BONUS: Unedited Aiden POV Scene 2

March 16, 2020

Listening to Alex bound up the stairs like a horde of daimons were chasing her, a slight smile pulled at my lips.  

My gaze fell to the glass of wine and then shot to the door.  In my chest, my heart pounded like a jackhammer. What was I doing? 

I knew exactly what I was doing. 

And I knew exactly what I wanted. My body did. My heart did. Part of me was already upstairs, in the bedroom with her. Was she getting ready for bed? Undressing?  

I downed the rest of the wine and then sat the glass on the mantle, beside the picture of my parents. I ran my fingers over the glass and then stepped back, waving a hand over the fire. Orange-red flames pulsed, spraying sparks and then sucked down, vanishing.  

Shutting off the light in the room, I closed the door behind me and headed upstairs, to my room. As I changed, I wanted to tell myself I was only going in there to be with her, to just hold her. Comfort her and simply exist beside her, because wanting anything more wouldn’t be right. 

But I’d almost lost her—I had lost her.  

Alex had died in my arms.  

I had held her as her life had seeped onto the floor and there had been nothing I could do, but she was here now. There was no going back from that.  Wanting her. Loving her. Even lying beside her in bed was wrong in our society, but…. 

I really didn’t give a damn. 

Not anymore. Not after thinking I’d never hear her smartass responses again or fall into those warm brown eyes.  

Leaving the room, I started to open the door and then stopped. I knocked, because, hell, it seemed like the right thing to do.  

“It’s okay,” came Alex’s voice and she sounded out of breath. 

What the hell had she been doing in there? 

Opening the door, I slipped and locked it behind me. With Deacon in the house, the last thing I wanted was for him to get bored in the middle of the night and think this was a slumber party for three. 

I turned, about to say something and the words vanished from my head. 

Alex was in bed. 

Well, no shit. 

But it was Alex in bed. Electricity coursed over my skin. I almost took a step forward, almost went straight to the bed, to her.  I forced myself to not pounce on her, because that was how I felt.  

I drew the blinds, casting the room into darkness and then picked up a candle. A small flame licked over the wick. I placed it on the nightstand and then allowed myself to look at her again. 

Alex looked petrified, clutching the comforter to her chin. Her eyes were as big as the moon.  

I smiled. 

Her fingers eased on the blanket. 

Carefully, I pulled the covers to the side and slipped in, never once breaking eye contact with her.  “Alex?” 

“Yeah?” 

My smile spread. “Relax. I just want to be here with you… if that’s okay?” 

“It’s okay,” she whispered.
 

Relief coursed through me in a sudden rush of warmth. “Good, because I really don’t want to be anyplace else.”
 

She let out a little breath as she watched me stretch out. Her gaze flickered to the door and then she bit down on her plump lower lip. A jolt shot through me. She peeked at me through lower lashes. 

I drew in a shallow breath, lifting my arm. “Come?” 

Alex didn’t hesitate. My girl never did. She scooted over, her leg pressed to mine. I wrapped my arm around her waist, guiding her down so she was against me, my cheek on my chest. 

Could she feel the pounding of my heart? 

I stared at the ceiling, swallowing. Who knew holding someone could feel so… so wonderful? Like what I imagined Olympus must feel like. It had to be Alex, because I’d never felt this way lying in bed with a female before.  

Then again, I wanted to be here more than I’d ever wanted to be any place.  

She was a miracle and I had hurt her before.  Even thinking about how I had rejected her made me want to skin myself. She had and always would deserve so much more than what I had said to her.  

I cupped her cheek with my other hand, tracing my thumb along her jaw.  “I’m sorry for the day in the gym. For how I talked to you, for how much I hurt you. I just thought I was doing the right thing.” 

“I understand, Aiden. It’s okay.” 

“It’s not okay. I hurt you. I know I did. I want you to know why I did that.”  I took a breath, one I didn’t need. “After you told me how you felt, at the zoo… it… it shattered my self-control. I knew I couldn’t be around you anymore, because I knew I would touch you and I wouldn’t stop.” 

Alex rose and stared at me. Those beautiful lips parted. She didn’t speak, and it was a good thing she hadn’t, because that mouth drew me in. My hand curved around the nape of her neck and pulled her down before I could think twice about it.  

I kissed her, barely brushing my lips over hers, but every muscle in my body tensed. Her response was immediate, eagerly following my lead. A deep sound rose in me, and her breath quickened.  

There had been things I wanted to say to her before it came to this and I knew it would come to this. 

Maybe I always knew it would. 

Pulling away before I lost complete control, I pressed my forehead to hers.   

“I can’t keep pretending that I don’t want this—that I don’t want you. I can’t. Not after what I happened to you. I thought… I thought I’d lost you, Alex, forever. And I would’ve lost everything. You are my everything.” 

So many emotions flickered in her eyes and face. “This… this is what you’ve been trying to tell me.” 

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to tell you, Alex.” And that was probably the truest thing I’d ever said. Sitting up, I brought her along with me. “I’ve always wanted this with you.” 

Her hands slid to my cheeks, her eyes mirroring the desire roaring in me.  

“I’ve always loved you,” she said. 

Those words undid me.  

Burying my hand in her hair, I kissed her again. “This wasn’t my intention… coming in here.” 

“I know.” Her lips grazed mine. “I know. 

 I closed the distance between us, soaking her in as I eased her onto my back. 

Heart pounding, I slid my fingers over her face and down, marveling at the fact that I was touching her. That I could.  Her hands went to my shirt, and I lifted up so she could tug it over my head. Then her hands were on my stomach, those lips following their path, trailing tiny, sweet kisses until I couldn’t take it anymore. 

“Alex.” I gripped her arms, hauling her back up. 

As impatient as ever, she shrugged out of my grasp and lifted her arms. Like I would ever refused anything she wanted again. I pulled the shirt off and then shifted, rolling her onto her back.   

Gods, beautiful was not a strong enough word to describe her.  

I pressed a kissed to her throat and then her shoulder, her skin warm under my mouth. I found each scar by memory, paying them homage, but when I came to the newest one—one left behind by Linard’s dagger—I shuddered at the reminder.  

Her fingers dug into my hair tightly, urging me on. My lips learned every curve, every swell and inch of softness. She whispered my name over and over, and the way my name fell from her lips, it drove me to the edge. Her body moved in a restless, exquisite way that was breaking me from the inside.  

What was left of our clothing came off in a rush and the feel of her body against mine rocked me to my very soul. Our kisses deepened. Her lips parted, allowing me in as her body rocked against mine.  

I didn’t feel like I deserved this, that I was even worthy of touching her skin with my mouth or any of this and what was sure to follow, but then she wrapped her calf around my leg, bringing us so close together that I ached for her. 

Lifting my head, I stared into those beautiful eyes. “Are you sure?”
 

“Yes,” she breathed. “I’ve never been more sure.”
 

My hand trembled against her face. “Have you gotten…?”  

When she nodded, I knew she’d gotten the Council-mandated birth control. Though, I’m not sure if she hadn’t if that would’ve stopped us.  

I don’t think a whole fleet of gods could stop us at this point.  

A faint pink flush stole down her throat and over her the slope of her chest. My gaze moved lower, soaking her up. Knowing Alex, she was so unsure of the many scars, but it made her all the more beautiful to me. She was brave, strong, and she was everything to me. A fine shiver coursed through her, and I looked up. Desire and anxiety riddled her expression. All I wanted for her to feel was me—was us.  

Somehow, beyond me, I slowed it down. Kissing her softly, drawing at every touch and sound until the nervousness in her body turned to something smothering.  

She wrapped herself around me, fitting every part of her body to mine. Our kisses became more demanding as I slid my hand down the hollows of her body. I followed that path, nipping at her skin. I stopped long enough to peer up at her. 

Alex watched me, her eyes smoky with desire and lips flush and swollen. She nodded, and my heart thumped heavily. The taste of her crawled into me, where it stayed, and the sound of her breathy moans was a chorus I’d never grow used to hearing.  

When I worked my way back to her lips, my body was shaking and every part of me throbbed. “I love you. I have since the night in Atlanta. I always will.” 

She gasped, eyes shining. “I love you.”
I broke.  

Resting my weight on my forearms, I showed her in every where I could that what I felt for her was something tangible, that would never grow old, wither or fade. This kiss was feverish, urgent. “Θα σ ‘αγαπώ για πάντα.” 

I will love you forever.  

And I would.  

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