Chapter 13: Is it getting hot in here?

Amara:

“Amara.” He whispers seductively. I gaze hypnotically at his beautiful sculpted chest. He has a tattoo on his collarbone and another on his shoulder. I try to take a closer look, but the words on his neck are hazy. He looks down, tilting his head near mine.

“Who are you?” I whisper. He doesn’t answer at first.

Heart beating wildly, I watch as he caresses his fingers tenderly down my face. His touch is seductive and sweet. Closing my eyes, I push into his touch, then open my eyes and look at his magnificent wings. His wings are large, extending from his back with black feathers.

Groaning softly, he kisses my eyes and whispers. “I’ve been waiting for you, my Sodales Sempre…”

I smile and move closer as he reaches for me. However, before I can reach him, his body shudders and freezes. I scream out when I look down and see a sword protruding from his chest, and his body crumbles to the floor, blood spurting down his wound. Smiling, I wrap him in my arms and cry. “No. Please don’t die! Please!”

“…Amara…beauty queen, wake up!” A male voice calls out me, waking me up from my nightmare. As my sleepy haze begins to lift, I blink my eyes and find myself wrapped around a masculine chest. Confused by the presence, I jolt back in surprise until I’m met with familiar eyes. Kell’s leaning over me with his arms on either side of my head, gazing down at me with a worried frown.

I don’t know, but we both ended up kneeling on the bed chest to chest.

“Kell,” I whisper, shaken.

His beautiful eyes gleam in the darkened room. “Amara, are you okay?”

I want to say yes, but then I remember what occurred the night before. I remember hearing Kell’s voice and thinking that I was dying until he wrapped me in his arms and warmed me up. I can’t believe that he took care of me and kept me warm.

“Kell, you saved me. You didn’t let me die.”

Gratitude grips me at the thought of what he has done for me. He saved me. If it hadn’t been for him, I know I’d be dead.

His arms wrap around me, and his chest rumbles as he mutters into my ear. “I would never let anything happen to you.” I know he’s trying to comfort me, but his words only make me cry harder. I just don’t understand what is going on between this guy and me.

Every time I think he doesn’t care, he does something heroic and pulls me back in. Inhaling his incredibly masculine scent makes me wish for things that I know can never be, which makes me feel even more desolate.

Unaware of my warring thoughts, Kell wraps his fist around my hair and gently pulls it back. Biting my lip, I keep my eyes on his muscled chest and bite my lip. Kell lays gentles kisses on my cheeks and wipes my tears away with his thumb while I close my eyes and let the sensations of his sensuous lips soothe my pain. Looking up shyly, I raise my hand and caress his face and lips. “You’re my angel.” I sigh out. His lip quirks in bemusement at my girlish praise.

Leaning his forehead against mine, he whispers huskily. “Always.”

As if drawn by invisible tethers, our lips meet again. My hands run down his naked chest as he caresses my backbone. His skin feels so good under my hands. It’s like touching velvet and steel. He feels so solid and strong that I no longer feel scared.

Wanting to touch him more, I map out the muscles on his chest and commit every nook and cranny to memory. The contact is bittersweet as our bodies strain for deeper interaction.

Feeling daring, I straddle his thighs and rub my chest against his. A slow heat ignites in my body at the contact. His hands move lower and wrap around my bottom, making my body hum with desire. I just want to get closer to him. Our bodies melt into each other as our tongues entwine and entice. Moisture gathers in my panties, and my clit pulses with sweet sensations.

Gasping at the sensations, I rub against his groin. Our teeth clash as our kiss deepens. My tongue swirls and retreats in the warm cavern of his mouth. Nothing has ever felt as good as having Kell in my arms. Our breaths mingle, and our breathing is ragged. I raise my hips and lower them rubbing my aching center on his swollen shaft. We both groan and strain pleasurably.

After a moment, Kell releases my mouth and breathlessly leans his forehead against mine. He gasps and swallows as his chest rises and falls with exertion. I continue to rub against him, unaware of the unbearable temptation I represent. Kell groans as if in pain and tightens his arms around my waist to halt my movements.

I try to break free, but he strengthens his hold. My chest is heaving with exultation. Biting my lip, I gaze pleadingly into his eyes. He looks so wild with his mussed hair, glazed eyes, and swollen lips. I’m sure that I look the same way. I can feel sweat gliding down my chest and back from our exertions. Kell sucks in a breath and pulls me close. “Shit, beauty queen, I really want to do this, but I don’t think we’re ready.”

His words give me pause. Of course, he’s right. We’re not even dating, and I’m practically having sex with him. Feeling embarrassed, I rest my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his back. “I know,” I whisper hoarsely.

We wordlessly cling to each other for a couple of minutes, letting our bodies calm down from their pleasurable peak. I love it when his hands run soothingly up and down my back in relaxing circles. Closing my eyes, I lay a few light kisses on the ball of his shoulder and rest my head on it. After a few moments, we pull back slightly and gaze into each other’s eyes. My fingers caress his jaw and neck until they stop at his tattoo. I’ve always wondered what the tattoo meant. “Amor Vicint Omnia. What does it mean?”

He quirks an amused brow and lifts his hand to the tattoo. “It means… love conquers all. Those were the words that my mother used to say when she and my father argued. I will never forget them.” His words touch my soul. I lean down and kiss the tattoo and rest my hand over his steadily beating heart.

He sighs and kisses my shoulder gently. It’s dark and warm inside the room, which creates a sensual atmosphere. Everything is calm and still. It’s as if we’re in our own world, and no one can intrude. Kell closes his eyes and savors my touch. Then a thought strikes me, and I stiffen. “Why did you run from me, Kell?”

He flinches slightly at my words and tightens his arms around me. At first, I don’t think he wants to answer, but he eventually gives in. “Because…I…it was too intense. I guess I freaked a little.”

Somehow his words don’t ring true, but I let it go. “And now?”

He looks into my eyes and rubs his nose against mine. “And now, I…I don’t know.”

His eyes smolder then become serious. “Tell me why Amara. What happened to you last night? Why were you so cold? Why did you faint? What’s going on?”

Dread washes over me. He looks expectant, and I don’t blame him. Closing my eyes for a moment, I take a deep breath then open them. I know that Kell deserves the truth, no matter how crazy it is. I mean, whether he knew it or not, he saved my life last night, and I owe him. So I take another breath and say. “You have to promise me that you won’t freak out. Please.”

His brow furrows, but he nods his head in agreement. “Tell me.”

Needing some space, I move from his lap and sit next to him. He sits back and curls his knees up, waiting patiently. My stomach flutters at the prospect of what I’m about to say. What will he think when I tell him?

Feeling nervous, I lift my hand to my hair and curl a strand around my index finger. Kell waits patiently as I take another deep breath and begin. “A few years ago, I began to see things… visions. It mostly happened when I looked in a mirror. So, I avoided looking into mirrors as much as I could. At first, they were flashes. Kind of like snapshots of scenes. I was never sure what they were. One time I saw a short hazy vision of a boy getting killed. But lately, the flashes have been clearer and longer. And every time I have a vision, this cold chill overtakes my body. It feels like I’m sitting on an iceberg. No matter what I try, I can never really get warm. At first, I took hot baths, and they seemed to work. But lately, it has become harder and harder to get rid of the cold. That is…” I stop and look down shyly, then look at him from underneath my lashes. “…that is until I started being around you. Every time I’m around you, I get warm again. I don’t know how to explain it.”

He gives me a satisfied smile and places his finger and thumb under my chin to raise it up. “What kind of visions are they?”

As I gaze into his eyes, I come to the realization that he might just believe me. Could it be?