Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

sweeping intently over her upturned face. "I am aware of the compromises both of us will have to make, Alexandria. I do not expect that they will all be on your side. I ask only that you allow me room to make a few mistakes."
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    She nodded. He could so easily steal her heart. With a look. A few words. That voice of his, pure black magic. "How can I be so crazy about you and so afraid at the same time?"
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    "You are in love with me." He said it quietly.
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    She blinked, shocked, as if she had never considered it.
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    "That's a little strong, Aidan. You swept me up in all this so quickly, against my will."
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    "You love me," he asserted calmly.
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    She made a small retreat, a few inches across the bed. "I don't know you well enough to love you."

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    "No? You have been in my mind. You have shared my thoughts, my memories. You know everything about me, good as well as bad. And you gave yourself to me. You would not have done so if you were not in love with me."
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    She swallowed hard. She did not want to face this right now; it was too overwhelming. She tried to be flippant. "It's just the power of sex."
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    His eyebrows shot up.
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    "You dance so beautifully?" she ventured hopefully.
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    "I have been in your mind, too, cara mia . There is no hiding the truth from me." He sounded smugly satisfied.
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    Alexandria assumed her most haughty expression, dragged the comforter around her shoulders, and kept silent.
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    "Is it really so difficult to admit to loving me?" His voice was a caress, wrapping her up in safe, loving arms.
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    "Why is it so important to have this discussion right now? I'm with you, and I'm obviously not going anywhere."
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    "Because it is important to you. You have this idea that you can't feel love for anyone other than your brother."
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    "I never have been able to before."
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    "And you think you feel something for me because I put some kind of magic spell on you. What we have together is not from any spell. Perhaps I did bind you to me in the ways of our people, but I could not have done so were you not already mine. You are my true lifemate. You would have given your life to save me, even when you did not trust me."
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    Her chin lifted. "I thought I was going to die anyway, and I didn't want to live like a vampire.
    Remember, I thought you were a vampire and that you had made me one."
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    "Why would you save a vampire, one so evil?" he countered softly.
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    She clapped both hands over her ears. "You're mixing me up, Aidan."
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    He gently clasped her wrists and lowered her hands, leaning to kiss her neck. "You knew, deep down, where it counted, that I was the one. That is why your body responded to mine. Not some ancient spell, not even gratitude for saving you and Joshua. Your body and soul recognized me before your mind and heart had a chance to do so. Your mind was traumatized by all that had happened. And it did not help much when I reacted so fearfully for your safety. How could you know what was in your heart?"
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    "What I feel for you is so…" She could not find the words to describe the emotions whirling so strongly within her.

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    "Intense. Deep. Different from what you expected. And because it is so different, you do not recognize it for what it is. You are no longer human with human limitations. All your senses have expanded, so your emotions, too—pleasure, pain, hunger—will all be overwhelming until you get used to them. At first your new hearing was almost unbearable, was it not?"
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    She nodded. It had been briefly, but she had already forgotten.
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    "In a short time you learned to tone down your extraordinary hearing or use it only when needed. In time you will be able to use all your abilities easily, just as I do. The intensity between us will grow, as will our bond. But it is not magic, Alexandria. It is love." Aidan's voice was so tender, so gentle, and so certain, she felt her heart somersault.
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Chapter Fifteen
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    The ocean waves rose high and raced toward the shore, spilling foam and salt spray before crashing against the rocks of the cliff and cascading back into the roiling sea. Alexandria trickled sand through her fingers as she watched the spectacular display nature was putting on. The late hour and wild winds ensured that she had the beach to