Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

Aiden pushedfrom his mind all reminders that he wasn't keeping his emotional shield impenetrable, not even close as he carried Chalisa from the stadium, through town, across the bridge, and into the castle. A crowd followed them, cheering. They hadn't won, but nobody seemed to care. Not winning should bother him immensely, grate at him, make him want to train all night on the joust, challenge Lemuel again and knock him flat on his back.

But he couldn't find the competitiveness that usually fueled him. All he cared about was Chalisa. Could he give her the million dollars if they didn't best Lemuel and West tomorrow?

Losing to Lemuel had humbled him. His dad used to say you learned more from defeat than from winning, even if it's just learning how you'll react. He'd kept his head high and held his composure. He could at least say that.

The odd thing was how easy it was to push that defeat away. Maybe because he'd won all the events except that one, but he thought it was more likely the woman in his arms. Chalisa made him want to humble himself and figure out a way to change his life path to include her. He had no idea how to do that or if he even could. He needed his brother and Sutton's advice. Badly.

He carried Chalisa through the airy castle foyer and up the grand staircase. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and she simply smiled up at him like the angelic sweetheart she was.

"You should let me walk," she said. "You have to be exhausted after all of that fighting."

"Easy day for me." He grinned and kept her tight to his chest. No way was he setting her down.

They made it to the second level and then up the next set of stairs and down the hallway and into their room. He still had the lower-body armor on or he would've just settled into the couch with her. Instead, he let her legs slide to the ground, pinned her against the door, and feasted on the sweet longing in her blue eyes.

"Chalisa," he groaned out.

He knew a moment's hesitation. She wasn't his to hold and kiss, and she never would be. Then Chalisa arched up and kissed him, and any hesitation shattered like the end of the jousting lance.

The kiss was pure, sweet, and full of love.

Love? That word should have red flags waving in his face.

He refused to take away time from Chalisa to focus on all the issues, their lack of future, and how disappointed his dad probably was in him right now.

The kisses picked up in intensity. Aiden was in another world. He loved the kingdom of Magna. He loved Chalisa above anything in this world. If only they could stay here, be together, forget the rest of the world.

But he couldn't. He'd been trained his entire life not to forget his responsibilities and the difference he could make.

He slowed down the kisses, pulled back, and stared into her beautiful face. She wasn't as dirty and sweaty as him, but she was dusty, shiny, and had no makeup on. She was completely irresistible.

"Now that was a kiss fit for the conquering hero, and sadly we didn't win," he said, trying to get his pulse and his thoughts under control. Once he had distance from Chalisa, would he be disappointed in himself for breaking down his own guard walls, or would he be grateful he'd had this time with her?

"You are my conquering hero," she said, running her fingertips through his hair and making his scalp tingle. "And I think you deserve more kisses." She arched up toward him, and he was helpless to resist as their mouths found each other. Nothing in this world could equal this time with Chalisa.

There was a loud rap on the door behind Chalisa. They broke apart.

"Yes?" Aiden called out, wanting to tell whoever it was to give them a minute alone. It had probably been thirty minutes they'd been in here kissing, but who was counting?

"Can you open the door?" Shawn's voice sounded irritated.

Aiden whisked Chalisa away from the door, took her hand, and pulled the door open.

Shawn looked them over. "You haven't had time to shower?"

Aiden chuckled and looked at Chalisa. She let out the cutest giggle, like a teenage girl caught.

"No," Aiden answered Shawn. "No time for a shower yet."

He tilted his head up, and his cheeks darkened. This guy was such a mystery. The speculation was he lived with Mercedes as a boyfriend, but Aiden got more of a bodyguard slash big brother perception from Shawn toward Mercedes. Now he was blushing as he realized they'd been making out? Definitely didn't fit if he and Mercedes were living together romantically.

"All right. Mercedes wanted me to ask you to dress casually— athletic clothing and shoes for dinner. As soon as dinner is finished, we'll take you to the start of the final challenge."

Aiden had known there was another challenge, but hadn't they said Saturday? He'd wrongly assumed he and Chalisa would have tonight to relax and be together. He'd hoped to shower, order room service, and talk and kiss until they needed to rest.

They were here for Chalisa to win the money, so he nodded. "All right. We'll see you at dinner."

"Thanks. See you then."

Aiden shut the door and tilted his head, studying Chalisa. "Okay, beautiful. Apparently, we've got to shower and go to dinner and on to our next adventure instead of kissing for hours on end like I had planned."

"I don't like this change of plans."

"You and me both, love." He tenderly kissed her, then walked her to her bedroom door, swung it open, and ushered her in. "See you soon."

"Hurry," she said in a low, throaty voice.

Aiden's eyes widened and his pulse sped up. Chalisa was as pure and angelic as any woman he'd ever met, but that one word, in that voice, with that yearning for him in her blue eyes…

He had nothing charming to say in return. He nodded, tripped over his own feet as he backed away, and he hurried.

Six and a half minutes later, he was showered, hair and teeth brushed, dressed, and pacing the main room. He should've been laughing at himself. There was no way Chalisa could be through her shower and ready as quick as he had. She had long, beautiful hair to wash, condition, and put product in. She'd probably moisturize her skin, not that he could let himself dwell on that. She'd put on makeup and take at least a couple minutes deciding which athletic clothes in the closet would be the most comfortable and flattering.

He could've enjoyed a long shower; the hot water would've felt good on all the future bruises Lemuel and West had given him today. But if there was even a chance to spend one extra minute with Chalisa, he was going to take it.

The way she'd said, ‘hurry…' His heart took off again and his palms got sweaty just thinking about it. She wanted every spare minute with him too, and though he knew she'd need more time to get ready, he also knew she'd hurry as fast as she could.

The problem was, alone for a few moments, he paced and started to stew. He questioned himself, what he was doing to his future path and what he would do to Chalisa's heart. Forget about his own heart. He'd dealt with pain and would have to deal with decimating his own heart when he left her.

But was it an absolute jerk move to be kissing, holding, flirting with, and growing far too close to Chalisa? She'd so sweetly said she'd always forgive him, but he shouldn't have put so much stock in that. He was going to hurt her, badly. He'd blown up his barriers and tugged her into his arms and his heart at warp speed.

Did it matter if he slowed down now, or were they both already too invested? He needed to talk to Ike and Sutton and his dad. He couldn't talk to his dad, but he could be certain he'd tell him to stay the course and to let Chalisa go before it hurt both of them even worse.

Ike had told him last week he was falling in love. What had happened with his brother and the female bodyguard? Aiden had researched her. Myra Tueller. The Warrior Woman. She was impressive and could definitely be confident enough to stand by his brother's side.

If Aiden admitted he'd also fallen in love, he could imagine his brother would tell him to make his peace with his vow and love Chalisa. Aiden didn't know how to do that.

Sutton was happily married, but the top security specialist in the world had assured his dominance with security and protection first, not marrying until later in life.

If Aiden got to the level with his security company that he dreamed of, would he have fulfilled his vow and could then maintain and grow his company more slowly and be with Chalisa? How long would that take? He'd been focused on a ten-year plan, but maybe he could make it in five. He could drain some investments and that would help. Money always talked, and he could hire people away from the military, FBI, or police forces, or talk to Sutton and see if any of his ops would transfer. If only Ike would partner with him. He'd be at his goal within a year or two with Ike by his side. But Ike always told him no.

Would Chalisa wait for him no matter how long it took? Again, was he being a complete jerk to even ask her something like that? ‘I love you; can you wait until I've reached my goals?'

Yes, he was.

With a groan, he sank onto the couch and buried his head in his hands.

Her bathroom door opened.

Aiden sprang to his feet as she sauntered into the room—clean and radiant.

"Chalisa," he moaned.

They both moved like two magnets drawn together. She was in his arms and their mouths fused together before he could remember what a jerk he was being.

The kiss restored, lifted, and inspired him. Here he was, the strongest man he knew, and he couldn't find the strength to pull away. Instead, he increased the intensity, lifting her off her feet and cradling her as close as he possibly could.

As soon as it ended, she released him and took his hand, tugging him toward the door. "I'm starving and dying to know what this next challenge is."

"I'm with you." He needed to focus on helping her win the money, and eating a healthy dinner to recharge would help with the challenges tomorrow. The problem was all he wanted was her—much, much more of her.

He wanted to beg her to wait for him. No way was he going to do that. Chalisa would say yes, and he'd be ecstatically happy. But that wasn't fair to her, so he would never ask.