I nod then look away from him. “Well how do I tell him?”
“We’ll tell him on Monday, at dinner—but this time you get to choose where we eat,” he jokes. I smile and he slides in closer. “Liam was like family to me. I can’t see him going down that road because I know that if he does, it will kill you and I won’t know what to do because he’s all the family you have left.” His eyes travel down to my lips. He gazes at them with a tantalizing stare. I have no choice but to gaze back at his. He wraps his free hand around the nape of my neck then pulls me in softly to kiss me.
My heart thumps as I collide with him and share my embrace. I want my lips to say that I’m sorry. I want them to speak for me and let him know that I didn’t mean everything that I’d said earlier. I don’t hate this life, I just despise it. But I know that he won’t let that happen to me again. I can tell by the way his body is molding and sinking into mine. I can tell by his touch, his soft lips, his unsteady, rigid breathing.
He pulls away but it is only so he can lay me on my back and climb on top of me. He pins my arms above my head, smolders his lips over mine, and I arch into him. This feeling is driving me insane. I want him badly. And by the feel of the growing hardness in his pants, I can tell that he wants me, too. But will he go that far?
He begins to trail kisses down to my neck, burying light touches all the way down with his soft lips. He kisses the curve of my breasts that seem to be pushed up since he still has my arms pinned up above me. Heat flushes throughout my entire body; the delicate spot between the center of my thighs is getting warmer, damper.
“Damn, Alexandria,” he murmurs, against my ear. His husky voice sends spirals of pleasurable satisfaction through my entire body. “I’ve wanted you like this for four years too long,” he groans, kissing my neck again. He releases my arms to wrap his hands around my waist and lift my hips up and into him. I wrap my legs around his waist, feeling his hardness digging into me, letting me know that my body has caused his sudden erection.
A moan slips from my lips as my hips remain firmly planted against him while he removes his hands from my waist to tuck them beneath my shoulder blades. He leans down, pressing his smooth chest against mine to leave no space between us. He looks into my eyes, his dark and in need. I nibble at my bottom lip, no longer being able to control myself anymore. The desire in his eyes—the fire and heat that is radiating from his entire body—it is all just one big thrill. I don’t know why I feel this way. I don’t know why I want to give it up so easily to Jules, but I do. I want him to have me (even though I am a virgin and I’ve never done this before. Is it because he’s my mate? With him, this feeling seems natural. With him, I know he won’t let me down. I know he will take care of me, please me, and won’t ever leave my side.
I begin to pull him into me but as our lips are about to meet, my phone buzzes on the nightstand and I jump in his arms, startled. He glances up to look where the night stand is then back down at me. “Answer or ignore?” he asks.
Damn. This is a tough decision. My desires or a phone call that may ruin our moment? But then again it may be my brother. “It might be Liam,” I whisper. He nods then pulls away swiftly, tucking himself beneath the blankets. I sit up and scramble of out my daze, hopping down on the floor and grabbing my phone. But when I spot the name on the screen, my heart sinks and I know that the rest of my night may be ruined if I answer.
Felix.
“Are you going to answer or what?” Jules asks jokingly. Oh, if only you knew who was calling. I glance over my shoulder and force a smile then decide to hit the ignore button. It can wait until tomorrow. I’m still upset with him.
I climb back into the bed and try to nuzzle against Jules but his body tenses. I glance up but his eyes are already on me. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“That was Felix, wasn’t it?”
I look away as my heart leaps to my throat. “How did you know? I ask stupidly.
He sighs. “You’re not very good at trying to conceal you emotions, Alexandria. Your heart had practically stopped beating. You looked like you were staring at a ghost.” We both force a smile. Now our moment is definitely ruined. He reaches for the lamp on my side and turns it off. He then reaches for the lamp on the night stand beside him, switches it off, and the room grows dark.
I try to adjust my eyes to the night but I’m still disappointed in myself. I should have just kept that perfect moment going. I should have just ignored it. Damn it! I should have known that it wasn’t Liam that was calling me this late. He already knows where I am.
I turn on my side, facing my back to Jules as I tuck my hands beneath my cheek. I pull the blankets over me but another addition of warmth slithers and molds against the back of me. My stomach flips and the butterflies are really dancing around now. They’re having a party in there.
Jules wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in, making sure that there is no space between my butt and his groin. His fingers wrap around mine as his lips touch my ear. “Goodnight, Alexandria,” he breathes against my ear. My skin buzzes as the spiraling heat flourishes through me again. Oh my goodness. Why does he have to sound so sexy, feel so warm? I’m starting to think that’s he’s doing it purposely. I can almost feel him sneering, teasing me.
But two can play at that game. I push my hips back and bury them against the center of his body. He grunts lightly. I smile, knowing that he can’t resist but has to. And I have to admit that I love this cuddling side of Jules. It’s a satisfying, safe embrace.
“Goodnight, Jules,” I chime in the best low and seductive voice that I can supply. I can feel him beaming behind me and it isn’t too long before I fall asleep in his arms, in his bed. And, as I’d wanted, I’m not sleeping alone.
BEATIFUL
The air is sticky and I’m sweating cold sweat. I’m in the dark again, panting rigidly but this time I can’t control myself. Should I run left or right? Ahead or back? The exotic glowing eyes swarm around me quickly. They begin to whisper and chant something that I still can’t make out. I’m confused and I scream out to them, asking them what they want but suddenly they are silent. Their eyes are still glowing, still staring at me.
“What do you want?!” I scream out again. “I don’t want to live like this. Just leave me alone!”
The eyes remain on me but they begin to whisper among themselves again. I grow anxious because they’re all trying to talk at once. Some are saying, “Stay. Fight,” while some of them are saying, “Don’t give up now”. That is all I can make out from them. They begin to whisper again, but it goes back to a language that I can’t understand.
“What should I do?” I ask, as if they can help me. Perhaps they can.
The vibrant eyes blaze brighter and suddenly they are rushing away from me. “Follow us, follow us, follow us,” they whisper. My legs have a mind of their own and follow after the eyes. They guide me through the darkness but then stop as a casement window appears ahead. The sun is shining through it and the glowing eyes disappear. I shield my eyes with my hand, blocking the sun as I step ahead with narrowed eyes. I take gradual steps, wondering if I should be afraid or happy to see the sun shining in through the darkness.
I finally reach the window and when I glance out, the beat of my heart disappears. The sun sinks behind the grey clouds and thunder rumbles all over. Streaks of lightning strike the sky in different areas and the city is unfamiliar to me. I’ve seen it in magazines and movies, but never in person. It’s London. There is a large building standing taller than all of them and on top of the roof is Jules. He has no shirt or shoes on, just a pair of dingy black pants. The wind is howling, pushing his dark locks back as heavy drops of rain splatter down on his glistening, marble skin. His radiant gold eyes meet mine and I gasp as I push the window open and try to climb out. I glance down but below are bottomless pits and shadows.
“Jules! Don’t!” I scream.
“Alexandria,” he whispers. He’s so far away but why does his voice sound so close? �
�Alexandria, the matter of my existence is up to you.” His eyes switch from vibrant gold to his normal brown and then he dives from the tall building.
I cry out for him and scream for him to stop but he just continues to fall. “Jules! STOP! I’m yours! You are my mate and I promise to accept this life. Please—don’t die on me! Don’t leave me in this world alone!” I reach out of the window, as if I can grab for him.
He looks up, smirks, and in the midst of falling in thin air, his sparkling gold wings sprout out from the black markings on his body and he flaps upward to meet me.
The heavy wind from the flap of his wings blows against me as his eyes blaze with pure, shining gold. “Alexandria,” he murmurs.
He clasps my face with a smile but then something grabs a hold of me from behind. A pair of large hands. I glance over my shoulder and spot the red eyes dragging me back. “Alexandria!” Jules yells as he climbs through the window.
“Alexandria.” My body jolts and I gasp as I sit up quickly. There is a warm hand on my shoulder and around my waist but it isn’t a Hellion’s. It’s Jules.
“What’s wrong? You’re jumping in your sleep,” he says, shifting to eye me in the dark.
I sigh as I shake my head and try to wave it off. “I’m um—I’m fine. Just had a nightmare,” I mumble.
“About what?” I can see the concern in his face from the moonlight that is shining in through his bay window.
But then I think on it. I had a nightmare that you were going to kill yourself if I don’t accept this angelic lifestyle. I hope that doesn’t happen. “It’s nothing.”
He sighs then pulls me against him. I bury my head between the crease of his warm, bare chest as he cradles me in his arms. His heart drums evenly and it calms me down rapidly. To hear the beat of his heart amazes me. It’s always in rhythm—never lacking. Just like the love he has for me. “I can put some tea on a kettle, if that’ll help,” he offers, whispering.
I smile. “That’s kind of you, but it’s late. We should just get some sleep instead.”
I feel him nod before he shifts a bit to get more comfortable but he doesn’t bother to remove his arms from around me. I nuzzle up to him, taking in his soft, masculine scent, breathing him in and wanting to kiss him. But I hold off. I won’t kiss him right now. Not after that nightmare. I just hope that it isn’t realistic and won’t ever happen.
Ever.
****
A spill of gloomy white light seeps through the blankets before I turn on my back. I rub my eyes as I remove the blanket from over my face, sit up, and hike myself against the headboard. After that nightmare last night, I fell asleep like a baby. I don’t think I dreamt again after that—especially as I lied in Jules’ arms.
I turn to my right but frown because he isn’t lying beside me. I reach to rub his spot and it’s cold so he must have been out of bed for a while now. I scramble from the sheets but in the midst of hurrying, my foot gets caught between them and I crash down on the carpet, landing chest first.
“Ouch,” I mutter, tugging my foot away from the tangled sheets. I hear quick footsteps coming down the hall and as I glance up, Jules is standing between the frames of the door. His eyes are worried at first but as he spots me lying chest-down against the floor, his lips quirk up and he lets out a deep, joy-filled chuckle.
“Are you alright?” he asks, stepping into the room and reaching for me but I shove his hand away.
“I’m fine,” I mutter, trying my hardest to bite back on a smile. I’m embarrassed. Damn it. Why does he always have to feel what I feel?
“That was quite a fall. You didn’t have to hurt yourself just to get to me. All you had to do was call.” He smirks then snakes his arm around my waist to reel me in. I shake my head before slipping out of his arms rapidly. He turns to stare at me, his soft eyes turning hard and boiling with insult.
He can’t kiss me right now. Not while I have morning breath. “Let me—um, let me freshen up first,” I say, dipping around him to get to my duffel bag.
His eyes soften again before he laughs. “You haven’t changed a bit, Alexandria,” he says between chuckles.
“What do you mean?” I ask, scrambling through my bag until I feel my toothbrush.
“You used to hate when I saw you in the mornings. You used to say that you always felt your ugliest when you first awake.”
I place my bag down. “Well, it’s true. I’m like Cruella Deville in the mornings. My hair sticks up, my face looks hideous . . .,”I trail off as he laughs harder this time. “Laughing only means that you agree,” I say, pointing a justified finger.
“I actually disagree. To be quite honest, you are gorgeous in the morning. You look simple, beautiful. Ready to take on the challenges of this demented world.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Yeah, I highly doubt that,” I snort, stepping into the bathroom completely and turning the lights on.
“I made breakfast so come out when you are finished,” he says, making his way to the bedroom door. “And whenever you are ready to go back home, just tell me. I don’t want to continue to hold you hostage.” He grins smoothly, his eyes still gentle and still on me before he turns to make his way down the hall.
I nod—even though he’s already gone—and shut the door slowly. For some reason, I don’t want to go home. I feel like being with him is home. I’ve never felt so satisfied lying in someone’s arms. Liam used to hold me a lot—especially during the first few months after my memory loss when I had to get to know him all over again. He would tell me that everything would be alright and that he would take care of me. He would tell me that I could ask him anything because he’s here for me.
My throat becomes dry and scratchy as I turn to face the large mirror. My hair isn’t bad, but it’s wavy from washing it last night and it’s sticking up in odd places. My lips are kind of dry—most likely from kissing Jules in the middle of the night—and my green eyes are wide, still confused on this feeling that has suddenly overwhelmed me. I don’t think that I will ever be ready to leave from here. I felt safe here last night—like no one could attack me as long as I was in his arms.
“Get it together, Alexandria,” I scold myself, reaching for the toothpaste to put a dab on my toothbrush. I stick the toothbrush into my mouth but I can’t help but to look at myself. I’ve never felt so proud for the way that I look. Yes, I still think I look like Cruella Deville in the mornings, but Jules sees otherwise. He always makes me feel pretty. Lots of people say things that will sometimes make me feel beautiful but with Jules, it’s just . . . different. I’m sure he doesn’t tell any other girls what he tells me—at least, I hope not.
RICH SCHEME
Jules and I pull up to Think Coffee after we’d eaten pancakes with warm syrup and turkey sausage. It was the best breakfast ever and we talked about a lot of stuff. He asked me about my nightmare but I refused to tell him about it. It was too horrifying to bring up again. That’s one of the nightmares that I just want to bury and never see or speak of again. Chris called me into work while we were in the middle of eating so here I am at Think Coffee, kind of pissed off because I wanted to spend a few more hours with Jules before going home.
“Well, Alexandria,” Jules says, wrapping his hand around my waist to pull me against him. My back presses against the cool glass of the passenger window of his car as he gently pushes me against it. “I had a great night last night. Will there be time for more soon?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Of course,” I smile. He smiles back then leans in to kiss me. I pull him in and kiss him back, taking in his soft, pink lips and his warm embrace. I don’t think I will be the same when he leaves. I know we’ve only spent one night together, but last night was really special and I’ve learned a lot about him that I never would have guessed.
The back door of the coffee shop swings open and we both jump, startled, as we slightly pull apart. I glance to my right and spot Chris stepping out with a bag of trash in his hands. He spots us and his face immediately l
ifts as he drops the trash. “Oh my gosh! Is this real?” he asks, looking from me to Jules who is smirking. “This can’t be real! Sorry—sorry!” he squeals, grabbing the trash and tossing it into the dumpster. He rushes back for the door, peeking over his shoulder at us before it slams behind him.
“Well, you’re going to have someone in your ear all day,” Jules jokes.
I giggle. “I’ll live.” I pull away and make my way to the door. “When will I see you again?” I ask, tugging my brown beanie down.
“Tomorrow. For dinner. I usually paint on Sunday’s from sun-up to sun-down . . . but since you were with me, I held off for a few hours.” He grins.
“I’m sorry,” I say playfully, grabbing the door handle.
He makes his way to the driver’s side of the car and opens the door. “As much as I love doing what I’m talented at, I would never put art before you, Alexandria.”
My insides spark with heat, delighted by his compliment. “I’ll see you tomorrow Jules,” I say.
He smiles but before I can take a step back, he walks around his open car door and reels me in again. Our bodies clash as he gazes into my eyes. His eyes are softer, happier. He’s glad to be with me, glad to have me in his arms. I’m glad that he’s holding me—that he always wants to be near. He kisses my forehead, my cheek, and then my lips gently. There is a pull in my lower stomach, craving for more of him like last night but we can’t. Not right here. His velvety tongue slides into my mouth and—oh my gosh—if I thought his lips were fascinating, his tongue is ten times better. Our tongues entwine as we breathe heavily, panting and wanting just a little bit more. He pulls back to look into my eyes again. His aren’t as soft as before but I know it’s because he has to leave without being satisfied.
“Tomorrow, Alexandria,” he murmurs then leans down to kiss me on my lips once more. I nod, kissing him back before he pulls away. “Okay,” I say, breathlessly. Goodness, he’s taken all of the breath out of me.
OBTAINED (Book One) Page 17