Page 84 of The Book Reader
He lifts his hand to stroke my cheek before he leans down and kisses me with a passion that has my toes curling. I clutch onto him, hating the fear that’s running through my body. But it’s a new fear. One that makes me scared of losing this man. A man who has made his way into my heart and has settled in as if it were his own.
He pulls back from this kiss, his voice raw with emotion. “Then I will kill everyone to keep you safe. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: I amnotlosing you this time. Not again. They can kill me, too.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to let that happen. I will find the book. There is no other option.”
“Together, my Rose, we will fight together.” His blue eyes stare into mine, and I can see the love so clearly, but he still hasn’t said it.
“Gaelan? Why don’t you drink my blood?”
He frowns. “I have, Ari, when you healed me.”
“That was only because you needed it. I mean, when we have sex, you bite me lightly, only have maybe a few drops, but you don’t drink from me.” His jaw clenches; I feel the urge to say more so he doesn’t lie to me. “The letters, Gaelan, one of them spoke about you biting her and drinking from her, why not me?”
“Because it would make you fully mine again.”
I can feel tears pricking the back of my eyes as hurt stabs in my heart. “You don’t want that?”
“It’s complicated, Ari.”
“I see.” I pull back from his arms and pick up my glass of wine, downing it, then turn to walk out of the kitchen. I get to the door and bump into a hard chest. Looking up, I see Gaelan’s bright blue eyes staring down into mine. I’m now realizing that I’m never going to be able to leave a room—he’ll just shimmer in front of me.
“Let me explain, Ari.”
I cross my arms over my chest, not moving. Just waiting. He smirks at me before pulling me close. “I will fuck this attitude out of you later.” My cheeks flush at his words, and my pussy starts to throb. The asshole has a knowing glint in his eye; he knows precisely what his words are doing to me right now.
“We are soulmate-bonded, which means we’re already tied together. The bond will never break. If I bite you and drink from you fully and during sex, it will awaken, and if I start, I won’t be able to stop, Ari. Not until I’ve marked you as mine again.” He lowers his head and kisses my neck. “Everything in me is screaming for me to mark you, to make you mine. But I willneverdo that to you until you’re ready.”
My voice shakes with the intensity of my arousal right now. “‘Awaken?’ What does that even mean, Gaelan?”
Gaelan growls against my skin, and I feel it go straight to my wet core. “It means that we become one. What you’re feeling now will be more intense; you’ll be able to feel my pain, happiness, and sadness. My need and my love for you. It’s a bond that will make us both powerful.”
“Love?”
He chuckles against my neck before pulling back and looking at me. “I’ve loved you forever, my Rose. That will never stop.” He lowers his head and kisses me, whispering, “I love you, Arianna.”
Tears run down my face; part of it is happiness because he finally said it, the other part is sadness because I can’t say it back. The letters I read earlier… knowing everything we’ve been through in the past, what we’re going through now, and what’s coming for us next—I’m scared. If I say it back, if I admit to all these feelings I have for him, it might all be for nothing if Macy ends up killing me again.
Gaelan smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You don’t have to say it back.” He takes my hand, feeling the ring I forgot to take off, and he lifts it. I watch as the color drains from his face. “Where did you find this?”
“It was in with a letter, one that you wrote.”
He smiles sadly. “Maddie’s ring.”
“I’m sorry, Gaelan.”
“What for?” He frowns.
“That I couldn’t liveforyou.” A sob escape, sand tears now run freely down my face. All the pent-up emotion from the letters and this man standing before me started hitting me full force. He pulls me close, hugging me to him.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ari. Fate is a bitch most of the time.”
“What if I can’t do it, Gaelan? What if I can’t win?” My earlier confidence leaves me reeling, and my hand clutches onto Gaelan tighter. He runs his hand down my back, trying to comfort me.
“You can, my Rose. This time itwillbe different.”
I can feel the lie on his tongue, sharp and ready to sting me. I just hope he’s right and that this time will be different. If it’s not… I’ll lose him.
I’ll lose… everything.
