Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (68 page)

“Taken care of it how?” I asked now in fear for other reasons. 

“I have my people watching Libby and Frank making sure they stay safe. I also have people watching your parents in England just in case and I have even taken measures to keep your friends here safe...So you see you have no reason to leave.” When he had finished I couldn't believe it, was he right ...were they all safe? Was I even safe from that monster who wanted to destroy my life! He must have seen the shock on my face as he said,

“I can guarantee your safety here but not if you run from me Keira.” His voice was soft and beseeching. The way he said my name was like the nights I had dreamed of him, placing a warm blanket around my shoulders and pulling me close, keeping me safe.     

“But I don't understand...why...why would you do all this ….for me?” I asked hoping he would give me an answer that would finally make sense.

“Is it not obvious?” He said looking at me like I had never seen him before. He looked at me as though he needed me...as if he wanted me and would soon take me!

I looked down at my hands, as his stare was putting a different kind of fear through me. One of passion and I wanted him. Wanted him so badly that even now at the mouth of my hell, I would never stop wanting him!

“Enough!” He stated abruptly and before I could speak he made his move. He had clearly waited long enough and cut the distance between us in seconds. His body came up to mine, taking my face with both of his hands, lifting it up so that my lips could meet his before he devoured me whole, kissing me with more passion than my body could take. It quivered under his hands and my legs were about to buckle as
every muscle went soft. He reacted to this by grabbing my waist wrapping one solid arm around it, picking all of me up to the level of his face.

His lips moulded to mine taking everything he wanted from just one kiss. He parted my lips, invading my mouth with every sensory fibre he possessed. At this moment in time he owned me, dominated me and I gave myself to him like the most willing of sacrifices. His free hand moved to the back of my neck while his other hand gripped my side tighter in his hold. It was a purely possessive gesture. And just when I thought it couldn't get any more intense he deepened the kiss until my insides were on fire. He lit my veins with utter passion and I never wanted to cool down from it. Tilting my head even further to the side he explored at greater depth. I couldn't help the moan that escaped from my mouth into his. I felt him smile over me before he pulled his lips from mine. I didn't like it. I wanted him back to me. I had to control the urge not to find them again myself.  But he had other plans seeing that my legs weren't up to holding my bodyweight, when he was so close.

He carried me over to his desk, still holding all my weight in just one arm. He used his other arm to clear the top of all that lay upon it. He swiped it all onto the floor and my past was now scattered around my feet where I wanted it to remain forever. He placed me down so that I remained the same height as his perfect face. His eyes were still alight with the ache of desire.

His hand snaked up to the back of my head and his palm stretched out around the back of my neck with his fingers entwined in my hair. There he could control the position of my head, tilting it to the side so that he could bring his mouth to my neck. He kissed me there and the feel of my cold skin where his lips left imprints sent tingles down my spine. I closed my eyes as the room started to spin.

My skin was hot and sticky which he must also have felt as his hands found the collar of my jacket pulling it back over my shoulder letting the cool air work on my overheated body. That's when I noticed the doors that led to the balcony were now open letting in the night air.

He pulled off my jacket and threw it to one side as though it should never have been allowed to conceal me away from him to begin with. Then he looked back at me and my heart skipped a few beats at the sight of the lust in his dark eyes. One corner of his mouth quirked up exposing a confident smile as his hands gripped the back of my knees. He held them moving them to the side, separating them. He gave them a quick tug making me slide closer towards his body eliminating the space between us. Not allowing it to invade our locked bodies.

I gasped out but he crushed his lips to mine once more and I could taste the scent that I had craved. I had never experienced any feeling like it. I had never been kissed like this before as it felt like we were designed for each other. My hands finally found the courage to touch his hard chest and they were received with a stronger need for my body. His hands curved around my back trying to get to my skin through the layers that obstructed them.

His kiss became soft until his lips left me again. He pulled back to look at me and I felt self-conscious as his serious face studied me. He was looking at my hair and then he frowned. I was just about to ask him what was wrong when he moved his hand
holding it from the back of my head without touching me then
my clip opened
and jumped into his hand releasing my hair down like a golden waterfall. He put down the metal clip and then let his hands feel the mass
of hair
through his long fingers.

“
Clavis
aurea
”(
Means “Golden Key” in Latin) He said in a rough voice that still held the hunger he had for me. I didn't know what it meant but I responded by putting my head down making my hair fall forward hiding my embarrassed face.

“A beauty like yours should never been hidden,” he said as he lifted my face up to his eye level, moving my hair back off my skin. And then his hands went down to my sweater and he pulled down the zip allowing his hand to find my waist. An intense feeling shot up my body making me a puppet in the hands of a Master. He pulled me back to him and his smile lingered over my mouth, toying with my logic of right and wrong. This was most definitely wrong....So wrong that it made sense in my life! But I knew I had to stop it and I knew that I would never accomplish this if I let him kiss me again. So before he could, I placed my hands on his c
hest and pushed him back which
was like pushing a stone wall with pillows.

“We can't do this!” I found my voice, but he wasn't convinced as when he slid his han
ds down to the base of my spine so
close to my underwear I let out a moan which provoked his mouth to turn into a satisfied grin. 

“Really...?” He said tilting his head to see my eyes which I tried to hide. But I remained strong and pushed him back again, which he finally took seriously and his hands let go of my body. I had to use every ounce of
self-control
I had to jump off the desk and walk away from him. I was trying to calm my breathing and with that, the other parts of my body that were affected by his skin touching me. I mean was I crazy? This was all I had been dreaming about ever since I had first let my heart beat in the sight of him and now I was walking away. If I didn't go to heaven over this then the Pearly Gates were going to have problems!!

“This is wrong...we can't do this...we shouldn't have...” I said trying to find words that felt right but no matter how strong my morality was it felt as though I was going against God himself by walking away from Draven.

“I disagree and so does your body. Stop fighting it Keira.” He said with intense eagerness to have me back
where
I had been. But I couldn't, it was morally wrong and why couldn't he see it.

“Draven, you’re going to be married...I can't and I won't!” I said feeling the pinch of hurt this caused me. She could have this. This was hers and I was so jealous I could almost taste the green air around me! But Draven didn't seem to feel anything but amusement by my reasons.

“And this is the reason I don't have you in my arms where you belong?”

“Isn't that enough of a reason?” I asked frowning at his reply.

“I guess in your eyes what I am doing is a sin?” He said smiling at the thought.

“What would you call it?”

“An inconvenience! ... One I will soon rectify.” He walked over to an intercom that was mounted into the wall, pressing a red switch.

“Celina, come in here please.” He said and my heart sank at his request. What was he doing! This wasn't what I meant!

Then his fiancée entered the room looking, as always...

Radiant.

Chapter 37 - Impossible truth.

Celina didn't look surprised to find me in her Fiancé's bedchamber nor did she look upset. What was going on here? If that had been me I would have lost it! She walked up to Draven but not in the same manner as she had done last time. No, this time there was no embrace, no kiss and I silently thanked God for it. Knowing I wouldn’t have been able to cope at that sight again...not now.

“Celina, you remember Keira?” He said nodding to me.

“Yes but of course, hello again Keira” she said politely. I was still standing there in shock, frozen in front of these two who were playing with me.

“Hello...” I managed but it didn't sound like me.

“Celina, please tell Keira if we are engaged.” Draven asked her outright and I shot him a look as if to say ‘what the hell?’

“No we are not.” She said as certain that the sun will rise again.

“Have we ever been?”

“No.”

“And one last thing, have we ever been romantically involved?” Draven's eyes were on me at this last question but I was numb from the answers she was giving. What type of trick was this?       

“No my lord, never...will that be all?” She said with her perfect complexion remaining a calm colour whereas mine felt as though it was burning crimson!

“Yes that will be all...Thank you Celina. You may leave us now.” He said dismissing her and once again we were left alone but my acceptance to this news was not going down well.

“What the hell?” I said looking away from him.

“I apologise for the deception...it was necessary.”

“OH really...I'm just dying to hear this one Draven!” I shouted feeling my passion for him change into distaste for all the lies I had been allowed to believe.

“I had no choice...only now it seems to have been in vain.”

“And why is that, because tonight you decided that you want me and then tomorrow I will be cast aside so you can be engaged again?” It was my true feelings that came flowing out. He looked guilty but he remained strong in believing his reasons.

“Everything I have done with regards to you has been for your best interests
whether you
choose to believe me or not
I speak the truth, sadly I could not take your feelings into account.”

“And why not?”

“Because it was your feelings that I depended on for my plan to work,” he said, making me remember how much my heart was filled with pain the day he was referring to.

“I needed to hurt you so you would stay away from me. I needed you to hate me Keira...it was the only way I could keep you safe.” He was almost pleading with me but I wasn't about to cave yet.

“Safe from what?”

“From me!”
He said exasperated as if he really believed it, but I wasn't buying it. It didn't make sense.

“That night you got stabbed was because of me, because of what I am and what I have to be...I wanted to spare you from the weight I have to bear.” And for the first time I saw Draven as a torn man. The power he held was reduced to nothing more than the single thread of a spider. Still I couldn't help but think that I was the one twisting on the end unable to get away.

“I don't understand...what are you talking about....who are you?” I asked but his face was full of sorrow for where this night was now heading. I mean did I even care what he was? I knew the answer, I was too far past the line to turn around and go back to caring. I loved him and I knew that was all that mattered. So before he could answer I walked back up to him and found what I was looking for.