“You make very good points,” I grumbled pathetically into her hair.
“I know,” she agreed smugly.
“Don’t go to your conference or summit or whatever,” I begged.
She stiffened next to me, surprised by my change of subject. “What?”
“Don’t go. Stay with me. It’s dangerous and I’m a complete selfish bastard for not sending you away somewhere safer. But I need you with me. I need to know where you are and that you’re safe,” I paused for a moment and when she didn’t respond, I pleaded like an idiot. “Please, Amelia, stay with me. I promise I will protect you.”
She cleared her throat as if she didn’t know what to say and I waited a full, tense minute, crushing her stiff body to me in fear that she was going to leave me.
Finally, she relaxed into me and breathed out a whoosh of air, “Alright, Avalon, if that’s what you want.”
“It is,” I agreed. I looked down into her face and stared straight into her eyes as if I could see into her heart, as if I could tattoo my words onto her soul. “You’re exactly what I want.”
She didn’t respond. It was like she couldn’t respond. I had wanted to relay the intensity of my feelings for her, but I didn’t mean to take the words completely out of her mouth.
But then her expression softened and she filled with light, that was the only way I could explain it. Her magic blossomed around me, taking flight in the room and her face lit up with the sweetest, most loving expression I had ever seen.
She was mine.
Finally.
She didn’t have to say it; she didn’t have to verbalize her feelings. She would soon. And I would soon. Her face, her expression, her body, her magic said it all for me. I didn’t need to hear the words. I felt them.
She belonged to me in the same way that I belonged to her.
And in that thought there was freedom and hope and joy all at once.
“Ok, now it’s time for you to get out,” I ordered. I hopped up to my knees and pulled her up by her hands.
“Um, what?” she asked, uncertainty flickering in her eyes like a candle about to be blown out.
“Yep, come on,” I was serious. She had to get out of my room. Like now.
“Where are we going?” she asked, seriously confused.
“I’m walking you to your room,” I explained, pulling her off the bed and walking backwards with her hands in mine. I had to gently tug her along while her feet kind of stumbled in obedience.
“Oh, I uh, I guess I thought you would want me to stay,” she mumbled, giving a longing glance back at the bed.
I smirked. I couldn’t help it. “I do want you to stay. I really, more than anything in this world, want you to stay. But that’s why you have to leave. I promised I would protect you and if you stay even a minute longer I won’t be able to.”
“Who are you protecting me from?” Amelia asked, still absolutely confused.
“Me,” I growled and then pulled her to me. I kissed her in a way that would erase any doubts that I wasn’t still obsessively into her. I also erased any confusion about what I was protecting her from. I held her body against mine, my hands possessively on her back to keep from breaking my promise. My lips moved against hers hungrily, desperately. She gasped against my lips when she realized what I was protecting her from and it made me want her all the more.
When I finally pulled myself from her she was winded and dazed. I smiled down at her and her wide eyes were both surprised and heated into liquid pools of dark brown. She was breathtaking.
“Do you see why it is imperative that I walk you to your room now?” I asked, struggling to catch my own breath.
She nodded as if she was only agreeing because I asked her to and it made me smile. She could still walk away from me at any time, but I was determined to make it the hardest decision she ever made.
I opened the door for her and when she walked through it I smacked her on the butt so that the sound reverberated in the echo-y hallway. She jumped at the contact and gave me a stern look over her shoulder which only made me smile like an idiot and my hand itch to do it again.
We made it to her door where I resigned myself to a reserved kiss on the lips, quick and subtle.
“I will see you tomorrow, Amelia,” I looked down at her and realized this was the happiest I had ever been. And she was the reason.
“Goodbye, Avalon,” she smiled coyly at me. I think we both realized she held all the power now, but she took it easy on me by opening her hotel room door and walking backwards into the obscure darkness.
“Goodbye, Amelia,” I say to a closed door.
I stood there for a few more wistful seconds. Her magic was separated from mine now, and I hated the feeling of loss that came with it. I need her in my arms again, completely wrapped up and tangled together with me and everything that entailed.
“Finally!” Xander called from across the portico that led to the elevators.
“It’s about damn time,” Jericho agreed.
“You’re lucky I didn’t make a move first,” Xavier called seriously.
Good, I was glad there had been an audience. Now Xavier’s threat would go unwarranted. Amelia was officially off the market.
“Goodnight gentlemen,” I called over my shoulder as I all but jogged happily to my room.
Stop whatever you have planned. I’m throwing Lilly and Talbott an engagement party. I announced to Eden the minute the door was closed behind me.
I woke her from a deep sleep and she mumbled something in return that sounded like a bunch of strung together curse words.