I chuckled at the thought; Hercules lay on the porch at my feet and whined. "He's good at that."
"He told me I was a fool, and that he would give anything to be your soulmate. He told me that he had always loved you, and that it was his fault you had feelings for him. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry, and to thank you for saving my life."
"Was…so you aren't a fool anymore?" I asked. My heart was pounding in my chest; I was surprised he couldn't hear it beating against my ribcage.
"I don't want to be." He bowed his head. "Look, this may sound selfish of me, but if I only have a day left with my soulmate, I'd like to savor every minute of it. I'm not making you any promises, but I want to be with you now, next Saturday, and fifty years from now. It may not happen, but I need every second you can give me."
I went to him and took his hand in mine. He let out a great shuttering breath of relief, like he had when I we'd touched at his house. If a day was all I could have, I was going to take it.
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Chapter Thirty-eight
I let go of his hand and nodded toward the door. "Would you like to come in? I canceled all of my appointments for the week when we started looking for you Tuesday morning."
He nodded like he really hadn't expected me to let him in. He must have thought I might reject him the way he'd been rejecting me since the day we met. He looked beat and dead on his feet.
"Come on, Hercules." I said. I thought I heard Adam snicker, but it may have been the wind.
"Have you slept at all?" I asked. He simply shook his head, then he bent and picked up my dog. I shook my head. He was really turning into quiet the little traitor. "Well, you can sleep now. You look like you're about to pass out. Aven left a pair of pajama bottoms you can wear, and I'll go to your house and get you some of your clothes to wear while you're asleep if you want."
His eyes became frantic; he set Hercules down and grabbed my shoulders, shaking his head. "I don't want you going anywhere without me. Something is going to try and end your life, and I'm going to be with you when it happens so I can bring you back."
He still thought he could save my life by sewing me up, but if it comforted him to think that, I was willing to suffer in silence. I nodded. "All right, I won't go anywhere without you. Kobhye is in the guest bedroom; I'll send her when she wakes up, or we can go together when you wake up. Will that work?"
He grabbed me and held me tight. I could tell he was struggling with his emotions, and he overcame them enough to pull me back so he could look at my face. "Do you mind if I take a shower?"
Hell yes, he should take him a shower. I wanted him to scrub off any remnants of having sex with Sherri last night, but what I said was, "You know where the bathroom is. I'll get you something clean to wear."
I went to the kitchen and started coffee. He may not need it, but I did. I heard the shower turn on, and a hunger rose inside of me. He was naked in my shower. I shook my head to clear the mental picture and went to my bedroom to get Aven's pajama bottoms out of my dresser. He'd left the door open a crack, so I opened it far enough to lay them on the table that was right inside, then I pulled the door shut.
I went back to the kitchen to start breakfast. He probably hadn't eaten since yesterday, and I was starving. He'd need something in his stomach to help him rest, so I got out bacon and eggs from the fridge and a loaf of bread from the bread box for toast.
My mother always told me, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." That had to be true because my dad was a big man, and he loved my mother unconditionally. I smiled as I set the bacon to fry. I didn't really believe that was why he loved her, but she was a hell of a cook.
I folded a load of towels then went back to turn my bacon. I preferred my eggs over easy, but I didn't have a clue how he liked his, or even if he liked eggs and bacon at all. It seems totally un-American to not like eggs and bacon, but who am I to judge?
I heard footsteps coming from my bedroom, and could hear Adam and Hercules sniffing their way to the kitchen. I smiled as he rounded the corner, but when he came into view, my heart began to beat faster and I almost lost every thread of composure I had in me. The spatula slipped from my hand and fell to the floor.
He hurried over to help me pick it up, and he was too close to me. I couldn't think clearly. He wore Aven's pajamas a lot better than Aven ever had. Who knew flannel could look so good on a guy, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. Dear God, help me, I wanted to touch him so bad my hands were shaking.
He handed me the spatula with a smile on his face, and I quickly took it to the sink to wash it. I was trying to put some distance between us so I could think straight again, but he followed me. Damn. "You like eggs and bacon right?"
"Wouldn't it be un-American if I didn't? You need any help?" he asked.
Was he reading my mind?
I shook my head as I got the bacon out of the pan. I knew our souls were mated, but our brains seemed to be on the same wavelength as well. "No, I got it. How do you like your eggs? I don't eat mine scrambled, but Kobhye does. I was going to scramble some for her, so she'll have something to eat when she wakes up."
"Over easy," he said as he got two coffee mugs down from the cabinet.
I ignored the fact that we like our eggs the same, and focused on the two cups of coffee he was adding cream and sugar to. "You're going to drink coffee, and then try to sleep?"
He nodded with a grin then handed me mine. I took a sip. He'd put just the right amount of cream and sugar in it. "I do it all the time." Then he looked at my cup and gave me an "oh shit" face. "I'm sorry; I didn't even ask how you like your coffee."
I sipped it again then laughed. "No, it's fine. It's just the way I like it." I wondered if Rhyan was directing him again the way he had the other night.
"No, he's all on his own, I'm just watching until the clothes start coming off."
I blushed and Adam saw it. "What?" he said.
I shook my head. "Nothing." I set my coffee down and put four slices of bread in the toaster then put the eggs in the skillet to fry. He watched me work without pressing for any more details.
"If he doesn't stop playing that kissing scene in his head, I'm going to have to find something to distract myself." I laughed out loud. I hadn't meant to, but it happened and I couldn't take it back.
"What?" Adam asked me with a confused look on his face. "Tell me."
"Rhyan is a little distracted by your thoughts." I said, but I couldn't look up at him, my face was already red enough.
I felt him move closer. He softly touched the small of my back with his fingers, then slowly guided them up until he could move my hair away from my neck. He leaned in closer to me and I froze. I could feel his sweet breath on my skin as he whispered, "Maybe Rhyan should stick with your thoughts if he's getting distracted. I can't control what I think when I'm around you." He didn't know it, but Rhyan wouldn't be any more comfortable in my head. The eggs were not going to be over easy if he kept touching me; they'd end up more like chewy egg-flavored plastic, and I didn't even want to think about what my house would smell like. He seemed to sense it, and took his hand away just before I dropped the spatula again. I took a deep breath then flipped the eggs. I got three plates down from the cabinet and divided the eggs between two plates.
I never thought I would have to concentrate so hard on cooking breakfast, but I could feel him looking at me, and I was almost positive what he was thinking.
"Uh-huh," Rhyan said.
"I think I can take it from here, Rhyan. You can go find something else to do. I'm not dying until tomorrow, remember?"
"All right. Yell if you need me."
"Will do," I said as I fixed Kobhye's scrambled eggs then put them on another plate. I put three slices of bacon beside her eggs, and put the plate in the microwave so she could heat it when she got up, which would probably be noon.
Adam and I ate at the bar. I hardly ever used the dining table unless there were more than three people eating. I
had three barstools, and that was where I usually sat to eat. I watched Adam as he prepared his food. He used the flat side of the fork and smashed his eggs until they were nothing but jumbled bits on his plate, then he sprinkled salt and pepper lightly over them, more pepper than salt. Then he mixed the seasonings together throughout his eggs. He looked up like he knew I was watching him.
"What?" he said, and I shook my head.
"I was only wondering how many other things we do the exact same way." Then I began smashing and seasoning my eggs.
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Chapter Thirty-nine
When we finished eating, Adam helped me clean up, even though I told him three times to go get in bed. He didn't say no, he just didn't go. I put the last dish in the dishwasher; I even had to dump the food Adam had cooked on Monday night that was still on the stove. The three-day-old spaghetti that had sat out didn't smell so good. It didn't look so good either.
I set the dishwasher to wash then Adam took my hand in his. I looked at him questioningly when he began to lead me to the bedroom. He gave me a nervous little smile. "I would like it very much if you would lie down with me until I fall asleep. I promise I won't try anything."
I could do that, but I wasn't really worried about him "trying anything." I was more worried about me trying something on him. If I only had one more day to live, sex was at the top of my "Top 10 things to do before I die" list. I wasn't sure what the other nine were, I couldn't stop thinking about getting my hands on him long enough to think of anything else. Maybe sex ten times would be the top ten things to do. I smiled to myself then pulled the comforter back so I could crawl in between the sheets. He got in on the other side. I turned my back to him, because he really needed sleep, and I'd never been able to sleep if I knew someone was watching me.
I felt him turn away from me. Then, a few moments later, he turned back toward me. He remained that way for a few minutes then turned over again. No more than ten seconds passed before he turned back to face me again. I heard him huff, and I stifled a laugh. I knew the bed was comfortable, so that wouldn't be why he couldn't get to sleep.
I felt him move closer to me, then he put his arm around my waist. I let out a shriek when he pulled me close to his body. He didn't try to do anymore than that. He relaxed with me in his arms then sighed and fell fast asleep.
I didn't know if he was a light sleeper or not. I didn't want to move and wake him up, but I didn't want to lay here awake for the next five to eight hours while he snored lightly in my ear. It was a comforting sound, and soon I was drifting off to my own dreamland.
I opened my eyes to Murry, and boy was he mad. I was so not looking forward to this conversation.
"You're more clever than I gave you credit for, but just because you got him to love you, doesn't mean you've won."
"Do you think I don't know that?" I said.
He was shaking with rage. I wasn't afraid he would kill me, but I was afraid he would hit me. "He will try to save your life when I kill you tomorrow, but he won't be able to."
I squared my shoulders. "I'm aware of that also."
"So, why are you torturing yourself by keeping him near you?" His anger had calmed, and he was really curious about my motives. Maybe he thought I had something up my sleeve that he didn't know about, even though I didn't.
I don't see it as torture. He loves me, and I love him. If I'm going to die tomorrow, I want to spend my few remaining hours with my soulmate. Is that so hard for you to understand?"
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me how you spend the next few hours or so. Tomorrow, you'll be mine."
I lowered my head. "I know."
"And you're okay with that?" He was getting angry again. I didn't know why, and I really didn't care.
"No, but what choice do I have? I've done all I can do, and it wasn't good enough. So if you would be so kind as to leave me and Adam alone, I'll see you tomorrow."
He turned his head to the side and looked at me through squinted eyes. I think he still thought I was hiding something that I would use at the last minute to win Adam's soul and save my own. It was all up to Adam how this turned out, and I knew that no matter how much he loved me or how great his surgical skills were, it wouldn't be enough to save me. I wondered how Adam's sanity would fare when he couldn't bring me back. I knew it wouldn't be good. I was the first person he'd loved in almost twenty years. Coen had been right; his soul would totally be lost. Murry finally nodded. "I'll leave you and Adam alone until tomorrow. I have no problem with that."
"Would you consider giving me another week?"
He laughed. "I would not," he replied with an evil leer.
"Could you not make it too gruesome? I'd like an open casket for my family."
He smiled as he nodded. "Your body will stay intact, and it won't be too painful. I'll grant you that wish. After tomorrow, you will never feel pain again. I promise."
I lowered my gaze. "Yes I will. I will always feel the pain of my broken heart. You can't take that away from me, and I wouldn't want you to. I'll savor every moment of the pain because then I will never forget how it felt to love."
He looked up to the ceiling like he was watching something, or listening to something I couldn't hear. He stood and growled. The room began to shake and then the dream shattered all around me.
I woke to Adam softly kissing my lips. I didn't open my eyes, I just responded back by opening to him and kissing him back. I didn't know if it was because we were meant to be with each other or if he was just a really good kisser, but the butterflies in my stomach fluttered their little wings every time our lips met.
He pulled back, and when I opened my eyes he was smiling. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked at me. "You were crying in your sleep. I thought I could make your tears go away with a kiss. I was right." His smile broadened, making me smile back at him. Smiles are contagious. If you don't believe me, try smiling at someone and see what happens.
"Why were you crying?" he asked.
I looked away from him and he immediately took my chin with his finger and brought my eyes back to his. "Tell me, please. I want to know what's made you so unhappy."
I frowned at him. "Your guardian demon likes to visit my dreams to rub it in that he's going to win. He's keeping my soul for himself after I die, and I'm not too happy about that. That was the reason for the tears."
He lost any hint of a smile. His expression became frantic. "What?"
I rolled my eyes. "Do you think I would be happy about belonging to Mason for all eternity? We won't exactly be living here on Earth." The realization clearly showed on his face. "You really didn't believe me when I told you that I was losing my soul tomorrow, did you?"
He shook his head as his eyes grew wide. "If he's taking your soul tomorrow, does that mean he'll kill me too?"
I shook my head and thought for a moment. "I don't think so. That was in the deal I made with your guardian angel. I had a week to regain your soul, or I would die again." I shrugged. "I took the deal because I didn't have anything to lose. I got to live another seven days even if I failed, but if I succeeded, I'd get to go on living my life. I didn't find out until later that I would lose my soul to Murry if I failed. I raised hell about it. Believe me, I did. Your guardian angel was the one who caused my first accident to happen. He figured if our souls met, that would be the only way to get you back." I lowered my gaze. "Coen's soul was sent into Hell for what he did to me. And believe me when I say that I'm going to kick his ass when I get there tomorrow."
"You aren't going to Hell, Kendra. I promise to bring you back if you die." He said it so sincerely that I almost believed it myself.
I smiled through unshed tears and placed my hand on his cheek. "I know you think you'll be able to."
He put his hand on top of mine and turned his head into my palm, kissing it lightly. "He knows how good a surgeon I am. I won't let him take you. You have to believe me." He was pleading with me.
"I believe you, Adam," I l
ied then kissed his lips before he could see the truth in my eyes.
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Chapter Forty
Adam took to the kiss and I forgot about my losing my soul. We had this time together. I knew it wouldn't last, but Adam still seemed to have faith in his surgical skills, if nothing else. I would let him believe that, if it meant we could be happy until it happened. I didn't want to fight with him. I wanted his last memories of us together to be the best memories of his life, and I wanted good memories of us together that I could look back on when forced to become Murry's puppet.
Adam kissed me tenderly; it was nothing like the kiss from last night. It was still hungry with eagerness, but there was a softness there that hadn't been there before. I had never experienced anything so pleasurable. He seemed to explore every part of my mouth with care and utter preciseness; pulling and sucking my lips with his, then sliding his tongue in to tangle with my own. His hands only touched my face, and only so he could change the angle of the kiss. I had never had a kiss this intense without touching, and I wanted more from him. I wanted to explore for myself, but every time I tried to touch him, he would take my hands away and place them gently on the bed.
He moved from my mouth and ran a trail of delicate kisses down my neck and over my collarbone, then untied my black satin robe so he could open up more of the package that lay before him. I wanted to touch him, and I knew that he would eventually let me. The urge was almost too strong now. I was about to burst from my need to have him.
He looked up at me in surprise. "You sleep alone in this kind of stuff?"
I let out a little gasp and covered my mouth with my hand in embarrassment. It took me a few moments to regain my composure enough to speak without bursting into tears or fits of laughter. I wasn't completely sure what would happen when I opened my mouth, but he was looking at me now like he wanted to rip the thin sheer material off instead of laugh at me. I removed my hand and took a deep breath. "Kobhye dressed me for bed. I wasn't able. I suppose she thought I'd have a midnight rendezvous with someone. You should see how she preps herself for sleeping alone."
Save My Soul Page 17
