CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

O liver listened outside Piper’s door, then gave a short knock before letting himself in. They only had a few hours left before Ari would expect an answer.

Hell, he wanted an answer.

He’d left Piper for a few hours, every second of it painful, but now it was time to talk.

It was crazy to think this sassy pain in the ass held his life in her hands. She didn’t know, of course, but Oliver was determined to let her decide her future, regardless of this situation with Callan.

Did he want to help the race? Yes.

But he couldn’t live every day with the woman he loved despising him, knowing he’d taken her life. It would be worse than hell.

He’d decided. He would give up his life for her.

If Piper wanted to remain human and live out her life as a mortal, then Oliver would accept her decision. At least with Sage and Ari in her life, as family, he knew she’d be looked after as she aged.

Who knew what the afterlife would bring? Even vampires didn’t know the answer to that. If soul mates were a thing, perhaps they’d get their shot together in the next life.

He glanced around the empty space and made his way to the bedroom where he found Piper curled up on the top of the covers with a wad of tissues.

She was dreaming fitfully.

Oliver sat on the bed beside her and rested his hand beside her head.

“Hey.” Gently, he brushed the hair from her face.

Slowly she opened her eyes and rolled toward him. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry,” they both said at the same time.

Oliver smiled sadly as she shuffled into a sitting position, and he adjusted, keeping his arm over her.

“It hurts so much,” Piper said. “When you’re not with me.”

He nodded. “It gets better when the bond is in place solidly. So I hear.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t go away. Mates can’t live with—”

Shit.

“With?”

“Yeah, it’s just hard. You’re right,” he added, leaving it at that but big blue eyes scanned his face.

“Will it be like this if I leave?”

Oliver wiped his hand over his face and sat away from her an inch. He felt her edge toward him and then relax back. The tug and pull was so evident he wanted to tell her it was okay.

But it wasn’t okay.

Suddenly he knew. Every bone in his body knew she was going to reject him. It was time for some cold hard truths.

Or some of them.

“It’s the essence of who you are, our souls, which have connected. Not our memories,” he answered. “Over time, it will lessen but, as Ari said, you’ll always feel the loss and never love another.”

Unlike him. He would feel the void grow until he could no longer breathe without her.

Nor would he want to.

This was the curse of being vampire.

“God. I never asked for this,” Piper said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, that sounds so horrible. This is just... crazy. I shouldn’t have to die to be with someone I love.”

And yet he would die if she wouldn’t be with him.

“What did you say?” His eyes flew open.

“Oh—”

He grabbed her legs and dragged her to him. She let out a laugh he could tell she hadn’t been able to contain.

“You love me?” He cupped her face, brushing her hair back. “Say it again.”

“Oli.”

“Just say it, please.”

“I love you.” Her eyes dropped.

“Just look at me and say it, goddamn it.” He pleaded, gripping her tighter.

Her eyes flew back to his and held. “I love you, Oliver Cambiaghi. I do.”

His lips slammed down on hers and she turned to jelly in his arms. He forced his way inside her warm wet mouth and took possession of her tongue, entwining them in a passionate dance.

He’d told her when they made love after the sword play, but she’d not said it back. Not since she’d learned he was a vampire. He sensed strongly she was going to leave, but right now he wanted to relish in this moment. She loved him, despite what he was and if this was all he had of her, he’d take it.

He’d take fucking anything.

“Don’t give me your answer yet. I just want to have this moment with you.”

She nodded, tears springing. He pressed his thumb against one and wiped it away. No, he wasn’t facing any of that yet. He wanted to just focus on those three words.

They both removed their clothes and then came together like desperate lovers. Clinging awkwardly, biting, sucking, licking. All they both wanted was the intimate connection.

“Oli.”

“I know,” he ground out, wrapping her legs around him and reaching to slide his fingers through her moist entrance. “I want it too, darlin’.”

His cock wasn’t waiting, it twitched toward her, needing to be inside her now. Laying down over her, their eyes met as he pressed against her pink wet flesh.

He smiled. “You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, Piper Roberts.”

Fuck.

Fucking emotions. They sped through him like a speeding bullet. Her arms wrapped around his neck and their lips collided as he entered her. Her warm channel immediately wrapped around him as if she was made for him.

Because she was.

He slid in fast, and they both groaned, holding their bodies close together. Oliver grabbed her hips and began to move rhythmically, kissing her, staying so close as if it was the last time he’d ever have this beautiful annoying woman in his arms again.

Because it might be.

“I love you,” Piper cried. “I’m sorry, Oli. God, I love you.”

Fuck. He heard her apology and knew what it meant and still he ignored it.

Their bodies slapped desperately as the pressure grew, both of them not caring how good the lovemaking was, just that they were connected. Touching. Together.

Oliver arched and growled as his orgasm began. “Come, darlin’. Come with me.”

“I—”

His eyes dropped to hers. Tears were pouring down her face, but she clung to him and clenched her pussy muscles as she began to come. Her eyes never left his.

It was heaven and hell.

Heat shot up his shaft and he came in a rush inside her, panting, groaning, and thrusting to milk every last drop. For the very last time.

Rolling over, he pulled her against him and rested her head on his heaving chest. If only he could freeze time.

PIPER RETURNED FROM the bathroom and snuggled back into Oliver’s arms.

Five more minutes.

Then she would tell him.

“Those weren’t my best moves,” Oliver said and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“Sure they were, big guy.” She grinned up at him and he smirked back. Then the mood turned serious.

“We need to talk.”

She let out a sigh. “I know. Let me get dressed.”

Five minutes later they were both sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at their feet.

“Just say it,” Oliver said, taking one of her hands and entwining his fingers.

Emotion built in her throat, tears stinging her eyes. How could she love him so much? And how could she live without him?

But she had to.

“I’m going home,” Piper said. “It’s not you. Oh God, that sounds so cliché. But it’s not you. I just can’t wrap my head around becoming another species. If—”

“If I was human?” he asked, and she could hear the clench of his teeth as he spoke.

She had to tell the truth. He deserved that.

“Yes,” she whispered.

They sat there in silence for a long moment. A really long moment. Then suddenly he slapped her on the knee and nodded.

“Okay.”

Okay?

Her head shot up as Oliver stood. “Okay? Is that all you’re going to say?”

He nodded. “Yes. You’ve made your decision and I love you so I will honor it. You’re an intelligent woman, so I trust you think this is the right thing for you.”

She stared at him.

That was it? He was accepting her rejection just like that. Was that how much he loved her? She’d been prepared for a huge debate, and maybe for him to try and change her mind.

Okay.

That was all he was going to say?

Well then, perhaps she had made the right decision.

So much for soul mates, fucking fated mates, and all that bullshit.

Oliver plunged his hands into his pockets. “If you want me to fight for you and change your mind, just fucking say it. I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

Oh.

“I guess I do, but that’s selfish. I’m not going to change my mind,” she admitted.

He nodded. “That’s what I thought. I know you, Piper Roberts. You make up your mind and you are stubborn. So if this is what you want, I accept your answer.”

Yes. It appeared he did know her.

Her heart began to splinter as she stared into the face of the man who loved her enough to accept her rejection with a straight back and nod of his head.

For her.

He was doing it for her. She could see that as plain as day.

Tears slid down her face like rain on a windowpane. They seemed to never end. She didn’t know if she wanted them to end.

Oliver nodded and kept nodding, then took a step away.

She clenched her fists to stop from reaching out and asking him to stay, but instead a sound left her body that seemed to come from her very soul.

He stopped and looked at her like she’d ripped him open.

“I have to leave. This is too painful to stay here with you now, Piper,” he said, as if apologizing. His hands ran over his head and then his arms in a confused and chaotic way. “Ari will see that you get home, and your memories are erased.”

Piper stood.

His eyes shot to hers. “Stay there. Please.”

Would he not let her touch him again? He couldn’t just leave. A flush of panic spread through her.

“Oliver, please. At least kiss me goodbye.”

The eyes that looked back at her were not ones she recognized. They were primal and wild. He blinked a few times, took the few steps toward her, slammed his lips down on hers harshly, and then lifted his head.

“Goodbye Piper. I will love you with all that I am until my very last breath.”

Then he took two steps backwards and vanished. A guttural cry left her body and for the second time tonight, she collapsed.

This time, though, she felt like she’d lost a huge chunk of her soul.