What the Heart Wants (36 page)

Heaven
had
been the little girl from his childhood dreams. She’d mentioned it at the beginning of the journal.

She leaned in closer to look at the pages, making his heart pound fiercely. “Is it a coincidence that we were dreaming about each other?”

“No, it wasn’t. We were together, Heaven. Our souls were together.”

“How is that possible?”

“Because we’re connected. We have been since birth.” He watched an array of emotions filter through her eyes, but the ones thrumming through their connection made him smile. She felt content, yet excited. “There is so much more to our relationship, Heaven. Our dreams are only the tip of the iceberg.”

Heaven’s eyes danced with questions. She licked her lower lip, curling it inward as she bit it. “I don’t understand. Is it because we have the same birthday? Or is there something deeper connecting us?”

“Remember the story you told my mom about your birth?” He waited until she nodded. “The baby your mom heard crying when you died was me.”

“How do you know that?”

He cupped her face, bringing it closer to his. “Just hear me out,” he whispered. “Mom told me that her hospital room was right beside the nursery. She recognized my cry over the other babies. Apparently, I was the loudest.” He gave her a squeeze when she chuckled. “Later in the day, one of the nurses brought me to Mom because I wouldn’t stop crying. They thought I wanted her, but she couldn’t get me to calm down, either.”

“Was something wrong?”

He waited until she placed the journal on the nightstand and turned back to face him. “Nothing, physically. The nurses noticed later that I would cry whenever a certain baby wasn’t in the room.”

“You did?”

He laced his fingers through hers and nodded. “It got so bad that they put our beds beside each other, but even that didn’t console us. We would stare at each other and whimper, like we were talking.”

She pressed her hand to her mouth. “That is so sweet.”

Thank God…she was enjoying the story. But would she believe the rest?

“The nurse told my mom that they put us in the same bed. It must have been what we wanted because the nurse said it was the only time we would sleep.”

“Aww. You had to be near each other. Dylan that is the best story I’ve ever heard.” Her eyes fell to his lips. “But, what does this have to do with you being the baby my mom heard?”

“Because my Mom asked about the baby who I was attached to. The nurse told her that the baby had died the same time I was born.”

That got him an intent stare. He felt her body stiffen against his.

“The baby died?” Her words stopped short as she gasped. “Oh, my God…was that baby…”

“Yes, Heaven. The baby I was attached to was you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. His pulse thrummed harder as the sheet fell from her leg. “Even then I needed you near me.”

“So we connected because of our birth?”

“More than that. Mom said that when you died and I was born, that I breathed my breath into your body. That’s why you came back to life.” He noticed her brows knit. “My soul had to save yours because we’re soulmates, Heaven.”

“Oh. My. God. I…I can’t believe…” Her eyes burned with emotion before they fell to his chest. “Is that why we dreamed of each other? Because we’re soulmates?”

“That, and because our connection runs deeper. So deep, that I…” He took a deep breath, letting his eyes fall to her leg. He teased the top of her thigh, allowing the softness of skin to calm him. “I can feel your emotions, Heaven.”

“What do you mean, you can feel my emotions?”

“Think of it like mind reading. I can’t read your thoughts, but I can read your feelings. The stronger the emotion, the more I can feel it. Remember when I found you by Chelsea’s car, surrounded by the paparazzi?”

Her eyes shot up to his.“Like it was yesterday.” When he felt a tremble rush through her, he squeezed her tighter.

“I could sense your fear before I ever knew what was causing it. It was so powerful; it rocked me to the core.”

“Because fear is a strong emotion and the stronger my emotions…”

“The more I can feel it,” he whispered, watching as she played with the sheet.

Good. She didn’t look at him like he was crazy. That meant she believed him, didn’t it? Maybe it was time to test his mother’s other theory—that Heaven could sense his emotions, too. He would have to focus on a powerful feeling, something he would recognize without having to ask.

No sooner than the thought had crossed his mind and tore at his heart, he noticed Heaven gripping the sheets, her knuckles whitened as her bottom lip quivered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know…I feel worried and sad.”

Guilt consumed him. Maybe he shouldn’t have focused on such a crushing thought. “Heaven…”

She pushed up from the bed. “Do you think my sisters are okay? Maybe I should call…”

Dylan grabbed her wrist before she could walk away. When her eyes fell to his hand, he tugged on her arm, pulling her back to the bed. “Your sisters are fine.”

As she crawled back into the bed, he gathered her in his arms, kissing her shoulders as she leaned into him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. The feeling passed,” she mumbled, curling further into his arms. Golden eyes gazed into his. “Did you…”

“Yes, I wanted to see if you could feel me.”

“Oh, I felt it.”

He stared into her eyes. His heart thumped so loud, it took him a minute to clear his mind. Every part of Heaven was his. Her mind. Her body. Her soul.

“We already shared a connection because we’re soulmates. But my mom said I have a psychic ability called empathy. When I saved your life, my abilities transferred to you.”

“So what were you feeling just now?”

He let out a sigh, leaning his forehead against hers. “I was thinking about how afraid I am of losing you.”

She leaned back against her pillow to look him in the eye. “You’re not going to lose me, Dylan. I’m yours. I can’t imagine ever feeling like this with someone else.”

“Me, either. Mom said I once told her that I needed to see a doctor because I felt like I had a hole in my heart. It’s because my soul needed yours. When we found each other, I felt complete.”

“I guess that explains why I couldn’t resist you,” she chuckled.

Dylan couldn’t believe how well Heaven was taking all the news. He regretted that they’d had to go to hell and back to get to this point, but having her here meant the world. He gazed down at her legs, shuffling under the sheet. The vibrations of the bond settled into a steady hum. She had finally relaxed.

His lips curved into a smile. “There is one more thing I need to tell you.”

“Mmm, hmm. What is it?” she asked, snuggling into his chest.

Feeling her breath on his skin made it hard to concentrate, but after this revelation, she would know everything. “The bond between us is naturally strong. But it increases if we are…intimate.”

He expected her body to go stiff. Instead, her weight pressed into him. “Oh,” she whispered. He admired the color in her cheeks. “So if we make love…we’ll be more attuned to each other?”

Dylan’s gaze flitted to her lips as heat surged through his groin. “Yeah…I’ll be able to experience every sensation you have and vice versa.” When she gazed back at him, he caressed a path to the nape of her neck. His thumb teased the skin just below her ear. “What we have is special, Heaven. We’re meant to be together.”

“I want us to be together. I’ve never wanted anything so much.”

Relief filled his body as he minimized the space between them. “You are the only thing I want, the only one I will ever need.”

He brushed her lips with his. The small gap between them ceased to exist as he pressed her against the bed. One hand curled around her neck. The other hand explored her curves, coming to a stop when he reached her hip. He caught the bottom of her nightshirt, pulling it upward with his hand.

Silky skin teased his palm. The more he stroked her body, the more she radiated with heat.

Their connection hummed with an intensity it hadn’t before. His lips parted with hers long enough to remove what little clothing he had on. Her shirt followed as both items slid to the floor.

The constraints of clothing no longer shielded her beauty from his eyes. It was the first time he saw her, all of her. He caressed the valley between her breasts, down to her waist, until her belly flinched.

Her eyes raked over his body, a smile teasing her lips.

He pressed his chest against hers, slipping a hand between them to cup her breast. Her nipple hardened at his touch.

His tongue sought hers, found it, rolled it with his, deepening their kiss. The warmth of her skin flooded him with need.

As his fingers trailed her inner thigh, his hips ached to be inside them. Her breath caught as his fingers caressed her sensitive flesh. He slipped a finger inside her, stroking, swirling, working in and out until wet warmth pooled around it. Her legs bent and fell.

His hand left her heat and found her hip. She whimpered in protest until he nestled his body between her thighs. She arched her back. Her hands wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. His thumb teased the soft mound just above her entrance.

Another whimper trickled from her chest and the sound tugged at his soul. Dylan brushed his lips against hers. They lingered a minute before tracing a path down her neck, to her breast. He drew a nipple between his lips, suckling it as his tongue flicked the tip.

Heaven’s breath grew labored; her hips began moving under his, as though she were swaying to a melody only she could hear.

“Dylan,” she whispered. “Please, Dylan.”

Her voice was desperate, pleading. It unnerved him, made him feel as though he would reach his release before they even started. When his hardness pressed against her thigh, felt her warm wetness beckoning him forward, his resolve crumbled.

She cupped his face, guiding it back to hers. His stomach tensed when her eyes gazed into his. As their lips fused in another kiss, he hungered to taste her tongue, ached to be inside of her.

The way her body responded to his touch pleased him, but he could no longer ignore his own need.

Dylan grasped her hip as he lowered his toward hers.

Heaven’s body resisted him at first. When he sensed her nervousness through their connection, he leaned back to look in her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

“I trust you,” she whispered.

He held her gaze as the natural barrier that protected her body gave way to him.

“Heaven…” He whispered her name, enjoying the way it felt on his lips. The warmth sheathing his hardness tightened when her body accepted every inch of him. One hand gripped her shoulder; the other went to the small of her back. He gently cupped her bottom, pulling it against him as he pressed further into her warmth.

Heaven moaned against his lips as he continued to thrust into her. He watched, mesmerized, as her skin prickled, eyes drew closed, and breath grew harder. No part of her remained unaffected by him. He could feel the maddening hunger coalescing deep inside of her as she rocked her hips with his.

She grabbed his ass, pulling him further inside.

“God, yes,” she cried.

A guttural moan broke from his chest and vibrated into her mouth as their kiss deepened. Her body relaxed even more, allowing him to explore her depths. She arched again, then receded as she pushed her hips upward, meeting every single one of his thrusts.

They moved together, in perfect sync, while his lips broke from hers and went to her neck. His teeth grazed her skin as he bit little sections, causing her voice to sing from pleasure. She wrapped her legs around his waist, fully opening herself to him. He knew her body was building up for that sweet release.

Their lips met once more before he pulled away to gaze at her. The smoldering look in her eyes made his heart melt. She was his. He could feel her surrendering her heart, body, and soul to him. Without conscious effort, he did the same and was surprised when she smiled up at him.

“I felt that,” she whispered.

“I did, too.” He leaned in to give her another kiss. “Our bond just increased, didn’t it?”

“I think so,” she answered in a voice as soft as velvet.

“It had to. I feel closer to you. It’s as if I can see into your heart, now. You really are in love with me, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she answered.

Dylan could feel the way his words made Heaven’s heart soar. He focused on the hunger burning inside her, inside him. Keeping a grip on her bottom, his thrusts became more powerful each time. When her breath quickened, he continued to press into her, paying extra care to the swollen flesh at her apex. He could feel her hot wetness closing around him and knew she was about to climax. He concentrated on that one thought, alone, giving her every ounce of himself. It wouldn’t be long before he climaxed as well.

He leaned over to kiss her, again. His lips trailed to her ear. “I love you.”

The words were like magic as Heaven moaned loudly. Her body shuddered, sheathing him in liquid warmth. Dylan could feel the pulsating contractions clenching his hardness. His orgasm spread, peaked, and spilled over. He groaned against her neck as his seed released deep within her.

His thrust grew softer and slower. The last throb of her orgasm faded.

As they lay there, bodies intertwined, slick with sweat, he fell to her side, gathering her up in his arms. Their breathing eased; their hearts slowed to a steady beat, but the increased connection in their bond smoldered with intensity. Dylan could feel their closeness enveloping them.

Soulmates…once separated, were reunited for the first time since his life’s breath saved her. He knew that he and Heaven were finally one.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 24

The gentle cooing of the mourning dove woke Dylan from his sleep. His eyes fluttered open, taking in the bright sunshine as it filtered through the bedroom. When he glanced down at Heaven, his lips crept into a smile.