Suddenly she stopped dead and turned to face him. "What kind of game are you playing with me now?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play stupid with me. First, you insisted on coming with me today, then you didn't pay the slightest bit of attention when I outlined our sales plan. You made it quite clear that you didn't want to get personal with me, and yet you keep throwing out these intimate hints and suggestive innuendos. Now if that isn't game playing, I don't know what is."
She whirled and continued her brisk pace down the hallway, stopping at the room and fumbling in her purse. "Go away, Aidan," she said, not looking at him.
"I can't."
"Why not? I don't want you, you don't want me, so let's just keep things professional like you wanted, and leave it at that."
"I can't." He gently nudged her aside and slipped his door key in the lock. She stormed into the living area and stopped, then turned and placed her hand on his chest. "Get out."
"I can't."
"Would you stop saying that? Why can't you?"
"Because this is my room."
"Shit." With a sigh she collapsed onto a nearby chair. "This isn't going to work, Aidan. You've got to stop screwing with me this way."
She was right and he knew it, and yet it seemed that no matter what he did, it was wrong. But he couldn't stay away from her, needed that intimacy they shared, and whatever it was between them wasn't going to be as easy to snuff out as either of them thought.
She was like a relentless storm, ever building, then bursting into a deluge, only to rebuild within him. Maybe if he had her a few more times he could exorcise this internal need for her out of his system.
When she rose and started toward the door, he grabbed her arm. She whirled on him, pain and anger etched on her face. "Let me go."
"No."
She tried to pull her arm away but he wouldn't let her loose. "Kiss me."
"No, Aidan. You and I see things differently."
"How so?"
"The other morning you said we were good fucking partners."
"Yeah, so?"
"I can't...I don't want to be just...dammit, just leave me be!"
But he couldn't, and deep down she was as aware of it as he. He pulled her against his chest, holding her still while she struggled fruitlessly against him. "Kiss me once. If you hate it I'll let you go."
She glared at him. "This isn't some romance novel where I'm going to get all swoony when our lips meet, Aidan. This is real life. My life. And I want no part of this."
He held steadfast when she palmed his chest and tried to push away.
"Kiss me, Lissa."
"No." Her heart pounded madly against his chest, the wild rumbling just as loud as the sudden downpour of rain outside.
She heard it, clearly felt it and inclined her head toward the window. "Did you do that?"
"Kiss me, cher," he said again, ignoring her question, then dipped his head and lightly touched her lips. A shock of lightning scorched him and he fought to suck in enough air to fuel his overworked lungs. "You take my breath away."
Her shoulders sagged in defeat. She closed her eyes and tilted her head toward his. He needed no further signals from her and covered her mouth with his, sweeping his tongue inside her moist heat.
She pulled away and kissed his jaw, his neck, mumbling, "I hate you for doing this."
"I know." If he could have walked away from her, he would. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he drank his fill of her mouth, learned every square inch of her soft body, and plunged inside the moist heat of her essence over and over again. Then, maybe, his desire for her would vanish.
God help him if that didn't happen soon. The passion built within him and he couldn't contain his need for her any longer. When she moaned and pressed her body against him he lost it, kissing her harshly and with all the pent up frustration he'd held inside for the past few days.
Her fury matched his and she reached for his shirt, yanking it out of his pants and pulling it over his head, digging her nails into his chest. He bit back a curse at the pleasurable pain and hauled her into the living room, turning her around to face the cushioned chair.
She leaned back against his chest and threaded her fingers through his hair, turning her face to the side so he could take her mouth. He plunged his tongue inside repeatedly until she gasped for breath, then palmed her breasts through the satiny material of her dress. The flimsy bra she wore couldn't hide her erect nipples, any more than his jeans could hide his rigid cock. He rocked against her, enjoying the feel of her ass against his hard-on.
"Make love to me, Aidan. Now."
He gently pushed against her back and forced her over the chair, then bent down and slid her dress up over her hips. He reached for the little scrap of material she called panties and ripped them off. She whimpered and bent further forward, her delectable pussy moist and ripe for his cock.
She was so beautiful like this--her legs spread, her ass in the air, the glistening folds of her cunt open and waiting for him. He couldn't wait any longer and pressed against her, his cock probing between her legs until he slid effortlessly inside her with a single thrust.
"Oh yes!" she cried. He wanted to cry out too, the pleasure was so intense. Bolts of lightning seared the room in front of them, gusty wind blowing everything off the coffee table. Mist fell, then rain, a torrential burst of showers covering them while thunder roared all around them.
"Fuck me, Aidan. Hard." When she braced herself on the arms of the chair he pulled back and plunged inside her, relentlessly giving her exactly what she asked for, and just what he craved. She screamed her pleasure over the near deafening storm.
Whether it was sweat or rain pouring over him he didn't know, all he knew was he'd never wanted to completely crawl inside a woman before. His balls slapped her pussy as he thrust repeatedly, each time more deeply, until he felt her tighten around him, heard her uncontrolled cries of pleasure, and knew it was time.
"I'm coming Aidan! Fuck me harder!"
Like a whirlpool his orgasm took him under, the wind nearly knocking him off his feet. He dug his fingers into the soft swell of her hips and hung on. Lissa cried out with her climax, and he went with her into the maelstrom.
When it was over, he collapsed against her back, fearing he'd need oxygen before he could stand upright again. He closed his eyes and rested against her damp skin until his breathing came back to normal. Her heart thudded against his ear, a rhythmic, rapid pace, ever so slowly reducing in beats. He stood, pulling Melissa up with him. He turned her and pulled her against him, kissing her now dry hair. He glanced around the room, knowing it was already dry again, that no marks marred the walls where lightning had struck. It appeared untouched by the fierce outpouring of his powers.
"Damn, baby, that was incredible," he said, stroking her hair, loving the feel of her body next to his.
Melissa shuddered against his chest, but didn't speak. He enjoyed the quiet moments spent just holding on to her, stroking her skin and hair.
But a tension rose within her. She stiffened against him, drew in an audible sigh and pushed back, peering up at him with a confused frown. "You scare me, Aidan."
He never expected to hear that from her. "What do you mean?"
She shook her head, smoothed her skirt down and backed toward the door. "I can't do this. I...I just can't." Quickly grabbing her purse, she nearly ran from the room.
The shock of her abrupt statement and even more sudden departure kept him still for more than a minute. What had happened here? He tried to think of anything he'd done that could have scared her like that.
He righted his clothes and picked up the silk panties he'd torn from her, clutching them in his tight fist.
It had to be the magic, the storm, it's ferocity unleashed like never before. He'd frightened her. Shit. He never should have let the magic get so out of control. But damn if he could help it where Lissa was concerned. She made him that way. He lost all
his inhibitions and capability of rational thought whenever she was near. When that happened, the elements took over and he could do nothing to stop them.
Now the one thing he was afraid would happen, had. She'd seen his power--all of it, in its most violent form, and had run.
Chapter Thirteen
Melissa couldn't very well hide out in her room for the next couple weeks, although she'd certainly been giving it a gallant effort the past few days. She'd emailed Aidan, explaining that she wanted to work in her suite alone, or if she had to see him in person, she'd make the episode as brief as possible, then hightail it out of his office as soon as an opportunity arose. She had to do it this way--to save her own sanity.
After she'd run out of Aidan's room in Shreveport and endured a sleepless night, they'd spent the next morning driving back in complete silence. Thankfully, he hadn't pressed her for reasons why she'd bolted from his room.
If he had, what would she have said? That he scared the living daylights out of her for many different reasons? That she simply couldn't handle being near him any longer? He would have asked for an explanation, and she wasn't sure she could put how she felt into words. How could she, when she couldn't even figure it out herself?
The other night had been magical in more ways than one. Despite the fact they'd been bickering all day long, they still ended up having the hottest sex she'd ever experienced. Remembering Aidan bending her over and entering her from behind had moisture pooling between her legs, that ache of desire as heavily present now as it had been before they made love. But her fears stemmed from more than just sex.
His comments to her in French when they were driving to Shreveport stunned her. He was sorry for hurting her--that implied that he cared, and she hadn't wanted to hear that. Not when she'd convinced herself that the only thing between them was physical pleasure.
But something happened to her resolve. It crumbled in the wake of Aidan's lovemaking. Somehow she'd let her guard down and let Aidan into her heart, and now that he was in there she wasn't sure she could take him out. After making love, her heart soared. She wanted to crawl into Aidan's arms and never let him go.
That's when it hit her--really hit her. She'd fallen in love with him. Not just halfway, either, but completely. She'd opened herself up and let him in, and once she had, she'd felt lost, frightened and utterly panicked.
Couple her newly discovered love for Aidan with the strange weather elements that always seemed to crop up whenever he was around and it was no wonder she'd run.
Every time she'd thought about asking him to explain his connection with the elements, something came up--his cock, usually, which then captured all her attention, turning her focus away from questions about his powers and toward a more enjoyable form of magic.
Way too much for a staid woman from Boston to handle. This world of voodoo and magic was unfamiliar to her. Falling in love with Aidan was equally as foreign. She may be a coward, but she'd avoid him as much as she could over the next couple weeks until she could get back home and clear her head.
Aidan Storm would break her heart, if she let him. She wasn't going to let him.
She jumped at the knock on the door, her heart pounding madly at the thought that Aidan was there.
"Who is it?" she asked, too afraid to even look through the peephole. If it was Aidan, and she saw him, she was certain her resolve would melt away. She already missed him so much it was physically painful to think about him.
"It's Kaitlyn. May I come in?"
Blowing out a relieved breath, she opened the door. Kaitlyn smiled brightly as she entered. Gold bangles on her wrists clanged together in a musical, lilting sound that seemed so cheerful it didn't surprise her at all they were on Kaitlyn's body. In fact, she looked like a gypsy today in a bright colored skirt of blues and purples, and a sleeveless peasant top in orange. On any other women it would look ridiculous. On Kaitlyn it seemed perfect.
"Why have you been hiding here in your room?" she asked.
"Oh, I, uh, I've been busy working."
Kaitlyn nodded. "Too much work isn't a good thing. Besides, I've missed you."
Melissa sucked in a breath. It was difficult enough to be in love with Aidan. But she truly cared for Kaitlyn, and Shannon, too. "I've missed you too."
"Great. Then, I'm inviting you to Aidan's thirtieth birthday party at Mom and Dad's."
"What?" Oh please no. Not that. She couldn't handle seeing Aidan in a social situation. Or his entire family.
"It's tomorrow night, and a surprise, so don't say anything to him. You'll come, won't you? Aidan's coming over at eight, so if you could be there around five or six you could help us set up."
Melissa blinked, trying to process the information Kaitlyn had just spilled. Birthday party. Aidan was turning thirty? And come early and help? That was like...family stuff.
"I don't know, Kaitlyn. It seems like a family event. I'd feel awkward."
The colorful bracelets jingled when Kaitlyn reached for Melissa's hand. "Don't be silly. Everyone is family to the Storms. Besides, I think it would make Aidan very happy."
Melissa stood and looked out the window onto the busy street below. "I doubt that. We aren't exactly on the best of terms right now."
"Again?" She heard Kaitlyn rise and step toward her. "Did you have another fight?"
"Not really." They hadn't fought. They hadn't talked about anything, how could they fight?
"I see."
Melissa glanced at Kaitlyn's contemplative face. "What?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Kaitlyn, tell me."
"Well, Aidan's been...moody the past few days. Actually the past few weeks. One minute up, the next down. One day he's laughing and joking, the next he's sullen and withdrawn. It's not like him--usually he's carefree and happy."
Wonderful. Because of her he'd undergone some kind of personality change. Where once stood Dr. Jekyll now stood Mr. Hyde. Not that she could blame him. She'd gone through a few emotional highs and lows herself the past few weeks, either riding cloud nine or lying in the gutter of despair.
Didn't appear as if theirs was a healthy relationship for either of them.
"I'm sorry he's been so moody. I'm afraid I'm to blame for that."
Kaitlyn arched a brow. "Really. Tell me about it."
She motioned Kaitlyn into the small kitchenette and fixed them both a glass of iced tea. They sat at the round table and Melissa stared into the glass. "I think I'm in love with him, Kaitlyn."
Just saying the words aloud made it seem so real, so frightening. And so true.
"That's not a surprise to me. I already knew you loved him. He's in love with you, too."
She looked up, certain the shock was evident on her face. "He doesn't love me."
Kaitlyn grinned. "Yes, he does."
"Did he tell you that?"
"Not exactly."
"Then how do you know?" That secret smile she'd seen so many times on Aidan's face appeared on his sister's.
"Trust me, I just know."
Melissa couldn't, wouldn't believe it. Aidan in love with her? No way. No way in hell. Kaitlyn was way off base on this.
"You don't believe me do you?" she asked as if she could read her mind.
Well, why not? Aidan always seemed to be able to. "No. I think he loves--" She couldn't say it, couldn't bring herself to discuss her sex life with Aidan with his sister.
"You think he only loves having sex with you?"
"Dammit, how do you Storms do that?"
"Do what?" Her eyes widened innocently, but Melissa wasn't buying it.
"Read my mind like that."
Kaitlyn giggled. "It's not what it seems."
"You have magic. You all have magic, some kind of mystical powers. I've...I've seen it."
"During the times you make love with Aidan?"
She threw up her hands, giving up on trying to figure out how Kaitlyn knew what she knew. "Yes."
"It's common for us to do that. But we're not sorcere
rs or anything that should scare you, Lissa." Kaitlyn reached for Melissa's hand. "Don't be frightened of us."
"I'm not. I should be, but I'm not. I never have been." Confused, yes. Frightened? Had Aidan ever really scared her? She thought about it, about all the times they'd made love or come close to it, how the very air around them swirled with mystical forces. But then she'd welcomed them. Not once had they frightened her. "Can you tell me what it means?"
Kaitlyn's lashes fluttered closed for an instant, then she lifted them and met Melissa's gaze head on. "I can't. It's not for me to do so. Your answers will have to come from Aidan."
Which meant she'd have to be willing to ask the questions first. And that she wasn't certain she had the guts enough to do.
"So, will you come to the party?"
Melissa thought for a moment, really considered the ramifications. Then again, it was a birthday party and a lot of people would be there. She wouldn't have to be alone with him if she didn't want to be. "Yes, I'll come."
"Wonderful!" Kaitlyn stood and hugged her. "I'm so glad you'll be there. It'll mean so much to Aidan."
After Kaitlyn left, Melissa stood again in front of the window, watching people walk by on the busy street. Couples holding hands, carrying around drinks, laughing and having a wonderful time, looking for all the world like they were gloriously in love.
She was in love, too. But gloriously? Hardly. She'd gone and fallen in love with the last man on earth who would want to settle down with one woman. Did Aidan really love her, too?
No, she refused to believe that. Believing it would give her hope, and she didn't want to feel the hope surging through her. Better to believe they shared a hot passion for each other, and that was all.
Passion sparked like lightning, then just as quickly as it lit up, would disappear That described their relationship perfectly. Or at least the way she wanted it to be.
Safer for her heart that way.
*
Twenty-four hours later, Melissa stood at the front door of the Storm family home, her mind no less muddled than it had been the day before. She rapped on the screen because the door was open. Loud chatter came from somewhere inside and obviously no one heard her. Taking a chance, she opened the door and yelled out, "Hello? Can I come in?"
Logan was the first to spot her and smiled, motioning her into the already crowded kitchen. "Glad you could make it."