He didn't taste like blood or raw meat. It was surprisingly comfortable to kiss him. Instead, the taste of honey and roasted bread lingered on your lips.

You could still feel him smile. Little drops of water escaped them, running down his chin and getting caught in the ginger hair of his beard.

A deep breath escaped him. His heart was beginning to beat a bit faster.

Why was he enjoying this moment?

It felt like a game, the power made his mind go insane.

But the taste of your lips confused him. It was an unknown taste, but he found it pleasant.

Why?

With a soft push, he tried to create some space between the two of you.

But you did not let go of his lips. Instead, you leaned in further and let your tongue stroke over his sealed mouth.
A shiver crawled down his spine. His smile grew and he opened his mouth a bit.

Water came flowing out. It tasted like the liquor of the gods as it dripped into your mouth.

A soft sigh escaped you as you closed your eyes and leaned even further towards him. If it would have been possible you would have melted with him. The air was burning inside your lungs, it was hard to breath, but you refused to let go of Jacob and the opportunity to enjoy more water.

With a soft breath, Jacob opened his mouth and suddenly his tongue stroked over yours.

Surprised, you flinched and tore your eyes wide open. But before you could pull your head back his huge hand slid into your neck and pushed you closer to him.

You wanted to resist, but the warmth of his lips broke the last defence. Weakly you hung in his grip and closed your eyes again.

He smelled of peppermint and rain, mixed with the smell of blood.

His tongue broke through your lips as a soft sigh opened them. He was warm and tasted like the iron of fresh mountain water. The kiss was hungry, almost obsessed with devouring you and never letting go.

Not for a second did Jacob loosen his grip, pressing you close and letting his tongue roam through your mouth.

As if of their own accord, your hands rose and grabbed him by his collar to pull him down to you.

Together you slid down the bars and remained sitting on the ground while your tongues played with each other.

Saliva dripped from the corners of your mouth.

Immediately Jacob let go of you and began tracing the trail down your neck with his tongue. It was strange, but the taste of your skin was something he couldn't let go of.

He paused for a moment, looked at the spot on your neck, and suddenly bit into it. It wasn't a firm bite, more like sipping your skin as if to leave a mark, like a hickey.

Your breath was already going very fast, but at that moment it became even faster. A soft moan escaped you.

Jacob grinned and raised his head. His hand wrapped around your neck, suddenly feeling like he was on fire.

With certain strength, he forced you to look him in the eye.

The blue sparkled. It was as if something had awakened in the ice.

His chest rose and fell as if he had been running.

"You're quite feisty, pup.", with a broad grin he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, but the taste of your lips still stuck to his tongue. "Do you want more?"

Without looking, he reached for the bottle he'd dropped on the floor and shook it to show there was one last sip left.

As if in a trance, you nodded. Your mouth was open, you sat on the floor like a little child while your eyes were glued to his lips.

"More...", you whispered, ignoring the water.

You felt like your own mind was betraying you. With hollow eyes you stared at him and felt empty, almost like a doll. And yet there was this irrepressible desire that filled your head whenever you approached him.

You wanted him. More than anything else.

Why?

Why him?

Why now?

The grin disappeared. He noticed how little you were yourself in that moment.

With a deep sigh, Jacob lowered the bottle, closed his eyes and ran his hand through his red hair to fix it.

Inwardly, he cursed himself.

Why did this sight make him so nervous?

Why did he want to see more?

Never before had he enjoyed playing with his objects so much. It was driving him crazy. He was no more interested in you than he was in any other person.

And yet.

Something inside him stirred whenever his eyes found you. And now the kiss. It had been nothing more than a power play, a joke for his own amusement. But now he feared getting himself into trouble with it.

"Pup.", he knelt down to you and held the bottle through the bars. "Take it all. I'll come back tomorrow."

With trembling fingers you reached for the bottle, but you were too weak and couldn't grab it properly. With a clink, the bottle fell to the ground and the last bit of water flowed out to seep into the ground and disappear forever.

Tiredly, your eyes followed the little waves until they disappeared completely.

"Huh.", your voice now sounded less raspy, but still hoarse. "I can't...anymore...Jacob."

You raised your head to look at him.

A shiver crawled down his spine at the sight. His lips twitched and he had to swallow hard before he could regain his composure.

"Pup.", he reached out through the bars to feel your forehead. "You are sick. Do you have a fever?"

You shrugged.

The darkness was already creeping back into your eyes. Your head seemed to be under pressure, as if your brain was trying to push through the bones. The world weighed heavily like stone on your shoulders and made your ears deaf.

"Jacob.", his name floated around in your head as if it were a prayer. "I feel... weak... please... let me go. Let me... leave..."

Slowly you reached out to him, his figure becoming more and more blurred.

He grabbed the hand with both of his hands, much too quickly than he would have liked, and squeezed it.

"Pup!", his voice surprised him.

Why did he sound like that?

When had he ever called someone like that, with a voice this shaky and unstable?

He couldn't remember.

Maybe back then when he had protected his brothers.

Maybe never.