Aligned: Volume 3 (23 page)

“I know, but I’ve waited a long time to get you back. I’m going to take my time.” He drops sweet, torturous kisses down my arched neck. His lips feel fantastic against my soft skin, but it’s not what I want. It’s not what I need. I’ve had soft, sweet sex with Ethan. It doesn’t interest me. I prefer honest, raw passion. Passion that Landon is capable of bringing.
 

His lips return to my lips teasing me softly as his hand runs down my body. I don’t let him continue his soft touches. I grab hold of his back thrusting our bodies together so that his erection presses hard into my belly as I dig my nails into his back.
 

“Fuck,” he groans loudly at my touch. I watch his eyes grow wild as my nails move down his body. “Fine. We will do this your way.”
 

In one movement, Landon lifts me from the ground and carries me fast to his bedroom. We fall to the bed in a tangled mess of arms and legs. My heart beats fast as I rip his shirt off his body exposing his perfect skin. I nibble my way up his toned abs before he throws me back on the bed. His lips find my exposed stomach and he kisses the soft flesh before his teeth find the hem of my t-shirt and begins to pull it up over my head. I didn’t bother to put a bra on, so when the shirt flies over my head, I’m exposed for him to see. His eyes travel over my body taking in my hard nipples but also seeming to assess any new scars.
 

“I’m fine. Barely a new scratch on me.”
 

He shakes his head as he pulls off my sweats and underwear in one swift motion.

“I don’t believe that.”

He stands and shakes his own pants and underwear to the floor. I gasp slightly seeing his naked body again. He looks better than I remember. Somehow, his body has found a way to make his muscles even harder and more defined in the weeks since I last saw him.
 

Landon grabs my legs spreading me wide to see the warm liquid that has spilled out of me in anticipation of Landon filling me. He locks his eyes with mine as his lips sink lower and lower until I can feel his warm breath between my legs. He kisses me so softly there that I’m not sure if he really did. Only my toes curl in response. He lets his tongue barely brush over my clit for a second before moving away and driving me wild.
 

“Fuck, Landon,” I groan. “Stop teasing me.” I push his head down holding it there, begging him to bring me more pleasure. He does but only slightly. His tongue lingers slightly longer over my aroused bud each time bringing me closer to what I want but still denying me. I notice Landon removing my prosthetic leg with one hand while his lips stay locked on my slit.
 

Finally, he brings me close to what I desire. I feel my body climbing higher and higher. I feel his teeth sink into the sensitive flesh.
 

“Oh, Landon.” I scream in anticipation of an orgasm that doesn’t come as he stops just before bringing me there.
 

He smirks at me as he pulls me into a sitting position.
 

“You aren’t going to come until my cock is buried deep inside you.”
 

I sigh grabbing hold of his hard cock and pressing it to my entrance. He settles there but doesn’t enter me. I move my hips trying to take him in, but he holds me still as his eyes find mine.
 

“I need you to know something ...”
 

I groan. “I need you in me. We can talk later.”
 

He shakes his head as a large smile fills his face. “So needy. Trust me, this is killing me to stop, but it might be my only chance. You need to know that I love you. Flying back to you was the worst seven hours of my life. Thinking that you might be dead, killed ...” Landon chokes up slightly as he tries to get the words out. Tears form behind my eyes.
 

“When I thought you were dead, I wanted to die too. I wanted to be wherever you were. I realized these last few weeks that you are what I need to survive. I don’t know how to live without you. I don’t know what this is. If it’s just sexual need. If it means you love me. If it means you are choosing me over Ethan, but if it’s not, I just want you to know I choose you forever. I can’t be with anyone else if it’s not you.”

Tears threaten both of our eyes as I sink onto Landon’s cock. I close my eyes at the pleasure that fills me when he’s inside me. I feel safe when he’s inside me. I feel at home.
 

He begins moving in me filling me further. I open my eyes and lock mine with his as we move together, slowly. Needing this to last forever if this is the last moment we will have together. Have I chosen who I want to be with? I tried to. I tried to choose Ethan over Landon because I thought that was what I was obligated to do, but it’s not what I want. Shit, we are going to have a big mess to clean up. We’ve both made some really bad decisions these past few weeks. Not that there is an easy or right way to handle a situation like this, but after nearly dying again, I’ve realized I have to choose what’s best for me. When I die, I want to die knowing that’s how I lived my life. With passion, and honesty, and trust. With love. And I know the only way I will be able to get it.
 

My eyes stay focused on Landon as we continue rocking together. “I choose you.” Our lips find each other, but our eyes don’t close. Neither of us is willing to break that connection. We change our rhythm building faster to the brink of orgasm. When we come, we come together. Our eyes spilling their contents at the same time our bodies release. I choose Landon. I choose Alex.

But I’d lose it all
 

As long as you keep your heart beating.

Just keep breathing.
 

This is my prayer.

This is my plea.
 

Please don’t give up.

Please ...

Last night was amazing. Easily the best night of my life. We connected in a way I didn’t think was possible, but when we woke up today, reality hit. We can’t stay locked away in our bubble forever. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone’s lives we have ruined in the process. Today, we have to make amends for the people we have hurt. Today will hurt. This week will hurt. Because we will be apart. I have a concert in Chicago that I can’t cancel, and Alex needs to collect her stuff from New York. I tried to convince her to go with me, but she wouldn’t be convinced. She wants to lay low for a while and not cause a media storm. Which will eventually happen once the world finds out we are together. But for now, that can wait.
 

Right now, though, I have to deal with Caroline. She agreed to meet me in Chicago. She already had a ticket booked since we were supposed to fly here together after a short honeymoon in Hawaii. I just hope that after we talk, the money will be enough to buy her silence at least about my past. She can crucify me in the media for leaving her at the altar for another woman. She can even demand I give her more money than I had originally intended; as long as she keeps the past in the past, I don’t care what she does.
 

I walk down the long hallway to the hotel room Caroline and I agreed to meet in. A hotel room that feels a little too intimate for this conversation now that we are broken up, but I agreed. I will do anything to keep from upsetting her more. And I didn’t really want to have this conversation anywhere public anyway.
 

I put the card into the card reader and watch the light turn to green before pushing the door open.
 

“Caroline,” I shout into the large room. She should be here. Her plane landed hours before mine.
 

“In here,” I hear her shout back from the bathroom.
 

I take the time to look around the suite. It has a large living space with a large couch and two smaller chairs. There is a full kitchen and dining area connected. A bedroom and the bathroom connects to the main living space. I take a seat on the couch and open my phone to answer emails while I wait for Caroline. I wait for five minutes, then ten. Caroline is still in the bathroom. I stand and walk over to the bathroom door. I knock softly.
 

“Are you okay?”
 

She doesn’t answer. I press my ear up to the door and that’s when I hear her retching. I open the door, thankful she didn’t bother to lock it, and run over to hold her hair back while she finishes. I pat her back softly in slow circles as she dry heaves trying to get more out that isn’t there. Caroline and I may not be together and she may rip me to shreds when we are finished here, but I will always care for her. She was my first real friend other than Drew. I will always have a soft spot for her.
 

She falls back on my body when she is finished. She seems exhausted. I try to keep my legs in place for her to lean on while I lean over the sink nearby to wet a washcloth. I manage just barely to keep her upright while at least partially wetting it. I take the washcloth and bend down so I can wipe her face. She takes a deep breath as I do, welcoming the touch.
 

I throw the cloth back in the sink when I’m finished.
 

“I’m going to help you stand.”
 

She nods and I hold her under her arms helping her to stand. Once standing, she seems a little more sure-footed, but I keep my hands on her until she lies down on the couch.
 

“Can I get you something? Water? Sprite? Crackers?”
 

“Sprite and crackers.” Caroline closes her eyes as I head to the kitchen probably trying to stop the pounding that is killing her head. I’ve taken care of her enough to know the look. She’s hungover and I’m to blame. I walked out on her at our wedding in front of the entire world. It’s been plastered all over magazines and will be for weeks still. I find some Sprite and cheese crackers in the cabinet that will have to do for now.
 

“Here.” I hand her the crackers and Sprite before helping her to sit up.
 

I take a seat in the chair closest to the couch. I watch as she takes a bite of the crackers. She lifts the soda to her mouth, her hand shaking slightly as she does.
 

I want to do something to break the awkward tension that’s growing between us, but I can’t. So I say the only thing I can say. Although it will do nothing to ease the tension and make this any better between us.
 

“I’m sorry.”
 

She raises her eyebrows at me as she sips her drink. She doesn’t say anything, so I continue.
 

“I’m sorry I walked out on our wedding. On our arrangement. I wanted so badly to make you happy. I knew I could never fall in love with you, but I could love you like a husband should. I could make you happy, but then I heard that Alex was dying or possibly already dead. I didn’t think. I just went.”
 

A pained expression freezes on Caroline’s face, but I continue.
 

“I realized after I left that what we were doing wouldn’t really make either of us happy. Not really. Because happiness includes falling in love and I would be robbing you of that. You deserve to find you own love one day, but that won’t ever be me. Alex has already taken my heart. I’m so sorry it couldn’t be you. We would have made quite a pair, you and me.”
 

“You and I never made sense.”
 

I smile, just thankful Caroline is talking to me. “No, I guess not. But we did make great friends. I don’t know if we can ever get back to that. I don’t know if you can ever forgive me.”
 

Caroline shakes her head. “I don’t think so, but we need to try.”
 

I nod. Caroline is making it easier than I thought she would.
 

“Just so you know, I plan to keep to our contract. I’ll pay you double for the rest of our lives. You deserve it.”
 

“Yes, I do.”
 

“I don’t have any right to ask, but what are you going to do with the video? With my secret?” I ask nervously. I notice my legs shaking slightly as I wait for her answer, which takes too long for her to say. She sips slowly on her drink as she studies my body. She slowly puts the drink back on the end table before answering.
 

“It’s gone.”
 

“What do you mean it’s gone? You’re not going to give it to the media?” I ask in disbelief. That was Caroline’s ticket to getting revenge. She could use that to blackmail me into giving her more money. She could sell it to any media outlet for millions.
 

“No, I’m not going to give it the media.” Her eyes light up just a little thinking about it, though. A little too brightly for my comfort. I don’t believe she destroyed the video. She’s too smart for that, but maybe if I keep her happy and try to rebuild her friendship, she will keep it to herself.
 

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.
 

Caroline sits up straighter in her chair now as she looks at me. Ready to tell her own story.
 

“I didn’t agree to meet you here to listen to your pathetic apology or make sure you stick to our arrangement. That’s what I hired lawyers for.”
 

I stare at her in confusion.
 

“Why did you agree to meet me then?”
 

“Go get my purse.” She points toward the bedroom. I stand slowly and walk into the bedroom looking for her purse. I find a slinky black bag I assume to be her purse sitting on the nightstand. I pick it up and carry it back to her. I have no idea what else she could want. More money is the only thing that comes to mind.
 

She reaches into the purse and begins digging around for the item she is looking for. I wait patiently for whatever item she is looking for. I notice as she digs in the purse that she’s still wearing the diamond engagement ring I gave her on her finger. I smile looking at it. She deserves to have it, even if it is no longer a promise of marriage. My mind slips to Alex. To the ring I will give to her soon. Last time I proposed, she didn’t even see the ring. Only the words. This time, though, it will be different. This time, when I propose, I know she will say yes. This time, it will last.