Authors: Sarah Brocious
He drew her back away from his chest and framed her face with his hands. “Raina, No,” he whispered.
She saw the uncertainty there. “We will just have to make many more memories before…just in case. Memories that can get me through if it fails. And if it works…we will be that much more ahead.” She laid her hand over his heart. “Please Nolan?” She pressed her palm against the beating. “Let’s make memories that will outlive us both.”
Nolan felt panic rush through his own body. “Give me a minute.”
Raina removed her hands from him. He had gone cold, but not cold against her. She had shocked him with her words, made him second guess himself.
“Off,” he whispered. “Please, I need up.” He gently gripped her hips, and moved her back.
“Nolan?”
He shook his head. “I need air.”
“I didn’t mean to….”
He went to the door, and rested his forearm on the frame, his back to her. “I’m going for a ride,” he whispered. “I need air.”
Raina bit her lip. “Can I go with you?”
He shook his head. “I will be back.”
She watched him leave without even a backwards glance. She heard him murmur something to the guests below, and then the door shut behind him. Seconds later she heard his car backing down the drive.
She walked slowly down the stairs and met the stares of her friends.
“What was that all about?” Emily asked with concern. “I thought the two of you would be up there until dawn…”
“Emily,” Arabella said softly.
Raina shrugged, and sat down on the couch beside the green eyed devil. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Give him space beautiful.”
She felt embarrassed now, knowing Arabella and Thanatos had both heard.
Thankfully Joseph, Jonathan and Maxim were at the hotel visiting. Michael and Melinda were home. Emily was the only oblivious one.
“Am I right Thanatos?” She looked up at her friend for comfort and reassurance.
“It should be your choice yes,” he agreed. “You just have to understand how much this is tearing him up. Give him time to think it over.”
She pouted, lip out.
Thanatos threw his head back and laughed.
She elbowed him in the ribs, but she earned his smile. “Green eyed devil…have I told you I love you yet today?”
He shook his head. “No need…I know you do.”
Arabella smile at the two of them, watching closely.
Raina thought she saw a little bit of jealousy. She knew Arabella understood, but she felt a twinge of guilt, and changed seats, crowding Emily on an ottoman. She put her arm around her friend.
“I have started to lead Bradley into the whole story,” Emily said softly. “I took Thanatos advice. I don’t think the shock treatment he gave me on my reveal will work so well on my husband! I think I’m close.”
Raina hugged her friend’s shoulders. “Do you understand how hard it was for me now? Best friend, husband, same difference,” she teased.
Emily sighed. “Did you see him last night? At the club? He is so suspicious now. He knows something is different…so I think he will be able to accept it!”
Thanatos grinned. “All I need is a kitchen knife and a moment of his time.”
Emily smiled. “You’re lucky I still like you!”
“Still? You hated me before you knew what I was!” The green eyes sparkled.
“Truth,” Emily agreed.
Raina liked the bond her friend and her protector had created.
“Wine anyone? I think I could use some,” she admitted. She jumped up. “Emmy come and help me.” She indicated with her head the path they should take. She gave Thanatos a wink.
Emily giggled when they got into the kitchen. “I know what you are up to! You want to let…”
Raina covered her friend’s mouth. “Yes, now hush. Freakishly immortal…” She tapped her ear for hearing.
Emily giggled again and went for the glasses.
The two of them enjoyed a glass, leaning against the counter and catching up, before they actually rejoined the two in the living room with their wine.
Arabella was on the couch beside Thanatos, but not too close. It was still a good sign to Raina.
“I have missed you all…even you Arabella! I am jealous that the others have gotten to know you before I could!”
“We need extra time, beautiful! You win people over at the drop of a hat. With others it takes a bit of time! You can’t be every ones favorite!” He lifted his glass of wine to her and winked.
A few hours and three bottles later, everyone was just getting into a good mood. And then the sound of an engine in the drive quieted them.
Raina bit her lip.
“I thought he was meeting up with Michael tonight,” Thanatos admitted.
“He must have felt he needed to come back,” Emily whispered.
Raina got up and went to the kitchen to open another bottle of wine, and pour a glass for Nolan.
She heard him enter the house, mumble something to Turk, who needed his attention, and then greeted the others.
She entered the living room, gave him a small smile, and then handed him the glass of wine. He downed it all at once. His silver eyes lifted to hers. She watched him swallow the last sip.
“Thanatos weren’t you just leaving?” Nolan’s voice was calm, but held the edge of a demand.
Thanatos choked back a laugh, and cleared his throat. “I planned on driving the ladies home, and then watching Raina while you went to another meeting.”
Nolan broke his gaze with Raina to look at his partner. “I suggest you get the ladies home then.”
Thanatos took the hint motioning to both females it was time to hit the road. Like a gentleman he went for their coats. They all hugged Raina before their departure.
Thanatos gave her a squeeze. His green eyes were serious. “I will be back in a bit so if he becomes too much of an ass…”
“Thanatos,” Nolan growled.
Raina closed the door behind him.
“Where are you going?” Nolan called when she rushed back to the kitchen.
“I’ll be right there,” she called and poured more in her glass and drank it down, feeling like she needed more liquid courage. When it was empty she added more. She closed her eyes and taking a deep breath she picked up the bottle.
When she re-entered, Nolan gave her a once over with those beautiful eyes. A tingle ran through her. “What?”
He indicated his empty glass.
She walked up to him, and filled his glass with a shaky hand. He relieved her of the bottle.
He took a swallow out of his own glass, and then set it on the table beside his seat. “Come,” he whispered, patting the spot beside him.
She took a deep breath and sat down. She tentatively lifted her face to him. Oh yeah, he was mad…well maybe not mad but not happy.
“You know I hate to second guess myself. And I hate when you argue with me when it comes to your safety….what’s best for you” His hand moved automatically to his neck. “I had it all made up in my mind how this was going to go and then you have to throw me.” His brow furrowed.
“I have a right to say how my life goes too Nolan,” she whispered.
“I know that,” he growled. “But now you’ve painted me into a corner. If I go through with my original plan I will be named a bastard. But if I allow you what you want and you end up devastated…”
She gently set a finger to his lips.
“I shouldn’t have come back tonight,” he sighed. “Your nearness never ceases to scramble my thoughts.”
“I hate arguing with you,” she said softly.
“I’d be scared if we agreed on everything,” he murmured back. “What’s love without a little passion?” He shook his head and rubbed his neck again in adgitation.
She blushed and contemplated giving him his space but instead, crawled into his lap, just as she had been before the freak out. She straddled his hips and took a sip of her wine.
He took her glass from her, setting it beside his own.
“Nolan, I didn’t mean to push your hand when I said I would rather…” She set her hand over his heart again. “I can’t lose what I have of you now. I need the past…I need the future memories. They are mine.” She gripped the fabric under her hand. “I’m sorry if I seem needy or…” She caught her breath as the silvers changed color. “I know you have my best in mind and I….” She paused again as his frowny face appeared and his gaze focused on her mouth. “Its just I feel I have the right to…” His shoulders rolled and she bit her lip. “I don’t want you to be angry…and Nolan…are you okay?” She shook her head. “Your breathing is all funny and…”
“Please shut up,” he growled, nailing her with his stare.
Raina saw the desire in his eyes, and she did as he commanded…immediately.
He gently gripped the back of her neck, and drew her down so he could claim her mouth. The gentle hands grew firmer when she responded to him. He growled again, and this excited her. She was at once burying her hands deep into his hair. He pulled her tighter to his chest and drew back to look into her face. He loved the protest she made with her eyes, and her tightened fingers in his hair. “You want memories?”
She nodded, and drew a hopeful breath when his lips skimmed hers gently, and then pulled away again, leaving her frustrated.
“What kind of memories Aelan?” His voice deepened an octave.
She blushed.
“Oh, so you want those kind of memories?” He teased and his hands wandered down her neck, so that his fingers could gentle with a caress down her spine. “I was thinking of something with more substance.”
Raina felt the warm trail of his touch. “Why not that kind? You act as if it were a bad thing,” she protested softly.
“It’s not a bad thing,” he said just as softly. “And we are going to make those memories. I promise this.” His fingers had reached the bottom of her spine, and his hands spread out to hold her hips gently. “We will make a lot of those kinds of memories.” His eyes held hers in their spell.
Raina smiled well pleased with this answer. "And you won't take them from me after?"
He shook his head. "I won't take your memories."
She sighed in relief. "Thank you." She gave him a quick kiss and pulled back slowly, trying to read his mood. She then leaned in again to give him another kiss. As she went to pull back for the second time he leaned forward so that the kiss could not be broken.
Raina felt surprise and pleasure in his response. They held to each other tightly and worshiped each other tenderly.
Nolan held her hips to still their movement. She could never control them when she was this close to his body. Nolan was a thing of beauty, and she wanted every part touching him. She gasped in surprise, when he pulled her hips tighter to him. He was growing bolder when it came to her…not as tentative as he had once been.
She slid her hands from his hair down in between their bodies so that she could work at the buttons of his shirt. And she kissed him harder to mask her intention.
One by one she stealthily undid them. Nolan was too lost even notice.
She gently pulled back the material and nipped at his lower lip.
Nolan growled and tugged at her hair still oblivious to her tactics.
She let her fingers examine the warm skin beneath his shirt.
This he noticed. His muscles tightened beneath her exploration. He growled in protest. “Why do you always go for my buttons?” He nipped at her lower lip.
“Let me,” she whispered. “Just a little bit.”
He pulled back breathlessly and choked out a laugh. "Sneaky and stubborn," he teased.
"Just making memories," she teased back.
He squeezed her arms. "Come on let's get up."
"Why are we stopping?" She pouted.
"I have a meeting Aelan. And this I'm not going to rush. Plus, I think we should talk more on this memory making thing…especially when it comes to this. I want it to be special. Not that this right now would not be spectacular mind you." His chest heaved with a deep breath. "Believe you me."
Raina smiled.
He simultaneously kissed her and stood to his feet with her in his arms. He set her gently on her feet. He re-buttoned his shirt as he tenderly brushed his lips against hers.
Raina wanted to protest when he straightened to his full height and the kisses came to an end. "I don't want to just plan it out."
He chuckled at this. "I'm not planning on making an itinerary for when we make love. I just have a different idea of how it should go. I want to share that with you. If you can stand to keep your hands off of me maybe I'll be able to explain."
She gasped and slapped his chest.
He laughed and captured her hand against his chest. He lifted it to his lips. "I suffer from the same. I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you either. But if at least one of us can abstain we may have hope." He nipped at her knuckles.
She like the pleasure pain it caused.
"Michael and I are meeting in about twenty minutes. I don't know how long the meeting will be but I will be back before you pass out.” He kissed her lips, enjoying her flavor, and the taste of wine. He tilted her chin up. “And you and I are going to have a date tomorrow. I know this little place you might like. It’ll be just you and me and a little romance." He lifted his brow. "Does that sound okay to you?" His thumb brushed along her bottom lip. He tilted in for another taste.