CHAPTER 1

ALYSSA

My heart beats hard in my chest as Kyle pulls me through the forest of tall pine trees. A large, dark shadow follows us from above the trees. I keep glancing up to see if it’s still there. It seems impossible.

Another clap of thunder fills the surrounding air. How strange. I didn’t see any lightning. There’s no rain and the only wind comes from directly above us.

I can’t remember a time I’ve felt wind blowing from above me. A small patch of flat terrain gives me a chance to look up again without worrying about tripping.

What the hell is that?

Shit, there’s two of them! They’re huge. I’ve never seen any bird so large. I tug at Kyle’s hand, trying to get him to stop.

I want to look at them, not run from them. They can’t be stalking us. They’re just birds.

His eyes are wide and full of fear as he looks back at me, still running. “What are you doing, Ally?”

“Let’s stop. I want to look at them.”

The look I get in return assures me he thinks I’m nuts. He keeps running, then a horrific shrieking sound vibrates down my spine.

I look up and see giant, black wings beating through the light blue sky. Kyle’s speed increases. I’m practically flying behind him. My feet barely touch the ground as he pulls me along.

The thing is, as weird as this might be, I’m not afraid. Kyle is, though, so I’m not going to try to stop him again. I don’t want him to feel like a fraidy cat.

His feet hit the ground with loud thumps as the wings continue to beat above us. The noise the huge wings make is so loud. I can’t help thinking how magnificent they must look.

The gate of our privacy-fenced backyard looms only a few yards ahead of us. As Kyle hits the latch to allow us into my back yard the sound stops.

They’re gone!

We both stop and look up, turning in a full circle. It’s as if nothing was following us at all. The sky is bright blue. Not a single bird flies above us.

Crap, I really wanted to see them. I was hoping I could get a good look as they flew over our yard. This is really disappointing.

Kyle looks back at me as we walk into the yard. “What the fuck?”

My eyes go crazy wide. It’s no secret my parents are the strictest people in the entire world. Make that the universe.

“Kyle! Language!”

He bends his head to speak in my ear. “Sorry, baby. But seriously, what was that?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I say, “I don’t know. But whatever those things were, they’re gone now.”

He tugs at my hand, pulling me further into the yard. “That was weird. Don’t you think it was weird, Ally?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I think it’s weird, Kyle.”

“Isn’t it strange that when you kissed me the thunder of wings began?”

I laugh. “You kissed me, not the other way around.”

Suddenly I’m halted, his hands on my shoulders, and the twinkle in his sky-blue eyes captivating my attention.

“I asked you to go to Texas with me and gave you a ring, then you kissed me after you said yes. Remember, Ally?”

I nod, making him smile. My parents are not going to be happy, but I’m going to Austin with Kyle after graduation. Only three weeks away. I turn eighteen the day after, so I’ll be legal and they can’t stop me.

Right?

God this is scary. So much scarier than those birds were.

How could they have just vanished? Man, I wanted to see them clearly!

My hand is still in his. That’ll be a problem, as my father’s looking directly at us. He’s frowning.

I’m not supposed to be touching my boyfriend. My parents don’t think he is what he is. They think he’s a friend. A longtime friend, but only that.

When I was thirteen, I had to promise my parents I’d never engage in any relationship until I turned eighteen.

Ludicrous, right?

My dad yells out, clear across the large back lawn, “What’s going on, Alyssa?”

Kyle drops my hand. “Sorry, sir. Something happened in the woods.”

My younger, pain-in-the-butt brother, Scotty, approaches us, a smile on his mischievous face. “You’ve made Daddio mad, Kyle. Not good, dude.”

My mother comes out the back door, carrying a large tray, and Kyle sprints across the lawn to help her. “Please let me get that for you, Mrs. Devlin.” His voice is a mixture of middle America and the south.

His parents are from Texas. They moved here to Cloudcroft, New Mexico because his mother is a real estate agent who got a break in the tourist business our town has. She’s not my biggest fan.

Perhaps my parents’ lack of understanding of teenage romance is the reason. I’m not at all sure why she dislikes me, but she does. One time she even said my best friend, Laura, would be perfect for Kyle.

They live three houses down from each other. I just about had a shit-fit with her words. But Kyle stopped me from acting like a freak in front of his mother and father.

I let him know exactly what I thought about that once we left the confines of his family home.

Kyle’s help with my mother’s burden seems to have helped. My father’s frown has turned into a slight smile. Not an entire one, though.

I jog up next to Kyle. Just to test the waters with my parents. I run my arm around his waist and place a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for helping my mom, babe.”

My father shoots me a look, but Mom stays cool. I need to get them ready for our news.

Wow. Our news. That sounds weird.

The touch of his lips on my cheek sends chills down my spine, and not for the reason you might think. I know it’s about to explode.

“Hey! What the hell?” Dad yells.

Kyle further surprises me. “Mr. Devlin. We have something to tell you.”

“No, we don’t.” I try to stop my true love from getting himself annihilated.

When Kyle’s sky-blue eyes meet mine, I melt into his side.

Damn, I love this guy!

“Mr. and Mrs. Devlin,” He raises my hand, the one with the ring on it. “Ally is moving with me to Austin after graduation.”

The next things happen in a blur. My father goes for Kyle’s throat. Scotty and Mom blindside Dad, taking him away from my one true love.

“Dad!” I scream as I pull Kyle back from the monster my father has become.

My father is usually a very calm man. He and my brother look a lot alike, with tall, soft brown curls, and light green eyes. This attack upon my boyfriend, while anticipated by myself, was not expected by my sweet Kyle.

“Mr. Devlin,” Kyle says. “Please don’t think I’ve any bad intentions with your daughter. I love her with everything in me. I want to marry her one day. It should be after I’ve made something of myself, which is exactly what I will do.”

My ears are burning. Did he just say he wants to marry me?

I turn to him. “Kyle, you don’t have to explain.”

A pat on my hand from my mother lets me know she has things back under control.

Thank you, God!

“Seems like some things have gone unnoticed by your father and myself. We’ll discuss this new information in private. For now, we need to eat,” she says with the soft comfort her voice always brings.

My mother is from Connecticut, with jet black hair and eyes of blue. She and I stand five foot two. We’re almost identical. I think she’s much prettier than I am, but she says the same of me.

“Thank you, Mom. There’s no need for this,” I say as I take a chair at the table on our patio. Kyle pulls out the chair next to mine, planting himself in it.

Just to piss my father off, I take Kyle’s hand. Kyle looks at me with his eyebrows cocked. “You sure about this, Ally?”

I look at my father directly in his eyes. The horrible part is that he looks right back into mine. “Get used to it, Dad,” I hear myself say.

Shit, am I really doing this?

“I love Kyle. The rest of my life will be with him.”

To my complete amazement, my father smiles at me. “How wonderful, baby. You couldn’t have chosen a better man. Kyle, I expect you to take good care of my daughter.”

Scotty chokes on his cherry cola, and I give him a go-to-hell look. “Sorry, Sis,” comes from his mouth as he dabs at it with a paper napkin.

Unbelievably, my mother starts doling out potato salad as Dad cuts the brisket. We all eat in silence. My spidey senses are on overload.

Something is not right. Things are too calm!

The silence is deafening. I can’t take it anymore. “Mom, there’s a dance on Saturday. Kyle asked me to go. His band’s playing at it.”

Mom jerks her fork, loaded with meat, toward my father who sits next to her. “Don’t ask me, dear.”

Reluctantly, I look at my father. He smiles at me.

Didn’t see that coming.

“Sure, you can. But only for a little while. I want you back by ten. You do remember you have a curfew, right? I mean, you seem to have forgotten our deal about no relationships until you’re eighteen, so I have to ask.”

Kyle answers for me, “Mr. Devlin, I can assure you she’ll be home by her curfew. And just to let you know, we haven’t broken your no-dating rule.”

Kyle looks directly into my father’s eyes. That’s no easy task as my dad is glaring back at him. His words come out much nicer than his look. “Thank you, son. I appreciate your respect on this matter. I’m sure Alyssa has also let you in on the fact that she’s not allowed to have sex yet either.”

My gasp happens before I realize I’ve done it. He’s gone too far!

“Dad! Stop that right now! The dinner table, or patio table, or whatever this is, is no place to talk about such things.” I can feel the heat on my cheeks. I must be scarlet with embarrassment.

My mother gives dad a stern look. “Sorry about that, dears. Seems David needs to relax a bit. Come, help me clean up and take things into the house.”

Kyle jumps up, grabbing his empty plate and mine. “We’ve got this, Mrs. Devlin. You and Mr. Devlin cooked, so we can clean up. Can’t we, Scotty?”

My brother looks up at Kyle with a scowl, his words coated in sarcasm, “I guess so, now that you’ve included me. Thanks a lot, dude.”

Dad glares back at Kyle as Mom drags him into the house. I hate to think of what I’m in for once Kyle leaves, which will be too soon as the sun’s already setting.

Dad said he could stay until dark, which is fast approaching. I need to talk to him alone. “Go play with your idiot box, Scotty. I’ll help Kyle.”

“Thanks, sis,” he says as he runs for the door before Kyle can stop him.

Kyle turns and says, “You should make him help, Ally. He gets away with too much, that kid.”

“It’s almost dark,” I say as I snake my arms over his broad shoulders and up to his neck.

He gets what I mean, bringing his lips to meet mine. His kiss is sweet from the barbeque sauce. The touch of his tongue on my bottom lip beckons me to open up for him. I do, immediately gratified.

Somehow, he’s moved me up against the brick wall. Pressing his body to mine, we meld together as only we can. Down my back, his strong hands travel until they reach the top of my butt.

That’s where he always stops, because I told him to. Never has he touched me more than I allow.

The words he told my father earlier about wanting to marry me one day flow back to the forefront of my mind. I move a bit further. I caress his arms as my hands run down them.

Once I reach his hands, I move them down to my butt. The groan he makes, which makes my mouth vibrate as his kiss deepens, lets me be certain he’s pleased.

The pressure he puts on my bottom makes me feel more heat in my lower regions than I’ve felt before. He lifts me up and my back presses even more against the wall. I wrap my legs around him, finding a large lump at my juncture.

Crap, he’s really big and now I’m scared.

I pull back and place my feet on the ground where they belong. Tangling my hands in his hair, I pull his lips off mine.

Not wanting to let him realize what a big chicken I am, I say, “Hey, babe, it’s getting dark and we’ve got to finish cleaning up. You volunteered, remember?”

The usual sky blue of his eyes has darkened. I suppose it’s lust I see in them.

Oh, how cute! He lusts for me!

With his forehead to mine, I sense his frustration. “What you do to me, Ally,” he says with a slightly sluggish voice.

I wonder if our little make-out session made him feel intoxicated. Surely not!

Quickly, we grab all the plates and take them into the house. I dump them into the sink while he goes out for the rest of the things. As I rinse the dishes before I place them in the dishwasher, I watch him out the window above the sink.

God, he’s good looking. He wants to marry me some day. Wow!

My little diamond, heart-shaped ring sparkles under the light over the sink. My heart skips a beat as he walks up behind me, placing more dishes in the sink.

His breath on my neck makes my knees weak. “I love you, Ally,” he whispers. I close my eyes, not sure if this is real. He’s never told me those words before. Even though he told my father, he’s never told me. “Say something.”

I turn and peek around him to make sure no one can see us, then put my arms around him, burying my head in his wide chest. “I love you too.”

I can’t believe it. I’ve finally told him exactly how I feel about him.

With a tight hug, he sighs. “You’ve made me pretty damn happy today, Al. Accepting my offer to move away with me, telling your folks about us, and now you’ve told me you love me too. It can’t get any better than this.”

When he lets me go, the sensation of losing something comes over me. The way he held me made me feel safe, secure, and wanted.

He wants me! Little old me. Why in the hell would he?

I’ve made him wait for years for my physical attention. I have no idea what other boy would’ve waited for me, but he has.

Why? What’s so special about me?

Not a damn thing. I’m a complete bore. Never able to do anything thanks to my over-protective parents. But that’s nearly over. Only two more weeks.

As I start the dishwasher, I hear Kyle sigh again and turn to find him looking out the window at the now dark night.

“Time for me to go,” he says, scooping me up for one last hug. “Walk me out?” His eyebrows raise.

I never walk him out. My parents would have a fit. “I will,” I say, because I’ve got a lecture coming anyway. I might as well make it worth it.

He holds my hand and tugs at me to follow him into the living room. There are the wardens, sitting in their chairs. Dad watching television and Mom reading a book.

By the cover of it, it seems pretty steamy. The picture of the well-muscled, shirtless man holding his body above what seems to be a white-clad damsel in distress falls to my mother’s lap.

“Goodnight, Kyle,” she says with a smile.

Dad’s eyes go straight to our intertwined hands and a frown covers his handsome face. I hate to make him look like that, but what choice do I have?

“Bye,” he speaks gruffly.

I have no idea of the expression on either of their faces as I follow Kyle out, closing the door behind me. One of them jumped up, because the porch light just turned on.

This also tells me one of them is standing at the window, watching us. I’m in for it anyway, so why not give them a real show?

I wrap my arm around Kyle’s waist and lean into him. His arm snakes around my waist, pulling me in even closer.

“I see you’ve made the decision to make them really pissed. You sure you can handle the fallout?” he asks, placing a kiss on top of my head.

I gaze up at him, seeing that his eyes back to their regular blue color. All the lust has gone from them, I’m sorry to say.

“If you can, I can.” My words are strong, but somewhere in me a bit of weakness bites.

My parents have never had to deal with me doing something against their rules, so I’ve no idea what they have in store for me.

Daunting images of dungeons, whips, and chains fill my head.

Kyle reaches up to open the door of his tall, four-wheel-drive truck. It’s black and shiny, all chromed out with freaking beautiful rims. His grandfather gave it to him for graduating with honors. He’s very proud of him for receiving a full scholarship to UT because of how well he plays football.

My man is a monster on the field!

His hands grab me by the waist as he hoists me up into the driver’s seat. I giggle, as it tickles.

“Scoot over. I’m going to kidnap you,” he says with an evil grin on his precious lips.

“How about we do that right after graduation?”

A frown replaces the grin. “Can’t. You won’t be eighteen until the next day.”

How could I forget that little detail? “Okay, then the day after graduation, on my eighteenth birthday, you can steal me away.”

The front porch light flashes off and on in what I assume is a sign to go back inside. “Looks like the guards are calling me in. My time is up.” I reach out for him to help me back down.

The touch of his hands gripping my waist stirs the warmth back into my lower regions making me really dislike my parents at this moment. I just want to get lost in this young man who stands in front of me.

Lightly, he kisses me. I want more than that, but Kyle is just too damn good to let me.

“I’m not gonna let you get yourself into any more trouble than you’ve got coming to you. You don’t need to tell them everything, Al. Remember, they don’t need to hear every detail of what we’ve done.”

The light flashes again, this time with a yell from my mother. “Alyssa, dear, time to come in.”

I watch Kyle climb into his tall truck. He waves at me as he pulls out of the long, steep drive. Turning back to the house, I see that my mother stands on the porch, waiting for me. I brush past her as I walk back inside.

Her hand on my arm pulls my attention to her frowning face. My father stands. “We need to talk, young lady.”

Great, this should be relatively painful!

CHAPTER 2

EDEN

Stars fill the sky over the pristine, white mansion. Dim light by the swimming pool shines in Linda’s eyes. Though nowhere near as beautiful as my Alyssa’s, they’re still pretty.

The touch of her hand on the back of my neck makes me aware of what she’s about to do. Although not our first kiss, it’s been some time since she’s tutored me.

I’ll be eighteen in three days. I’m going to see my Alyssa, face to face, on my birthday, after all this time.

Plump red lips touch mine. My heart beat increases slightly. Linda’s hair is roughly the same length as my Alyssa’s.

I wrap a long piece around my hand. My arm moves around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

Linda is the same size as Alyssa, part of the reason she’s the one tutoring me. She’s wearing a perfume with just the right mix of sweet and citrus. I must remember to ask her what kind it is. Alyssa would probably like to have some.

I have a picture of my soon-to-be-mate up in my bedroom. Just thinking about it fills my mind with her image. And there it is—the thump in my chest every time I think about her and I together like this.

Alyssa’s deep sapphire eyes, her dark black, silky hair, and those perfect red pouty lips. My heart’s going wild now.

My body and lips press harder against Linda’s. I move us until she no longer moves. Holding her to the wall, I force my tongue past her lips, pulling her hair back so she has to accept it.

Linda twists beneath me, pulling her mouth from mine. “Eden! Stop!”

My head is swimming. Crap! What have I done?

“Linda, it was wrong what I did? I didn’t know.”

Linda moves away from me. She’s a little older than I am by about five or ten years, I guess. Her eyes have tiny wrinkles at the corners. Right now her face is flushed red.

“Eden, you have to be a lot more delicate with your mate. She’s innocent after all. Coming on so strong will frighten her. You don’t want to do that, now do you?”

Linda’s dress is bunched up at her waist from my actions. I reach out to smooth it for her. She steps back and does it herself.

“Sorry, Linda. So, no tongue then?”

She shakes her head. “Absolutely not, Eden. You’re marrying a princess of sorts. No tongue. No pulling of hair. No pushing her up against walls, doors, or any other hard surfaces. She’s to be treated only with gentleness and always with respect. Do you understand me?”

I look away, angry with myself. “I do, but …”

She pulls at my chin to make me look at her, interrupting my words. “But nothing, Eden. Touch her very tenderly. She’s completely innocent. Plus, she knows nothing about you. Believe me, you will be a complete stranger to her. The last thing she’ll want is for you to handle her like that. You’ll scare the hell out of her.” She smiles at me, making me feel admittedly stupid.

“I’m a child, Linda,” I say as I mope about how inexperienced I am.

Her arm runs around my shoulders and she gives me a little squeeze. “No, Eden, you’re no child. Here, let’s try this again. Only this time follow my lead instead of taking off on your own.”

Pulling me to sit on a bench with her, she turns. My hands are placed by her, one on her shoulder and one on her waist. This feels awkward, too much like a dancing position.

“This feels weird, Linda.”

“It’s proper to stay some distance away. Now give me a chaste kiss on my cheek,” she instructs me.

I purse my lips and place them on her cheek. “There you go, Linda. Was that chaste enough?”

Her smile tells me it was. “Now, a simple, nice, non-threatening kiss on my lips, Eden.”

Practicing extreme softness, I press my lips to hers. I have to open my eyes a bit or the visions of my Alyssa will run into my head, making me lose control. When I pull back, I find her smiling at me.

“That was nice. Very nice, with no hint of I want to take you right now to it.”

I drop my arms to my sides. “Is that what it felt like when I kissed you? Like I wanted to take you to my bed?”

I never want to treat my baby Alyssa like that. She’s too special.

Linda touches my arm. “Yes, Eden. What you did to me was very sexual in nature. I know you’re a young man with raging hormones and needs, but Alyssa is too inexperienced to deal with that right away. Maybe she’ll like it later, probably many years from now, but not at first. You think you have it all under control now?”

I nod. With her I do. Once I have my hands on my mate, well, I don’t know for sure.

If just her pictures and thinking about her stir this beast inside of me, what will the real girl do?

My cell phone vibrates in my pants pocket. “My father, Linda. If you’ll excuse me, please,” I say as I walk away from her. “Hello, Papa.”

“You should come inside. Your mother and I need to tell you something about Alyssa.”

“Be right in,” I say, a bit nervous.

What could she have done? What if something’s happened to her?

I rush to Linda. “Sorry, Linda. Practice is over.” I take her by her arm, leading her back to her car. “My parents want to talk to me about something.”

She allows me to lead her away from the pool. “I understand, Eden. It’s probable I’ll not see you until you bring her back here. Good luck and remember all I’ve taught you. Always be a gentleman.”

I open her car door and help her inside. Out of habit, I place a quick kiss on her cheek.

I shut her door and wave goodbye as I walk up to our front door. My stomach is clenched with not knowing right this minute what’s wrong with my Alyssa.

Ginger, one of the maids, opens the door before I get to it. “They’re on the veranda, Mr. Fontaine.”

“Thank you, Ginger,” I say, turning back to her. “And please call me Eden.” She’s new, so she hasn’t figured out how much I detest being called Mr. anything.

The look on my parents’ faces doesn’t do much to please me or settle my nerves. “Please sit down, son,” my father says.

I kiss my mother’s cheek, then do as he asks. “So what’s this you need to tell me?”

My mother rocks back in the large white rocker she’s sitting in. “Seems your mate has some idea she’s going to run off with who seems to be her high school boyfriend.”

My face falls and my heart stops beating as everything inside me turns to liquid.

How? What? Why?

“There’s no way she could have hidden such a thing from David and Toni.”

My father touches my shoulder. “They were completely unaware of anything more than a friendship existing between the two. That was until a little earlier this evening. Alyssa told them of her plans to move to Austin with the boy after graduation. On her birthday, no less.”

“She can’t,” I say, my breath almost lost.

How could she do this to me?

My mother senses my hurt. “Eden, she knows nothing about you and what you two are to each other. This is exactly why I always said this was a bad idea. Letting her live a ‘normal’ life was a bad idea, no matter how much her parents wanted it.”

“I wanted that for her too,” I say. “I decided to let her stay in that life. This is my fault. I always had the right to stop this and have her brought to me. My love for her and her happiness has caused this.” I look at my father. “Please tell me she hasn’t been taken by this guy. Please tell me she still has her innocence.”

“From what she’s told her parents, she’s still a virgin,” my father says.

“Thank Our Creator! If my actions brought sin upon her everlasting soul, I could never forgive myself. So what’s to happen now?”

My mother rocks back and forth. “The same thing as planned. You go to her on your birthday. Her parents will introduce you two and let her in on who and what she truly is. The boyfriend thing will go away after she knows her true path.”

“She was going to leave with him. It must mean she has love for him.” My stomach aches with this knowledge. “I let her fall in love with someone else. Why didn’t you make me bring her here a long time ago?” I ask my father.

The slight grin on his face answers my question. He’s not my master. Only I can make the decisions for myself and Alyssa, a heavy responsibility to bear since I was a mere five years old. The weight has never been such a burden as it is on this day.

“I know, Papa. I’m not blaming you. I just didn’t see this coming. It was supposed to be so easy. She would see me and fall as madly in love with me as I am with her. Now her heart’s been captured by another. I fear finding love for me will prove much harder for her. There’s the fact she must break this young man’s heart. It will hurt her in the process. I think I hate that the most. I’ll have hurt her before I’ve ever been given the chance to show her just how much I never wanted to.”

My expression must be terrible. My mother comes to me, pulling me to stand. She wraps me in a tight hug.

“Don’t worry so much, Eden. It’ll all be fine. As much as I want to say I told you so, I have to believe in fate. This was meant to be for reasons we may never be privy to. All will be as it’s supposed to be. Her parents are on guard now, making sure she doesn’t give herself to this boy. Toni told me she’s taking Alyssa to the doctor in the morning to get checked out, just to give you peace of mind.”

What? Did she say to give me peace of mind?

“Mother, what’ll the doctor do to her?”

“A physical inspection to make sure she’s still intact. You know, take a gander at her in that area.” My mother horrifies me with her words.

“Tell Toni I’ll not allow it. If my Alyssa says she’s not lost her virginity, then she’s to be believed. No one is going to inspect her like a piece of property. She’s far too special for that. Get her father on the phone, Papa. Let him know I’ve said not to do that to her. If they’ve told her what their plan is, I fear she’s scared to death. That’s not what I want. And all at my hands. No, I’ll not have that. Tell David to make sure Alyssa knows she’s not going to be taken to the doctor. I want her to sleep peacefully on this night. Not lacking sleep from fear of what might happen to her tomorrow,” I order, then walk away.

I’ve made a mistake in allowing her to stay away from me. Somehow I’ll fix this. I pray my plans for our dinner on my birthday will help her to see what our life together will be like. Perhaps that will persuade her to let her feelings for the boy go.

Please let it do the trick!

CHAPTER 3

ALYSSA

It’s official, my parents are bat-shit crazy! They interrogated me for more than an hour about what all Kyle and I have done. I didn’t tell them every little thing, but it seems they’re not satisfied with my word of still having my virginity intact.

Mom said I have to let our family doctor check me out to be sure I’m telling them the truth. How horrible will that be?

I’ll never be able to look at Doctor Baker in the eyes again!

My birthday cannot come soon enough. This life is just about over. I’m so out of here. They’ll throw a fit, I’m sure. Thank God Texas is so far away.

A knock at my bedroom door makes me jump. “Who is it?”

“Mom, sweetie.” Her voice sounds angelic.

I’m not buying it.

“I’m asleep,” I say as I dive under the blankets.

“It’ll just take a moment, dear, please,” she says.

Sure it will. Probably wants a sample of my blood or urine to run a pregnancy test.

“The door isn’t locked. Come in.”

Peeking around the side of my door, I swear she looks sorry and somewhat embarrassed. “Alyssa, I didn’t want you to fall asleep without me telling you this.”

I roll my eyes at her. “What now?”

The touch of her hand on my shoulder does little to comfort me as she sits on the bed. “It’s about going to see Doctor Baker in the morning. Your father and I have changed our minds about that. We believe you. You’ve never lied to us prior to this instance. I hope you feel you can be completely truthful with us, sweetie.”

Her eyes droop. She’s sad and so am I. “Mom, I hated to keep that from you guys. I really did. It wouldn’t have been necessary if you would let me do normal things like other young adults get to do.”

The way she’s biting her bottom lip makes me wonder what’s going through her head. “Alyssa, we realize it’s difficult to understand our actions. Teenagers sometimes make really poor decisions. You’re just too special for us to let something bad to happen to you.”

I’m too special?

“Mom, I’m no more special than anyone else. You’ve raised me to make good decisions. The time has come to let me make some of my own. I’m ready to take life head on. The opportunity to leave this small town and all its securities is just what I need to move forward. I love you guys, but you need to let my fly.”

A sparkle flashes in her eyes for reasons I don’t understand. “Frankly, Alyssa, I’m glad to hear you say that. The time has come for some changes. It pleases me, and it will your father as well, to see you’re ready to move forward with your life. Our greatest fear was that change would frighten you.”

I laugh. “I’m so ready for change. You have no idea.”

Her lips brush over my forehead as she gets up, leaving me. “Good night, sweetie. I love you. Always remember that we do all we do because we love you. It’s never to be mean.”

“I love you too, Mom. Tell Dad that for me too. I hate to fight with you guys,” I say as she closes the door.

I do hate to fight with them. Maybe that’s why I took so long to let them in on me and Kyle. I knew it would mean a fight.

When he gave me this ring, though, something clicked inside of me, as if I grew up a little. It became very important to me that my parents know about my relationship.

Now, snuggled down underneath my blanket, replaying the words Kyle said to me when he asked me to move to Texas with him, I try to fall asleep. My mind is moving so fast. In three weeks, all things will change. A month from now my life will not even be recognizable.

CHAPTER 4

EDEN

I’m driving across the country to get Alyssa. The plan was for me to fly out in our private jet, take her to Maine for dinner after her parents told her of our destiny, then take her back to New Orleans with me.

All her school work is completed. She’s eligible to graduate a couple of weeks early. So that fact, along with the knowledge of her loving another, had me changing the initial plan. I’ll feel better if we can spend a few days together before I take her away from all she’s ever known.

Turning her world upside down is not a thing I want to do, but the time is almost here. Her world will be completely different and only I can help her through the transition.

Which reminds me, I need to call her parents to let them know the change of plans. I hit their number and wait to see which one answers. “Hello,” a feminine voice says.

“Toni, good afternoon.”

“Eden, so nice to hear from you.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow instead of next week. I’ve changed my mind about a few things, like driving up, instead of flying. The jet will come when I call Jeffrey. A few days together with Alyssa before she’s told everything might help her adjust better.”

The hesitation in Toni’s voice is clear. “Eden, it’s okay. You can do everything the same as you planned. She’ll be fine, I assure you.”

It sounds as if she cares more about my wants than Alyssa’s feelings!

“With the addition of a boyfriend who it’s clear she loves, I think it’s best to bring her into this in a gentler manner. Her heart will be broken when she has to give him up. The thought of bringing her pain, then making her come with me is too horrible. I want to win her affection and trust. I want her to choose me over him.”

There’s a pregnant pause before Toni speaks again. “She is yours, Eden. I’ll explain things to her, make her understand. This is our fault for not being more protective. You shouldn’t be dealing with this at all. We can make her understand.”

“Look, I appreciate you taking the responsibility for this situation,” I say. “But this is my fault. Letting you give her the first years of her life to be normal was a mistake. My mother told me to take her when she turned thirteen, but I refused. I wanted her to have a traditional life as much as you did. The hard fact is that leading a typical life means having relationships. Alyssa is completely average in that aspect.”

“Eden, this is not your doing. We had a job to do and we didn’t do it well enough. I can handle her. Don’t let this change anything you’ve planned. You’ve been planning this for years.”

“I have, but SHE is what matters to me. Not my damn plans. Her heart is more important than anything else. I can make her love me on my own. That’s what I want to do before you tell her what she is.”

“Of course, Eden. We’ll do as you ask. So what time can we expect you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be there around six tomorrow evening.”

“We’ll make dinner then. I guess we can say you’re one of our old friend’s sons on his way to Los Angeles to go to college. And you’ll be staying a week with us to visit. How about that, Eden?”

“That should work. So I’ll see you then, Toni. Goodbye.”

Lies! I hate them. To begin our life on them is nothing I ever intended to do. A necessary evil they are, though. I’m almost to Dallas, where I’m staying the night. One night in a lonely hotel room. After that, I’ll never have to be alone again.

All those nights I stayed at home while my classmates went on dates, doing normal things, I played video games alone. Watched movies alone. Laid awake at night, looking at the picture of my mate, and wishing I could call her.

To hear her voice would’ve been enough to get me to sleep. Those lonely days are almost over.

Too bad she’s fallen in love with someone else. Damn, this would have been so much easier. I’ll never understand all the things Our Creator makes us go through.

Not for me to know, I guess. I’ll make her love me. Perhaps the moment she sees me it will all fall into place. Our betrothal before birth was by The Creator, no less. Maybe I’m worried for nothing.

I hope so anyway.

CHAPTER 5

ALYSSA

English class was a snore today. I’ve finished all my work in every class. No finals for me as I’ve kept my grades up the whole year, leaving me exempt from them. Yet I still must go to every class with nothing to do. So I read books. I’ve read so many books in the last week.

I forgot to go to the library and pick up a new book yesterday. So I grabbed the one Mom’s been reading off her chair this morning—the one with the shirtless guy.

Crap, it is racy. What my mother reads makes me blush. The love scenes are quite graphic. The bell rings and I’m subsequently free to go home.

I let the crowd rush out before me. The kids who ride the bus need to hurry. I have my jeep. I can afford to lag.

On my own today—Scotty has a baseball game to attend—I climb into my bright yellow Jeep. When I turn the key in the ignition nothing happens. Then I see I left the lights on this morning.

Oh great, the battery’s dead!

I’ll go find Kyle in the gym. He can give me a ride home and Dad can come jump my car later. It’s a short walk. I can hear the boys shouting as I open the door.

The smell of the dank gymnasium makes me wrinkle my nose. Kyle’s helping a few junior high kids shoot baskets.

He’s so damn sweet.

“Hey, hero,” I call out to him.

He high fives a kid who just made a basket before he jogs over to me, placing a kiss on my cheek. “You need a hero, doll?”

He’s too precious!

“I do. I left my lights on in the Jeep. It seems I’m a damsel in distress.”

The dance his eyebrows do makes me laugh. “I’ll be your hero, baby,” he says as he picks me up, carrying me out of the gym.

“Kyle, while this is sweet, you can put me down,” I say with a giggle.

“The truck’s right here, baby. Let me do this hero thing right,” he says, smiling that big smile down at me. The memory of the sexed-up love story fills my head as he holds me tight.

He lifts me up into the tall truck. I scoot over so he can climb in beside me. I slide to the passenger seat, simply to have him slide me right back to sit next to him.

“You sit by me, Al. I can’t have you all the way over there,” he says as he hands me the seatbelt.

He’s warm beside me, with a slight sheen of sweat on his face from playing in the gym. I drop my book and purse on the seat next to me and he spies my naughty novel. His eyes widen as he looks at me.

“I know. Don’t make fun of me. I ran out of reading material this morning. It was all I could find,” I explain.

As he pulls onto the road, he says, “Read some of the juicy stuff to me while I drive out to Trixie’s. I need a burger and you need a chocolate milkshake.”

“I’m not reading to you. The words in that book made me blush when I read them. I can’t conceivably say them out loud, Kyle.” I play with the radio like I usually do, finding the station I like instead of the country music he listens to.

A devilish grin forms on his plump lips. “That bad, huh? Now I have to hear some. Come on, baby, make your man happy.” His hand runs down my leg to squeeze my knee, leaving it there.

“Neanderthal, telling me to make my man happy. Welcome to the new age, Kyle. Women don’t do that anymore,” I say as I find a song I like on the radio and turn it up.

“Women’s lib, who needs it? You know you all want men to take care of you. And all of you want to take care of us. Your secret is out. You like making your man happy. I know you do, baby,” Kyle shouts over the loud music.

I do like to make him happy, but I’m not reading those words to him. He’d get too excited and I’d get too embarrassed. Instead, I place a sweet kiss on his cheek. “There, that should keep you happy for the next thirty minutes or so.”

Trixie’s parking lot is full. Kyle pulls to the back where the employees park. His friend Cody works here. We park next to his beat up, old truck.

Kyle unhooks his seatbelt while I unhook mine. Turning swiftly, he has me on my back before I know he’s done it. I laugh as his face is close to mine.

“Kiss me, baby. You know you want to,” he says with a smile.

I do want to, but …

“Kyle, people will see us.”

“Not through these tinted windows, they won’t, Ally. Kiss me.”

Playfulness pushed aside, his eyes get darker blue with that lusty look he’s come to have at times. My hand moves to his neck and I pull his face to mine. The moment our lips touch warmth spreads through me.

The words from the book creep into my head, making me hunger for him to fill me like the shirtless guy did to the damsel. His kiss is hungry as he nips at my bottom lip. My lips ache when he leaves them, trailing kisses and nibbles down my neck.

Crap, that makes me so hot for him. His hand runs over my stomach, up to just beneath my breast. He wants to touch it, but won’t until I allow it.

The tremble of his hand, holding himself back until I say he can, excites the hell out of me. I sit up, but his mouth finds mine again, trying to push me back down. Upright I stay, placing my hands between us.

“No, please, baby, don’t stop,” he murmurs against my lips.

I’m not stopping him, though. Just unbuttoning my shirt, exposing the lacy, dark blue bra I put on this morning. I take his hand in mine, then place it on my breast. He stops the kiss, pulling his head back as he looks at his hand then back at me.

“Wow! You’re letting me do this?”

I nod and bite my bottom lip as he looks at my chest.

“So pretty.” His head drops to kiss the top of the one I put his hand on.

Two kisses later, he moves his hand away, taking me by the waist as he pulls me to him, peppering kisses on top of both of them. I tangle my hands in his curls, holding him to my chest.

A low growl comes from his throat, then I’m on my back again. My legs apart, and he’s in between them, pressing his body onto mine.

The hardness of him pulses against me. As if it’s crucial, his mouth finds mine, thrusting his tongue into my mouth as one of his hands squeezes my breast and the other pulls at my hair. His body grinds against mine.

The bulge grows. A need to feel it in my hands arises. Slipping my hand between us, I touch it through his jeans. Its long, wide, and hard. I move my hand up and down the length of it.

Kyle groans and kisses me even harder. So it must work for him. I want to find out what it feels like to be filled with it, just like the book said.

The woman screamed in ecstasy when the shirtless man filled her. I wonder if I will.

The button to his jeans proves hard to pop open. My struggles with it must have brought what I’m doing to Kyle’s attention, as his kisses soften. His hand grabs mine, tugging it away from the button up to his lips.

I blink up at him. The lusty darkness gone, his eyes are back to sky blue. But he’s smiling.

“You want to stop?” I ask, rather confused.

Isn’t this what all guys want?

“We have to, Ally,” he says as he pulls me up with him. “I got carried away and you did too. We have to wait to do more.”

My hair must be a mess because he’s running his hands through it. His face is so damn close to mine that I could fall back on those kiss-swollen lips of his and make him forget we can’t do more.

“We don’t have to wait,” I say as I lean closer.

The smile he gives me is so damn sweet that it’s apparent in an instant he’s doing this for me. “Yes, we do,” he says, his hands buttoning my shirt back up. Stopping just before he covers my breasts up, he takes one more look. “So beautiful.” He sighs and buttons the last two buttons.

“Kyle, I want to do this,” I protest, taking his hands in mine.

The twinkle in his eyes makes me want to grab him and pull him to me. “Not like this, Al. Not in my truck outside Trixie’s bar and grill. That’s not the memory I want for you to have of our first time. Plus, precautions have to be taken and we’ve taken none. That’s something we need to talk about.”

“What types of precautions?”

The slight smile on his gorgeous face makes me a little peeved. “Birth control, baby.”

My eyes close and I shake my head. I’m so stupid. “I forgot all about that. Kind of dumb of me. Damn romance novel.”

Kyle picks the book up off the floorboard. It must’ve gotten knocked off, along with my purse. “No more of this. I’ll keep it so it can’t tempt you to read it anymore.”

I blush crazy hard. “Come on, Romeo, buy me a chocolate shake,” I say as I push at his chest.

We walk into the dark café from the back entrance. Cody spots us. “Hey, Kyle,” he says.

They do a fist bump as he smiles cunningly at Kyle. “You pulled up twenty minutes ago. Are you two having a lover’s quarrel or something a little more romantic than that?”

Kyle tussles his shaggy brown hair. “Mind your business, boy.” Throwing his arm around my neck, he pulls me close, kissing the side of my head. “Hey, guys, I play the winner,” he says to one of the guys playing pool.

I frown at him as he lifts me to sit on a stool at the bar. “Kyle, I can’t stay away from the house much longer.”

He grins at me and hands me his cell phone. “Give your parents a call. Tell them about your battery and that I’m taking care of it. But we’ll have to drive down to Alamogordo to pick up a new one and won’t be back until later on tonight.”

This will never work, but I take it and make the call. Mom answers, but speedily puts my father on.

“I’ll take care of it, Alyssa.” Dad’s fast to respond. “It’s not Kyle’s responsibility.”

Kyle overhears my father. “I want to do it, Mr. Devlin. I want to show you I’m capable of taking care of your daughter,” he says. Then he takes a big bite of the burger that the plump, red-headed waitress placed in front of him.

“Tell him it won’t be necessary,” Dad says.

“Just let him do it, Dad,” I say, getting a little sick of this back and forth crap.

“No, ma’am. I’ll jump start your jeep, and you’re coming home. I’ll be at the school parking lot in fifteen minutes. Be there!”

I hand the phone back to Kyle with a smirk on my face. “Told you.”

“It was worth a try. I’m done anyway. Come on, let’s go,” he says as he lifts me off the bar stool. I grab my shake, taking it with me. A guy at the pool table gives him a gesture, seemingly asking, what’s up. “I’ll be back later, dude. My girl needs my help.”

His girl! How cute that sounds.

With his muscled arm thrown around my shoulders, Kyle pulls me close to his side. The sun as we walk out practically blinds me. It was dark in there.

Up in his truck again, I sit next to him, my head on his shoulder, holding his hand in my lap as he takes me back to the school. Daddy’s already there with the hood up on the jeep and the cables connected to my battery and his.

As he looks up at the truck and sees us so close, he frowns and looks away. How I wish he would just let me grow up without all the theatrics. There should be no reason my loving Kyle should affect him. Yet it does.

Kyle pulls up on the other side of my jeep. He jumps out and helps me down. My body grazes his as he places me on the ground. He gives me a wink and I give him a smile. Before he lets me go, he reaches in, grabbing the romance novel.

“I’ll read some tonight, then give you a call and we can discuss it,” he says, making me blush.

Dad yells, “If you can drag yourself away from him for a minute, Ally, I need you to try to start the jeep.”

Ducking my head so he won’t see my pink cheeks, I sit in my jeep. It starts right up. Dad closes the hood, cables in his hand. “Get going, girl. I’ll be right behind you.”

Kyle moves promptly to my door. “Bye, baby. I’ll call you in a little while,” he says, just before he drops a kiss on my lips. I freeze with this.

My father’s glare could melt ice. Hastily, he retreats to his truck, not saying a word.

“Bye. I’ll talk to you later, Kyle. Thanks for the shake,” I say, before I pull away with my father right behind me.

I’m not even out of the car fully when Dad pulls up next to me. He’s out of his truck and clutching me by my arm, dragging me into the house. “Did you do that on purpose? Did you leave your lights on so you could go on a date with him?”

Mom looks up at us from her place on the sofa, yet another romance novel in her hands. This one has a man with long black hair riding a horse towards a red-headed damsel in distress.

So many damsels with problems in the old days.

My mother’s voice shrill, she asks, “What’s happened, David?”

Shaking me as he talks, he says, “This one here went out with Kyle. On a date!”

I wiggle against his grip, trying to get him to let me go, but he hangs on.

“Dad, that was no date. He was going to bring me home. We just stopped and got something to eat and drink, then we were coming straight back, unless you were going to let us go get a battery in Alamogordo.”

Finally, he lets my arm go. Crap, that hurt. I hope he didn’t leave a bruise.

I look it over as my mother comes to my side. She looks at the place on my arm he was holding so tight. It’s red, but I don’t think I’ll bruise.

I swear she looks worried.

“David, you didn’t need to handle her so roughly. You could’ve left marks on her. Then what would you have done?”

My father runs his hand over his face. “I don’t know. I didn’t think about that. The only thought in my mind was about her going against our rules, yet again. This has to stop, Alyssa. You’ve never done this. You’ve always followed the rules we’ve set. It’s so close and now you decide to go hog wild.”

“Hog wild!” I shout. “Wow! I mean, come on! I’m not an out-of-control teenager. The melodramatics need to come to a halt.” I move away from my mother’s hold on me, looking back at my father. I swear he looks more afraid than mad. “What are you so afraid of?”

My parents sit down on the sofa together. Dad holds Mom’s hand. Neither answer me for the longest amount of time.

My mother finally says, “Tomorrow we’ll have a visitor. He’s the son of one of our dear friends. He’ll be staying with us for a week. It’s just that we want none of our family problems to leak out in front of him. It would be an embarrassment to us if you had signs of physical abuse on you.”

How insane!

“Okay. I’m not hurt. I’m okay, you guys. You’ve never hurt me in my entire life. Yeah, Dad was a little rough, but he’s never been before. Who are these people who make you feel like our family has to be so perfect?”

Dad runs his hands through his hair. Again, I sense he’s nervous. “People we used to hang out with a lot before you were born. Very nice people. It’s not about them. It’s about us. This thing with you suddenly going against us has us confused. I suppose we’re coming off strange because this is so strange to us. We love you, Alyssa. Your happiness means everything to us. When I saw you all hugged up next to Kyle, I lost it.”

“If you want me to be happy, then stop this stuff about Kyle. I love him. I’m going to live with him, and God willing, one day I’ll marry him.” My words seem to make them pale even more. “Why are you taking this so hard? Kyle’s a great guy. You’ve always adored him.”

Dad clenches his fist. “We thought he was your friend. We love the kid as your friend. In time, you’ll come to see why we have our rules, Alyssa. Please don’t do this again until after you turn eighteen. Don’t run off alone with him. We want to trust you. Honestly, we do. But if you do this again, we’ll have no choice but to take your car away and give you a ride to and from school ourselves.”

Take my car away because of forty-five minutes with Kyle? Wow, this is passed bat-shit crazy!

“Fine, I’ll give you no reason to do that. I’ll be eighteen soon enough and get the hell out of here. I wish you could accept me as an adult. Who I want to have a relationship with is my business and mine alone. As long as he’s a good guy, that’s all that should matter to you. Kyle’s the best and you two know it. I’ll be in my room, but just so you know, I feel like I don’t even know who you guys are anymore.”

My legs are heavy as lead as I walk up the stairs to my room. I fall on my bed in utter exhaustion.

How can my parents be so hard? Kyle is so sweet and faithful. I know they see that in him. What is their problem?

My birthday can’t get here soon enough.

CHAPTER 6

EDEN

My heart’s beating hard in my chest. I’ll see her today. My mate will finally be with me. Not entirely. I must take it slow, but at least I’ll be able to touch her and hear her voice.

What she must sound like in person?

I’ve listened to her voice in the background a few times, over phone calls to her parents. The last time was five years ago. I’m sure it’ll sound different since she’s matured.

They told her I’m coming, but a different version of me.

What will she think of me? Will she look at me with interest or indifference? Is she going to be sweet to me or ignore me because of her other love interest? How will she smell? Will her hair be up or down? Will I be able to keep my hands off her?

The drive has been exceptional for me. The time to think and clear my mind of all the negatives which stab at my brain, has been awesome. Top down on the jag, I cruise down the highway, merely hours from seeing my Alyssa.

In school, she waits for class to be over. She’ll go home and soon I’ll be there with her. Together at last. How hard it’ll be not to blurt out everything to her.

My love for her will see me through and help me stay strong. I don’t want to overwhelm her. Tough though it will be, I’ll go slowly with her. Take the time for her to get to know me.

Funny how I never envisioned how a girl in this day and age would take to having to marry a man she barely knows. Our unique condition will help her to understand better than if we were normal humans.

She’ll need me once she changes, and I’ll need her. We have to be as one once that happens.

The time to change is so close. I’ve waited forever for it. This time together was supposed to be about me helping Alyssa get used to the idea of the change and what’s expected from us.

Instead, I have to take the time to get her over another man before I let her in on our condition.

How much does she love him, I wonder? How hard will she hang on to him?

Is it possible for her to find love for me while healing a broken heart?

CHAPTER 7

ALYSSA

The night passed and Kyle never called. I’m not sure why. He’s never done that before. Scotty jumps out of the jeep as I pull into the school’s parking lot.

Laura smiles at me as she waits on the steps. “Hey, Ally.”

“Good morning, Laura. Did you see Kyle before you came to school?”

“Not even one car was at his house this morning, and I was up at six. It looks like they all went somewhere.”

Now I’m starting to worry. “He was supposed to call me last night and never did. I know he was going to hang out at Trixie’s and play pool. Do you know if he came home after that?”

The door opens and Kyle’s best friend, Cody, comes out. His arms come around both of our shoulders. “Hello, ladies. So who can I walk to class this morning?”

We both shrug him off us. “Neither, stud,” Laura says with a laugh. “We’re walking together to our first class.”

“You heard from Kyle?” I ask him.

He walks away from us. Looking back to answer me, he says, “Not since last night.”

Kyle’s whole family is gone. This is not good.

The day went by like molasses, but I’m finally out of my last class. I drive straight to Kyle’s house. I’m pushing my luck with my parents, but I need to see if anyone went back to his house. Almost to his house, I can see the empty driveway.

Crap! What could’ve happened? Why is his whole family gone?

It has to be bad or he would’ve called.

Wait, my cell phone is at home, since my freaky parents don’t allow me to take it to school. Maybe he did call or send me a text.

Time to haul ass home.

Mom’s messing around in the kitchen when I walk in. “Mom, where’s my cell?”

“Hello to you too, Ally. It’s on the nightstand next to my side of the bed. Why?”

I’m halfway up the stairs as I call back to her, “Kyle might’ve called.” Grabbing the phone, I unplug the charger.

Please let there be a call from him. The blank screen deflates me.

No calls or texts!

Why would he not tell me at least a little about what’s going on? Is it him who has the family all gone? Maybe he was in an accident. What if he can’t talk?

His mother would never call me if he was. Why does she dislike me so much?

My head needs to be cleared. I’m going to take a run. That always helps. I’m sure he’s fine.

He has to be fine!

After changing into shorts and running shoes, I run down the stairs. “Going for a run, Mom.”

“Don’t forget we have company coming, Alyssa,” my mother calls out after me. “Don’t be too long. He should be here soon.”

The door closed behind me. I stretch before I take off. My parents have company coming, not me.

What do I care about some kid of their old friends?

My boyfriend and his family are missing. Down the steep drive I go, but then I stop. I should send Kyle a text. I grab my cell and tap out a quick one.

-Missed you at school today. Anything wrong?-

Okay, now that I’ve done all I can do to let him know I care about him and his whereabouts, I can run. The road in front of me has a few small hills. No flat roads around here.

Where could he be?

I shake my head to clear it. My heart’s pounding with worry. I’ve got to calm down.

He’s fine!

But what if he’s not? What if he had a wreck? What if he’s in a coma? Or worse? What if he’s dead?

The loud sound of a horn makes me stop and look up. Something passes so close to me, the wind from it knocks me back.

I’m falling!

Oh, God! I’m falling!

CHAPTER 8

EDEN

There it is. My mate’s house!

This is where she’s grown up. So very different from where I did. So quaint, this tall, two-story, tan, brick home is. The whole town of Cloudcroft is quaint, like something out of a book.

What must her life have been like?

Playing in the pretty park in the snowy winters. I can see her dressed in a white jacket, laughing as she watches her younger brother slide down the slopes.

Picnics must have been aplenty there in the summer. Perhaps she fished in the ponds which dot the area.

How will she take to the humid air in New Orleans? Will she hate it there?

The driveway is steep as I pull in. The mountain is gorgeous, as is the thick forest. So very different from the flat, swampy lands of Louisiana where I’ll be taking her to.

Will she ever come to love it as I do?

I wonder how she’ll take to living in a mansion.

The sound of my engine must have alerted Toni to my arrival. She’s waving as she comes out the green front door. “Eden, I’m so happy to see you.”

“Where is she?” I ask. Patience and politeness, it seems, have momentarily left me. “Sorry, how rude of me. How are you, Toni?”

Toni leans in my window. “That’s okay. I’m sure your nerves are on edge. She went for a run down the street. She usually runs just to the edge of town, then turns back. Why don’t you drive down and surprise her? I told her that you were just about to get here. Your gorgeous car is bound to get her attention, along with your devastatingly handsome face, I might add.”

Flattery. Yeah, it still gets to me. Pink has to be staining my cheeks.

“Do you think she’ll get in the car with me?”

How wonderful it will be if she sees me and instantly knows we have a connection, pre-destined to be one.

She pinches my cheeks like she’s done every time she sees me. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but you can drive slowly next to her as she runs if she won’t. Kind of romantic, right?”

I assume some think that might be romantic. To me, it should be love at first sight. Complete trust right from the beginning would be nice.

A sudden knot forms in my stomach as I realize I’m minutes from seeing my mate, my Alyssa. “I’ll find her. This road here, right?”

A nod of her head sends me on my way. After all this time, I’m within walking distance of her. My hands are shaking on the steering wheel. Sweat forms on my brow.

A quick glance in the rear-view mirror shows glistening beads on my forehead. I reach for a handkerchief in the small compartment between the seats, dabbing at the droplets as I roll over one small hill after another. A small form moves on the road ahead of me.

Her long black hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and it swishes with every step. Narrow shoulders swing back and forth as she moves down the street.

I haven’t seen her face and already I know she’s beautiful. Her body sways elegantly with every movement she makes. She’s mesmerizing.

It’s her. My mate!

Everything is going in slow motion. I swear I can see every hair as it moves back and forth. The small ripples of sweat which trail down her thighs shine brightly in the evening sun.

As crazy as this might sound, I can smell her from here, with my windows and top down on my car. A mixture of vanilla and cinnamon, some lavender, and her own distinct light, musky scent.

What will she taste like?

The pounding in my chest almost deafens me. I must control myself or I’ll surely frighten her with my passion for her. She’ll think me a letch, or worse yet, a stalker.

Taking in a deep breath, I slow my car to a near stop, rolling only a bit. A dark shadow falls over me and I look up. Two giant black birds fly over my head. Both shriek at the same time. I have to cover my ears it’s so loud. They fly straight to my mate.

They are magnificent!

As my eyes follow their path just above my head another loud noise fills the air. A loud honking sound. Then I see where the birds are going and they’re nearly to her.

There’s a truck! No! No! Please, don’t let it hit her!

CHAPTER 9

ALYSSA

It’s dark. Something’s beeping. Who is that I hear talking?

A smooth, velvety voice asks somebody, “Will she be all right?”

A woman’s voice answers, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She should wake up anytime now. There was no bleeding on her brain, just a slight concussion.”

Warmth fills me as someone touches my hand. “Alyssa, please wake up for me,” the same velvet voice says. That voice is beyond beautiful. French, perhaps, with a hint of something else. “Alyssa, baby, please wake up for me.”

Baby?

I have to see. To open my eyes proves harder than it should. What’s happened?

Lips brush my ear. The velvet voice says, “Je t’aime, Alyssa.” The hand on mine squeezes.

What the hell does that mean?

What language is that? Why didn’t I take something other than Spanish classes?

I must see who’s doing this. He’s too close. His mouth near enough to whisper in my ear is way to close. Okay, three, two, one. My eyes blink open.

Damn, everything’s blurry.

A tall shape hovers over me.

“There are those beautiful blue eyes. Keep them open for me, Alyssa,” the velvet voice speaks again.

In an attempt to rub my eyes, I pull a hand up, finding it hard, as there’s something attached to it. “What?”

My voice sounds terrible.

Something is held to my mouth and it touches my lips. A straw, maybe. I pop it into my mouth and pull on it. Water, thank you, God. I’m so thirsty.

The dark shape in front of me asks, “Is that better, baby?”

I nod, blinking more. Everything focuses. Dark brown hair is cropped close at the sides of his head and long on top. It’s gorgeous. His eyes are the color of emeralds. Dark, lush lashes surround them, making them even more beautiful. A perfect nose set between high cheek bones leads me to his full lips, the color of caramel. I wonder if they taste like that too.

Oh, what’s wrong with me?

“Who are you?” I ask as I gaze over his entire body, which is exquisite.

He’s dressed like a freaking fashion model. A white shirt underneath a black jacket, with slacks to match. I’m no fashion guru, but if I checked the label, I bet it would have the word Armani on it.

He has more muscles than I’ve ever seen in real life before.

What’s wrong with me? I’m with Kyle. It’s not right to look at this guy in this way.

He holds my hand in his as he sits on the bed next to me.

He’s my doctor, that’s who he is. Yeah, he has to be a doctor.

“I’m Eden Fontaine, Alyssa.”

“My name, how do you know it?”

His hand leaves mine to reach into his pocket. He holds up my cell phone, placing it on the table next to the bed.

“I saw what happened to you. I was coming down the road behind you when I saw you almost get hit by a truck. You fell backwards and knocked yourself out. Don’t worry. I called your parents and told them I was taking you to the hospital.”

My parents!

“Where are they?” I ask, trying to sit up, but he pushes my shoulders, making me lie back.

“You can’t move fast like that, Alyssa. You have a concussion. It’s not the worst thing which could’ve happened to you, but it’s still something that will slow you down for a little while. Didn’t your parents tell you my name?”

Huh?

“Why? I mean, how? What?”

The puzzled expression he gives me confuses me even further. “They told you about me, right?”

I shake my head, only once, though, because that really hurt. “Why would they?”

The frown on his totally handsome face is a sinful thing to see. Only happy expressions should show on that face. “I’m the son of their old friends.”

He’s the kid who’s staying the week with us? Damn, damn, damn!

He does not look like a kid. Not at all. He looks like a grown-ass man. A hot as hell grown-ass man.

“Oh, that guy. They said you were coming today, but they never told me your name. Sorry. I went and knocked myself out. I’m okay now. Can you tell the doctor to come in and let me go home?”

The shaking of his head makes the longer hair on top bounce a bit. It’s beautiful. Damn, I have to stop looking at him. He’s just so damn perfect. His muscles are bulky under the fabric that hides them from me. Mom could have mentioned that little fact to me.

I hope Kyle won’t be threatened by this guy. I mean, he’s completely hot, but my heart belongs to my Kyle.

“You have to stay the night. They want to keep you under observation for twenty-four hours before they’ll let you go home,” he informs me.

Crap!

“Are my parents on their way here?”

“They told me to stay with you.” His words take the air out of my lungs.

What the hell?

“Do you mean until they get here?”

My stomach clenches as he runs his fingers lightly along my collar bone to my shoulder. “The blue bruise on your shoulder must hurt. I hate to see that on your perfect ivory skin.” His voice sounds far away as he gazes at my shoulder.

Perfect ivory what? Damn it! This guy is something else.

“Umm, Mr. Fontaine, about my parents.”

The jerk of his head as he looks back at me shows me the frown he’s wearing. “No, Mr. Fontaine, Alyssa. Call me Eden, I insist. About your parents, I’ve told you. They told me to stay with you. I’ll be with you until the doctor releases you.”

He’ll be staying here? All night long? With me?

I want my mommy!

“That’s hard to believe. I need to call my mother. Can you hand me the phone?”

My cell phone is picked up and placed back in his pocket as he says, “I had to turn it off. No cell phones allowed in here. I promise they’re completely aware of everything. They’ll be at home, waiting for you tomorrow.”

This has to be some kind of joke, or a misunderstanding, or a completely fucked up situation. “My parents are incredibly over-protective. There’s no way they’d want a man spending the night with me anywhere.”

Back by my side, he sits on the bed, brushing my hair back. “They trust me, as should you, Alyssa.”

The way he talks is so formal. Normally, I’d think him stuffy and slightly arrogant. Somehow he pulls it off.

He has an untamed look to him, though he speaks as if he’s been very well educated and refined. “Where’d you come from, Eden?”

The way his lips turn up into a smile makes my heart rate increase, something we both observe as the beeps of the machine speed up.

How embarrassing!

“New Orleans.”

“So that’s the accent, then?” It’s a mix of southern and French and its smooth and deep. Sexier than should be legal!

My hair seems to fascinate him. His fingers twirl it. And though I should stop him, I don’t want to.

“Some of it. My father’s French and he grew up there. When he met my mother, who’s from New Orleans, he moved to the United States. I’ve spent most summers in France. We have a home in Paris. We speak entirely in French when we’re there. Do you speak any other language?”

Why does he peer so intensely into my eyes?

“No,” I answer.

Cupping the back of my neck, as if he’s about to pull me up and kiss me, he says, “We must remedy that.”

I can’t let him do that, so I frown. “I’m not sure what you mean by that. My parents may not have let you in on the fact I have a boyfriend. It’s serious. I’m moving to Texas with him in about two weeks.”

Something flashes in those deep green eyes as he moves his hand away from me.

Was that anger?

“They’ve told me.” His words are soft, unlike the look his eyes had for a split second. “By the way, where is he?”

I wish I knew.

“Busy, I guess.” My heart thumps hard against my chest. This is also brought to his attention as the machine’s beeps stagger a bit before they return to normal.

Damn, I’m glad we don’t have to wear one of these things in our daily lives. Nothing would be left to the imagination.

The hand he runs over my cheek makes my stomach clench and my heart race.

Damn machine!

“Alyssa, if you were mine, je ne ferais jamais vous laisser seul. It’s a fact that he hasn’t contacted you since yesterday. Is it not?”

How is he aware of that? I’ve told no one but Laura.

I pull his hand away from my cheek. It’s very distracting. “First thing, what did you say to me? The use of English is probably a much better idea if you’d like me to be able to hold a conversation with you. Although it sounds gorgeous, for all I know, you’ve just told me I look fat in this awful hospital gown. Next thing, how do you know how long it’s been since I talked to Kyle?”

Standing abruptly, he turns away. “So that’s his name.”

What the hell is it with this guy? He’s awfully dramatic. Is this how all the people from New Orleans act?

“Yes, that’s my boyfriend’s name. So how about answering my questions?”

Turning back to me, his eyes burn into mine. “What I said was that I would never leave you alone. The other thing you asked was told to me by the girl who came to see you while you were still unconscious. She said you must’ve been distracted by your boyfriend’s disappearance since you hadn’t talked to him since yesterday. I think she told me her name was Lauren. Your mother told her you were here.”

“Laura, her name’s Laura. Is she still here?”

“She had to leave. It got late,” he says as he takes a seat on my bed again. “It’s after midnight. You were out for a long time. I was very worried.”

Really? I don’t see how.

“Why? I mean, you don’t know me?”

“Must you know a person to worry about their health?” His question makes me feel like an ass for asking him such a thing.

In an attempt to be more cordial, I say, “Sorry. I’m crabby, I guess. You’re so nice and must be very compassionate. It’s rude of me to ask you such questions. So what has you visiting our tiny town?”

Hesitant, he finally answers. “I’m on my way to Los Angeles and thought it would be nice to take some time here to visit your family. Our parents were very close. I’m curious about the people my parents care so much for.”

The way his eyes move slowly around the room makes him appear distracted. “What are you going to Los Angeles for?”

My voice gets his attention and he looks back at me. Trailing his fingers lightly over my arm, leaving it tingling, he says, “Just business. Nothing worth talking about.”

I should make him stop touching me. Yet the words refuse to come out. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It’s as if electricity flows between us in a way I could’ve never imagined.

Is it weird to feel like you know someone you’ve just met?

CHAPTER 10

EDEN

Beautiful even in her sleep, my eyes refuse to leave her face. No sleep will find me on this night as I can at long last gaze upon her.

The pictures I have of her do her no justice. Her voice is even more delightful than I imagined it would be. It’s the slightest bit high, while smooth as silk and completely intoxicating. She is perfection.

I resist the urge to touch her. I don’t want to wake her. How I’ll be able to keep my hands off her, I don’t know. She clings to the idea of her love for that boy, yet I know she can sense our connection.

The air between us fills with sparks of electricity. I’ve never had this sensation. She has to sense it as well. Even as she sleeps, she holds fast to my hand. I want to brush my lips to hers so much it fills me with a tension I knew nothing of before her. It’s as if nothing existed until now.

How I was before, being only half of a whole. Now that I can breathe the same air she does I’m beginning to feel more myself. Odd to not have ever noticed it before. It’s certain once she falls in love with me, I’ll be a whole being for the first time in my life.

How do I get her to fall in love with me?

I have no idea how to do that. At the very least, I’m glad that boy hasn’t shown up here. Toni should’ve never told that girl of Alyssa’s accident. Now he could find out and show up.

Everything would’ve been different if I had just kept Alyssa with me. I suppose it’s useless to be mad at myself for past mistakes, but it boils in my brain.

My mother warned me and I blew her off. So smart, I thought I was. Now I look back and see that as extreme vanity.

Since I can remember, I pictured the moment Alyssa first saw me. She would love me, no matter what or how many years passed. That didn’t happen. She didn’t know me at all.

While my heart skipped several beats when her eyes opened, hers did not. I know this because of the heart monitor she’s hooked up to. It sped up a couple of times when I touched her, though. It’s obvious she’s already feeling something for me, if only physical for now. I can deal with that.

How will she take the news of her condition?

The small amount of conversation we’ve had leaves me to believe she thinks herself completely normal. Though she is far from it.

What does she see when she looks in the mirror? How does she not see her beauty is extraordinary? How could that boy have not told her as much?

That boy! How I’d like to send him from this Earth! He must’ve treated her like an ordinary girl, wanting to take her to Texas. And for what?

Was she to play his mistress while he goes to college, leaving her home to cook and clean? He would have taken her innocence without the sanctity of marriage, leaving her soul at the discretion of Our Creator. Then who knows what would’ve become of her immortal soul.

Though it’s no one’s fault but my own, I’d still like to see his face at the end of my fist, if only a time or two. A bloodied lip, perhaps, or a crooked nose, making him appear unattractive. Alyssa would hate me, though. No amount of self-indulgence would be worth that.

Her head stirs, turning towards me. Small blinks and then there they are—her gorgeous sapphire eyes. “Hi,” I say in a whisper.

Her lips curve into a sleepy smile.

She’s smiling at me, glad to see me still here, I hope.

“You’re awake.” Her voice is scratchy. I grab the cup of water and place the straw to her bottom lip. Holding my breath, I steady my hand, which threatens to tremble with the need to touch those lips. Readily, she takes a drink.

“I’m not tired, Alyssa. Glad you slept, though.”

The corners of her eyes wrinkle as she frowns. “You should’ve gone back to the house and slept.”

As if I could ever leave her side!

“I’m fine,” I say. “I wanted to be here for you. Hospitals can be a scary place when you’re all alone. I would hate for you to be afraid for even a second.”

Though beautiful in sleep, she is devastating when she’s awake.

She moves a bit, trying to sit up, and winces. “The pain meds are wearing off. My head hurts so badly.”

“I’ll press the button and get someone to get you some more. I’m not going to have you in pain.”

The smile on her face as I press the button shows I’m making progress with her. “Thank you.” Her words fall on my ears soft and sweet.

I can’t take it anymore. I have to touch her. Almost without any will at all, my hand travels the distance to her cheek. Soft beneath my hand, I stroke it. How badly I want to kiss her and make the pain go away.

“If I could take it all away I would.” My words flow out before I realize it.

With a softness in her eyes, she says, “You’re so kind. Why are you so nice to me? You should be home, sleeping, but you’re here with me. Why?”

Because you’re the love of my life. My mate for eternity.

Instead of that, I say, “This is where I want to be, Alyssa. Here, with you. I don’t wish to be anywhere else.”

Her brow furrows. “I need you to remember I have a boyfriend, Eden.” Her words punch me and a nurse walks in, getting between us as she inserts a needle into Alyssa’s IV. I could use a shot of that to numb this pain.

The nurse turns to me. “This will knock her out again for a few hours. You should get some rest, Mr. Fontaine. I can bring in a roll away bed for you.”

I wave her off. “I’ll sleep once I get her back home.”

Alyssa giggles, making me turn to look back at her. “I feel funny,” she says with another giggle, which I find myself captivated by.

“It’s the morphine,” the nurse says. “Alyssa, you can let your fiancé lie down with you if you want.”

The nurse’s use of the word fiancé has me worried Alyssa will let out my little white lie to the hospital staff. So I hurry the nurse out the door as Alyssa has a fit of the giggles once more.

“Thanks. I’ll do it if I get tired,” I tell the nurse.

Back at her side, I see tears streaming down her cheeks as she laughs. “She thought you were my fiancé. How funny is that, Eden? She thinks I should let you lie in this bed with me! Ha, how crazy?”

Okay, it’s not so crazy she has to laugh so hard tears flow out of her eyes!

I pull the blanket up and tuck her in snugly. “Okay, it’s not that funny, Alyssa.”

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she stifles the laughter. While captivating, it’s a bit annoying she can find so much humor in us being engaged.

“It’s just the thought of you and me together like that. Well, come on. You’re so classy and well-mannered and drop-dead gorgeous. And I’m, well, I’m none of those things,” she says, and it breaks my heart she doesn’t realize how wonderful she is.

She is all of those things and more.

My fingers trail along her delicate collar bone. I’d like to trail kisses there instead, but I settle for this. Her reaction is clear as the heart monitor beeps faster. I do affect her, even with a good dose of morphine in her system.

“You are beyond gorgeous, Alyssa. Never have my eyes laid upon a woman as perfect as you are.”

A dreamy look comes over her. “You sound like the romance novel I read the other day. The hero who saved the damsel in distress. You sound like him. You’re my hero, aren’t you?”

I lean close to her, my lips touch her ear, and I say, “I’d like to be. If you would let me. All you have to do is ask and I’ll be yours.”

The sound of her steady breathing makes me look at her. Her eyes are closed and she’s fast asleep.

I wonder if she heard me.

CHAPTER 11

ALYSSA

Weight upon my stomach beckons me to find out what’s causing the pressure. Dark brown waves highlighted with strands of gold fill my eyes. A squeeze of my hand finds it in the one’s whose head lies on me.

His name? What was his name?

Damn this bump on my head. It hurts and leaves me stupid. What time can it be? When can I leave this place?

Why is he still here?

Oh yeah, how could I’ve forgotten? He’s staying with us for a week. He’s my parents’ friends’ son. And he’s lying on my stomach for reasons I can’t understand.

Why didn’t he go home and sleep?

The warmth of his breath goes right through the thin sheet and hospital gown between us. The dark waves of his hair are mesmerizing. I must touch them, but I’ll surely wake him if I do. I can’t stop myself. Gently, I plow my fingers into the thickness, finding it the softest thing I’ve ever felt.

He moaned! Oh, crap!

Pulling my hand back, I feign sleep. The weight is gone from my stomach. He’s sat back up. The sound of his footsteps as he walks across the floor, then the sound of the door closing, lets me know it’s safe to open my eyes. And he’s gone.

Why does that make my stomach hurt?

What must I look like? At least the bed moves up on its own with the push of a button. I barely have to move at all to sit up. I pull the table over and open it to find a hairbrush and a mirror, among a few other things.

My reflection surprises me. My hair’s been combed out and my face is shiny, as if it’s been washed. How hard was I sleeping?

I also find a small bottle of mouthwash. I swish some around in my mouth and spit it in the empty cup on the nightstand. That is so much better.

God, I’m starving. Why didn’t they ever bring me anything to eat?

The door opens and in he walks.

Why does he have to be so damn handsome? Eden! That’s his name—Eden Fontaine!

His smile lights up the entire room. “Hey, sleepy head,” he says with that crazy hot accent.

He has a tray in his hands. I hope it’s for me. “What did you bring?”

He places it on the table in front of me. “I asked your doctor if you could eat now and he said yes. When he showed me what the cafeteria was planning on feeding you, I said not to give you that disgusting mess. So I went down myself and picked out a few things that looked a bit better.”

He pulls the lid off, exposing brightly colored strawberries which sit on top of some yummy-looking oatmeal. I smile up at him. I love oatmeal. “Did Mom tell you about my oatmeal fetish?”

The shake of his head surprises me. “I thought this looked good and healthy. I’m a bit of an oatmeal lover myself. Seems we have something in common.”

“I see,” I say. We must be on the same wavelength or something. “I hope you ate too.”

Trailing his hand up my arm, he watches it until it reaches my shoulder, then his eyes land on mine. “I did,” he says. “I had to make sure it was good enough for you to eat before I brought it to you.”

Wow! How fucking thoughtful this guy is. Never have I met someone like him. Too bad I already have someone. Which reminds me—where is my beloved anyway?

“It was extremely thoughtful of you to do this for me. You’re the best, Eden,” I say, hoping to let him know he’s a great guy, but we can only be friends.

I hope Kyle likes him and we can all hang out this week.

He pushes the button on the bed, bringing me up to a better sitting position. His other hand is running through my hair, pushing it from my face. The fact he touches me so much may put Kyle off. I’ll have to talk to Eden about it before the two meet.

“You eat while I find something to watch on the television,” he says, taking a seat in the chair next to my bed.

“What time is it? Maybe Teen Mom is on. I hate the show so much I love it, you know what I mean?”

He chuckles. It’s soft and flows effortlessly through the air. “I do not know what you mean at all. But if my princess wants to watch trash TV, who am I to stop her.”

He called me his princess. Man, we have to get this straight, and quickly. “Eden, maybe you shouldn’t call me things like princess and baby. I hope we can all be friends. I’d like you to hang out with me and my boyfriend and our friends this week. But if you talk to me like that and touch me like you’ve been doing, it won’t work out.”

The look on his face makes me sorry I said anything. “I’m sorry if I’m offending you, Alyssa. If you want me to stop touching you, I will. If you don’t like how I talk to you, I’ll modify it. But please only ask me to do those things if it’s you who’s uncomfortable with them, not anyone else.”

Okay, what the hell does that mean?

“It’s not that I don’t like it. I mean, hell, who doesn’t like being called sweet names? My boyfriend, though, he might get uncomfortable, and that would make me feel badly. You understand, don’t you, Eden?” I take a bite of my oatmeal to find it tastes heavenly, with just the right amount of sweetness. “Mmm, really great oatmeal. Thank you so much.”

The cock of his eyebrow draws my attention as he reaches for my hand, sending chills through me.

Why does his touch do this to me?

“He’s not here right now, Alyssa. It’s only you and I, so can I still touch you and talk to you how I want to?” His deep green eyes twinkle at me.

Sure, he can do anything he wants. Kyle’s not here after all. I blink to clear the dreamy gaze I must surely have off my face. “I guess so.”

What have I done? Is this a type of cheating? Am I a damn cheater?

When his lips touch the hand he has in his, I almost faint. My head is so light it’s as if I could fly. “Thank you, Alyssa, my sweet princess,” he says, low and sexy.

Crap, crap, crap! I am a cheater because I am loving this way too much.

“Eden, you’re too much. Stop teasing me,” I say with a giggle, because he has to be messing with me.

Eden moves to sit on the bed in front of me. The remote sits on the chair, so no television right now, I guess. He picks up the spoon I’ve laid in the bowl. Dipping it in the oatmeal, he brings it to my lips.

“Less talking and more eating, please. You need to get your strength back,” he says as he places the spoon between my lips, which readily open for him.

Traitorous lips!

Who knew being fed oatmeal could cause a fire to grow in your lower regions? But it can.

Bite after bite, he feeds me, stopping to hold the cup of water with the straw in it for me to drink from in between bites. The bowl is empty before I know it. He dabs at my mouth with a paper napkin.

Leaning his head down, his lips touch my ear as his words flow warmly over it. “I’m not teasing you, Alyssa.” My damn tattletale machine beeps like crazy as my entire body blushes.

This is bad!

CHAPTER 12

EDEN

This is pure torture, having to wait in this small waiting room while the doctor and nurse hurt my poor mate. If we were married, I could’ve stayed while they took all the tubes out of her body.

Her eyes held fear as they explained how they must remove the horrible catheter. Then they sent me out like I’m nothing.

The squeak of the door to her room draws my attention. Yes, there they go, done bothering my sweet princess. I hurry to her with the bag of clothes her mother brought. Pushing the door open, I see her pale face.

“Are you okay?”

Her face is pale as she answers, “Not really, but everything had to come out of me and it was not pleasant in the least. I feel a bit sick to my stomach, but I’ll be fine.”

Rubbing her shoulder, I run my hand down her arm, stopping where the IV has left a bruise on her hand. I gently rub my thumb over it. “My poor Alyssa,” I say, as my eyes go to hers. “You’ll be better soon. This will all be behind us.”

Her plump red lips lift to one side. “Us?”

“You, I mean,” I say, finding the slip up amusing. I laugh, which makes her smile.

Maybe she likes my laugh as much as I like hers.

“What’s in the bag, Romeo?” she asks as she reaches for it.

I hand it over. “Your mother brought them early this morning. She found us both asleep and left them with the charge nurse. Its clothes for you to put on so we can go home.”

Her expression becomes riddled with confusion. “Mom came and didn’t wake me up! How crazy is that? I mean, I’m aware you don’t know my parents, but that’s insane. Why in the hell do they trust you so damn much?”

With a shrug of my shoulders, I say, “Couldn’t tell you. Now get dressed while I sign whatever it is they need me to, and come out when you’re ready. Then we can get on the road.”

Leaving her with the bag, I walk away, but turn back to her, gripping her chin in my hand. “The little black box is from me, though. You should put it on too. I’m dying to see how it looks on you.” Then I leave the room, slightly giddy with the knowledge thatshe must have thought I was about to kiss her, because she leaned in a bit with parted lips.

I lean against the wall next to her hospital room door. She’s taking a while. It must be hard for her to dress herself. I would go help her, but I doubt she’d let me. She might have let me kiss her before I left the room, though. That’s a step in the right direction.

When the door opens, she takes a weak step forward. She holds onto the handle like it’s holding her up. “Wow, I’m dizzy and weak. This is crazy.”

I wrap my arm around her waist, making her lean against my side. “Let me help you, Alyssa,” I command as I look her over to be sure she’s really okay to leave.

She looks fine, just weak. And there’s the necklace I gave her, hanging just below her collar bone. I hold the small silver bird with sapphires for its eyes between my fingers. “Do you like it?”

“I do, thank you. It’s really beautiful. You didn’t have to do that, though,” she says as she looks up at me, making my heart break for her. Such a tiny thing, and hurt. It’s almost unbearable.

“I wanted to. Now let’s get you home,” I say as I smile down at her, then brush a stray piece of hair from her face.

A nurse comes to us with a wheelchair. “Mr. Fontaine, you go get your car and meet me at the entrance. I’ll take her down in the wheelchair. It’s hospital policy, sir.”

I place her in the chair, although I’m reluctant to walk away from her. Then I hurry out to get my car.

The sight of her in the wheelchair makes my stomach churn. I never want to see that again. Except maybe when she’s carrying our babies in her arms.

As I wait at the entrance for her, a tall, black truck barrels into the parking lot.

What must his emergency be?

I watch him jump from the entirely-too-tall vehicle and run at break-neck speed into the hospital.

I hope no one’s died!

As my eyes follow the poor distraught guy, I see the elevator doors open, and there’s my Alyssa, with her nurse pushing her out. I get out of the car to help her in.

As I walk around, opening the passenger side door I hear a man’s voice shout, “Ally!”

I turn to find the tall blonde man who rushed in picking my mate up from the wheelchair. My blood is boiling, and in an instant I’ve made it to them.

Running my arm around her waist, I pull her from him. “Alyssa!” I growl.

“Eden, this is Kyle. My Kyle. The one I told you about. Kyle, this is Eden, a friend of my parents’, in a way,” she says.

Her body leans into mine, only because she hasn’t the strength to hold it up on her own.