Pleasures of the Night(79)

Connor nodded, and set her down. “Don’t move,” he warned.



He took over at the touchpad, and she was suddenly forgotten by Aidan’s men while still getting the death stare from the creepy Elders. The air was humid due to the large body of water just beyond the rock edge, but she was cold, chilled from the inside.

The two men at the console worked industriously for long moments, and in the interim Lyssa’s attention turned inward, focusing on the need to keep herself together until she was alone. She fought the nearly overwhelming desire to run back down the hall to Aidan. Knowing he was so close was torture. She wanted him with a soul-deep longing she doubted would ever be appeased, but she understood his motives. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to him, either, which was why leaving him was killing her. He was going through all this alone, and she wanted desperately to be of help to him.

She was so lost in thought, she didn’t immediately notice how unnaturally quiet the room had become. It was only when she felt heat at her back and inhaled the sexy, luscious scent that belonged to Aidan alone that she became aware of the change.

Lyssa stiffened.

“You’re still here,” he murmured. He stood unmoving behind her, nearly touching, enough that she felt him breathing, slow and deep. She could sense the struggle within him, the fight to keep his distance. Her eyes squeezed closed and her hands fisted.

She understood why they had to part this way—cold turkey. He couldn’t afford to let his feelings out. The affection he had shown when he first exited the tube was a liability now. Once a dam was broken, the flood wouldn’t stop until there was no water left. She was also holding back, knowing that when she grieved over his loss, the initial despair would last for days.

But she couldn’t leave without telling him, at least once…“I love you.”

The shudder that moved through him rippled across the space between them. His hands circled her wrists, but he maintained that provocative distance. His thumbs stroked over her pulse. “Cute outfit,” he whispered back.

A tear formed and then fell, quickly followed by another. Lyssa was grateful that he couldn’t see how his reply affected her. Friendly, no intimacy. She opened her eyes, refusing to let her torment be witnessed by the Elders.

“Remember your promise,” he said softly. “Don’t take the pendant off. Ever.”

She nodded, unable to speak.

Connor approached, his demeanor subdued. She wondered what he saw when he looked at them, especially when he glanced away with a wince. Aidan released her and moved to the console.

She swallowed hard and turned her back to him. “Let’s go.”

Every step away from Aidan crushed her further, until she was gasping in agony. Connor stepped into the water on the shallow ledge and held his arms out to her. Catching his outstretched fingers with hers…

…she stifled a scream as she was grabbed from behind in a crushing, but instantly familiar embrace. One steely arm lashed around her waist, another pinned her between her breasts.

“I love you,” Aidan said hoarsely, his lips to her ear, his body wrapped around hers with a tangible desperation. “Tell me you know that.”

Her hands came up to clutch at his forearms. “I know.”

Lyssa almost told him to dream of her. Instead she held her tongue and felt her heart break.



Waking with a start, Lyssa jackknifed upward, her heart racing so swiftly, she felt it against her ribs. Sweat coated her skin, and her chest heaved with panting breaths.

The space beside her in the bed was empty, the pillow still retaining the shape of the man who had rested there so recently.

“Aidan.” Tears welled and fell in a constant stream.

Lifting the pillow to her face, Lyssa breathed in the lingering scent of his skin, and cried.





Chapter 17





Stance wide and hands clenched at his lower back, Aidan faced the Elder-in-training in the tube before him, but it was Lyssa’s face he saw—wide, dark eyes filled with pain and confusion. He pulled a deep breath into his lungs and clung to his sanity by a thread. Endless days stretched out before him, an eternity without Lyssa.

“Cross, damn it!”

He turned his head, his gaze meeting Connor’s scowl.

“Fuck, man,” Connor muttered. “I’ve been standing here calling your name for the last few minutes.”

Aidan shrugged, uncaring. “What do you want?”

Connor sighed and ran a hand through his blond hair. “I want you to be happy. In lieu of that, I’d like you to at least not be miserable.”

“Did you do as I asked?”

Stepping deeper into the room, Connor nodded. “Aside from Lyssa, no one on Earth knows you ever existed.”