"Should I try to calm you down?" she teased, knowing she'd be unable to calm her own internal storm, let alone his.
"Hell, no. Fuck me, Lissa."
She did, grinding against his shaft. His fingers dug into her buttocks and he lifted her, then slammed her down against him, hard. She threw her head back and looked up at the ceiling, watching the rain come down in the room. Arcs of lightning struck as pleasure fingers caressing her body, knowing that Aidan touched her wherever a white hot flash seared her skin, knowing this was as intense as it had ever been between them. And she felt the connection, too. Suddenly, she had the power.
She reached her arms up over her head, not at all surprised to see light streaming from each of her fingertips to hit the ceiling and crash down around Aidan, who groaned out loud and pumped furiously against her. His magic poured through her and shot around the room. She was completely immersed in him, a part of him.
It was all too much--the sensations spiraling together until the spasms pummeled her, coaxing her violently over the edge.
"I'm coming," she whimpered when the last shot of electricity struck her throbbing clit. She exploded around him, crying out as her climax hit and squeezed her body around his. She grabbed for his thighs and held on tight as he shouted her name and spilled inside her with one hard, deep thrust.
When it was over, when she could breathe again, she slipped off and fell onto the bed next to him. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.
"Tell me about the magic," she urged, trailing her fingers through the hairs on his chest.
His fingers traced her cheekbone and jaw, his eyes full of the emotion she felt. "It just is. Something that I was born with, the power of summer and all that goes with it--heat, rain, thunder and lightning."
"How do you control it?"
He laughed. "Sometimes I don't, as you've seen. But I can't really describe the sensations. They're like part of me, deep inside, and I can call them up at will. Even adjust the weather patterns if it's raining on a day I wanna play golf."
She giggled. "How convenient."
"You bet it is."
"Does anyone outside the family know about it?"
"No. Well, you do, now."
That simple statement made her feel as if she'd made the right decisions all along. He'd so easily let her see his powers, first more subtle, now all of them, and never once asked if she'd keep them a secret, or worried she'd run to the tabloids with the story.
And she wouldn't--ever. Maybe he'd instinctively known that.
There were so many more things she needed to say to him, to ask him, so many emotions she wanted to express, even if they did no good to tell him. But she knew neither of them had the energy left and she closed her eyes, content for now to fall asleep in the arms of the man she loved.
*
Aidan woke with a start and sat up, then blinked the sleep of the dead from his eyes and concentrated on his surroundings.
He looked down at the slumbering beauty next to him and grinned.
Oh yeah.
They had motored back to the family's dock last night, then made love again, this time leisurely until they drifted off into each other's arms. They hadn't even spoken, just kissed and touched. He'd slid his shaft inside her sweet pussy and stroked her to another orgasm, her tight contractions sending him over the edge again too.
Then they'd passed out.
The sun shone brightly inside the cabin. It had to be way past dawn--time to get up and hightail it out of there. Besides, he heard his mother's whispers outside on the deck.
He reached in a drawer and grabbed a pair of shorts, dressing quickly. He walked outside and scratched his head, squinting in the morning light. "Morning."
"Morning to you, too," his mother replied, beaming proudly as if he'd just had a wedding night.
That glimmer in her eyes didn't bode well.
"I brought you two some breakfast. Just croissants and coffee. When you're ready for something more substantial, come inside."
"How do you know Melissa's here?"
She shot him her trademark give-me-a-break look, which didn't even require a response from him. She just knew.
He took the tray from her and motioned her to the tiny round table secured to the deck. They sat on the cushioned benches and he poured a cup of steaming coffee. "I had a great time yesterday, Mom. Thank you for the party."
"You're welcome. Thank your father and brother and sisters, too. They all had a hand in the planning."
He nodded. "I will, but I also know who the mastermind around here is."
She giggled. When she did she looked so much younger than her mid-fifties. Even now, her face held the beauty she'd been when she was in her twenties. And her dark eyes sparkled like they had when he was a child.
"I'm glad you were surprised," she said, patting his cheek.
He laughed and took a deep swallow of coffee. "Surprised is an understatement."
"And how were things last night with Lissa?"
"Mom. You know I'm not going to discuss my sex life with you." His face heated at the uncomfortable prospect.
"That's not what I meant. Have you two settled things?"
"Like what?"
"Like your destinies. Like what happens next."
"Nothing happens next."
Angelina leaned back and crossed her arms. "So, you're just going to let her leave for Boston at the end of the week?"
Was he? What other choices did he have? "I guess so."
"You disappoint me."
"Why?"
"Because you're not one to give up so easily on something you want. You've always worked hard at reaching your goals."
Aidan laughed. "Lissa's hardly a goal, Mom."
She waved her hand in the air. "Destiny, goals, what's the difference?"
He didn't want to be having this conversation with his mother. Hell, he didn't even want to think beyond what would happen today, this moment. "Things will happen the way they're supposed to. You've always told me that."
"True. And yet sometimes you have to give destiny a little nudge in the right direction."
"What if I don't want to?"
She leaned forward and caressed his cheek, the same tender touch she'd used when he was a child. "Only you can answer that, mon fils."
She was right. The only problem was, in order to answer the question, he'd have to acknowledge it. He'd have to face his feelings, something he was never very good at.
"It's time to grow up, Aidan. Time to stop playing with the girls. Time to face your destiny."
"And just what is my destiny?"
She smiled slightly. "I think you already know, but you don't want to acknowledge it."
He stood and turned to look out over the lake, the water so calm not even a ripple marred the glassy surface.
"How do you feel about Lissa, Aidan?"
There it was. Out in the open, the question he knew he had to answer, both for himself and for the woman sleeping downstairs. "I'm in love with her, Mom."
He heard her quiet footsteps as she slipped behind him, then curled her arms around his waist and hugged his back. "I know."
"I thought you might."
"That didn't hurt a bit, did it?"
It hurt like hell and scared the shit out of him. "No."
"What frightens you?" Angelina moved to his side and took his hands in hers, forcing him to meet her probing gaze.
"That she might not love me back."
"A common fear for all of us. It's hard to admit love for someone, to open your heart. There's always a risk that love won't be returned."
His biggest fear, what had kept him from committing to a woman before. He wasn't exactly the easiest man in the world to live with. Sometimes he was a bit too playful when he should concentrate on business, and yet he'd always managed to get the job done. Then there was the magic, and not just any woman could live with a man who wielded the power of the elements.
> "Lissa is stronger than you give her credit for," his mother said in answer to his silent musings. "And she hasn't run away from you yet. She's still here. And I think she returns your feelings."
"I wish I could be sure of that."
"Well, she has to love you of her own free will, Aidan. You can't manipulate or coerce her into feeling the way you want her to. And you can't use your powers on her. It's wrong."
He knew that, and the thought had never occurred to him to use magic in any way to coerce Lissa into loving him. She either did or she didn't. And he had to tell her, he had to find out one way or the other.
"What will you do if she says no?" Angelina asked.
He shrugged. "Go on with my life as it was before I met her, I guess." Although the thought stabbed him in the gut. What if he laid his heart out and she said she didn't feel the same way?
Even scarier, what if she said she loved him, too?
*
Melissa gripped the edges of the tiny sink in the bathroom, trying to quell her body's tremors.
She shouldn't have eavesdropped on Aidan and his mother, shouldn't have listened in. But she had, and what she heard chilled her.
Granted, they had been whispering, but she'd managed to pick up at least part of their conversation, and it had been about her. Aidan and his mother were talking about his feelings toward her. First, her heart soared, hoping Aidan would tell his mother he had deep feelings for her. But then she heard the words that sent dread plummeting her heart into her stomach.
Free will. Manipulation. Feelings. Powers.
She shivered as the goosebumps rose on her skin. Surely Aidan wouldn't do that to her, wouldn't use his magic to make her feel things she ordinarily wouldn't feel.
How could she trust her emotions now? Was she really in love with Aidan, did she really have the kind of passion they'd experienced, or was it all some kind of dream? Had he used his magic to make her feel these things for him?
Damn him for doing this to her, just when she'd thought she had it all figured out. She was in love with him, he was everything she'd ever dreamed of--virile, passionate, fun loving, intelligent, professional--or was he? Was he all those things she wanted in a man, or had Aidan somehow picked the perfect man out of her mind and transformed himself?
Ridiculous. This was reality, not fantasy and he couldn't make her feel anything she didn't want to feel, right?
She stepped out of the bathroom and plopped onto the bed, cradling her head in her hands. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to give in to them. Right now she needed logic and common sense, not an emotional tantrum.
Grabbing for her clothes, she quickly dressed and ran a comb through her hair, binding it back with a clip. She searched out her shoes. She had to get out of there and sort out what happened. But how would she get past Aidan?
There was no way she could handle a confrontation with him right now. Not until she could get her feelings under control. After last night's lovemaking, her heart soaring with emotion for him, she'd thought this morning would be easy. She was going to tell him she loved him, put her heart on the line, and see where it led.
But now? Now she couldn't even speak to him. What would she say? How would she ask the questions she needed to ask? And more importantly, would she even be able to believe his answers?
She tiptoed up the stairs quietly and peeked out the porthole in the door, spotting Aidan and his mother on the dock. Angelina gestured to something in the wooded area, and the two of them set off away from the house.
Now was her chance to make an escape before he came back. She swallowed the guilt pounding her heart and flew through the doorway, climbing off the boat and streaking toward the front of the house. Thankfully she'd found her purse on board and dug for her car keys, slipping as quietly as possible into the front seat.
She would talk to him, she thought as she drove off the Storm property. They had to get things settled between them. But not now, not when her every thought was screaming that he'd lied to her, used her, manipulated her.
Right now she needed to be alone--it was time to think.
*
Three days later and she still had no answers. Three days later and she still couldn't talk to Aidan, afraid of what he'd say, and more afraid of what he wouldn't.
What if he put thoughts in her head she didn't want there? What if he let her believe he loved her, that he wanted her to stay? What if she wanted to believe him so badly she'd let him?
She twisted and turned under the covers, completely exhausted. Throwing the soft sheets aside, she rose and padded over to the window, looking out on yet another gray, cloud covered day. The weather had been this way since that day she'd awakened on the boat and heard Aidan talking to his mother.
He'd tried to call her, to see her, but she wouldn't let him in, and quickly hung up whenever he called. She'd conducted business via email, since their project was nearly completed anyway. The brochures and plan had been designed and decided upon and the wheels were already in motion. She was flying back to Boston tomorrow.
She crossed her arms to ward off the chill in the room. Inside, she felt empty, as if all the passionate emotion she'd carried around for nearly a month had fled the moment she realized Aidan had put those feelings there.
Now she was convinced of it. And somehow he knew that she knew. Not that he'd told her, because she couldn't face him--didn't want to look at his beautiful face when he lied to her.
A knock on the door had her grabbing for a robe. She glanced at the clock and knew it had to be room service because she'd sent in her breakfast order last night for delivery now.
She threw open the door and her heart plummeted to the ground.
"Aidan," she whispered.
Without asking, he walked past her and into the room. Irritated, she stood there with the door open, but knew she wasn't going to be able to throw him out.
Besides, she wasn't a coward. Never had been before, but she'd sure been one lately. It was time she faced him and told him what she really thought about him. She shut the door and stepped into the living room, ignoring how fine he looked this morning. Other than the shadow of dark circles under his eyes, he looked gorgeous. Tanned, dressed in a simple white polo shirt and jeans that fit snug against his rear.
Visions of digging her heels into that fine ass as he thrust his cock inside her moistened her instantly. She shook the images aside and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for answers."
He faced her head on, his dark gaze holding her. Was he using magic on her at this moment? He had to be, because her heart ached at the very sight of him, and she could almost believe the pain she saw on his face.
Almost.
"I don't have any answers for you." She swept past him, but he grabbed her arm.
"Oh, I think you do."
She wouldn't let him do this to her. Wrenching her arm away, she said, "We have nothing to discuss. I heard you and your mother talking on the boat the other day."
He arched a brow. "So?"
Typical of him to think nothing was untoward. "So, I heard you two."
"And?"
Fury blazed a heated trail through her veins. "How could you manipulate me like that, Aidan?"
He frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
She didn't believe his look of confusion. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, so don't play innocent with me. My feelings for you, my emotions, everything that's happened between us this month has all been your doing."
"My doing? Lissa, you don't make sense. Explain."
"Why should I?" She turned her back on him, not wanting to see the pain on his face, knowing it was all a lie. "You already know everything. And now, so do I. We're finished, Aidan. You've had your fun with me and now it's over. Our business is through, and we are, too."
"I don't get it."
She whirled around, unable to believe he'd still hold on to the lie. "Your magic. You used it make me feel things for yo
u, to make me--" She'd almost said love you. But she didn't love him, wouldn't love him, not like this. When she fell in love it would be by her own choice, and without any magic.
"I would never do that to you, Lissa. Hell, I can't do that. Our magic doesn't manipulate emotions, only the weather."
"Please leave, Aidan. I've emailed you the final changes on the marketing plan and I'm going back to Boston tomorrow. Don't make this any more painful for the both of us than it already is."
He hesitated, jammed his fingers through his hair and paced the room for a few seconds. Then he turned back to her. "I'd never do anything to hurt you, Lissa. I love you."
Her heart stopped at his quietly spoken words. Words that had sounded so sincere they pierced her soul. This was the ultimate torture, like he'd just stabbed her dead center where it would hurt the most. "Don't say that," she whispered.
"It's true. I love you and I don't want to lose you. Stay with me."
She refused to believe his words were true. He couldn't love her. He just didn't want to lose because her leaving wasn't his idea. Maybe in his sick and twisted mind he wanted to be the one to end the game.
And that's all she was to him--a game.
"You're doing this to protect yourself," he said, his jaw clenched tight.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You're so afraid to love that you've concocted this whole magic as manipulation thing to make it easier for you to leave."
"That's ridiculous." How dare he turn this around so it was her fault?
"Do you believe I love you?"
"No." She couldn't, wouldn't, give in to the emotion sucking her under. Aidan's charms were powerful, but she had her own inner strength. She would not fall for his pull.
"I do love you, you know." He reached for her, but she stepped back, knowing if he touched her she'd be lost. As it was, she felt herself weakening, aching to throw her arms around him and kiss him until she couldn't think anymore.
He dropped his hand to his side and sucked in a quick breath. "You really don't believe I'm telling you the truth."
"No, I don't."
"Then I don't have anything else to say. I'm sorry you don't know me as well as I thought you did. Or my family. Or the magic."
"I don't want to know the magic any more than I do now."
"You've made that clear." He lifted his chin and walked to the door, then turned back to her and said, "You're making a mistake, Lissa. You're walking out on us, on what we could have together, and someday you'll be sorry you did."