Chapter 357: True Love
My whole body was warm, tingly. It felt odd yet amazing at the same time to wake to the touch of him pressed against me, skin soft and rough, stirring up all kinds of fabulousness. Light and heat touched my face, forcing my eyes to flicker open and blink into the morning sunlight. I stretched, sighing in happiness, everything about this particular morning absolutely perfect.
I'd been worried about us why? Hard to recall with the guy I loved snuggled up beside me, bare chest so delicious I wanted to eat him up, the pentagram tattoo I adored dark in the morning light. While I may have been running on total instinct last night, it was clear Quaid at least had some prior experience. And though a sad little part of me wished it had been our first time together, my happy body was quite pleased he'd known what he was doing.
Shiver.
Yes. Perfect. Everything had been perfect. Including the thrill of magic tying us together, magic that had nothing to do with the connection we already shared. Was there something to this destiny stuff after all? Were Quaid and I meant for one another, fated, and did the zing of power mean we were finally bonded forever?
As much as that kind of magic would have bothered me any other time, for once I welcomed it. Quaid was mine, all mine, would be for as long as we both lived. It was hard not to secretly hear wedding bells and fantasize about what our kids would look like as I lay there next to him, letting our lives stretch out in front of me until we were crotchety old people, still desperately in love, hand in hand on our front porch while we snarked at the neighbor's kids.
Quaid's handsome face glowed as he smiled with half-lidded eyes from the pillow next to me. His dark hair hung over his cheek and I took a lazy moment to sweep it aside before leaning over to kiss him.
"Morning." His lips curved in a tasty line, begging for more. My demon shivered in anticipation, growling softly while I felt heat rise to the surface of my skin even as my world narrowed down to one single vision. Quaid.
I opened my mouth to answer and broke into giggles before covering my mouth with both hands.
A race of nerves I was really here, right now, with him, the image of us as a happy old couple vanished as I realized where I was and what we'd done. Contemplating a repeat performance of last night. This time I was without the emotional surge to push me through my butterflies. Why was I nervous? This was Quaid, the guy I loved and would do anything for.
Still. "Crap," I said, making an excuse for my laughter. "Morning breath."
Quaid grabbed me and pulled me close, so close I could focus on nothing but the hunger in his dark eyes.
Turns out morning breath and excited butterflies weren't really much of an issue.
***
I was going to be late for class, but somehow I didn't really care all that much. Quaid's shower was plenty big for the two of us, turned out, and he was more than willing to share. Share? Um, well, more like he couldn't stand to let me out of his arms for even a second.
And I was all for that.
Any fears or confusion I'd felt were long gone, my heart doing a happy tap dance every time he touched me, looked at me, came close to me. And that was a near constant. It was impossible to doubt how perfect we were together while he kissed the inside of my wrist after I finished tucking my wet hair into a messy bun at the nape of my neck, or when he pressed those amazing lips to the corner of my mouth, making my cheek tingle from the roughness of his scruff.
Delicious. Did I mention he was delicious? Yum.
Heart full and feeling his power with me as strong as ever, stronger even if that was possible, I contentedly strolled out of the building with him, hand-in-hand, into the gorgeous morning sunlight. Quaid pulled me close and kissed me, slow and long and lingering, until my knees threatened to give way and my heart was racing so fast I was sure I'd die from happiness.
"I love you." His dark eyes were so intent it was almost as if he doubted I believed him.
I gripped his handsome face between my hands and sent him everything I was feeling through my magic, including the naughty thoughts my demon was having as she purred in absolute delight.
"I know," I said. "Quaid, I love you, too. You felt it?"
The magic binding us together, the very fate Mom always secretly smiled about. He nodded slowly. "And here I thought your mother was just trying to control us."
I snorted, kissed him again. "You and me, Quaid. Forever and always. We're meant to be."
He smiled then, kissed the tip of my nose. The light touch made me giggle.
"We're both late," he said, but his tone told me he cared about as much as I did.
"Yeah," I said. "Oh well."
I'm not sure how long we would have stood there, grinning at each other like idiots, if Quaid's Enforcer friends hadn't shown up. But I was in such a great mood, his love still wrapped around me, I didn't feel a flicker of resentment as he finally turned and left, hand holding mine to the last possible moment until his fingertips were all I had of him.
I hugged myself as he waved, walking backwards as he retreated, eyes locked on me. I wanted to jump up and down, squeal like a little girl, tell someone, anyone, how much I loved him. How yes, we were right for each other, he was the perfect guy for me. Bouncy and full of the most joy I'd ever felt, I drifted my way across the Yard to my own dorm to fetch my book bag.
And came face-to-face with a very, very angry Charlotte.
Oh, crap.
She handed me my bag, jaw so tight I was certain she'd shatter it, and refused to speak one word to me, even when I tried to apologize. I didn't let her attitude get me down. She'd just have to get used to the fact there would be times I needed my privacy.
Hopefully tonight, in fact. The memory of Quaid made me blush and giggle to myself just as I sank into a seat in my first class. Sashenka raised an eyebrow, but she was smiling.
"Where were you last night?" Her eyes flickered to Liam who sat on the other side of me.
Liam. Right. His hazel eyes met mine as I tried to dampen my enthusiasm.
"Out." I could have just said Mom's, but I didn't want to lie to her. And there was no way I was telling her I was with Quaid with Liam sitting right there. I was happy and loved Quaid, but after what happened the night before, I wasn't about to hurt my Sidhe friend by going on and on about my boyfriend.
But it did remind me we had to talk about what happened. Liam acted like nothing changed, but now that Quaid and I were on solid ground again, I needed to deal with my friend and his feelings.
It was hard not to let my mind wander to Quaid and I found myself doodling his name as if I were some pre-teen with a crush. Liam acted funny all day, sitting next to Sashenka instead of me, head down, not talking. My guilt began to grow, cutting through my happiness at last, added to the continuing cold shoulder Charlotte gave me until I finally felt like a criminal or something.
I finally headed back to my room after classes were over, begging off when Sashenka and the girls invited me to the cafeteria with them. Liam left without a word before I could chase him. Selfishness won in the battle between hunting him down and making him talk to me and reaching for Quaid.
No surprise there.
The moment I sent my magic to Quaid I knew something was wrong.
Are you okay? He felt angry and frustrated.
I'm fine. His mental voice snapped. Then softened. Sorry, rough day.
Can I help? I let my demon reach for him, but he cut her off, tightening the connection between us until only a thin thread remained.
Thanks, but I can handle this myself.
Okay then. Are you sure? I'm happy to-
I don't need a coven leader to save me, thanks. Quaid's mental voice sighed as I gasped softly. He might as well have slapped me, it hurt so much. Syd, I'm sorry, really. Just... give me a little space tonight. I'm not fit to be around. Okay?
Okay. I knew I should just pull away, let him have the space he wanted, but my heart, still freshly full of love, needed reassurance since we'd just declared our undying devotion to each other, both in heart and body. The fate thing, right? I love you.
He paused. Paused. Only an instant, but that instant was a lifetime.
I love you, too. And then, he was gone.
And my fragile and wide-open heart wanted to die. Just whither and collapse and let go of everything, shatter and turn to dust so I didn't have to feel what I was feeling. Worry the magic connecting us, the destiny I was so sure of was a lie after all, some distortion of what might have been-choke-for him at least, just sex.
It took a long time for me to talk myself down. I pushed myself into the corner where my bed met the wall and hugged my knees to my chest, trying to hold myself together when I was sure I was about to fly apart. I'd never, ever been so vulnerable, not when my demon left me, not when my family was in danger, never. Not like this.
Never like this.
Syd. Sassafras's voice shook me out of the spinning wheel of thoughts holding me hostage. I've been watching the house and there's no activity. I'm just going to head back to visit Meira then I'll join you.
Okay. I kept my thought tight. The last thing I needed was a lecture from my demon cat. Thanks.
Maybe Quaid was right. I was looking for trouble because that was my life, all I knew. Both with him and with Darin's little club. My body started to relax, the panic holding me thrall easing as I let my head fall forward, forehead pressed to my knees. I was being silly. Quaid was allowed a bad day. Goodness knew I'd had enough of my own. I was being an idiot.
And yet, I couldn't let it go. Couldn't. I headed for my door, felt for Charlotte. She was in her room, stewing. I'd really pissed her off. But I needed time alone, really alone, to walk and think without her hanging from me.
Who was I kidding? I was going to Quaid's and didn't want her around.
It was a little harder to put her to sleep this time, but I managed, guilt at my act much stronger than it had been. She was only doing her job, or what she thought was her duty. She'd been manipulated and used by the Dumonts her whole life and here I was doing the same thing to her. I swore to myself as I chose to sneak past her room rather than risk Mom's wrath by sliding into the veil, I'd sit down with her later and tell her everything.
She had to understand.
***
