Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

Chalisa slidout of the beautiful lace dress and into a comfortable tank top and shorts pajama set. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and used the bathroom.

Turning off the bathroom light, she walked into her dark bedroom. The main area was also dark, but a glow from the castle's exterior lights through the large windows gave her enough light to find her bed and drop to her knees.

Why hadn't Aiden closed her door? Why hadn't she? It didn't matter as he'd gone to bed and once again, he'd resisted kissing her. It couldn't matter because he had promised his dad, and they'd never be together. It was much kinder of Aiden to keep his distance like he was trying to do. Not that anything could stop her from loving him.

She said a very long prayer for help and insight and strength and for Aiden.

Sliding into the bed, she stretched out, her body tired and stiff from all the training Kingston was pushing her through. Aiden hadn't complained for a minute even though she'd seen some bruises on his perfect body. When she'd stressed about the competition, Aiden had held her and reassured her. He was so perfect for her; if only he didn't have some oath and deathbed promise.

Curling onto her side, she closed her eyes.

She was in an odd state between awake and asleep, but she felt a dark presence. Someone was coming for her. She was running and checking over her shoulder and she couldn't get away. Even though she ran, she didn't move. Darkness seeped toward her.

Jorge and his men.

They were going to catch her, and this time Aiden wasn't going to rescue her.

"H … h … h …"

Just like her inability to run away, she couldn't form the word to scream for help.

"H … h … help!" It finally burst from her lips. "Aiden! Help!"

The scream yanked her from the weird half-consciousness and nightmare. Before she could even sit up in bed, Aiden was there.

His arms were around her, lifting her against his solid chest, comforting her, being there for her.

"Aiden! Jorge! He's coming. He'll hurt me. You won't be there."

"Chalisa." His voice was as soft as she'd ever heard it. "I'm here. Don't worry, love. I'll never let anyone hurt you."

Chalisa wrapped her arms tight around his neck and blinked up at him. In the dark she couldn't see his blue eyes, but she could hazily make out his features.

"Aiden," she begged, as needy as she'd ever been in her life. She needed him. Desperately. In every facet of her life. "You'll never let anyone hurt me?"

"Never." His voice was fierce, a pledge of the toughest man on earth to the lady he loved. "You're safe. I will make certain that you are safe."

"I love you," she admitted to him.

She wasn't certain how he reacted because she arched up toward him and pressed her lips to his, kissing him with all the desperation from her nightmare, all the longing stored inside her, all the love she felt for him.

Aiden returned the kiss and then some. He pressed her against the pillows and headboard and matched her desperation, longing, and love with intense, thorough, and beautiful kisses.

Chalisa clung to him and could only pray this kissing would never end.

Yanking himself away from her, Aiden released her and leaped to his feet. She was instantly bereft of his touch and his lips on hers. Their labored breathing was the only sound in the darkness.

"Forgive me, Chalisa." His voice was ragged, raw. "I cannot kiss you … in here." He backed toward the door.

She scrambled out of the bed and to her feet, wrapping her arms around his lower back and pressing against him. "Can you kiss me in the main area?"

"Ah, love." He bent and captured her lips again. His hand threaded into her hair and pressed her mouth even more forcefully against his. She'd never felt anything so thrilling.

As quick as the kiss started, he released her again.

"Please." Aiden's voice was soft again. "We can't. Get some rest."

He was out the door and the door was firmly shut behind him before she could draw another breath. She heard him bound across the main area and then his bedroom door slammed shut.

Suddenly weak, she sank onto the bed behind her and touched her fingertips to her lips. Her mouth, her entire body thrummed with the intense beauty of their kisses. Unfortunately for her, it only made her long for him more and he'd walked away. No, he'd run away.

He had promised to keep her safe. Did that mean he wouldn't leave her after this week? She had no idea, but she wouldn't bet on it.