Lost in Embers (Rising From Ash Saga #1)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

“ Y ou are breathtaking, Ava.” Something about that low rumble in Aidan’s voice shows me how sexy and beautiful he thinks I am. I close the door to my room behind me as he leans against the wall. Trying to get closer to me, he puts one hand on my hip and props himself against the wall with the other. I resist the temptation to run my hands through his perfectly parted and styled hair. The electricity between us is just too strong, and it’s all too much too soon. I can’t understand. Why him? Why now? It feels like I have no control over it. I give him my key to put into his pocket, so I don’t have to carry anything.

“Thank you, Aidan. You are looking mighty fine,” He smiles at my compliment, “You ready for this rehearsal dinner?” Not us pretending like he didn’t unalive someone not that long ago, and it hasn’t been spoken of since. I finally feel on his level—dress-wise, that is. He’s debonair as ever in a pinstripe Boss suit and tie. Although he said it was too hot to wear the jacket, so he opted for just the vest instead. I have on a little black showstopper minidress. It is skintight and shows off all my curves in the right way, with lace panels that show glimpses of my stomach and legs. I decided to straighten my hair and actually go all-out on my makeup for once.

“I’m ready for anything with you by my side.” That boyish grin melts my heart. He is something else. For the first time since we have been here, I feel like we look like a gorgeous couple next to one another. I have spent nearly every day with him since that night on the beach, just talking and I would not change that for a second. However, what Dino said and did is stuck in my mind.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours? You are holding something back. Tell me.” His hands reach to either side of my face, and the concentration nearly blinds me.

“Just thinking of something Dino said when…” My thought trails off. In all the time we’ve spent together, I didn’t tell him about the kiss.

His eyes darken. “What did he do?”

“Well, he kissed me.” My voice is shy, quiet, barely even audible.

The expression on his face says it all, he’s pissed, furious even. “No one touches you but me, ever.” There is a dark promise hiding behind those words, and for once he scares me as I remember his threat, “Did he try to…” His eyes are filled with putrid vile as he glances towards my waist.

“God no, I’m still... never mind… Dino never would do that.”

“But he did kiss you, so is it that far-fetched…” His brow raises to me, and even though my best friend has been acting wildly different lately, he would never. I have that hope in him.

Aidan isn’t my boyfriend, so I have no reason to even worry about any of this. We are not attached to each other no matter how it feels. Perhaps, I should at least give him a heads up about Dino, now that the kiss is out of the bag, but Aidan shouldn’t take it personally if he feels Dino glaring all night long at him. We leave the room with Aidan in a salty mood, constantly running his hands through his hair or clenching his fists. He roils with emotions. I should give him a moment to process but I don’t, and with hesitation, I bring it up on our walk to the private dining room David booked with Aidan’s help.

At first, they were not able to get us in, then Aidan went all fierce CEO on them two days ago, something I wish I didn’t witness. He was very different from any boss I have ever had, but he possesses this aura about him that is powerful and indescribable.

“When we leave here, will we see each other? New York isn’t that far…” Worry and embarrassment touch my cheeks, and Aidan stops my quaking voice dead in its tracks. He gently grabs me and lifts me off my feet, even in four-inch heels my height isn’t close to his, and places a kiss on my lips. When my feet come back to the ground, he gives me nothing but a reassuring look.

“Yes, of course. I could not bear to be away from you. Why would you even doubt that?”

“Oh, good.” My body relaxes as relief takes over, and I skip down the hallway, so I don’t have to make eye contact in case this conversation was to take a turn. The last thing I need is to blush and tell him how much he means to me and how much he would be missed. He catches up to me and laces his fingers with mine.

“You didn’t answer my question. Why would you doubt that?” Oh, his persistence. How could I forget ?

“Nothing, just curious. We haven’t talked about if this is a vacation fling, or whatever this actually is between us, and honestly, as much as I enjoy being with you, sometimes you are cryptic.” I don’t want to rat out my best friend, plus we have been getting along fine since I forgave him for speaking to me that way, and well, we have acted like the kiss never even happened.

“Ava, tell me.” If I don’t, he won’t let me move, and we will be late for dinner.

“It’s just something Dino said that night after we all went to dinner.” I swallow down a big gulp of other memories of that night. “It just has been rattling around in my mind. He and I got into a fight, which I omitted to tell you after the whole kissing saga. I forgave him, so everything is fine now. I was just curious.”

“What did he say about me?” His eyes are showing no mercy; he really wants to know.

“It’s Dino. You know he hasn’t been shy about his dislike of you. Even when he pretends, he’s not pretending well anymore. I know you are worried about the kiss. It meant nothing to me. He would never dare touch me again unless we cuddle. He wouldn’t dare.” Instantly, I regret saying the word cuddle, but it is too late to take it back. I’m chalking that night up to a drunken decision on his part. Before I can finish answering what he has asked, he fills with a quiet rage, given away by the change in his demeanor.

“What do you mean, ‘cuddle’?”

“Well, just once on this trip when I was having a nightmare. I haven’t had one since you and I have been spending so much time together.”

He looks sickened. “He had his hands on you.” Scowling from his teeth, you can tell he’s suppressing his anger. “Now tell me what he said about me…”

“Are you sure? I mean, you guys have to sit right near each other during dinner tonight. Please, Aidan, just let it go before you get too heated.”

“Ava, tell me. Stop stalling, please.”

“Well, he said you wanted in my pants. That you wouldn’t see me after Mexico. He made a few other digs in the past few days. I have been ignoring it. As much as I want him to like you, he doesn’t have to for me to consider the potential of us.” Have I just betrayed my best friend? I feel better than I have since that night we fought. I haven’t talked to anyone about the things Dino has said about Aidan, and it was killing me to keep it all in.

“I want to say something to him. He’s trying to get in between us again. I won’t stand for it. He knows you are more than just a fuck to me. I would scorch this world for you.” His words are clipped and speak a truth.

“A fuck? Listen, I would never let myself be that way. I wouldn’t lose my virginity with a simple fuck.” Something about how he said it sets me off, but I calm myself down. “It’s Sofia’s night. Just let it go, please.” God, I sound pathetic when I beg. I must never do that again. Tonight is not about anyone besides David and my home-girl.

“Still as pure as ever. That’s what happens when your body won’t let anyone but me touch you. Delicious, isn’t it? Knowing how we can make each other come undone.” Well, he doesn’t seem to be surprised at the virgin statement, which is a first. Either men are wildly turned on by it, like they view me as some conquest, or they hit the road running.

“Come, let’s eat and enjoy our night together.” Aidan opens the big, heavy, dark wooden doors that lead us into the private dinner room. Surprise! We are the last ones here. Walking to the table, the calming ambiance is so simple and understated, it fits in perfectly with Sofia’s vision for her wedding. As Aidan pulls out my chair, I tuck my dress under to make sure it does not ride up and sit as delicately as possible. He leans down and rubs my shoulders while placing a kiss on my hair. Will I ever get sick of that feeling? Definitely not. The way his nose just grazes me and he smells me, like a lust burns inside of him, turns me on.

We say our pleasantries to everyone around the table. It is hard to see faces because the dim lighting takes some time for my eyes to get used to. The music playing softly in the background is a melody from the Titanic , I think. It’s about true love, how fitting, but yet has such a sad connotation with the scene from the movie. She could have literally just shared the door with him and she wouldn’t have to pretend to take his name, he would have given it to her.

Aidan and Dino’s seats are right next to each other. Just great. Hopefully they will get along this evening. Aidan made no promise to me not to say anything to Dino. We all go around about the table and give speeches about the soon-to-be bride and groom. Of course I get teary-eyed during my speech, about how much I love my best friend and how she’s like a sister to me. A tapping on the glass indicates that David wants to say a word or two about his blushing bride. We are all taken aback; we didn’t predict this would happen. When he stands and looks down at her with such loving eyes…

“Sofia, where does a man begin?

I came to Mexico to attend a few weddings…

I didn’t imagine in a million years I’d be in Mexico for my wedding at the same time.

You are the most beautiful, magnificent and pleasant surprise

Of my life.

I knew from the moment you literally ran into me

That you would be my wife.

I just had to have you.

I promise to treat you like the queen you are

And make you the happiest woman I can.

A quote I found off the internet sums it up perfectly…”

Everyone at the table giggles. David made it known he uses the internet for absolutely everything. In fact, every dinner he would pull up google and share a fun, annoying fact.

“Genuine and true love is so rare that when you encounter it in any form, it is a wonderful thing, to be utterly cherished in whatever form it takes.”

True love has taken the form of you and left me without words

On many occasions.

You’ve already made me the happiest man by agreeing to marry me.

You are my world, Sofia.

Thank you for blessing me with your love. ”

Sofia is in tears as she stands to give her future husband a passionate kiss, and he dips her low. This is truly her fairy tale, just how she pictured it. She always knew that she’d meet someone and know within a matter of days that he was the one. Here she is now, living that. It makes me emotional, so I’m glad Aidan is holding my hand so I don’t turn into a bucket of sobs.

“One day that will be me, giving you a speech about how I’m blessed to have you as my wife,” Aidan whispers sweetly in my ear as he brings my hand to his lips for a brief kiss.

I definitely wasn’t expecting him to say anything like that, but I smile back and place a kiss on his cheek.

“Yeah, not going to happen, Cross. Over my dead body.” Dino has an issue with eavesdropping and heard what I thought was a private conversation. Since when did he get supersonic hearing and decide to rudely put in his two cents?

This is not good.

“That can be arranged, Karlsson.” Normally I would make some sort of bromantic joke about how men always call each other by their last names. The daggers being shot around me are not pleasant. The speeches are finished and dinner is served in front of us, stopping the pissing contest.

Before I can finish the meal, or really even start it, Sofia is by my side asking me to come on a walk with her. No one can deny the bride. I shoot Aidan a play-nice-or-else look and I’m off. There is no sense giving that same look to Dino because he’ll flat out ignore me.

We both take our shoes off at the table and leave them behind. Not a word is spoken the whole walk to the beach. She must have been waiting until we were out of earshot of everyone .

“Are you having cold feet?” I just have to say something to break the silence as soon as my toes hit the sand.

“Of course not. I’m just feeling overwhelmed. I cannot believe that tomorrow I’m marrying the man of my dreams, who I have only known for a week!” Her voice is so high pitched, I hold back a giggle.

“It is your dream come true. You always knew this was how it was going to happen. You just didn’t know whom it was going to be to. Now you know it is David, your fit football god.”

She giggles and the mood is light again. “I do, don’t I? Thank you, Ava.”

We giggle, reminisce, and tell stories as we take a stroll on the beach. We are walking for about twenty minutes before I feel bad for monopolizing the bride-to-be’s time, so we make our way back to the hotel. Another beautiful night in Mexico; how I will miss this place when we have to leave. This gentle exfoliating feeling of the sand on my feet, the cool breeze as the waves crash on the beach, and that magnificent clean-air smell liberate me as we approach the hotel. At least we have one more week left.

Sofia and I are distracted by the two men we recognize arguing. It’s my dream. It is coming to fruition, but there is no field of daisies to run away to. Immediately, I start running to the patio of the hotel with Sofia trailing behind me, but she’s the least of my concerns right now. Dino and Aidan are both in a defensive mode.

My dream didn’t tell me how this was going to end, but it looked like it could have been a fight. The words they spoke to each other were so harsh:

“You keep your hands off of her, do you hear me?” Aidan looked like a savage beast, and I remember thinking I would never want to cross him. His eyes were once again blue with fury and passion to protect me.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? If you touch me, I will knock you on your ass!” Dino’s voice was just as cold as it was when he spoke to me the other night, a side of him I don’t like at all.

“Don’t get in my way of seeing her!” The passion in Aidan’s voice was unforgettable and led to him spiraling out of control.

I shake my head clear as I run on the patio. Maybe it hasn’t happened yet. Their clenched fists tell me there is no chance they haven’t started.

“Good luck trying to stop me.” Dino’s voice is low, serious, and frightening.

“Please stop!” Desperation is flowing out of my mind. “Please!” Finally, I’m standing, hands spread apart to separate these two men who I care about deeply. This cannot turn into a scrap.

“Ava, get out of here! This is between me and Cross,” Dino snips at me, again. Maybe my dream was a warning for me to ignore this. Sofia stands close to me, confused as ever, until she sees the clenched fists. She knows as well as I do these men will find a way to resolve this, either now or later.

“Dino, don’t yell at me. I’m trying to help. I don’t know why you guys are doing this. It’s not your night, its Sofia’s.”

“For the last time, Ava, get out of my way. You don’t know this fucker, and I do not trust him.” The look on Dino’s face concerns me, like if I don’t remove myself, he will.

Aidan eyes him up, about to say something, but I interject, “You know what? Fine. I don’t care anymore. Both of you do this, and then please never speak to me again!” The pressure on my heel when I turn is intense, and I leave a trail blazing behind me. How inconsiderate could they be? Sofia is on my six as I huff away.

I just want to be alone right now to digest all of this. “Sofia, I’m going to my little hideaway for a moment. Do you mind? I don’t know what’s gotten into them, but I need some space, and they will be back at the table soon. I do not want to take away from your night, so I will be back in ten minutes.”

She grabs my hand and nods in approval. Down the halls I go, focusing on how to remember to get to my secret place. A place tucked away from it all. The beautiful place where I can see the sailboats drifting out on the ocean. It is calming and just what I need, so I slump down into the corner. Not even bothering to sit on the chairs, I pull my legs close to my chest and rest my head on them.

I breathe, once again promising myself I will not cry since I have to be back soon. Why have I become so emotional on this trip? I do not like it, so mental note to self: this is the last night for this. I just don’t see how two people I feel this connection with could hate each other so much.

And for what? The fact that Dino and I have cuddled? Dino doesn’t trust Aidan? Dino thinks he just wants one thing, when in fact I feel the total opposite about him.

Gazing out to the ocean brings me back to my dreams. How is it they keep coming true? They feel real for a reason, maybe because it is real. Perhaps if I had been more forceful, they wouldn’t have even had that altercation. Just like how I had a daydream of Sofia marrying a man in Cancun a few weeks ago, and now look! She’s getting married tomorrow. How I saw me falling in love with Aidan Cross, not knowing if he existed.

Now here he is, standing before me, looking down on me with such concern. The man and voice behind my dreams squats down and places his hands on mine. His knuckles show there was no substantiation of a fight.

Looking up at those dark blue eyes from beneath my lashes, he looks visibly calm, but his eyes tell a different story that is sickened with worry.

“You didn’t fight?” My voice is diminutive, I can barely hear myself. I’m not sure if I’m ready for the answer.

“No, I didn’t fight him.” He pushes my hair out of my face to look closely in my eyes, and his touch sends those beautiful electric chills down my spine.

“Why not?” This is an answer I need.

“Honestly, I saw how much it upset you. I couldn’t take being the one who caused you the pain.” Now he’s going to make me cry, something I said I wouldn’t do.

“And Dino …”

“He still wants to fight me. I told him it wasn’t going to happen as long as you were in the picture. And well...” He pulls me onto his lap and stops his sentence. I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle in close. I love how he smells how I always remember, from my dreams to real life, so clean like fresh linen.

“I’m glad you didn’t since it is Sofia’s night. I still don’t understand why you two wanted to hash it out anyway. Just over a few remarks. How did you find me, anyway?”

He brings a hand to my face to feel my scrunched, curious brow. “Right after you ran off, I told Dino I wouldn’t fight him because it made you upset. He said some things that I will not repeat to you. When will he stop trying to get in my way? I went looking for you, then I bumped into Sofia. I asked her where you were. She said you went to a hideaway, and I knew right away this is where you had come to. ”

“Thank you for coming.” I give him a sheepish smile and snuggle in once more. Dino hasn’t always tried to get in his way; for goodness’ sake, they just met. “We have to get back now. I feel as though we have been gone longer than ten minutes.”

As the evening is coming to a close, we speak nothing of the altercation or Sofia’s running off during dessert. Aidan and Dino don’t speak the rest of the evening, Dino just scowls at Aidan, and Aidan is the bigger person and doesn’t even bat a lash at him. He is once again unbothered by Dino. The brothers manage to keep the mood light with their jokes and endless retellings out of the darkness that surrounds the night.

Sofia and I proceed to dance the night away and laugh at each other like we always do. She tells me that she and David are staying the night together. Nothing has been traditional for them, so why start now?

Dino left the moment the music turned off, but everyone is finally starting to disperse. The brothers are headed out to the bar because the night is still young for them. Aidan and I are the last to leave. We hug the bride- and groom-to-be before we leave hand-in-hand back to my hotel room.

I let out a huge sigh that is a result of confusion from the evening. At least it wasn’t all that bad; I got to dance like I was back in college and tell funny stories of the men that used to try to pick Sofia and I up. She’s so thankful for David. Amazing how a short amount of time can change your whole life. I guess that is the only constant in life anyway, that change will always happen, most likely when you least expect it, and if you embrace that change, it can be for the better.

“What’s wrong Ava? Are you mad at me? You didn’t speak at all once we sat back down at the table.” Why is it he always stops walking to look me in the face? Can’t we just walk and talk? I still feel uncomfortable.

I try to pull him forward, but he doesn’t budge. He grabs me by the hips and places me in front of him. Honestly, his brute strength is starting to make me mad. It just seems so easy for him, and I’m no weakling, either.

“I’m just not looking forward to the inevitable, that’s all.” He continues to hold on to my hips, looking terrified that I might bolt, even though he could probably catch me. The multitalented son of a bitch.

“Everyone is out tonight. Dino is most likely back in the room, and there will be a fight between us, which I don’t want to happen. It will just be the two of us there. Hence, inevitable.” My body stiffens with frustration, I just don’t have the energy to hash it out with Dino tonight. It’s something we have never, ever done, until this vacation.

“The two of you alone is not going to happen. Stay with me.”

“I don’t have any of my stuff in your room, so I would have to go back anyway.” He winces at the thought, still not avoiding the argument with Dino.

“We will just buy whatever you need. Not a problem.”

“That would be nice, except all of my stuff is back in my room. I didn’t bring anything with me, besides the room key I handed to you, silly boy.” I give him a playful nudge, and he releases me with a smile.

“I will take care of it. Don’t worry.” Well, isn’t he just the problem solver?

I had a conversation with him the other day about how I have always been the one taking care of myself and it will take some getting used to having him always wanting to save the day. He didn’t seem to understand. It’s all too much, too soon. The conversation will happen again, just not tonight. I want to enjoy a glass of wine, maybe a bath, and head to bed.

“You win, Cross,” I go on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth, but he pulls me in closer, deepening the kiss, stirring that feeling inside me for more.

He pulls away from me with a smile. “Oh, love, I always win.”

Aidan is out of sight since he went to draw me a bath. This room is exceptional in all ways. Our room is small in comparison to this. The décor is the same, with the same color scheme, except everything is on a larger scale, and the kitchen is full and more modern. Like, what does he need a stove top for? He must have booked the biggest suite in the hotel.

But why only for one person? Maybe Dino was right, after all. Maybe he brings women back here to impress them. I shake that thought off quickly. No need for more negativity to fill my mind. Let’s get back to happy-go-lucky Ava. Done and done.

I scamper out of the main living area to try and find Aidan in this maze. When I reach the bathroom in the master suite, he bends over, pouring some expensive-looking bath salts into the water. I lean up against the door frame, just staring at this beautiful man and his mannerisms. Just watching him, and not in the “it puts the lotion in the basket” kind of way. You would think he’s from a different century with the way he moves with sure grace. As though he has been developing it for eons, not like most men nowadays.

“This will help you relax.” That boyish grin of his, paired with a wink, instantly lets me know he caught me looking. Just great. I swear I can be light-footed as a feather, and yet his primal intuition always catches me. He needs to turn the beast mode off. It’s rather annoying, unless he catches me when I trip, then blast that beast on full force.

He leaves the room, but not before taking a playful bow. I undress and sink into the bathtub. My life goals have been met: I can fit my boobs, knees, neck, and feet into the water. This aromatherapy machine on the opposite side of the tub is doing wonders for me in combination with the bath salts. I’m one hundred percent relaxed. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” plays softly out of the speakers throughout the bathroom. He just wants to take care of me.

Holy shit! That can’t be right, or else I have been in here for thirty-five minutes. I lift myself out of the tub and take notice of how much of a prune I resemble. Aidan has placed one of his black T-shirts and a pair of pajama bottoms on the rack next to the tub for me. With how hot it is, just the shirt will suffice. It covers more than my bikini would anyways, especially with how tall he is. I look like I’m swimming in a large dress. I quickly brush through my hair and towel-dry it, hoping to somewhat tame the wild mane and make myself look presentable.

Making my way into the main living area is quite the task. My body is so relaxed and weak from the events of tonight, I could just crawl into bed, but that would be rude. Plus, I’m running on empty since Sofia pulled me away before I could eat, and my plate was gone when I got back. Aidan is waiting for me, standing behind the kitchen countertop. He’s shirtless with just a pair of basketball shorts on. Even though we are in Mexico and have walked the beach countless times, I have never seen him like this before.

The comfort and confidence he feels in his own space is different than the one he has and projects outside this room. He is so delectable it would be rude of me not to stare, so muscular with that V .

“Like what you see?” He smirks and stalks his way toward me. He finally takes all of me in, realizing that I decided to go without the bottoms. “I like what I see too,” this Irishman croons to me, turning me into putty. Keep it together, Ava . I stand tall, even with his alluring voice melting my ears. Resist jumping on him, Ava, do it.

I nod and attempt to swallow the saliva that has built up in my throat. He gestures to a stool, and I sit as gracefully as possible. Quickly crossing my legs, remembering I’m completely bare with no panties.

“Wine?” I tilt my head to the side. Such a silly question. I accept the glass of wine he hands me. Red wine so brute and dry, my absolute favorite. He seems to know so much about me without me having told him any of this.

“So can you tell me why exactly you and Dino would fight over a few words?” I know I keep pushing it, but it doesn’t make sense to me.

“It’s the principle. He wants what is mine. He wants you. He told me so. His ignorant and distasteful remarks to you were uncalled for. Plus, if he had an issue with me, he should have taken it up with me, not you.” He pours himself a larger glass than mine, and I scowl.

He laughs at my scowl and leans over to fill my cup more. “He told you all of that?” I ask.

“Yes. He is in love with you. I will not let him get between us again.” Again? What in the world is he talking about? Dino hasn’t driven us apart since I met Aidan in the lobby that first evening.

“Ava, passion is what has always driven me to you. You are my destiny; it cannot be faked or replicated. We will love each other fiercely and with everything we have, as we always do. I must protect, strengthen, and love you. If I do not, what is the point of all this?”

I gaze into his eyes and see nothing but sincerity. It is obvious that his passion is for me. I don’t understand everything he has said or why he feels this way toward me, but the electricity is real. I feel it too.

“That’s what this feeling is? I feel as though a driving force is pulling us together. Perhaps it is the destiny that you speak of, our destiny.” How my voice isn’t shaking baffles me, just as much as this phenomenon of love.

“Come, let’s go lay down in bed and talk.” He sees me fumble off the chair and stoops down to lift me into his arms like I’m a child. There will be no protest on my part since it gives me an extra chance to snuggle into him.

His hand grazes across my backside, and a feral moan releases from his lips as he has just realized I’m not wearing any panties.

He pulls back the blanket with one hand and delicately places me on the bed, then pulls the covers over me. This bed is like lying on a cloud in heaven. He glides into the other side without any motion and wraps his arm around me, pulling me in close.

“Tell me, what is the most difficult thing you have gone through?” He dives right in. Where do I even start? My dad leaving? These dreams, although not real, are difficult. My past? All of a sudden, I’m scared and skeptical. This is all so personal, but on a whole different level.

“Don’t be scared, it’s okay. I want to know everything. Tell me something.” So eager for information. Thankfully we are not looking into each other’s eyes, praise for the little spoon. No holds barred. I can do this with the man of my dreams holding me.

“Something difficult, just between us?” Here comes the squirming that goes with me being nervous. At least it is something I have come to terms with and have taken precautions for it not to happen again. I can speak of it easier than any issue with my dad, or what’s going on with me now.

“Everything is between just us.”

I take a deep breath and exhale into words, “I met this guy when I was in college, and he was clearly no good to be around. His name is Lucas, and I do not know what possessed me to be with him. He treated me poorly, to say the least, and was emotionally abusive. Overall, he made me feel like a terrible person. He always had to be right and if I disagreed, he would berate me in front of his friends. That’s a time I was so glad to have Dino in my life. He brought me back to who I truly was, and he reminded me what I deserved.” I gulp down the saliva building in my mouth from forgetting to breathe.

The sting of my next words hit before they even come out: “Long story short, he was not happy when I broke it off. He blamed so many other people but not himself. He refused to accept that I was not his anymore. He threatened me, but to be honest, I thought they were blank threats. I was very wrong. He has a different level of rage I wasn’t prepared for. Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yes, continue.” His kisses on my hair make me feel safe, like no one can touch me when I’m with him.

“His rage was worse than I could ever have imagined. He somehow roped, blackmailed, I don’t really know, three of his friends into harassing me. To and from class, they followed me, even home after work. I was being stalked.” His grip tightens around me. “It started to scare me. Dino wanted to report them, but I didn’t even tell him the whole story. I wouldn’t let him because of the other threats I got. Looking back now, I wish I had done that. I wish I would have taken the measures to protect myself that so many women are afraid to do.”

I pause and then continue, “One night I was walking home around 2:00 a.m. from a late night at work. I always took a shortcut down an alley to get home and never thought anything of it, until that night when it was too late.” I hold back my tears, or try to, but one slides down my face. Thankfully he cannot see. I thought vocalizing this story would be easier to tell, but it’s not the same as coming to terms with it in my mind.

“Halfway down the alley, Lucas and his friends grabbed me. He told me that if he couldn’t be with me, no one else could. I saw a devil in his eyes that night, and I knew it wouldn’t be good. To spare you unnecessary details, they essentially beat the crap out of me. Lucas said that if I was beaten, I wouldn’t leave my home, so in his mind I couldn’t be with anyone else.”

“I was black and blue for weeks, so much so I didn’t even attend class and took a failing grade in one class by skipping the final. The worst part of it all was that they tried strangling me with my necklace and it broke. They took the pieces. That necklace meant so much to me, since it had a photo of my mother in it.”

“She looked completely different than she does now. She must have been in an old-time photo booth. It was like magic since I was the only one who could ever open it.” I shrug before I get to the bright side of it all. “We learn something from each experience we go through, whether it be good or bad. I refuse to let myself be a victim again, so I took every form of MMA. I’m more mindful of my surroundings now. I know what I deserve now – a lesson I had to learn the hard way. It was a terrible experience, but without it I wouldn’t be here. Though I wasn’t weak back then, I had always felt like something was running through my veins keeping me from being at my full strength or potential. There’s only so much I can do. The oddest part about it was, a few months ago, I had a dream, one of my mother and Lucas talking, planning out the brutal act. Now I know that isn’t true, my mother would never, but still, sometimes those memories creep in and destroy me at night.”

There, I’m done. He turns me to face him, and I try to scoot out of bed before the waterworks start, but Aidan’s hands grip my hips, locking me to where I am. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. If you give me their names, I promise you they will never touch another woman again. You have me now, nothing like that will happen again.” The promise in his words is enough to tip me into a few tears. Surprisingly, my body relaxes and I can feel myself falling asleep on his chest.

I knew he would never let anything happen to me. But how? Just a gut feeling. Something indescribable.