Page 90 of Forsaken
Aida hesitated, and Julian held his breathwhile he waited for her reply. “Yes,” she whispered.
Cassidy glanced between them as Kyle walkedto the door. “We’ll be back later,” she said. “If you needanything, Aida, just call, okay?”
“I will,” Aida murmured, and they grabbedtheir coats before leaving the apartment.
Julian half expected her to change her mindand run out the door behind them, or call them back, but sheremained where she was as the door closed.
“Are you okay being alone with me?” heasked.
“Is there a reason I should fear you?”
“No! Youneverhave to fear me, butafter what you saw me do to Gerald, I’m surprised you’re not tryingto run away from me.”
Aida gulped as she considered his words. “Idon’t know what’s happening, but I’m not afraid of you. Everyrational part of me says I should beterrified. I haven’tseen you in years, and I just watched you brutally beat a vampireto death, but for some reason, all I want is to hug you. Maybe I’mgoing insane, or maybe Gerald’s blow rattled my brain.”
Julian suppressed a growl at the reminder ofwhat that piece of shit did to her, but growling at her wouldnothelp this situation.
“I would never deny a hug from you,” hesaid.
Knowing it made him vulnerable to rejection,he still opened his arms to her. Aida hesitated before rushing intothem and throwing her arms around his waist. He crushed her againsthim and lowered his head to nuzzle her ear.
Her body came alive in a way she’d only everexperienced when he kissed her four years ago. How could she reactto him in such a way when she hadn’t seen him in years? How couldshe hug this man when he’d beaten someone into a bloody pulp only afew hours ago?
Despite everything she’d witnessed andeverything sheknew, desire bloomed hot and fast inside her.She dug her fingers into his back as her body pressed against awall of muscles that weren’t there the last time she held him.
This thickly muscled man was so differentthan the lean boy with his long legs and gangly appearance. Backthen, he’d been like a colt trying to figure out his legs and arms.He’d always possessed the inherent grace of vampires, but his feetand hands were too big, and he couldn’t consume enough blood tokeep weight on him.
That obviously wasn’t the case anymore.Turning her head, she rested her ear over where his heart beat inhis chest. Unexpected tears burned her eyes; it was such a goodheart. He’d always been so kind to her, so tender and supportive.He’d been her best friend, and then he kissed her and becamesomeone who haunted her for years.
Everything about him felt so different thanthe boy she recalled, yet it was all so strangely familiar. She’dnever been held by the man before, but her body recognized thecurve of his and the solid wall of muscle. It was all sodisorienting in its familiarity, and she clung to him to keep fromsinking to the ground.
He was here again, and she’d missed him somuch.He screwed with your mind.
The reminder was a cold bucket of ice on thestrange sense of security she experienced in his arms. Leaningback, she examined the stubble lining his cheek as a vivid image ofthat scruff scraping the inside of her thighs burst through hermind.
The world lurched, and if he hadn’t beenholding her, she would have staggered back and collapsed on thecouch. How could she so vividly recall something thatneverhappened? She was losing her mind. Had he done that to her? Had hescrewed with her brain so much it broke?
When a lump clogged her throat, it took aminute to find her voice. “What’s going on?” she demanded with morestrength than she felt. “How can you be so familiar to me when Ihaven’t seen you in years?”
“Because I love you, and you love me.”
Aida’s eyes crossed as she watched him lift astrand of her hair and run it through his fingers.I love you,and you love me. She wanted to deny it, but it felt so true.How could it be true when she couldn’t remember any of it? And ifit was true, then why would he take the memory from her?
Feeling like she was on a bad acid trip, shelifted a hand to the side of her head. She’d be less confused ifthe walls started talking to her. “How can that be true when Ihaven’t seen you in years?”
“Because youhaveseen me.”
Julian clasped her cheeks and lifted her headso she had to look at him. Love shone in his eyes when he bent tokiss the tip of her nose. She should pull away from him, but shedidn’t trust her legs to support her.
“Then why would you take the memory of ourlove away?” she asked.
“Because it was necessary.”
Taking her hand, he led her over to thecouch. Slumping onto the couch, she clasped her hands in her lapwhile he knelt before her. The world lurched again as thefamiliarity of his matured face struck her. All she’d ever knownwas the face of the boy who could go days without shaving and stillnot have a five o’clock shadow.
Julian brushed back her hair to reveal moreof the dark purple bruise on her cheek. The lump, standing out atleast an inch from her cheekbone, had caused her eye to swell shut.“This never should have happened,” he murmured.
His fingers stroking her cheek were as softas a butterfly’s wings. Unable to take this tenderness on top ofeverything else, she caught his hand and pulled it away. “I’m fine.Just tell me what is going on.”
