Jaded Jewels (The Coveted Saga 2)

He shook his head. "Aria, You don't know how much that hurts me to hear you say something like that. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you think that.

"I went in search for a way for us to be together; not for another person to be with. I knew there had to be a reason my link wasn't breaking. It shouldn't have been getting stronger when I was away from you, but it was. I felt like I was dying every second I was gone from you. I only felt peace when I was by your side. But that peace was always obstructed by guilt.

"There was nothing I could do to break our link. I loved you. I mean I really loved you. That shouldn't have been possible. I knew it shouldn't have been possible unless you were my soul mate, but that was supposed to be impossible.

"I didn't want to give you false hope, so I lied. I knew Amelia would be able to tell I was lying, and she'd probably tell you what I was really doing. I didn't want to hurt you even worse if there was no way for us to be together. So I wrote a letter and lied to you in order to protect you. It was all I could do, or so I thought. Looking back, I should have just taken you with me. I didn't realize how strongly you could feel for a person when you were still mortal. I thought I was feeling it more intensely than you, but I was wrong. You felt it as much as I did.

"I was afraid to answer your calls, because Amelia is always close to you, projecting. I didn't answer anyone's calls until I found the answers to our problem. I didn't want to hurt you, and as it turns out, I hurt you even worse by doing so. I'm sorry I put you through that."

He stood up and moved toward the window. I smiled as I followed behind him, unable to keep my hands to myself. It was so hard to talk when all I wanted to do was get lost in us, but some things needed to be said. Though this conversation had steered the wrong way.

I craved to be as close to him as physically possible. I was ready to explore every intimate detail about him, and nothing excited me more. It was so much harder to snap myself out of my trances now. My hands traveled up his back and around his arms to his chest.

"I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I was trying to tell you how much I love you, and have loved you since day one. I'm glad the drama is over and we can just be together. I can't wait to get started."

I smiled suggestively, and he pulled me to him, bringing his mouth back down to mine. Our lips brushed lightly before fitting together in a fiery hot kiss that left me trembling in his arms. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything, and a thrill shot through me.

My whole body started throbbing with uncontrollable desire as his hands slowly traveled up my back. My sense of touch had been amplified as well, something I considered an added bonus now that there was nothing holding us back.

I could feel every inch of his body that was touching mine with such vivid clarity. It was surreal and tantalizing, exciting and terrifying, but most importantly, it made me feel complete. I couldn't get close enough.

I tried to tug at his shirt, but under my unexpected strength, the shirt ripped in half and fell from his body, prompting a throaty chuckle to escape from him.

I couldn't laugh when I felt his ripples and muscles exposed to my touch. I wanted every inch of him touching me. His sexy noises let me know that he wanted me as badly as I wanted him.

He grabbed me just at my thighs and pulled my legs up to wrap them around his waist. His strong hands gripped me, holding me tighter. And I welcomed the feel of desire.

He pushed me against the wall, cracking the sheetrock. I didn't flinch. My new immortal body was completely unaffected by the force.

I continued to kiss him as my fingers dug into his back a little more, needing his every breath to become mine. I couldn't help but grin when he tossed me to the bed, coming to join me quickly.

I grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him back down to me. He was so irresistible, and he was enjoying toying with me.

My insecurities were gone now. I felt even more intoxicated by his mouthwatering beauty. We had been designed to fit together in perfect harmony. I knew that tonight was going to be the most magical night of my life.

He raised up slightly pulling his lips away from mine just a few inches. "I love you, Aria, and I will for eternity. You've been the only thing missing from my life, and now I never want to be away from you again. I need you, and I refuse to be without you. I just hope you're ready for that."

Ready for that? I wasn't ready to be the "chosen" descendent of Isis. I wasn't ready for war with Graven or Lokan. I wasn't ready to be an immortal—or an eternal, as they called them. But I was definitely ready for anything as far as Tallis was concerned.

My kiss turned hungry, and I was swept away with his talented tongue, loving how his hands felt on my sides, but ready for so much more. I kept pushing my body closer to his, hoping he'd lose a little control.

"I'm more than ready, and I never want to be away from you either," I whispered in a breathy rasp.

Our kiss resumed, and we poured everything we had into it. I flipped him over, putting me on top of his body, but he only laughed as he flipped me to be on my back again as he settled his body between my legs.

He moved my hair to the side as he smiled down at me. "I don't ever have to leave you again. Now it's official; I belong to you and only you. I always have. Even if I didn't know it yet."

This was it. This was the moment I'd been waiting for since the day I realized I loved him.

"I belong to you, too. I always will."

He started slowly kissing me again, until the fire set back in. Then he pulled back abruptly, and I wanted to scream in frustration.

"What's wrong?" I asked, trying not to sound as wounded as I felt.

He

didn't say anything for a minute. He seemed to be gathering himself, possibly cursing himself for reasons unbeknownst to me.