Afterlife Saga: Afterlife Part 35

"I think they call it make up s.e.x, Keira" He smirked at me.

"Does this mean we get to argue every day?" I said joking and I stretched out like a cat after along sleep. He laughed again filling the room with the sound I was quickly becoming addicted to.

"If you would prefer."

"And you, how...how would you prefer it?" I asked intrigued but also embarra.s.sed.

"Keira, I would take you any way I can, but I would never want to hurt you...I know what my limits are." He said and I took his words seriously having tasted his strength only on a minute scale.

"I do, however, apologise for your clothes. Maybe getting me roused up like that would be better for when you are already naked." I laughed looking down at my once normal clothes now torn to shreds.

"It was worth it....I am sorry for hitting you." I said sheepishly looking down and feeling guilty that I had been so worked up. He lifted my chin to see his wide grin.

"Keira, you have been the only one ever to be allowed to do that and if you so choose you could chain me up and beat me. I can imagine coming from you I would enjoy it immensely." His grin changed into a cheeky smile and I hit him lightly on the arm, teasing him.

"Oh and you think I have a temper...you were down right terrifying!" He teased back. I frowned but it wasn't quite so effective when a yawn followed it.

"Come on now, you are tired, try and get some sleep."

"I said I'm fine but there is one thing...I'm kind of starving." I said and just then my stomach proved it by rumbling.

"Of course, I am sorry I forget that you need more food, especially after...well such a physical work out."

"Is that what you call it?" I teased again but he replied by kissing me gently. When he pulled his face away he looked more serious and I was instantly worried.

"Keira, you can't do that to me again, you have to start trusting me no matter what your own insecurities tell you. You must listen to me and know that from now on what I say is the truth." He said and I felt ashamed with my behaviour, no matter how amazing the outcome had been. I think this had been enough to prove to me that I was here because he wanted me to be, because he really did care about me. After all, like he had said there were sadder cases out there, if he was purely doing this to feed off me than why me, why not someone even more messed up. I didn't say anything but I nodded in agreement.

He was getting up to leave when I stopped him.

"Where are you going?" I said sounding hurt that he was leaving me and shamefully feeling a little needy.

"To get you some food before you collapse, you need to get your blood sugar level up so that you won't feel so weak." He said and once again by the time it took me to turn away and back again he was fully clothed in a fresh long sleeved t-s.h.i.+rt and jeans.

"How do you do that?" I asked shaking my head at him.

"Keira, there are lots of things I can do, being very fast is only one of them." And to prove this he was back next to me holding out the bowl of fruit for me to choose. I hadn't even seen his body move, he was that fast. I picked a lush green apple out of the bowl and took a bite. He watched me, his deep eyes followed every move I made, making me feel nervous.

"What?" I asked "I love watching you eat...it makes me want you all over again." He said catching the juice that over flowed from my lips, he moved my hand that held the apple away from my mouth and kissed the side tasting the juice for himself. I shuddered feeling the sensations all the way down to my toes.

"Mmm it tastes better off your skin," he said making me blush.

"Umm... I need to do something." I said knowing what I was going to have to ask him, adding to the embarra.s.sment I already felt. He nodded for me to carry on with my question.

"I need some clothes, I have to do the whole girl thing." And I pointed to the bathroom.

"Ah, well be my guest, it's not like I haven't studied every inch of you already and there is nothing you need to hide." He was smiling knowing this was most definitely something I wouldn't do. Before I answered he got up and was back again with a long, red silk kimono over his arm. He pa.s.sed it to me saying, "I will give you a moment alone." Like a perfect gentleman. I slipped it on as soon as I was alone and went over to get a fresh set of clothes wondering if they would last until the night...part of me hoped not!. Once I had used the bathroom and made myself respectable again I walked back out into the room, disappointed to find it still empty. I picked up some more fruit and poured myself some water.

Then I jumped at the sound of the ma.s.sive grandfather clock that was stood in the corner. Its wood held another carved warrior scene and it too, looked j.a.panese, matching the tapestries and other bits of furniture. It struck four times telling me that it was almost evening and I still hadn't spoken to Libby. She must be freaking out. I started to search through my bag but then remembered that Draven still had my phone.

"d.a.m.n it!" I said out loud "That's a sin you know." Draven's voice made me jump and my hand went to my chest feeling it thump under my palm.

"This is never going to work if you keep creeping up on me and nearly scaring me to death!" I said realising how funny that sounded seeing as I was talking to a half Angel/Demon! He looked amused and came over to me, holding out my phone in his hand. I went to take it but he put it behind his back.

"And what do I get in return?" He teased looking playfully down at me. It was so surreal seeing Draven this way when the only way I had been used to him was such the opposite.

"And here was me thinking that you were the type to just take whatever you wanted...oh well." I said turning away knowing that I might win this round. But he was fast and by the time I turned he was in front of me again, grinning like the cat that found the cream. He held out the phone again which I took from him but in turn he took me. He pulled me to him spinning me around so he was now behind me. His head arched downwards and he moved my hair back from my neck making my head spin.

"I do take what I want Keira...will that be a problem?" He asked whispering in my ear and then he moved his lips down my neck tilting it to the side with his hands. My hands however were shaking at the feeling and I dropped the phone. Like a flash of light, his fingers moved from my neck and his hand flew out in the mid-air grabbing the phone before it could crash to the floor. I turned to face him and took the phone. He was trying to contain his c.o.c.ky smile but he wasn't doing a very convincing job.

"You know being too c.o.c.ky isn't good for the soul." I warned playing with him as I walked away putting a safe distance between us. I was never going to be able to ring Libby with Draven even standing this close to me, let alone kissing me.

"Maybe not but I know a lot of other things that are definitely on the list." He replied winking at me which made me melt.

I flipped open my phone and pressed the quick dial to Libby's number.

"Kazzy, where the h.e.l.l have you been? I have nearly gone out of my mind....I left you about a hundred messages and....."

"Lib's calm down, I'm fine, I just haven't had chance to...."

"Oh what, spend five minutes calling your panicked sister!" She was not happy and I felt guilty that I had left it this long. I tried to reason with her without having to answer the most obvious questions that were no doubt yet to come.

"I sorry, but Lib's you're on holiday I didn't want you to think I was scared on my own or anything!" I said hoping this would work. Draven was sat staring at me finding the whole thing very entertaining. I frowned at him and he bit back a smile.

"So you have been at home?"

"Umm well yes and no..." I said trying to worm my way out of it.

"Well which is it Kaz?"

"Jeez Lib's what's with the interrogation, I said I'm fine, why are you so upset?" I asked as I could hear her getting a bit emotional.

"I was worried and I think that all things considered I have a very good reason to..." She was of course right and my guilt came through.

"I know, you're right I... I should have called sooner, I'm sorry."

"So where have you been?" And this was the question I was dreading so I tried to bypa.s.s it.

"So how's the family, is Frank enjoying himself?"

"Kazzy, why won't you tell me where you have been... where are you now?" She asked not believing a word I said.

"I'm at home." I said way too quickly. Man why did I have to be such a rubbish liar! I could see Draven finding my lying funny and I shot him a look.

"Well that's funny 'cause I just called there about five minutes ago and guess what Kaz ....no answer!" My G.o.d she was unstoppable!

"Well I just walked in." I threw back at her but Draven shook his head warning me against where this was going. Because he knew that I was walking into a trap with a pro and I was about to get caught out.

"Really you're there now?"

"Umm...yeah!" I said knowing I was busted.

"OK, so how many messages have I left on the answering machine?" d.a.m.n IT! This question was too much for Draven to contain the roaring laughter that erupted from him. I only now guessed that one of his other gifts was great hearing!

"Who was that?" Libby asked as she to, had acute hearing!

"It was n.o.body, just the TV, one of those crummy sit coms...its nothing." I said but she wasn't buying it!

"Was it Jack?" She asked and Draven replaced the laughing with a low growl at the sound of his name. Before I knew it he had my phone in his hand and to his ear. My dread doubled.

"h.e.l.lo Libby, its Dominic Draven here." He said with such ease and confidence that I was in shock. Why would he admit to where I was?

"No, she's fine, she's obviously not at home but I think she was a little embarra.s.sed to tell you herself." He said and I couldn't hide my horror, what was he doing? I could just hear Libby ask, "Tell me what?"

"Keira and I are involved." He said and I stood looking up at him like he had lost it. But just when I thought it couldn't get any worse it did! When Libby asked, "Involved how?"

Draven replied that last thing I could have ever imagined out of his lips....

"I'm in love with her."

Chapter 40 Involved.

I couldn't speak. It was as if Draven had once again stolen my voice only this time it wasn't done intentionally. So when he had finished on the phone to my sister he pa.s.sed me it back saying...

"She wants to talk to you." He looked down at me but I still couldn't comprehend what had just happened...Did he just say he loved me? Why? How? When?! My mind was overloaded as if my mental dam had just cracked, flooding my mind with too many questions to process.

"Keira!" Draven said louder, bring me around but I was still in a semi daze when I put the phone that was now in my hand to my ear.

"Keira...Keira are you still there?" I nodded but knowing she couldn't see me, I found the words I needed.

"Umm yeah, what's up?" I said trying to sound casual "What's up? ... Are you frigging kidding me? Keira, your Boss Mr Zillionaire and the most powerful man in the town, h.e.l.l not just the town.... but well... you get the picture...Kaz he just said he was in love with you!" I swallowed hard as she confirmed that I wasn't hearing things. This was impossible wasn't it? How could he be in love me? When I didn't answer she carried on and I could feel Draven's eyes on my face but I couldn't look at him, I just couldn't!

"Keira, what the h.e.l.l is going on? He said you're there, with him and have been since Monday...well seeing as it is Tuesday, that could only mean one thing!" Oh G.o.d! She couldn't be allowed to know, to think...oh G.o.d!

"What so I stayed the night." I said clearing my throat feeling the heat invade my face making it redden.

"OH come on! Just answer me two things and I will leave you alone as you are obviously in the safest place imaginable." I shook my head but I kept forgetting she couldn't see me.

"Look Lib's I don't have time for this!" I said trying to put her off with irritation.

"Ok well you want to play that game, if you don't ...I will call mum!" Oh s.h.i.+t! She had me there!

"You wouldn't!" I said testing her, knowing that she would, if she didn't get her way... she always did this! I heard Draven laugh and I finally found the strength to turn to him and I held up my hand and shot him a look as if to say' this is all your fault!' He didn't look as though he took my threat seriously.

"Lib's we're not kids any more, you can't just pull that c.r.a.p on me!" I said trying to make her see sense but it was like reasoning with Joseph Stalin!

"Well you have your choices...pick one" She said as this was set in stone.

"Or I could just hang up." I said playing that card but seeing as I was playing against a master I wasn't surprised when she said.

"Yeah but you can't hang up on mum! So try me!"

"FINE!" I shouted turning away from Draven as he was making this harder, acting like a child himself, acting as if this was the funniest thing he had seen in years.

"Ok and remember that I will know if you're lying...First question...did you do it?" She asked getting excited and this just made me want to chuck my phone outside and over the edge!

"Do what?" I said feeling my face tense.

"Play scrabble! What do you think I mean...s.e.x?" As soon as she said this I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. The last thing I wanted was to be having this conversation with my sister when I had just heard Draven say that he loved me!

"Fine! Yes...next!"

"OH my G.o.d...no way! Way to go Kazzy!! How was it?" She sounded like she would soon hyperventilate and I cruelly wished she would so I could get off the phone!

"Is that your next question?" I said sarcastically knowing that it wasn't.

"No, I will drill you on the details later, when I'm home but what I really want to know is, just answer yes or no, as I know he's there, but tell me.... do you love him?" Of course as soon as she said it Draven was up out of his seat coming over to me, waiting for my answer as well. Libby was not to know that he could not only hear my side of the conversation but hers as well!

I looked up into deep pools of emotion, seeing the eyes of a desperate man. I knew my heart but he didn't, for all he knew I might not but come on...that wasn't going to be likely now was it?

"YES, I do love him!" I said feeling every word as though my heart had finally spoken the truth to the one it mattered the most. Draven took the phone off me as I could just hear excited screams from Libby on the other end. He raised it to his ear and said, "Bye Libby, she will call you later," And then he snapped my phone shut. He turned to me with his eyes ablaze, took me into his arms and kissed me so pa.s.sionately that I could feel the tears welling up. I was still in shock when he finally put me down. I didn't know what to say, from the first time I saw him the obsession began. I couldn't think of anything but the man that stood opposite me now but I would never have believed in my wildest fantasies that he could be thinking about me too...but in love with me as well!

That was a b.l.o.o.d.y miracle!

"What are you thinking about?" His soft voice brought me back.

"I umm...I'm in shock" I admitted.

"Why?" His voice sounded confused.

"Because I don't understand, why...why would you ever love me?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

"And why not? Why is that so hard to believe?" He looked hurt and a little bit angry.

"Because it's just me. I'm just some plain looking, messed up girl with no right to have you!" I said looking at the floor ashamed that I had to admit how I felt. It was the truth, how would I ever feel good enough for a man like Draven, who was swimming in a sea of beauties and I was just the outcast looking in. His hand raised to my face and with a fingertip under my chin he raised my face to his.

"Keira, why do you simply refuse to understand what you mean to me? I have waited for you for far too many lifetimes to mention. You were made for me and for years I have searched in vain only to find disappointment! Until the day I finally found you.... and trust me when I say I would fight Heaven and h.e.l.l to keep you!!!" His hand now gripped my neck to lift all of my face to see his and at the sight I could do nothing but believe him...as hard as it was, I knew he was telling me the truth.

"But if that was the case why have you been determined to keep pus.h.i.+ng me away?" I asked in my shy voice.

"Because you have become the only weakness in all of my years. I have many enemies, Keira and up until now they had nothing to use against me...I had nothing to lose...until you." He motioned for me to sit as I knew now I was about to hear the rest of the story. The reasons behind every lie he told, as now there was nothing left to stand in my way, all cards were now on the table.

"Are you ready to continue our earlier conversation?" He asked sitting next to me, with my hands in his.