Here's the next chapter! Thank you all for enjoying my story, and a special thank you to those of you who left reviews on my last chapter: Weeping Isis, TheaGray and Aristania. Hope you enjoy, and I promise there will be a lemon in the next chapter, which I hope to have finished in a couple of weeks time :-)
The drive home seemed to have gone by in an instant. One moment they were passionately entwined in Keenan's secret park, the next they were parked outside her house.
She didn't want to get out of the car. She felt a gravitational pull to stay close to him, as if leaving his side would cause her whole world to shift and wobble. She looked down to see that their hands had intertwined during the ride back. It looked so natural, so familiar.
That was what scared her the most; the fact that it felt like it was always meant to be like this.
Aislinn gazed out the car window at her house. The living room was lit softly by late night television, Grams probably fast asleep on the couch.
She didn't notice that she had sat like that for a while until Keenan broke the silence.
"Aislinn?"
"Hmm?" She sounded like she had been pulled out of a daydream.
"You okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his eyes, which caused her to smile.
He really cared about her. He was not pretending. He was not faking the feelings she herself had tried to suppress for too long. Maybe he even… loved her…
No. It was too early for that. Although… maybe she loved him?
His thumb was circling comforting motions as he held her hand, waiting patiently for her response.
Patient. Keenan was patient.
"I'm fine," she replied. "Just don't really feel like going home just yet." She couldn't help but smile at her own words. She kept her gaze downwards, but couldn't help herself when she peeked up to see if her words had any effect on him. They did.
His eyes widened and a soft smile tickled the edges of his lips. He even chuckled.
He brought their intertwined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly.
Caring. Keenan was caring.
"I don't want you to go home yet either." He murmured, smiling wistfully at her.
Her mind fogged as she imagined her never going back home. His words and eyes whisking her away to a far away island where they would spend the rest of their days in absolute bliss, letting their bodies fulfill each other's every night… Keenan whispering filthy declarations of love in her ears as he would nibble on her lower lip…
She caught herself as she noticed a blush creeping up her cheeks, shaking the erotic daydream from her mind.
Even in her mind his actions drove her to a point of nearly complete lunacy.
Sexy. Keenan was sexy.
"What would you say to spending the night with me?"
What?
Had he read her thoughts? Was this when he locked the car doors and just drove? Was this when she let herself be whisked off her feet and led into a dangerous state of not knowing or caring?
Her gaze snapped up to meet his. He was being completely serious. His eyes showed no signs of playfulness. He wanted to be with her tonight. And, oh, did she want to be with him. Her craving made her very bones ache.
Would she? Could she?
She leaned in closer, wiggling her finger seductively at him, beckoning him to meet her halfway. He complied without second thought.
Their noses were almost touching as Aislinn cupped his cheek with her palm and leaned in. She moved swiftly passed his lips and kissed his jaw line sensuously. She found a soft spot on his neck that caused him to moan softly. She couldn't help but smile at the fact that even though he drove her insane with lust, she hadn't lost all control.
Her lips grazed his ear as she nibbled on his ear lobe. He took a sharp intake of breath and held it as she whispered in raw lust.
"Not tonight."
He exhaled sharply as she pulled back and let her palm linger on his cheek, before opening her door.
He shook his head and couldn't help but smile at her sudden seduction.
"Good night, my love." She heard from behind her.
She turned to see Keenan looking lovingly at her, smiling his breathtaking grin.
Lovely. Keenan was lovely.
"Good night," she said feeling flustered at his sudden use of affectionate pet names.
She walked up to her front door, but didn't relax until she finally heard his car drive around the corner. She stood outside in the cold until her heart beat slowed and her cheeks cooled down.
My love.
That is what he had called her. With no sarcasm or playfulness. He had said it as if he had been calling her that for years. That they had been doing this for years; staying out late and letting themselves drown in each other's touch.
My love.
His love. She was his love, and he was hers.
Aislinn couldn't help but sigh in bliss as she flopped down on her bed. Kicking off her heels she lay staring at the ceiling above her. The moon shone through her window, casting an eerie glow in her room.
She put her hands behind her head, replying the night's events. Keenan touch still lingered on her skin and her lips still felt like they were on fire. As if kissing him had burned her, and scorched her soul.
She closed her eyes and images of sunny meadows and midnight parks danced behind her eyelids. What if things could just be like this forever? Her coming home late at night and still craving him. What if their feelings never died? And they stayed like this, for eternity.
Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a soft knocking on the front door downstairs. Aislinn looked over at her clock, realizing it was 1:56 am. Who would be calling at this hour?
She crept down the stairs slowly. The lights in the living room had been turned off and Grams was no longer on the couch. The house seemed to have been splashed with various shades of black and grey and Aislinn couldn't help but shiver as she neared the door, her hands clutching her upper arms.
She felt the slight draft creeping up from underneath the door frame tickle her bare feet as she stood, bracing herself against the door.
Though it seemed unlikely, her first thought was that it was maybe Keenan, not taking her 'no' for an answer. She couldn't help but hope. She took a deep breath before opening the door just a crack.
What stood before her was not bronze locks or ocean eyes, but darkness. Dark hair and dark eyes; eyes that seemed worn down and tired. A darkness that was all too familiar.
"Seth?"
Aislinn opened the door fully to see him standing with his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his cheeks flushed and his sneaker kicking some pebbles on the ground. He raised his face to look at her. His eyes were puffy and red, their usual sparkle replaced by a glassy look. His hair was lanky and she didn't know if it was because of the dim light, but she almost swore she saw dried up streaks of tears run down his cheeks.
He looked so broken, so unlike the Seth she had come to love.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, almost scared to face this unknown young man which now stood lost and defeated on her porch.
"I just had to see you, Ash." He looked up at her, pleading with his eyes to make her understand his feelings. She didn't understand. But she wanted to.
She stepped out on the cold porch, her bare feet cursing her for doing so. She raised her hand to stroke her thumb across his cheek. His skin was cold and wet.
"Seth… Have you been crying?"
At this Seth pulled away from her touch, desperately wiping away the evidence of his sadness with his hand.
"No," he answered, sounding like a small child.
Aislinn sighed. "Would you like to come inside?" She asked, not wanting him to stay out here in the cold for long. He already looked so cold and worn down.
He shook his head, swaying slightly at this motion. He stumbled forward, catching himself just inches from Aislinn. He rested both his hands on her shoulders, shaking her as he spoke.
"I realized something tonight…" he trailed off, closing his eyes and his brows furrowing.
It was then Aislinn smelt it lingering in the air between them; alcohol.
"Seth, have you been drinking?" Sure, he had had the occasional beer in the past, but he never let himself get drunk.
He ignored her question and continued.
"I realized that I'm lo-lo… losing you…" His voice broke, making Aislinn's heart ache.
"Seth, you'll never lose me. I will always be your friend." She clutched his arms, trying her best to console him any way she could.
"Friend…" he snorted, releasing her shoulders from his iron grip. He chuckled without any trace of humor and shook his head, as if he was laughing at an inside joke that she would never understand.
"What if I don't want to be your friend?" he said, sounding angry and irritated.
Realization overcame Aislinn like a tidal wave. This was him confessing his love, begging her not to leave him. Begging her to surrender her heart to his disposition. And now she would have to tell him the truth; that her heart had surrendered to someone else. That she could never love him the way he desperately needed her to. It was a truth, that when uttered, would shatter them both.
"Seth, I can't-"
He held up his hand, silencing her.
"I know what you're going to say. You will tell me that you are already with Keenan, and that we can't be together because you don't want to risk our beautiful friendship." He said, sounding so cynical, mocking the feelings she actually felt. This wasn't Seth at all, this was a stranger.
"But…" he continued. "I am giving you the chance to speak for yourself. What do you really want, Aislinn?"
He stepped closer and captured both her hands in his sturdy grasp. His eyes became glossier and his voice cracked as he repeated words that stabbed her very soul.
"Just tell me what you want." He whispered.
She couldn't help but feel her own tears spilling over. Here was this beautiful boy offering himself to her, and she couldn't make him happy. She couldn't make him smile and assure him that her body, heart and soul belonged to him. She couldn't, and wouldn't, lie to him like that. However much it would hurt him, she had to tell him the truth.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her tears streaking down her face and trickling down her neck. She pressed her lips shut as she heard herself sobbing, biting her tongue in an effort to make herself stop.
She felt his hands release hers, only to cup her face between his hands. They were cold, the night air having stripped them of their usual warmth.
His thumbs wiped away her tears gently, as he leaned in. She could smell his drunkenness on his breath and felt herself trembling. She refused to look at him. She couldn't look him in the eyes as she broke his heart.
"Seth, I want-"
Before she could finish her sentence, he had pressed his lips to hers.
He was gentle, and caring. It was different from her and Keenan's passionate kisses. This was so innocent and unsure. He was giving her the opportunity to pull away. Why wasn't she pulling away?
She just stood her ground and let his lips caress hers; convincing herself that letting him would provide some comfort when she confessed she didn't belong to him.
She lifted her hands to cling to his jacket, getting ready to push him away, but was not able to find the strength to do so.
Seth seemed to misunderstand her efforts for lust, and deepened the kiss.
He opened his mouth, pleading silently for her to do the same. She couldn't control her actions as she let his tongue battle hers. His hands slid down from her face to her waist, trying desperately to close whatever little space was left between them. He was trying his hardest to make them become one.
Aislinn clenched her fingers that were still wound in his coat as she felt his leg step forward to separate hers, causing her to lean back slightly, his arm supporting her.
She heard him moan and nibble her lower lip. She knew she was pushing him too far, and she had to stop him.
She pulled away and pushed him away from her. She tried to create the space that had been between them only minutes ago.
He understood her actions and released her, plain confusion in his eyes. She didn't let go of his coat, trying to steady herself so she wouldn't crumple to pieces.
"I want him." She whispered, her voice thick with tears of desperation.
His eyes grew wider as he understood that she could never be his. His expression changed from someone on the verge of tears to someone who now knew that they had been defeated, that their efforts were futile.
"You want him." He repeated. He gently caught her hands in his and pried them away from his coat, stepping away from her. Without another word he turned and was about to leave her porch.
"Seth, wait!" she called, hoping he wouldn't ignore her.
She could hear him sigh and see his shoulders fall as he reluctantly turned his head.
She wasn't ready to lose him yet. "We can still be friends." She pleaded. She felt like she was trying to please him with a bargain, a bargain she knew would never satisfy both of them. "You know I care for you, Seth."
He met her pleading with indifference. He simply snorted condescendingly and turned away from her.
"Friends… I really hate that word."
He walked away from her house without a second glance.
She had lost him. He had given her a second chance, and she hadn't taken it. She had foolishly refused his love. She had led him on and then crushed him.
She saw his dark figure turn round the corner and he was gone.
What had she done?
Her tears returned, this time more aggressively, and stung her eyes as they were chilled by the night air.
"You never mentioned how your date went last night."
"Hmm?"
Keenan was sitting in an arm chair, his feet propped up on the table in front of him, a dove perched on his index finger. He had been in the loft all day, being lost in thought.
"How was your date last night?" Niall repeated, beginning to become slightly annoyed with his King's wandering mind.
Keenan hadn't said much when he had come home, late. Niall had been sitting up, waiting for him, while Tavish had lay on the couch asleep; one of the Summer Girls nestled in the crook of his arm. He had been too distracted with thoughts of Aislinn to talk to them. He had just walked past them to his room and shut the door.
He hadn't slept much that night. He was too busy analyzing, and worrying. Analyzing her every move, every reaction she had had that night, the way she seemed to falter slightly when he had addressed her as his love. He was worrying whether she would accept him as her King, her equal. He toyed with the thought of just forgetting it all. Forgetting the bet and the duty to find his Queen.
He imagined just staying like this with her, taking her out and enjoying her company, confiding and loving her with all his heart, but never telling her who he really was. Maybe letting his glamour slip once in a while, but never showing her his world fully. Maybe it would be easier that way.
The fear of rejection and hurting her clouded his rational mind, the part that told him that he could not rule without a partner. That without Aislinn by his side, Summer would wither and die.
This fear combined with scenarios of Aislinn turning her back on him and leaving him alone in the cold with a broken heart, still occupied his thoughts now. So he couldn't help but not sound enthusiastic as he answered Niall's question.
"It was fine."
Niall raised an eyebrow. "Just fine?"
"Fine." Keenan repeated, stroking the dove's head gently.
Niall wouldn't drop the subject. "What happened to all your enthusiasm just a few weeks ago? You seemed head over heels in love, then."
Keenan simply shrugged and sighed as the dove parted with him and flew to rest in one of the many trees scattered around the loft.
"Doesn't she seem as taken aback by you anymore?" Niall asked.
"No, it's not that," Keenan sighed. "I guess I'm just worried."
"About what, pray tell?" Niall asked, leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees.
What was he worried about? He sat a few moments in silence, trying to find the words to explain the gnawing sense of doubt and second-guessing in the pit of his stomach.
"I guess I'm just worried she won't accept. That maybe I was wrong all along and she isn't the one." Keenan stared at a crack in the ceiling as he spoke. Despite Niall being almost like a brother to him, he couldn't look him in the eye as he confessed his worries.
Niall saw how worried Keenan looked, his brows furrowed and his fingers interlacing, clenching and unclenching under the stress he felt. He said the only thing he knew would comfort him. The truth.
"She will."
At this Keenan turned to look at him. Niall looked so sure. He believed in him, much more than he believed in himself.
"You love this girl, don't you?" Niall asked.
"What?" Keenan sounded horrified. The question had caught him completely off guard. Of all the other girls he had courted, he had never contemplated the fact that he might have loved them. Now that he thought about it, he never had. Sure, they had been attractive, some had even had an interesting personality, but none of them had brought out the sparks Aislinn brought out in him. She made him feel alive again. She made him feel invincible. But most importantly, she made him feel loved.
Did this mean that he loved her?
To love seemed like such a serious term. In some ways, it was. To love someone is to always want what's best for them, even though it might cause you pain. It means to want to wake up to their face every morning, and share your bed with them every night. To be willing to make sacrifices for them, just to keep them close to you. To love someone is not being able to imagine someone you would love more than them.
Thoughts of waking up to Aislinn's peaceful expression and tangled raven hair made him smile, which Niall noticed.
"You do love her." He smiled, relieved that his King had realized and accepted his feelings without much resistance.
"I think I do." He couldn't help but laugh at the realization and relief of knowing with certainty how he felt.
He loved her. He loved Aislinn. And she didn't know it.
She needed to know.
She didn't know what had dragged her out of her house. Suddenly a feeling of relief and warmth had rushed over her and urged her to move her feet. Now she was in a state of obedience and was following where her heart took her.
She hadn't slept well the night before, Seth's dark and bloodshot eyes combined with his alcohol painted breath had haunted her mind, causing her to toss and turn and never find peace.
Seth.
She wondered how he must feel in all this. Did he feel used? Taken for granted? Deceived?
Maybe she had led him on. Maybe it was her own doings and actions that caused him to think that they stood a chance as a couple. And maybe they would have, had not Keenan entered her life and stolen her heart away, only to lock it in a dark cave where only he had access.
As she continued walking in an unknown direction, she couldn't help but feel as if he was calling for her. As if this was his warmth that was guiding her to him. Because she did want to see him, but she hadn't known where to look.
She had wanted to search for the park, try to retrace their steps from the night before, but she couldn't remember their route. He had covered her eyes most of the way.
She looked around, wondering where her subconscious was leading her. None of her surroundings looked even vaguely familiar. Where the hell was she?
She was about to force herself to turn back, despite the distant nagging she felt, luring her to continue on, promising her that it would all be worthwhile, in the end.
She turned a corner and there it was. The park.
It looked even more extravagant in twilight. The grass was a warm, lush green and the trees stretched skywards, almost blooming before her eyes in the setting sun. The whole scenery looked almost golden, the lake shimmering and luring her to take a step forward.
It seemed odd being here without Keenan, but she couldn't help herself as she took a step forward and entered the park, her feet sinking slightly as she stepped on the soft ground. As she took that step it felt as though the park enveloped her completely, severing all her ties with the real world, and instead offering her a place where real magic existed.
She couldn't do anything but accept the silent invitation.
She kept walking over the grass, headed for the lake that seemed to call to her. She sat down by the bank and stroked the water's surface with the tips of her fingers, watching as it rippled and caressed her skin.
A soft summer breeze played with the tendrils of her hair, making the branches above her sway gently. She had sat herself under a weeping willow which now seemed to shift its long, dangling branches to wrap themselves around her to form a small, closed off area. Now she really felt like she was someplace magical. She stroked the branches gently, and thought she could hear them whisper her something, but convinced herself it must have been the wind.
She leaned back and looked at the pink and orange sky that stretched for miles, kissing the horizon ahead. The sun made the clouds turn an indigo colour and if she looked closely she could see small stars start to turn on their lights to light up the night sky that was about to appear.
She closed her eyes to focus on the sounds around her. She could hear the soft wind whistle through the trees, some birds singing in the distance and something carefully treading on the grass behind her.
Her eyes sprang open as she whipped her head around, scrambling to her feet.
She waited for something to spring forward from behind the branches that hid her and pull her from this magical world, only to dump her on the sidewalk, a place which seemed a million miles away.
The branches were slowly pulled to the side, only to reveal a face that had become all too familiar.
"Aislinn?"
He stepped out from behind the branches, letting them close behind him, the secluded atmosphere slowly returning.
"What on earth are you doing?" he laughed, gesturing to her with a slight wave of his arm.
"What?"
She noticed she had taken a self defense stance, her feet apart, her knees bent and her arms held out in front of her, ready to repel whatever attack would've come.
"Oh," She straightened herself, pulling at her hoodie while she tried to regain what little dignity she had left. "Just being cautious." She murmured, feeling a faint blush crawl across her cheeks.
He chuckled. He closed the space between them, lacing his arms around her waist and looking into her eyes, smiling wistfully at her. He was so beautiful, especially in this light. The setting sun cast golden shadows across his tanned skin, making his bronze hair seem more golden and almost glow. His eyes looked greener than usual and his smile, oh, his smile. It still sent chills down her spine.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked playfully, although his eyes made it seem as though he was asking a serious question.
She didn't hesitate. "Of course not." She placed her hands against his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric.
He leaned in closer, their noses barely touching.
"Not even when I do this?" he whispered.
He kissed her along her jaw line, his grip on her waist tightening, inching their bodies even closer together. She let out a ragged breath, trying to gain her train of thought.
"No."
He leaned in so his lips were almost touching her ear as he whispered, his voice turning husky. "What about this?" He nibbled and sucked lightly on her ear lobe. Her fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt, trying to steady herself as her legs turned to jelly beneath her.
She felt her mouth go dry and she had to search for the strength to answer his question and not let herself be engulfed by his touch completely.
She couldn't find her voice, so she simply shook her head.
"Hmm…" She could sense that he was contemplating his next move, trying to deduce what would drive her crazy. She would have assured him that it wouldn't have required much effort on his part, but she was too busy basking in the warmth of his touch, and the growing warmth and tingling she felt in the pit of her stomach.
He dragged his lips along her jaw line and he rested his forehead against hers. She could hear the smile in his voice as he asked once more, his lips just a breath away from hers.
"What about now?" The question only came out as just the slightest of whispers, before he gently caressed her lips with his. His was being very gentle, too gentle for her liking. She wanted him. Now.
Before he had the chance to ask her his agonizing question again, she pressed her lips to his passionately. He responded with as much force as she needed, sending her mind into a beautiful and dazzling haze.
She let her hands wander from his chest to knot themselves in his hair, pulling him in even closer. She felt his warm hands snake their way under her sweat-shirt and wander up her lower back, sending shivers up her spine and causing her to moan against his lips. She bit his lower lip, begging for admission, which he gladly granted her. Their tongues danced with such harmony, one would have thought they had done it a million times before.
He broke away from their kiss, only to continue lacing warm and caring kisses down her neck. She closed her eyes and leaned back, succumbing completely to his touch. He reached her collar bone and nipped her skin slightly, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.
"Come home with me, Aislinn." He said between his sweet kisses.
This caused her eyes to spring open, her mind trying to put her conscious back together again.
"What did you say?" she asked, leaning away, wanting to look him in the eyes.
He leaned away, but never released her from his loving embrace.
"Come home with me, Aislinn." He repeated. He noticed a tendril of her hair was misplaced and tucked it behind her ear, letting his fingers linger and stroke her cheek.
She only looked at him questioningly. He realized she needed to hear him say it. She needed to hear the truth; that he loved her and never wished to part with her again.
"I love you, Aislinn."
As his words gradually registered, her eyes widened in realization and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, positive that so could he.
Despite the fact that she felt the same way, she couldn't believe the words when they came from his lips.
She looked away, her hands sliding down his forearms.
"You don't mean that…" She trailed off, letting her sentence linger in the air between them.
He lifted her face to look at him, pulling her chin towards him with his fingers.
"I do. At first I wasn't sure, but I've come to realize that I love you. I wish to be with you forever, to spend eternity with you by my side and guard your heart with my very soul."
His eyes shone so bright, so certain. She thought she saw herself and Keenan in the depths of his eyes. Them spending eternity in this park. Their park.
She knew she loved him too. She had said it aloud to Seth; she wanted him, and she was his for the taking. Even though she hadn't known for sure if he wanted her heart, she was still willing to offer it on a silver platter, willing to let it burn to ash if he refused her.
And here he was. The boy she desired was confessing his love to her, and she felt complete. Any doubt of what may happen in the future was a distant concern. Now it was only them and the willow tree which protected them from whatever hindrances they might face in the future.
She didn't say anything. She didn't feel the need. She leapt into his arms, her legs wrapping themselves around his waist and her lips crashing down on his. He wrapped his arms around her waist and laughed between their kisses.
The relief of knowing that his feelings were returned made his head dizzy with bliss. That; and the following words that crossed her lips and left traces of burning desire on his.
"Lead the way."