Author's Notes: This is Part VII of the "Bedsheets, Bathtubs and Boardroom Tables" series.

This part covers chapters 64 - 65 of "Ignite Me" and then some! All rights to Tahereh!

If you left a review for Part VI see your personal message from me to you on the REVIEW board!

WARNING! This part contains graphic sexual content. Please read something else if you are otherwise sensitive or offended by such content. You have been WARNED!

Enjoy!

~Sweetwaterspice

*Once you get a taste of Warner you just can't get enough!*

Bedsheets

Part VII

"The measure of love is to love without measurement. "

They say your life can change in an instant. I have experienced this fact. You believe you have complete control of it until you don't. My life had been a constant, my routine unchanged, and my world undisturbed until recently. Yes, life can change in the blink of an eye– that I've come to appreciate is not always a bad thing. Some changes we welcome. Others come at us swiftly, a caller forsaking preamble, blindsiding the unwary. And still others we wished would never become a reality.

My life has changed. In a span of a week I've lost my mother and gained a love. We have started a war.

And I've discovered I have two brothers.

And I am no longer alone.

I feel a sense of gladness, I suppose that's what I'm feeling, to know that I have…family. That word so foreign to me even as it repeats like an unending loop in my head.

Family. Family. Family.

After the loss of my mother, I felt the void, that emptiness of her presence. Even though she had been mentally absent for the past few years, just having been able to see her even though I couldn't touch her…I was still a part of her; a part of something bigger than myself. She was my family. And when she died, a part of me died along with her. My family.

Then my precious Juliette came to me that very night like an angel. She saw me…every part of me– the shattered pieces of my heart. She told me she loved me. She loved me. And the world I knew, that dark and ominous existence I had resigned myself to, the stormy skies that had constantly loomed over me parted with hope leading me to a new path...a new day. With every kiss, every touch, every word Juliette gave me, life touched me as never before and living became something I wanted to do. I wanted to live. For her.

But now she's not the only reason I want to keep living. There are two others. I can't deny I was shaken to my very bones at the news that Kent and I were relations, no, brothers. I had seen so much that very little ranked as shocking anymore. This was on an entirely different level. Blindsided, I was. I had never known I had a brother. My father had never saw fit to tell me he had sired others. But, why would he? It certainly wasn't for their protection. He had abandoned them just as he'd abandoned my mother. Perhaps, he weighed my stubbornness, so similar to his own and knew I would've sought them out and maybe that's what he didn't want. The Supreme Commander's eldest sons banding together to take him down. Maybe my father was a smart man after all. Keeping us separate was deliberate. Or perhaps I'm too full of myself. My father cared for no one except himself. No doubt his ambition took precedence over his family. I was proof enough of that. I was being groomed to lead and Kent was…dispensable.

Adam Kent is my brother. It's still difficult to compute and if I allow myself to think of my father's betrayal...

Did my mother know? Did she know he had another family elsewhere? Hate seethes in my heart for my father. Could this have been yet another reason for my mother's suffering? Another reason for him to hate me? I shove the negative thoughts aside. My father will answer for all he's done. That, I promise.

Adam Kent is my brother. Apparently, he's known all along and said nothing. Kept his secret. His hatred for me must've run deep to keep silent for so long. I can't say I blame him. We have been nothing but at odds, hating each other, ready to kill the other and even more so since Juliette chose me. But I don't regret loving Juliette even at my brother's expense. But with this revelation, I can't bring myself to keep hating Kent. I snicker inside. Yes, life can change at the drop of a hat.

And as I sit here in my bubble of solitude with thoughts and questions swirling, the collar buttons of my black uniform undone and my sleeves haphazardly folded over my forearms, I look at my little brother, James. I feel a strange inner calm wash over me. An inner calm that clashes against my outward, disheveled appearance. He looks so much at peace and I feel a need stirring in my belly to protect it…protect him. He's had Kent but now he has me too.

Juliette comes to sit next to me. She is the only one brave enough to cross the distance I've put between everyone...between us. Should I feel betrayed that she didn't tell me I had a brother? I can't hold this against her. She is correct to say it wasn't her secret to tell and yet a small part of me wishes she had trusted me enough to tell me.

"You should've told me," I say, breaking the silence.

"I'm so sorry," she replies in a low voice. "I'm really sorry."

I don't know what else to say so silence becomes our companion. My eyes are fixed on a point across the room, not really seeing anything and I whisper, "I have two brothers." The reality of my new family knocking me upside the head yet again. "I have two brothers," I repeat. "And I almost killed one of them." I chide myself for not putting the pieces together sooner and say to Juliette, "I suppose I should've known. He can touch you. He lives in the same sector. And his eyes have always been oddly familiar to me. I realize now that they're shaped just like my father's." A sigh escapes me. I'm not sure if it's frustration at myself or something else. Perhaps frustration more than anything. I've always prided myself on being able to read people and Kent had always been one I had difficulty reading. It makes perfect sense now.

"This is so unbearably inconvenient. I was prepared to hate him for the rest of my life."

I see Juliette startle. She wears a look of pure surprise. "You mean...you don't hate him anymore?"

I drop my head. My mother had always said that anger served little purpose. It only feeds the monster inside; the ugly recesses of the mind and soul. 'Let it go, Aaron,' her voice rings in my head. 'Anger is an ugly beast. It eats you alive from the inside. But love, Aaron, brings you to life. It has no measure.' My voice is but a mere whisper when I answer. "How can I hate his anger when I know so well where it comes from?" I raise my head and dare to look over at my brother. "I can well imagine the extent of his relationship with my father." The thoughts unpleasant enough make me shake my head. "And that he has managed to survive it at all, and with more humanity than I did?" Yes, he's held on to his humanity whereas I had given in to my anger and become a monster. "No. I cannot hate him. And I would be lying if I said I didn't admire him."

We came from the same man but were molded so differently. We were both scarred by the same man and yet here we are.

I feel exhausted.

"Come on," whispers Juliette. "Let's go to bed."

I nod and get on my feet. I take a couple of steps but I stop. I look at Kent and he looks back at me and we stare at each other. There are words that must be spoken and it doesn't feel right to leave them hanging between us. I excuse myself from Juliette and cross the room to my brother. Kent gets to his feet in an instant, his defenses are up. But as the distance between us narrows, there's a strange feeling...a bond that hadn't been there prior to this knowledge and it pulls like an invisible force between my brother and me. Kent's face relaxes as do the taut muscles in my body.

It feels like an outer body experience as I speak with Kent. No harsh words. No striking condescending remarks. No hurling insults. We are brothers and as little as we know of each other we cannot ignore this bond we share. He is listening to me, his eyes on the floor. It feels strikingly odd– this connection between two people that a few hours ago wished to kill the other. Family. This is family. He nods as I continue to speak and finally looks up at me. We acknowledge each other and instinctively I place a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever you need. Come to me."

"This is fucking crazy," he says.

"I can hardly believe it myself."

With those final words I turn from Kent and walk towards the elevator and to Juliette.

Juliette asks, a heartbeat as soon as the doors to the elevator close, "What did you say to him?"

I take a deep breath. Exhale. No words follow. What was said between us should be kept between the both of us. It is a new and fragile thing; brotherhood. How will we manage it? I'm not certain but what I do know is that I have family now. And we are not alone.

"You're not going to tell me?"

"I'd rather not." I reply in a quiet tone and I'm relieved that Juliette doesn't take offense. Instead she takes hold of my hand which sends a wave of unexpected warmth through me. She proceeds to squeeze my hand as if saying silently, she understands. My heart swells. Is this what my mother meant? That love has no measure? Because Juliette has shown me it can be so. She's accepted all of me– the pieces that are good and the monster that still resides in me. And I want to be a better man for her. And maybe Juliette can teach me how this works because unlike her and my mother, I'm not that forgiving.

We step through the elevator doors as I ask if this new development would be weird for her and I'm surprised at my own question. I usually wouldn't care or give a second thought as to how my actions might have affected others in the past. I care now.

"Will what be weird?"

"That Kent and I are…" I pause, "brothers."

There's no hesitation in her reply. "No. I've known for a while now. It doesn't change anything for me."

I feel relief. "That's good," I utter quietly once again. This revelation is still unreal and my mind is still attempting to make sense of it all.

We make our way into our bedroom and take a seat on the bed. I'm still deep in thought. My mind is trying to fit these two new people inside the intimate circle of my life like square pegs in a round hole. But perhaps it's familial impulse that makes room for the thought and I ask, "You wouldn't mind then?"

Juliette's patient gaze looks at me a bit confused.

I press forward, say, "If he and I spent some time together?" I don't want this to be awkward for her. Kent and Juliette had been together. I know he loves her. But she is with me now and I'm not letting her go. Hell no.

"What?" She's staring at me, disbelieving the words that have come out of my mouth. Quickly she adds, "No. No, of course not– I think that would be amazing."

My eyes are glued to the wall attempting to paint a picture of what spending time with Kent would look, feel like.

"So…you want to spend time with him?"

Our eyes meet. "I would like to know my own brother, yes."

"And James?" she follows immediately.

I can't suppress the little laugh that escapes me as I instantly remember James quietly sleeping on the training room floor. "Yes. And James."

"So…you're happy about this?"

Am I happy? It's a strange feeling. It's a different feeling knowing I am part of a trio; that I've always been. "I am not unhappy."

Juliette then climbs into my lap and cups my face in her hands. She invokes that warmth I have come to associate with only her touch. It spreads evenly through me. When she tilts my head so I can look into her beautiful eyes, she's smiling from ear to ear.

"I think that's so wonderful."

I can't help but grin in return. "Do you? How interesting."

Juliette nods over and over. She bends her head and kisses me so softly. My chest booms and all I see is her behind the closed lids of my eyes. Pulling back slowly she looks at me making a slight smile part my lips. I instinctively run my hands over her hips.

"How strange this has all become."

I can feel Juliette's happiness radiating like beams of sunshine from her. Her happiness is my joy.

Picking her up from my lap, I lay her back on the bed and crawl over her. I bracket her shoulders with my forearms, hovering over her. "And why are you so thrilled?" I try not to laugh. Seeing her like this, radiantly happy makes me want to keep that smile pasted on her face forever. "You're practically buoyant."

Juliette's eyes search mine. "I want you to be happy. I want you to have a family. I want you to be surrounded by people who care about you. You deserve that."

I rest my forehead against hers and close my eyes. "I have you." She's all I've ever needed; ever wanted.

"You should have more than me."

I whisper, "No." I'm shaking my head and my nose grazes over her perfect one. Even the fact that I have two brothers could never be a replacement for her.

"Yes," she echoes.

"What about you?" I open my eyes to look down on her. Her eyes shine and her cheeks are a little flushed. She's so beautiful. She makes every part of me alive. Her happiness means more to me than my own. "And your parents? Do you want to find them?"

She speaks as quietly as I had done earlier. A frown feathers her brow and is quickly gone as if the thought or some memory she'd held had been quickly swatted away. "They were never parents to me. Besides, I have my friends."

"And me," I amend.

"You are my friend."

A sense of possession overwhelms me and I feel jealousy prick at me. "But not your best friend. Kenji is your best friend."

I don't particularly like the sound of being "friended".

"But you're my favorite friend."

I accept the designation…for now but I'll be damned if that label sticks for much longer. "Good," I whisper, pressing my lips to her neck. I believe my girlfriend needs a solid reminder as to where I should be ranked. "Now flip over." My command is gentle yet possessive. "On your stomach." A sense of ownership thrums through me and I want Juliette to feel it too. She stares at me.

"Please." I smile.

She eyes me warily as she should because very wicked things begin to parade in my head. But obeying, she turns over slowly.

"What are you doing?" Juliette whispers her inquiry, looking at me over her shoulder. I gently press her body back down.

"I want you to know," I begin as I pull on the zipper of her suit, "how much I value your friendship," I mock. My hungry eyes fall to the velvet skin of her back as the tight fitting material of her suit gives. I stop at the base of her spine, taking in the sensual dip just above the hills of her bottom.

"I'd like you to reconsider my title," I tell her, dropping a feathered kiss in the middle of her back. My own body responds to the feel of her skin against my lips, to the scent of her body wafting up my nostrils. Temptation overwhelms me and my hands fan over her back, running upwards and under the material of her suit, peeling the garment that clings to her like a second skin aside. I push it over her shoulders as I drop kisses between her shoulder blades. I grant myself access to the back of her neck, my fingers pushing her raven locks over to one shoulder as my lips brand her there too. "Because my friendship," I continue in alluring whispers, "comes with so many more benefits than Kenji could ever offer."

I feel her hold her breath and I know damn well that she understands my meaning. Yet, that possessive part of me wants her to admit it. So, I ask, "Don't you think?"

"Yes. Yes."

A crooked smile parts my lips.

"Perhaps you need a reminder as to what benefits I'm referring?"

I press myself against her bottom so she can feel the full measure of me. The moan that I hear from her makes me harder. I push against her one more time, my own excitement rising higher. With a breath brushing against her ear, I ask, "Do you feel that?"

"Yessss…" she replies weakly, her fingers already curling around the bedsheets.

"Good. Do you want me? All of me?" My words are fire lighting tinder against the shell of her ear.

She hisses in response. It's hot as hell.

Juliette turns her head and catches my mouth and we kiss heavy and hot and all tongue. My blood crackles in my veins and I'm so damn hard my dick is straining tight against the zipper of my pants.

We are kissing with hunger and soon we're breathless, teeth pulling on lips and nipping at jaws. I flip Juliette over, straddling her. Instantly, her fingers are at the buttons of my uniform top. She whimpers as she struggles with the buttons and I join to help her. She abandons the task to me and sits up between my legs, impatiently pushing aside the material covering my chest. Her exquisite lips and tongue singe my skin as she exposes my pecs to her mouth. I hear myself hiss in reply. Her hands fan over my broad chest frantically tugging my top over my shoulders. I shrug my shirt off, tossing it aside. Her mouth closes on a nipple as her fingernails gently rake over my heart and rib cage. I feel like I'm ready to go up in flames. My fingers dive into her hair as I watch her mouth and tongue– her hands feasting on my body. Damn if the sight doesn't turn me on. I want her to take it all. And she does. Tugging on my belt, she makes quick work of it, her hand unashamedly sinking into my pants. Her hand touches me, feeling my length and stiffness outside my boxers. "Oh God...Juliette." I'm breathing so damn hard it hurts.

Juliette pushes against my chest ordering me in silent words to stand. My erection is freed once she pushes my pants and boxers down to my knees and just as quickly, she sinks to the floor before me. And I'm in her mouth. My head falls back as I groan, my stomach muscles taut. I close my eyes in reverie. Her warm mouth moves over my length and I groan a little louder. I dare to look down just to see the top of her head moving back and forth. Good god! It arouses me further still. My heart continues to thunder as I listen to her moaning. But it's the feel of her sweet, wet mouth on me that's driving me insane. I grab a fistful of her hair to keep myself from thrusting deep into her mouth and down her throat. Her fingers clamp down on the hills of my naked ass and this time I can't help it and I thrust. She releases me and gasps for air. I give her an apologetic look but she returns it with a smile, a very wicked one.

I take hold of her elbows and pull her up to stand. Making short work of her suit, my mouth keeps busy on the mounds of her breasts, and hers are perfectly sized. Her hands cradle my face as I devour her and my hands gather them as I run my tongue over her hardened nipples. We are two immeasurable suns ready to collide, burning white-hot. Totally naked now, all shreds of clothing strewn about, I press her down back on the cool bedsheets.

Her legs sensually part as I take my place. My erection brushes against her, my tip feeling the dewy softness of her sex. "Aaron..." she whispers against my mouth, her slender fingers slipping in my hair and I break.

I press firmly against her entrance. Juliette's body is ready and accepts me, welcoming me with a blast of heat and I feel the immediate slickness of her womanhood around me. My invasion is not gentle and I grunt at the wondrous feel of her wrapped so tight around me. It's the best feeling in the universe; steals my breath. Her fingers dig into my shoulders and her mouth is clamped on the space between my neck and shoulder, holding on to me as I repeatedly drive into her. We're one ball of fire, consuming each other, without boundaries, without measure. Fire licks my veins as my thrusts are hard and deep. I groan in my conquest and words of possession and ownership spill from my mouth.

"You're mine, Juliette. Mine. God, what have you done to me?"

Whimpers and pants brush my ear as I make mad love to her. "I…am yours, Aaron..." Her declaration pitches me towards the finish line. Holding her tight against me, her legs wrap tight around my waist. I thrust harder and I've completely lost my mind as I take her with every inch of me over and over. Juliette falls back on the bed, fingernails digging into my deltoids and lets out a loud, roof rattling cry, arching her back into me as she comes. The thundering pound against my chest, her quivering walls are a command for me to deliver...and I explode with rough, guttural cries and a string of curses.

As our bodies quiet and calm settles over us, our eyes lock and I feel like I could get lost in her gaze. We are still joined as the last waves of ecstasy fade. I cup her face with a hand and press my lips softly to hers.

"You're right," she says still breathing hard. "So many more benefits."

I smile as she presses her lips once more against mine.

We lay in bed under the bedsheets. Juliette is fast asleep in my arms. I've been laying here enjoying the wavy lengths of her silken hair through my fingers. I've kissed her softly so as not to wake her. Her eyelids, her nose, her lips. I love the way she smells. Will this be our last night like this? Together? I can't answer that. I certainly can hope it isn't. All I know is that nothing is guaranteed in this transitory life. Not even victory. Tomorrow is a new beginning. We will make a new world.

Because we can't afford not to.

Sorry for not updating this in months! Still, I hope you guys enjoyed this tentative final chapter in this series. I'm uncertain if I'm going to add another chapter to this since the book ends so abruptly after the war. But if you have suggestions I'll welcome them.

Don't forget...If you left a review for Part VI please see my response in the "REVIEW" section!

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! It means the world when I get a message telling me I have a review waiting for me to read! It truly brightens my day so please...don't be a Grinch...share your thoughts!

Thanks to everyone who has supported this series! *MWAH!*

Part VIII? To be determined!