Page 58 of Crimson Promises
I sighed. Tomorrow felt like an eternity.
Ben: How about tonight instead?
Typing, pause, then typing again.
Aurora: I can’t tonight. I have other commitments.
White hot anger vibrated throughout my entire body.
Ben: Must be your hot date with Riley. The entire campus is talking about it. I thought you had better standards for yourself.
My hands were still shaking. I punched the couch.
Aurora: Actually, I have to work. And I don’t think who I go out with or what I do is any of your business. Pretty sure you made that crystal clear last night, or am I mistaken?
I hung my head. She was right. I was oscillating on her like a tuning fork, and I wasn't being fair.
As much as I wanted to tell her differently, I knew I couldn’t. Friendship was all I would ever be able to offer her. I punched the couch a few more times before I answered her.
Ben: I’m an ass. Sorry, you’re right. I have no right to judge who you see or what you do in your free time. Tomorrow it is.
Aurora: I’ll do some research on my break tonight. After my shift, we can meet up.
Ben: Deal.
I closed the chat and lay down again on the couch. Fuzzy peaches and sour airheads should be easy to find at a convenience store, along with a bag of Salt and Vinegar chips. Aurora loved all those things.
Tilting my body as far to the edge of the sofa, I reached for the stack of textbooks on my coffee table and grabbed the first one.
The Rise and Fall of Roman Civilizationby Alexander Hughes. Nope. Absolutely not in the mood to read anything that analyzed and explained the entire lifespan of a civilization. I pushed myself off the couch, walked to the windows, and drew back the drapes.
Aurora’s windows were open, her curtains drawn back.
I took a step back. From this angle, no human eyes could see me at the window while still allowing me to see outside. I reached deep inside for the bond and decided to test out a theory. With my will, I tugged on the bond and waited.
A few minutes later, I was rewarded with a confused Aurora at the window. I’ve never been more thankful for my enhanced vision. Her hair was slightly askew, rubbing her eyes, holding a steaming mug of coffee in her hand.
My hypothesis was correct. I had been giving a lot of thought to what I referred to as our ‘bond.’ I noticed its first appearance the night I agreed to the terms of Michael’s deal. He never mentioned Aurora and I would be linked. I was not even sure he was aware of its existence.
I couldn’t read her mind, but the bond was a tool to detect one another’s presence. I wondered if she could feel it, too, or was it only one way? At least the bond could bring us closer together in case of another demon attack. Neither of us could control the other's free will. I imagined it to be a rope linking us, and no matter where we were, that awareness and connection were there. A constant reminder as if I needed any more.
Aurora pulled the elastic from her hair, causing it to tumble down her back. My cock twitched at the sight. She brought her coffee to her lush pink lips. I should look away, but I couldn't. I’m transfixed to the spot. An Original could come down and smite me, and I still didn’t think I’d be able to take my attention off of her. She wore plaid pajama shorts and an old Nirvana t-shirt I knew was previously Stephen’s. Aurora wasn't dressed in satin or lingerie, but I don’t think a woman had ever looked sexier to me. The shorts cut off mid-thigh, giving me a view of her long, lean legs.
In a different world, I would be making the coffee, watching her admire the world from the window, still happy to remain in our bubble for a little longer. I’d walk up behind her, put my chin on her shoulder, take her coffee from her hand, and place it on the table. She would look up at me, her pupils dilated and lips parted. I’d slowly move my hands up the sides of her body until they rested on her shoulders to turn her to face me. Dip my head down to kiss her. I’d reach lower, massaging her core outside of those shorts until she was putty in my arms. As I lifted her, she would curl her legs around my waist. Our tongues would face off, neither one of us backing down from claiming what we knew was ours as I walked us toward her bedroom. We’d spend the rest of the day tangled in the sheets, learning each other in the most intimate ways.
Aurora watched the traffic below her for a few more minutes before returning to the kitchen. Breaking the mirage I knew I would never get to experience.
For a few seconds, I could still feel her warmth wrapped around me. Now I was horny and had to deal with what felt like a constant hard-on since that day she looked into my eyes during our lecture.
I needed to move. Living across from her was another layer of torture I didn’t know if I could endure any further. I was about to walk into the washroom to ease my discomfort when my ass buzzed again. I smiled before even looking at my phone.I must be on her mind just as much as she’s on mine.
But this time, it wasn’t Aurora. I glowered at Michael’s name on the screen.That just killed the mood.
Michael: Meet you at Saddle Mountain after dusk.
My mind raced, searching for answers. Why does Michael want to meet at Saddle Mountain? Last time, we met down by the docks. Sneaky fucker was probably sending me a message that even when I think he isn’t, he’s keeping tabs on me. How he knew I went to Saddle Mountain, I had no clue, but he was an Original. I couldn’t put anything past him.
Things changed so quickly. Earlier, I had been looking forward to this meeting, and now I was dreading it. The cherry on top of it all was I had to wait the entire day to get it over with. I glanced at the stack of textbooks on the table. Might as well be productive.
