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He could have made love to Kristen after their date and completed the bonding then…but he would have condemned his own brother to death, according to what he knew of the code.
Damn.
He had to get his hands on that code.
It was ancient. Was it even written down? It could very well have been handed down orally, in which case it died with Declan.
Aidan had known Micah was on the move. He’d sensed the fraternal bond. There had to be a way to save his brother and make sure that he, Aidan, ended up with Kristen. And he had to make sure Kristen wanted him rather than Micah.
For he had already fallen in love with her. She was his mate of the heart as well as his mate of the soul.
He had to have her.
And he had to find a way to save Micah.
He could not condemn his brother, evil or not, to death.
Anthea hadn’t been able to choose, and she’d condemned her sons to the same fate as her lovers.
Kristen would have to choose.
And she’d have to choose Aidan.
Somehow… Some way…
He would go to her, make love to her. But he would hold off on the bonding. He’d find a way to make her fall in love with him without harming his brother. There had to be a way.
And he would find it.
16
God, she looked lovely.
“Aidan. What are you doing here?”
Aidan smiled and handed the dozen yellow roses he’d brought with him to Kristen. “Do I need a reason to come see my girl?”
“Your girl?” She blushed an adorable shade of raspberry.
“To me, you’re my girl. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t say it again.”
She flushed a hue darker. “No. I mean. It’s okay. I kind of…like it.”
“I’m glad. May I come in?”
“Sure. Of course.” She held the door open. “Do you want something to drink? I have iced tea.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“Have a seat.”
He sat down on a lush burgundy sofa and waited. A minute later Kristen came in with two tall glasses of tea.
“Thanks.” He took a sip. “What are you up to today?”
“Just my usual stuff. Sundays are my only days off. The only day I close the store. Except when handsome men ask me to go on a motorcycle ride.” She smiled, a shy but flirtatious smile. So pretty.
“I was a pretty bad influence on you that day,” Aidan said.
She shook her head. “To the contrary. It was a wonderful day. And then a wonderful dinner. I’m glad I went.”
“I’m glad you went too. But there is one regret that I have.”
“What’s that?” her lips trembled slightly.
“I regret I didn’t make slow, sweet love to you afterward.”
“Oh, God…” Her lips quivered.
So luscious.
He stood and strode toward her. “Let me take you to bed, Kristen.”
“I—”
“Please. I want you so much. I need to be inside you.”
He traced the line of her jaw, her skin like silk under his touch. God, he wanted her.
Please say yes, he pleaded inside. I must have you. I’ve already fallen in way too deep. You are my heart as well as my soul, Kristen.
But the words wouldn’t pass his lips. He didn’t want to scare her.
“We need to talk first, Aidan.”
“About what, baby?”
“Oh, God. Baby. You called me baby.”
“Yeah. Is that okay?’
“I had a dream last night…”
“About me, I hope.”
“I thought it was, at first.”
“And?”
“I thought it was you calling me baby. But it turned out to be…your brother.”
“Micah?”
Of course. He’d gone down on her last night. Her scent had been all over him. And Kristen thought it was a dream, just like she thought the time with him was a dream.
“Yeah, Micah.” She reddened and looked away.
He cupped her cheeks and forced her to face him. Jealousy ate at his gut, but he forced it away. Be strong for her.
“It was just a dream, Kristen.”
“I know, but it seemed so real.”
“Have you had a dream like that before?” He knew darn well she had.
“Only once.”
“And?”
“It was with you. We… We made love.”
He smiled and pushed a stray hair out of her eye. “I hope you enjoyed it.”
That adorable raspberry color covered her flesh again. “I did.”
He leaned toward her and brushed a soft kiss against her silken cheek. “How about if we see if the real me lives up to your dreams?”
A soft sight escaped her throat. “I really should do some inventory. I have so much stuff in my basement…”
“Hey, it’s your day off.”
“Yeah… It is.”
He kissed her softly again, this time on her mouth. Her lips were like a rose petal. God, he had to have her.
He took her hand. “Show me the bedroom.”
She led him to the room he was already familiar with. He’d been here, after all. And if he could figure a way out of this code business, he’d be the only man ever in this room.
