AN: Wow, I've been horrible and haven't updated in forever. But at least I've written a lot out. I have a few more chapters already written. I hate typing :). So, I apologize to everyone and I will try to stay more on top of things.

Disclaimer.

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Chapter 4

Ari leaned against the front door and sighed. Beth just had to steal the handsomest man in her life right now didn't she? Well actually, the only man inn her life, and the first one in a long time. That's not to say that she hadn't had relationships; oh she had. But she hadn't felt anything even remotely close to desire in many years. And certainly nothing like the feelings that coursed through her when she looked at Eranites and imagined his strong fingers on her skin and his full lips drinking of her own. She shivered and shook herself out of it. She had to work to do to take care of this new houseguest, and the first thing to do was to make sure he was a comfortable as possible.

Ari grasped his two bags and heaved, delighted to find that they were comfortably weighty. I can actually make it up the stairs with them she thought. She trudged up to the second floor and made her way to the guest suite next to her rooms, where Eranites was staying. As she approached the open door, she heard no voices. Odd, she thought, they're awfully quiet. She pushed the door open farther with her toe, and caught a nice view of Eranites and Beth wrapped in each other's arms, kissing passionately. She threw the bags down in disgust and strode down the hall to her own room. She flopped down on her bed and buried her face in the pillow. Just couldn't wait to get right down to it could they? Jealousy stung her like an angry wasp. Well at least I'll know if anything else happens, since I'm right next-door, she thought bitterly and humorlessly. Sighing, she kicked off her shoes and curled under the covers.

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Eranites heard the thump when Ari slammed the bags down and heard a sharp cry of anguish from her mind. He inwardly groaned and broke from the kiss. Beth looked up, eyes shining with passion. She pressed herself to him and he looked away. Disgusting. She shouldn't press herself so willingly against him. But then again, he shouldn't have grabbed her and kissed her. They were both to blame. He looked back down at her.

"That was rude. I am sorry. But I am looking for my lifemate and you are not the one. It would be best if we keep separate." Before I vomit, he added silently. The touch of anyone other than his lifemate was repellent to him. He gently pushed her from his room before she could say a word. He shut the door and leaned against it. What a predicament he was in. Now that Arianna had seen them kissing, matters would be complicated. Wooing her would be a much slower process. But he had faith in his abilities and the powerful attraction between lifemates. He fumbled his way to his bed and almost fell. He growled. Of course his blindness wasn't going to make anything any easier. He flopped grumpily on his bead and began to plan.

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Arianna sighed and sat up. Midnight. She had been unsuccessfully trying to sleep since she had woken up at 11:30. It was useless. Beth's actions were playing and rewinding and playing again in her head. She grimaced and stood up. She shivered and reached for her robe. The fuzzy warmth enveloped her like a cloud. She huddled up on the couch in the sitting room between bedrooms and reached for her notebook. Eranites is right next to this room, probably sleeping deeply, she thought. I bet he looks like Eros when he's asleep .She smiled and let herself wonder how he slept, with or without clothes on, on his back or on his side. I bet that slut is in his bed with him. They're probably exhausted after what they just did. She crumpled onto the armrest and didn't even notice her tears until it was too late. She wet her robe with the saltwater as she sobbed silently.

A soft knock sounded on her door.

"May I come in?" Eranites was hesitant. Ari sat up and quickly wiped her face.

"Yes." Her voice caught in her throat. Here he was, the man she had been crying over. Was that what she had been doing? She was more inclined to think that she was wallowing in self-pity.

Eranites opened the door and she gulped. He stood there, resplendent, shirt unbuttoned, hair tousled, barefoot. His skin gleamed in the moonlight coming through her windows. His muscles were well defined and his skin smooth. He stood in her doorway looking magnificently rumpled, and she knew deep down that Beth has not shared his bed tonight. She realized she wasn't breathing, that her heart was doing something it wasn't supposed to be doing. Absently, she wondered if she had died and gone to heaven. He took one stride forward, muscles bunching in all of his limbs. She let her breath out in a whoosh and blushed.

"May I join you?"

"By all means." She stared as he prowled forward. She almost gasped as her realized that he was coming straight for the couch and for her. She scooted over into the corner of the couch before he sat on her. How odd that he should know exactly where he was going…he seemed like a man who had been blind for his whole life. He didn't fumble and his eyes were piercing gold, not unfocused.

He grinned. She felt wings in her stomach.

"I won't bite you know." Or I'll try very hard not to, Eranites silently added. Her scent and presence were driving him mad. How did he not notice this before?

AN: I know you guys probably have some questions! I will answer any questions I get in my next chapter...hopefully coming very soon! Review Please!