I couldn’t help but follow Aiden’s suggestion as he placed his hand under my chin, leading my lips towards his. No matter what I thought, I just knew this was right; this was supposed to happen. This felt right.
Aiden now lay over me on my bed, his hands feeling every inch of my skin as we continued our deeply passionate kiss. Electricity coursed through my body from his touch, causing goosebumps to form. My fingers were playing in his hair until I had the sudden urge to bring him closer. I became out of breath, feeling myself come undone from his touch.
His hand strayed from my waist, slowly moving up my shirt, caressing my curves. Cupping my breast, his kisses trailed down my neck as a soft moan escaped my lips. I could feel his arousal grow.
All I desired at this moment was for him to stay close to me, to feel me more. I didn’t care if this went further or if it was a bad idea. Why shouldn’t I trust him? He makes my heart race and make me feel nervous in the best way possible. It didn’t make any sense but I felt like I had known him all my life.
Aiden moved his hand back down my torso, grabbing my ass, causing another moan to escape from within me. As I lay under him, enjoying his touch, he suddenly pulled himself away. Both of us stared contentedly into each other’s eyes as we tried to catch our breath.
Laying his head on my chest, he started, “You have no idea how long I waited to do that, my love…” He paused to catch his breath. “I’ve been searching for you for years…” Raising his head to look at me, lust filled his eyes. “I have to stop before I can’t…”
I pouted, which brought a smile to his face.
He gave me a long tender kiss before moving to lay on his side. We remained that way, tangled up with each other on my bed, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes.
Any questions I had for him vanished. I was more than content with only his presence. As I examined his eyes, I could see some sort of desire… longing, and an immense amount of unconditional love radiating from him as he watched me.
“I’m here now…” I replied, wanting him to touch me more. “You don’t have to search any longer.” I removed my shirt, laying back beside him, tentalizing him to do as he pleased.
His eyes conveyed shock and excitement by my action. I could tell Aiden was internally arguing with himself.
But no matter how much I teased him, he showed restraint, only holding me all night.
“Why do I get this feeling whenever you touch me?” I asked, with my eyes closed, sleepiness painted my voice. “I’ve never felt it before when anyone touched me.”
Aiden smiled, “Because where I come from, that’s how you know you have met your soulmate. Only soulmates from my realm have this type of effect on each other.”
*******
I woke up later, still wrapped in Aiden’s arms. My head rested on his chest with his arms hugging me. I looked up at him and smiled seeing him so peaceful. Then a strange glow caught my attention.
An orange light was pulsating where my purse lay. It couldn’t be… I thought, getting out of bed and putting my shirt back on. Grabbing my purse, I grabbed the locket. Sure enough, it was the unidentifiable blue gem illuminating an orange light again.
“What the hell are you?” I murmured to myself, becoming hypnotized by the necklace.
Aiden stirred in his sleep and I tried to hide the locket.
“What is that?” He asked in a gruff, sexy voice.
“Nothing, go back to—” before I could finish my sentence, he was already at my side.
“Where did you get this?” His voice turned to stern.
“Someone gave it to me.”
He grabbed it out of my hand, inspecting it very closely. “Who gave this to you?”
“I guy I used to go to school with. Easton.”
“Easton?” His face drained of color at the mention of his name. Something dawned on Aiden and he grew angry. “I’m too late…” he stated, as he brushed past me. He then put his coat on and placed the foreign jewel in his pocket.
“What do you mean you’re too late?” I asked, following him. “Where are you going? Aiden, what’s wrong?” Tears started to form in my eyes. I’m not sure if it was because I was scared, tired, or if I thought he would never return.
As the thought of him leaving me to never return crossed my mind, Aiden snapped his head in my direction, staring at me incredulously. He walked towards me and gave me a kiss before speaking, “I’m not going to be long, my love. I will be back. There’s just something I need to go do. Someone that I have to speak with…” He stared deeply into my eyes, wiping a tear that escaped. “Don’t cry, my love. Get some rest and I’ll be back before you wake up.”
“Why did you say you were too late? Do you know Easton?”
“Yes… I know him…” His voice was cold. “And you need to stay away from him. He is not someone you can trust.”
“Why not?” I asked aggravated by his tone. “I’ve known him since high school– a lot longer than you I might add.”
Aiden looked as though I had just knocked the wind out of him. For a split second, pain surfaced in his eyes. “Do you know anything about him?” He questioned challengingly.
I went to open my mouth, but really there was nothing I could say. The fact is, Aiden was right. I knew absolutely nothing about Easton. He never shared one detail of his life with me. I didn’t know where he lived or who his parents were. Even when I was in Sara’s mind he didn’t share anything about his life. “So how do you know him?”
He didn’t answer me.
“Aiden, please tell me something. How do you know Easton? Why did you say you were too late?” I pleaded with desperation filling my voice.
Aiden let out a deep breath, as if he was fighting with himself. Would he tell me? Would he just leave me with more questions? He caressed my cheek as he started, “I know him from a long time ago. He was my best friend once.”
A gasp left my lips as Aiden struggled with some kind of inner turmoil working against him as he appeared to be debating on whether or not to tell me the truth. “Ember, I can’t get into all of this right now. I need to get rid of this locket and only after that can I tell you everything that you need to know.”
“Why do you need to get rid of it? Why does it shine like that?”
An impatient breath came from him. “I trust you showed it to Sara, and it didn’t react to her as it does to you, correct?”
“Yeah…”
“That’s because it is designed only to react to you. It comes from a place where I used to live, where Easton lives, and where Lucien, your ‘shadow man’ reigns. The necklace was designed specifically for you, thousands of years ago. And only you can use it.”
I took a step back, flopping on the bed. My knees felt weak from this revelation. This can’t be real… right?
“The reason I told you that my dreams were memories is that it’s true. We have lived several lifetimes together… but you have always died not long after you turned twenty-one.”
It felt as though my heart dropped to my stomach. “But I’ll turn twenty-one in less than three months…”
Desperation spread across his face. “I need to get rid of this now. I cannot lose you again!”
“Aiden, wait!” I was terrified. I didn’t want to be left alone now! “What does Lucien want with me?”
“You are the only one that he desires because you can pose the greatest threat or the greatest weapon for his bidding. The reason he presents himself in your dreams is to keep an eye on you and collect information. He cannot get you this time… This time, I’ll make sure to protect you… I cannot fail you again…”
My blood ran cold. All the color must’ve drained from my face as Aiden rushed to me. I could see he was calling my name, but I couldn’t hear him. All I could hear was a loud ringing sound. He was holding me, calling my name, and kissing my forehead, but it was like I wasn’t physically there. My heartbeat was irregular and my breathing erratic. I was having another panic attack.
Aiden was hugging me, trying to say something, when suddenly his voice was loud and clear. It was the only thing I could hear. “Ember, calm down, baby.” But I couldn’t snap out of it. I was trapped in my own mind, terrified beyond words can describe of the shadow man being real.
Just as I felt like a was about to pass out, Aiden began kissing me. Deeply, passionately, hungrily kissing me. I was kissing him back just as excitedly until my mind and body came back to right here and right now. My heart rate slowed as my breathing became more regulated.
When it seemed like I was out of the worst of it, Aiden pulled back, staring at me in worry. “Baby?”
“How did you do that?” My breathing was still labored and my heart still beating strangely, but I was somewhat able to think a little more clearly.
He only smiled at me, relief washing over him as he picked me up to lay me on the bed. “It’s a useful trick I picked up when someone is having a panic attack.” He gave me another kiss. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us, dealing with your abilities. But for now, you need to rest.”
“Don’t leave me alone… Aiden… Please…” I begged as my eyes grew heavy with exhaustion.
His face softened at my request. “Of course, my love.”
My eyes betrayed me as they closed. I could feel myself falling into sleep, even though I tried with all my might to fight it.
“I shall be here by the time you wake up.”
I was about to say something, tell him not to go anywhere without me, tell him I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t make the words come out. Is Aiden making me feel this exhausted? Is he making me fall asleep? I soon fell fast asleep without giving another thought to what he had said.
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