Chapter 29 – Oliver
A WHISPERED I LOVE YOU
OLIVER
Iplace a sleeping Vale in her bed after sneaking her back into Nick’s house.
She smells like the combined scent of our arousal and pure, unadulterated sex.
I’ve made her come so much tonight I should be smiling.
I should be happy. I know she is. I edge my knee forward onto the bed, hovering over her as I watch her breasts rise and fall with each calm breath.
Something happened out there tonight. I couldn’t stop the beast from coming out.
He took over in my human form. He took her to the very edge of pleasure and pain.
He forced her to come on our hand. I swear he’s still purring like a cat inside me, so pleased with himself.
He’s content now, not trying to escape. It’s a new feeling, one I don’t necessarily trust.
I lean in closer, pressing my lips over her heart just like she did to me the night before. I hope she never guards her heart from me. I want it to beat for me, only me. Her skin is cool from the night air, but it warms under my touch. Her heart speeds up though she sleeps soundly.
When I pull away, she grabs the back of my neck with a desperate hand.
Her eyes open, bright with what I think is hope.
She searches my face, my eyes, as one palm comes up to cradle my jaw.
I’m taken aback by that look. It’s something I’ve never seen in all my life, all these long years. She takes my breath away.
“I love you too,” she whispers. Then she lies back, a content smile on her lips, her hand falling from my face, and her eyes closing.
By the time she hits the pillow, it’s like it never happened. Her heart is calm again and so is her breathing. I can see by the movement in her eyes that she’s dreaming. She must have moved in her sleep or maybe I’m seeing things. Maybe my age has finally caught up with me.
“Oh, God.” The words flee from between my lips. My heart hurts, and I slam my fist against my chest, trying to breathe. Her words sear into my soul. Vale can’t love me. She can’t.
I run as if the Angel of Death is quick on my heals.
I escape her bedroom, diving off her little observatory, moving so fast I don’t notice the person in front of me till it’s too late.
She stops me in my tracks with a hard, bruising palm to my chest. When I crash into her all the air in my lungs is forced out.
I almost crash into the ground, but she grabs my T-shirt, tearing it as I come to a stop.
“I heard those whispered words of love. Why did you run?” she asks, and I shake my head in denial. I take a step back. My mother opens her fingers, freeing me. I have to hold myself up. It’s dizzying, the sudden stop after moving so fast. I shake my head again, trying to get control of it.
“Tell me why you ran,” she demands. And there’s her power, tickling at my senses, trying to loosen my lips and tell her truths I’m not ready to speak aloud.
“The third degree already. That didn’t take long, Mother. Forgive me, but I can’t answer that question.”
“Then I will tell you. You fear that girl. You fear that demon within you, of what it could do. You fear hurting her. You just fear! Get over it! Stop running scared when everything you’ve ever wanted appears at your doorstep like a gift from the Light.
She’s the one. Don’t deny her because it’s you who will lose. I don’t want to lose you again, son.”
When I stare at her, I see that, to her, this is an easy choice.
It’s easy because she longs for her mate.
She longs to be one with him. She longs for her children to be happy.
I know what she wants, but it hurts just the same.
I can’t believe she used that word against me, as if I’m weak with fear. Father thought I was weak.
I shake my head again. “I never said I would deny a bond, but she’s young, too young, for something like me.”
“You’re not a monster, Ash, and she isn’t a child. Believe me! Don’t let her go. Show her you’re her future and don’t deny her love. She knows what she wants.”
“I’m a monster! I will always be a monster. I can’t offer her anything that makes up for the beast inside. She deserves more.” I force the words out, staring up at the sky because I can’t look at her anymore.
“You’re not.”
I deny it of course. “She doesn’t know what she wants yet. She was dreaming.” My words are a lie. Vale’s never denied what’s between us. She feels it as strongly as I do. It’s me who denies it because I can’t bear the thought of hurting her.
I feel weary as I look back at my mother.
Now she shakes her head, and a few strands of her golden-brown hair escape its bun and fly out on the breeze.
“She feels your lips on her skin, even through her dreams. She felt them over her heart, a promise of your love. That girl loves you. I saw it before she forced me out.” My mother smiles, impressed by Vale’s strong mind.
I’m proud of my girl for impressing her, so few can do that. “Promise me you’ll give her a chance.”
When I don’t say anything back, I see the moment she concedes. She knows I won’t promise her anything when it comes to Vale. I don’t make promises I can’t keep.
“We’ll speak of this later. Now show me this house because I thought I was in the wrong place when I got here. You did such a beautiful job, son. It breathes new life.”
I let my mother place her palm on my forearm as I lead her to the house.
Most people have never been able to see all of it, otherwise they’d see the mismatched age of the facade.
They don’t see the old stonework, the tower on the east side of the house, or the southern wing.
Vale hadn’t seen it through the enchantment until she’d been invited inside.
We make our way into the house, and I show her around, but I can’t get Vale out of my head, or her whispered I love you.
To hear those words from her lips meant something to me.
Whether she was dreaming of loving me or not, it changes nothing.
It made her heart sing. She would be mine one day, I knew it.
I need to face facts. Vale isn’t going anywhere.
We’re connected, whether it be by soul bond or first love, I didn’t know yet.
My heart is stubborn and yes, I’m afraid.
I don’t want to confuse lust with love. I want to know what lies between us is real.
I want to know that what she feels for me is true and has nothing to do with me being a Lilu.