Goddess Revenge: Goddess Series Book 4 (Young Adult / New Adult) (22 page)

“Making sure you ascend is one of mine too.” Adin’s eyes shut briefly. “The earrings look better on you than I imagined,” he whispered.

Her hands went up to her ears and stroked the earrings without a conscious effort. Adin glanced at the watch on her wrist when it came into view. “Thanks.” Desperately needing a distraction, she said, “You’ve seen them on me before. I sent you a photo when I first put them on.” She chuckled as if she had to remind him of that fact.

Adin laughed, too, but then turned serious. “Getting that text from you was the best part of my Christmas.”

Heart raced as she half-smiled at him. She was so lost in his gaze that she barely heard the roar of the crowd on TV as the countdown to midnight began.

Ten. Nine. Eight.

Adin’s face came closer to her as the seconds counted down. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

Five. Four. Three.

“Adin,” she barely breathed. She couldn’t kiss him. She could
not
kiss him.

Oh, how she wanted to kiss him.

“Happy New Year, Legacy,” Adin whispered as he touched his lips to hers.

Oooh, mmmy gods!
His lips were soft. His breath was hot. He gently, very gently, slipped his hands onto her cheeks as he kissed her. Electric pulses shot throughout her body as the love of her life kissed her like she was the love of his. Then he slowly pulled away, the crowd still cheering in the background.

The kiss hadn’t lasted long. It was soft, powerful, brief. Yes, it wasn’t long. No, it wasn’t long enough.

Adin looked into her eyes, holding onto her face. As he gazed at her, lightly brushing his fingertips along her cheekbone and hairline, it was apparent he wanted more. He slowly wet his lips, leaving them parted as his gaze shifted to her still parted lips—parted because she was having difficulty breathing.

She needed to pull herself together! He got one kiss in. She couldn’t allow another. “We can’t do this,” she whispered quickly.

Adin stared at her and slowly scooted his body toward her. He didn’t stop until he was very nearly against her. He hovered over her, sliding his hands around her head, tilting it up to face him. He lowered his face, eyes still locked onto hers. “Why not?” he asked in such a smooth, seductive tone that it had her reeling.

All she could see was that virile look in his eyes. All she could feel was her body trembling, and all she could smell was the pure masculine scent seeping out of his pores. Adin was the epitome of masculinity with the body of a god and the emotions of a sincere being possessing an abundance of unadulterated passion.

She couldn’t speak. She had no words. She stared at him like…like a woman who looked at a lover—her only lover.

She only thought she had willpower before.

She threw her arms around his neck, pulling herself up against him, and he crushed his lips to hers, kissing her greedily, moaning as he locked an arm around her back, picking her up and pulling her down on the bed. He yanked the blanket off her, grabbed her waist—pulling her down a little farther—and fell on top of her, pressing her into the bed, not breaking from the kiss. His touch was hot. His hands were reckless.

He kissed her neck, her ears, whatever he could reach, while she moaned and writhed beneath him.

She slid her hands down his back, gripped his shirt, and tugged on it briefly. She wanted to touch his skin. She needed to touch him everywhere. He reached down and seized his shirt from her, divesting himself of it in one quick motion.

They kissed and held and squeezed each other, wrapping their bodies together in unbridled passion.

It had been too long—far, far too long—since they’d been together like this. It wasn’t just want. It was need. They needed each other like they needed food or air or water. They were starving for each other.

Adin pushed her nightgown down, exposing her right breast as his mouth left hers. He latched onto her nipple, sucking greedily, and Legacy squeezed her legs together to lessen the ache that was building between them. He must’ve noticed her need, or he just assumed because he was dealing with his own wanting body, because he yanked her nightgown up to her tummy and slipped his hand inside her panties. She breathed his name as he found her wet and ready.

“Oh God,” Adin groaned as he released her nipple and then crushed his lips against hers, his tongue demanding, exploring every inch of her mouth while his finger wreaked havoc on her clit.

Legacy pushed her hand into his flannel pants and gripped his hard cock. He hissed at the contact and then groaned into her mouth as she began to pump it. His finger delved into her channel and she gasped, breaking from his kiss and throwing her head back against the pillows. It was too much. It was so not enough. Adin pushed another finger inside of her and thrust in and out while his thumb rubbed teasing circles around her bud. She needed him to touch it again. It had felt so good when he’d done it before, but now that he was inside her, too, she wasn’t sure if she could stand the sensation. She gripped his cock harder and jerked him faster. She just needed…something.

“Oh, God, Legacy. You’re gonna make me come,” Adin said, panting. He lifted his head to look at her, and when he did, his thumb finally flicked across her clit with fast, feather-light touches. She gasped, lifting her hips up and stroking him faster, harder. She was going to explode.

“Adin,” she yelled his name and stared into his eyes as she clenched around his fingers and found a new heaven.

“Fuuuuck,” Adin roared as he threw his head back and shot cum all over her hand. He collapsed on top of her while they both panted. “I…I didn’t come here, for…”

“I know,” she breathed while tracing circles on his back. He shivered above her.

“I love you,” Adin whispered breathlessly in her ear.

She turned her face and kissed his cheek. “I love you more.”

Adin moved his lips back to hers, but kissed her softly this time, taking his time, crumpling her hair, whispering her name when he breathed.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he said as his lips left hers.

“Me too.” Her hands rubbed along his back, igniting a more powerful shudder from him this time, and he closed his mouth over hers again.

When he finished kissing, they stared at each other for several minutes, as if they were looking for any changes that they may have missed over the last month. Then Adin tilted his head and kissed her shoulder, tracing a path with his lips to her ear.

“Please stop pushing me away,” he whispered.

“Adin, you know I love you and want to be with you more than anything, but—”

“No buts,” he murmured, shaking his head, his hair tickling her jaw. “Just…let’s just agree to find a way to make this work…together.”

“I-I don’t know,” she whispered. Talking about this right now was nothing short of coercion on his part. She knew that.

She really didn’t care.

“Sweetheart,” he breathed, “we don’t have to decide anything tonight. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

He kissed her ear while he nuzzled her hair. The feel of his breath on her skin made her tingle all over.

“O-okay.” She squeezed him tighter, and he pulled her into another kiss.

He rolled onto his side, pulling her up against him, kissing her deeply. He slid his hand down her waist, her hip, to the back of her bare thigh, grabbing it and hooking her leg over his hip as he pressed himself against her.

That action detonated another round of fervent activity of kissing and touching, which lasted quite awhile.

As their immediate desires ebbed, Adin wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly, longingly, before resting his forehead against hers.

“Happy New Year, princess. This is just the first of many we get to celebrate together.”

Together
. If only there was a way to make that truly happen.

Chapter Seventeen

On New Year’s Day, Legacy now had a new perspective, but still dreaming the same old dream. She knew it was a warning. That much was obvious, but she found herself thinking more of this new perspective she had acquired.

Her new perspective was a product of seeing Adin last night. She didn’t want to be away from him anymore. Someone was lying to her, and he was the only man she truly trusted in her life. Why should she keep pushing him away? There had to be a way to make it work.

She still had to have the dreaded conversation with River about what he’d done to her change, but she seriously considered talking to him about this dream too. If he was still lying to her about something she was still falling for, like her dream had warned, then she wanted him to know she was on to him. Maybe if he knew that, it’d change the outcome. Besides, she really wanted a fresh start with River, and she knew they couldn’t have that if there were still lies between them.

She got up and threw on her robe before heading downstairs.

“Happy New Year, Legacy,” Lissa said to her as she poured a cup of coffee.

“Happy New Year to you too. I thought you’d be sleeping in after staying out so late last night.”

“Nah. I have to get the black-eyed peas ready. We were invited to Rose’s house for New Year’s dinner.”

“Oh,” she said with a smile.

Lissa’s head cocked to the side. “‘Oh?’ That’s not the response I was expecting. You do know Adin’s back in town, don’t you?”

“Er, yeah, he came over last night,” she said, walking over to the coffee pot. Was she smiling? She felt as if she were glowing brighter than a neon sign.

Lissa shook her head but smiled. “I don’t want to know,” she said quickly. “Er, unless you want to talk about it,” she amended.

Legacy shook her head, and Lissa sighed in relief.

“I’m going to get ready,” she said a little too eagerly.

She darted up the stairs and showered quickly, using the body wash that came with her new perfume set—another Christmas gift from Lissa.

With a towel wrapped around her hair, she looked in her closet for something to wear to Rose’s house. She decided on a brown skirt, brown boots, and a pink, v-neck sweater. As for her hair, remembering that Adin once commented that it was sometimes convenient when her hair was up, she decided she could afford to be a little helpful in that regard.

Since this was the start of a new year, Legacy wore the tornado necklace her mother sent to her during the summer in an effort to keep her a part of her day—the new pearl necklace would have to wait for a very special occasion. She also put on her new diamond earrings and her watch. She was going to be seeing Adin, and she knew it’d please him to see her wearing these things. Since she was now resolved to find a way to make their relationship work, pleasing him pleased her. She had been worried if she showed too much interest in him—knowing they couldn’t be together—she’d only fuel his pain, but she no longer felt as if she needed to be careful with her actions in front of him.

She wasn’t naïve, though. They couldn’t jump right into a new relationship, either. They’d have to figure out a way to make it work. She knew it’d be difficult. But she was eager to start brainstorming.

After she got ready, she headed back downstairs, and graciously helped Lissa with the food she’d prepared. Olive was already ready, too, so they all made their way next door.

Rose greeted them at the door, and guided them to the kitchen where Myrha was putting the last of the food in serving platters.

“Adin’s setting the table,” Myrha said as she turned to walk toward the dining room with the food in her hands.

Adin walked in before Myrha could leave. He looked amazing! Everyone else seemed to be underdressed compared to the two of them. It was like he had the same idea about dressing up for her.

“Good. Here.” Myrha handed him the bowl and turned to walk back into the kitchen to get another platter. His mom was on a mission.

He didn’t walk back out, though. His eyes met Legacy’s, and he smiled widely.

“Hi,” she breathed, staring at him.

“Hi.” His smile didn’t fade.

Not wanting to take her eyes off him, again she said, “Hi.”

“Hi,” he whispered through smiling lips again.

Someone chuckled, causing Adin to break his gaze. He glanced at Legacy again before turning back out of the room.

“Er, I’ll take the peas,” Legacy said too excitedly to fool anyone. She grabbed them off the counter and walked quickly into the dining room.

Adin was turning around when she walked in. He walked over and took the peas out of her hands.

“Happy New Year,” he whispered.

“Happy New Year,” she replied automatically.

Adin looked as if he were about to say something, but his head inclined to the door as footsteps neared. Everyone else filed into the room, so Adin quickly put the peas on the table and walked back to where Legacy stood.

“Don’t you look pretty, Legacy,” Rose said, smiling as she put the platter she was carrying on the table. “Doesn’t she look pretty, Dinny?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, but he looked at Legacy as he said it. “You look beautiful,” he mouthed to her.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “You look very handsome yourself.”

“Thanks.”

“Let’s take a seat,” Myrha said.

Adin pulled out a chair for Legacy, and as he seated himself, she didn’t miss him pulling his chair a little closer to her.

As the food was passed around, Legacy didn’t doubt that everyone noticed the permanent smiles plastered on Adin’s face and her face and the stolen glances at each other. The dinner conversation flowed naturally with everyone jumping in. When Rose would speak, she seemed to glow. She’d witnessed Adin’s despair firsthand, and now, with him smiling and enjoying himself, his grandmother seemed to share in his happiness.

When Adin finished eating, he slipped his hand under the table and onto her knee. She tried not to gasp, but she couldn’t help glancing at him. Their eyes met, and he smiled at her, squeezing her knee. She’d done really well throughout the dinner not staring at him, but as she looked at him, she just couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away. She was home. With him, she was home.