Shooting up to a sitting position, gasping for air and trembling, she looked around the room. The shutters were closed and the room was dark with only the light from her clock illuminating the room. She glanced over at it. Two-forty in the afternoon.
Fear, she felt fear baring down on her. Her heart was still, her blood no longer moving through her. The air was thick and heavy. She lay her hands on her lap over the comforter. It was moist, but from what? Her sweat? She felt her forehead. It was dry. She felt the covers again. It was cold, like dew that had settled on the grass in the early morning.
She felt cold and alone. The cold sensation ran though her, producing goosebumps along her flesh. She didn’t know why it was happening.
The dream. Had to be the dream, she thought.
It hadn’t been a dream though. It had really happened over three hundred years ago. The man, Blade O’Mieles, had taken every part of her being that night. He changed her life forever. She felt dirty thinking about him. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed and cleansed. She stood at the side of her bed, staring at it.
Without another thought, she left her bedroom. Slowly walking down the stairs, avoiding any sunlight streaming through the northern and southern windows, she made her way to Lee’s room. Why? She didn’t know. She had the urge to just be with him. To lay next to him, to feel his energy and have his arms around her, keeping her warm.
She stood in the middle, between the two halls. Taking in a deep breath, she sensed where his room was. Alemeth had been in the room across the office in the southern hall and Lee was in the northern in the room facing west. She creep along the wall, carefully. The sun was high today and it blared through her open window.
When she reached his door, she brought her hand up to knock. But she hesitated. She didn’t know if he felt the same as she. She didn’t know if her energy seared through him as his did her. Why would she risk the chance of rejection? How would she react if he rejected her?
She didn’t care. At least she would know how he felt. Finally gather up all her nerves, she knocked, lightly. She stood, waiting in anticipation.
Then it opened. He was bare chested, wearing navy blue satin pants and he was looking down at her.
“Caitlín? Is everything alright?” His voice was deep and hoarse from sleep. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked past the door into the hall then back at her.
“Aye! May...may I come in?” She stuttered, whispering.
“Of course.” He stepped aside to allow her to enter.
When she stepped inside, she could smell his cologne invading every part of the room. She inhaled deeply. It smelled so good; woodsy, fresh citrus and spicy leaves. She had to refrain from closing her eyes in savor the scent.
She looked around, it too was dark with only the clock giving off light. She could see his luggage sitting next to the dresser on the southern wall. She glanced over at the bed. The covers were disarrayed and a pillow lay on the floor.
She heard him close the door behind her.
“Caitlín?” He whispered.
“Lee.” She slowly turned her head to the side. He stood so close behind her, his energy vibrated straight through her. Need, longing and hunger.
She didn’t know what to do next. She stood there, wondering if he was going to make the first move.
Then his hands were on her bare shoulders, sending electricity throughout her entire body. He stepped closer to her until her back was against his chest. She could feel him breathing heavy, hear his heart beating fast and his blood pulsating through him.
She closed her eyes, then felt his arms move around her. One arm across her chest, the other slipped around her abdomen, pulling her to him. His muscles flex and they were as hard as a rock.
He placed his nose into her wet hair and inhaled deeply. Then he moved his lips down to one of her ears and caressed it. She could feel his hot breath and wet lips.
Caitlín slowly turned herself in his arms to face him, placing her hands and her head on his hard, statue cut chest and stayed there.
“It’ll be alright. I promise,” he whispered into her hair.
For some unknown reason, she sobbed, wrapping her arms around his huge body. So much was happening, so many unanswered questions. She felt useless and lost. This man, was it. Her sanctuary, her sanity and she didn’t know why. She just felt. She felt something for him she couldn’t explain. She felt for him like no other and again, she didn’t know why.
Could he be the one from her dreams? The one who’d approached her in her vision? In her home? Could he be what she’d been waiting for? Her consort? Her future husband?
“Shh...,” he said, holding her tighter against him.
He stood there, with her while she cried. She didn’t feel any uneasiness, disgust or pity from him. She felt something else; care, attentiveness, tenderness. She’d felt the same energy from Jeramyah but it had been weak. Lee’s wasn’t. His was stronger than anything she’s ever felt before.
Suddenly, Lee scooped her up into his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck and buried her face in his neck as he slowly walked to the bed. He knelt and gently lay her down. When she didn’t release him, he lay with her, pulling the covers over them. He let her cry, stroking her hair and whispering assurances that everything will be okay.
She cried until sleep pulled over her.
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