Page 65 of Set In Stone

krystina

The hot streamfrom the shower felt good against my neck and back. I hated the idea of getting out, but I had an important day ahead of me. The week had been incredibly busy, one day seeming to blend in with the next. However, it had been an extremely productive four days as a whole. Before I knew it, Friday washere.

As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and towel dried my hair, I felt optimistic about the day ahead. My head cold was completely gone and I had a full schedule planned. Not only did I have a pitch appointment with Sheldon Tremaine, but there was a night on the town planned. I may have been looking forward to that more than anything else. Alexander and I needed a night out. It would be good to have some good old-fashion unadulterated fun for once. No networking, no business, and no stress. Just drinks withfriends.

Alexander came into the bathroom just as I was putting the finishing touches on mymakeup.

“Beautiful as always, angel,” he told me and leaned in to nuzzle my neck. I breathed in his scent, freshly showered with a hint of woodsy aftershave. It wreaked havoc on my system. You’d never know I had awakened that morning to the feel of Alexander’s manhood slipping inside of me. Our love-making had been warm and tender, a sweet morning wakeup call. I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day. However, if he didn’t stop trailing kisses over my neck, I’d soon be looking for something muchrougher.

“God, you smell good,” Imurmured.

His lips moved over the line of my jaw until he met my lips. Not caring that he would ruin the lipstick I just applied, I gave into the moment and returned his kiss. He had been different over the past couple of days. I couldn’t pinpoint what it was exactly, but he seemed more relaxed. I could still sense tension in him, but it wasn’t consuming him the way it hadbeen.

The article was still a threat, but it had yet to be released. I wasn’t sure why Mac Owens hadn’t published and I didn’t particularly care. He called me three times this past week, but I dodged every one of his calls. I wondered if Charlie decided to recant his story after a visit from the DA. I hadn’t spoken to Thomas Green since our meeting, but I knew I would have to call him soon to let him know I dropped my plan. It was a risky idea anyway and I had failed to come up with anything better. Yet, as Alexander deepened our kiss, I was reminded of Hale and Vivian’swords.

You are the place he calls home. Just be there forhim.

Perhaps it wasn’t the grand plot I was originally going for, but it was exactly what I was doing. I wasn’t sure if I’d go so far as to say I had a special magical power, but simply being there for Alexander did hold some merit. Maybe that was why he seemed different. Whatever it was, I only knew that I didn’t want to see him in misery anymore. If my show of support was all he needed, so beit.

Eventually, he pulled away. I was left feeling empty, already missing the feel of his lips. I was about to pull him back to me, but stopped short when I spotted his face. His lips and the area around his mouth was heavily smudged with pinklipstick.

“Ah, pink is not your color, Alex. Let me help you with that,” Ilaughed.

He chuckled when he realized what I was referringto.

“You don’t think so?” hejoked.

“No, I don’t. And I think your employees would agree.” Grabbing a makeup wipe from my cosmetic bag, I wiped away the evidence of our kiss. He studied me while I cleaned the lipstick from his face. His gaze was so intense, I found myself blushing. “What are you lookingat?”

“You. I love looking atyou.”

My cheeks heated and flushed a deep shade of red. Unable to withstand the fire in his gaze, I turned to throw away the wipe and began to fidget with the little jars of makeup on thecounter.

“Well, you’re not so bad yourself,” Imurmured.

“Krystina, look at me,” he demanded. He grabbed hold of my arm and spun me back to face him. Cupping my face between his hands, his gaze met mine. His eyes were stormy with emotion. “I love you. I hope you know just howmuch.”

I wasn’t sure what brought on this sudden display of affection. I wasn’t going to complain, but I wascurious.

“Of course, I know. I love you too, baby. What brought thison?”

He dropped his hands and took a deepbreath.

“I had a dream. Another nightmare lastnight.”

I froze. Although I awoke to his thrashing regularly, I didn’t last night. Even if I had, Alexander wouldn’t have told me about the dream. I never asked for details and he never volunteered them. I figured, when he was ready, he’d tellme.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I was looking for you. Well, at first it was my mother, and then you. When I finally found you, there was something wrong.” He paused, seeming far away in thought. “The details aren’t clear anymore, but I do remember that you were bleeding from somewhere. Normally, that’s when I wake up. But I didn’t this time for some reason. The dream kept going. When I tried to help you, to hold you…you walked away from me. Youleft.”

I placed my hand gently over hisheart.

“Alex, I’m right here. It was only adream.”

“I know that, angel,” he agreed and offered a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “But you’ve been different this past week. You haven’t argued or fought with me. Hell, you haven’t even questioned mydemands.”

“That sounds like a complaint. Isn’t that what you’ve wanted since we first met?” I teased, trying to keep the mood light. When he reached up to tuck a loose curl behind my ear, I leaned into hispalm.

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