became the undead. That one just topped her list of what she'd hate most.

"It would only be mine. We've been through this."

"How long do I have? I feel fine."

"We need to mate within twenty-four hours. No longer than that or it's going to be too late. You'll go into an unnatural death and once your body dies, you will be completely vampire when you wake. I'd prefer we do it right now."

That wasn't good at all. Jasmine stared up at him and tried to remain calm. It wasn't easy. The new world she'd been exposed to was too foreign, and she had tough choices to make. Chase made it sound simple-just accept being his mate-but she wanted more time.

Twenty-four hours. She could almost hear the ticking of a clock inside her head. "I need to be alone. I have to think this through."

He didn't appear happy with her request, but he nodded.

Chapter Five.

Chase paced the kitchen until his sister entered, just back from the grocery store. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Jasmine pointed out that I don't appreciate you enough for all you do."

Jenny had started putting away the steaks but paused to gape at him.