Read Trials (The Forever Series, Book 6) for Free Online Page B

gently on my very swollen belly. He drops his head and
kisses me there and says, “Aefre, I am so happy. I have everything I ever
wanted. You as my wife, making this baby with you, this miracle child. The
first of its kind, and ours. I love you.”
    I give him a coy look and pull him to me for a kiss,
saying, “Yes, ours. Yours and mine. As it should be. I love you, Lance. I love
you so much.”
    I awake suddenly, my eyes popping open. In the dark I think
I see a shadow hovering over me and I sit upright, but there’s no one there. I
put my hand on my thankfully very flat stomach and sigh in relief. Just a
dream. Well, a nightmare actually. I used to dream of Lance often during my
time with him and after but it was always the horror he inflicted upon me. To
dream this about him is disturbing and unnatural. CK will throw a shit-fit if I
ever tell him about it. Shaking my head to clear away the nasty thoughts, I
check on Cole. He is fast asleep. He’ll be getting up soon so I leave him to
sleep until his alarm goes off. But I need to get up now, I am restless. Not
bothering with a robe I get out of bed and head out to the sitting room to get
a drink. Cole keeps an emergency stash in a secret compartment of the fridge
and I need to feed. I get a bottle and jump a mile when I notice someone
standing by the windows.
    “Xane!” I whisper snap at him. “What the fuck are you doing
in here?”
    “You were anxious. I came to see if you were okay. You
weren’t joking about the three,” he says, turning towards me, pointing to the
candles and his eyes set ablaze at my naked stature. I magick on a robe, out of
a sense of decency for Cole. He would not be happy if he came out and saw me
otherwise.
    “I’m fine. What do you mean I was anxious? Were you just in
my bedroom?” I ask suspiciously.
    “Don’t get dressed on my behalf,” he says instead, coming
closer.
    “I’m not. My husband won’t be happy and he is due up soon.”
    “Oh, so you want to stand naked in front of me?” he tilts
his head.
    “Just answer the question,” I snap at him again.
    “No, I wasn’t just in your bedroom. I think you were
dreaming, as it didn’t seem immediate. Did you have a bad dream, Liv?”
    “Yes. It was most unpleasant,” I admit. “How do you know?”
    “I know you. I am connected to you. I keep telling you but
you keep denying your feelings so you don’t feel it as I do.” He steps even
closer until he is right in front of me, gazing down at me from his
foot-and-a-bit height advantage over me. “I do love you in just your bare
feet,” he murmurs, curling my hair around my ear gently. “So fragile.”
    “Don’t forget that looks can be deceiving,” I murmur back,
aware that only a few days ago Cole had said the same thing to me in this very
hotel suite.
    He chuckles, “Oh yes. I have no doubt that you could kick my
ass if you chose to.”
    “Does that turn you on?” I ask wickedly.
    “You turn me on,” he murmurs back and drops his mouth to
mine. “I need you again, Liv. It’s been too long.”
    His words bring me to my senses and I step back my hand on
his chest. “Not here. Not now,” I say, but that isn’t what I meant to say. I
meant to say an outright “No” but it didn’t come out that way.
    He realizes this and smiles slowly. “Just say when and where
and I will be there,” he whispers against my lips, crushing me to him for
another kiss before he steps back swiftly and Astraports out just as Cole steps
into the sitting room. I sigh. Well, at least he took the high road and left
instead of letting Cole find him here.
    “Hey,” he says, running his hand through his hair. “What are
you doing up? It’s still early for you.”
    “I know. Just hungry.” I hold up the bottle.
    “Did you sleep okay? You seemed to be moving around a bit,
it’s not like you.”
    “I had a bit of a bad dream but it’s fine. Just a dream.”
    “What about?” he asks, concerned.
    “Oh, just all this time