Forgotten Visions (The Divinities Book 1) (16 page)

“I wasn’t done,” Kalissa teased.

“You are,” Ayden replied and pulled her dress over her head.

Heart pounding with anticipation, Kalissa laughed softly and stood up to remove her panties. She moved closer and straddled his lap, but didn’t sit. She wasn’t done teasing him yet.

She let out a surprised gasp when Ayden’s mouth covered her left breast. His fingertips raked down her back and over her ass and pulled her closer to him. Fingers sliding around the curve of her rear to her center, he slid his middle and ring fingers inside her. A gasped moan left her as he moved them in and out while rubbing her clit with his index finger. She had lost all her control over him, but she didn’t care. He picked up his pace until an orgasm cascaded over her.

Ayden captured her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside. Kalissa rubbed her sex on Ayden’s throbbing shaft between them. Aching to have him inside her, she rose up so her entrance was over his head and lowered herself down to take all of him inside.   

She moved her hips in a slow rhythm, riding him to release. And loved the way he made her feel, his energy and power when it merged with hers. They were one, connected like two perfectly fitted puzzle pieces. The air filled with their magic, and it only got more intense as they moved closer to their climaxes.

Kalissa rode him, slowly at first. She wanted it to last as long as it possibly could. It felt too good to be loved the way Ayden loved her. He didn’t have to say the words for her to know it. Their growing connection broadcasted their feelings to each other. They were bonding. Each time they touched, kissed, and made love, their link strengthened.

She figured Ayden had had enough of her slow movements because he took hold of her hips and picked up the pace. Kalissa matched his thrusts until they both cried out in release.

Kalissa collapsed against Ayden’s chest. He encased her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

She lifted her head to look at him with a wide smile. Her heart swelled. “I know,” she teased and kissed his lips. “I love you, too,” she said against his lips.

“I should be going,” he said, sounding like he didn’t want to go. 

“So should I,” she said back with a grin. She gave him one last quick kiss on the lips and climbed off his lap. Giving him a devilish grin, she asked, “Shower first?”

“You keep that up, and I’ll have to move in just so I can get enough of you,” Ayden said, and then frowned at her hesitation.

Kalissa looked him full in the face and thought,
Why not?
Ayden reached out and took her hand. He was about to apologize for saying it, she just knew it, so she cut him off before he had the chance. With a quick kiss, she said, “Okay.”

“Okay?”

Kalissa nodded and held up her left arm with her newly paired roses facing him. “All right. Move in. These tell me we’re stuck with one another.”

“You do have a choice,” he said.

“And I choose you. I want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you.”
Naked and in your bed—no,
our
bed
, she left unspoken. She was sure he’d picked up on that. They were still connected from the sex.

“Okay,” he said, smiling like he had just won the lottery. He gave her another quick kiss and asked, “How about that shower?”

After the shower
with Ayden, Kalissa went to her office and sat behind her desk. Earlier scenes of them together on the sofa made her smile. It also made her want to chase down his police cruiser for a replay. Then there was the shower. Ayden had taken her two more times. Damn, that man sent her sex drive through the roof.

And he was moving in, tonight. What was she thinking? Right, she wasn’t. Looking down at her left forearm, Ayden’s rose was as vivid as the one she’d been born with, proving they were magical partners. In the eyes of
magickin
they were married, just short of a hand fastening.

She loved him. Truly, with all her heart, she knew they belonged together. With a sigh, she pushed her thoughts to the side and got to work.

The smell of espresso and pastries welcomed her as she walked through the door of Coffee Café. The lingering aromas reminded her of her father, and the warmth, strength, and love he’d given to their family. Loss and grief tried to reawaken her sorrow, but she swallowed the lump in her throat and focused on the positive. And revenge on the demon that had taken her parents from her.

Kalissa placed the payroll checks inside the safe, grabbed an apron, and put it on. Walking out from her small office, she made her way to the bar where Zach’s sisters, Bethany and Annemarie, sat enjoying iced lattes. Bethany perked up with a bright smile and a knowing gleam in her eyes. It would surprise Kalissa if Ayden’s name didn’t show up in their conversation.

“Good morning, Lis.” Bethany Manus sounded way too chipper. “How are you?”

“Good, and you?”

“Oh, I can’t complain.” The smile faded, replaced by sadness. “I met Lydia as we were leaving. It’s so horrible what happen to her brother.”

A wave of guilt washed over Kalissa. “Yes.” It was all she could say. A mixture of emotions whirled around inside her. She was saddened by Lydia’s loss, yet happily falling in love with Ayden. Deeply. She felt she didn’t have the right to be so happy when Lydia was in so much pain.

Bethany covered her hand with one of her own, bringing Kalissa’s gaze to hers. “She’s in good hands. Papa and Grams will put together the most beautiful ritual for his passing to the Afterworld.”

Kalissa smiled.
Beth was right.
“She is. And Khloe seems to have developed a quick friendship with her.”

“A partner in crime?” Bethany made it a question.

“Not so much. Lydia doesn’t seem as impulsive.”

“That’s good. Maybe she’ll find a way to ground our Khloe.” Bethany took a sip of her latte before continuing. “Tell Lydia if she needs a midwife, I would be honored. Better yet, come to dinner tomorrow night. That way, we can all catch up.”

“That sounds great,” Kalissa said.

“Great!” Bethany said. She looked at her watch. “Oh, dear. We should be going. I’m sure Cassia is giving her grandmother a run for her money about now.”

Kalissa laughed. Cassia was the most active toddler she’d ever seen. She was cute as a button, and smart beyond belief, and already thought she knew it all. “Are you sure she’s not a Divinity in disguise?”

Bethany smiled. “Yeah, I’m sure. Papa says she has a great chance of having Divinity children. Something about the gene being stronger in her. I don’t understand the genetics of the whole thing, but Papa knows, and I trust his judgment.” 

“That makes two of us.”

“You know what?” Annemarie broke her silence. “Kalissa’s smiling.”

Bethany looked at Kalissa, studying her with a wide grin. “I think you’re right, Anne. You know, Ayden was up and about awfully early this morning. I do believe it was before the sun rose. He also looked a little more chipper than usual.”

Kalissa’s heart fluttered at the mention of Ayden’s name. She managed an eye roll at them. “I thought you two were leaving,” she teased.

“Okay, we’re going.” Bethany laughed as she stood and collected her purse. “Talk to ya later.”

“Bye.” Kalissa shook her head at Zach’s sisters as they walked out of the Café.      

Had it really been that long since she’d been happy? She frowned to herself and wondered if she really was as gloomy as Scrooge during tax season. Although she didn’t really socialize with many people, she admitted she was too serious at times, but she’d never thought of herself as depressed or unhappy in any way.

Another habit she’d developed while dating Liam.

She shook out of the depressing thoughts and looked at the clock on the wall. It was 11:15 a.m., and almost time for the lunch rush. The Café was located on Highway 301 and got a lot of lunch traffic. The time would vary from day to day when ‘lunch’ actually started, but since it was Thursday, Kalissa suspected the rush would start piling in just before noon as usual.

As always, Kalissa was right with her prediction. The first lunch crowd arrived ten minutes before noon. She always enjoyed working at the Café. Today, she enjoyed the distraction from the recent demonic activity. The strong feeling of being watched still hung over her. Her senses had been on full alert since she’d left home.

It was after 1:00 p.m. when Ayden came in for lunch. The sight of him walking through the doors made her pulse pick up, and she could feel her cheeks heat and turn pink.

He strode to the bar with the power of the enforcer he was. Strong, confident…impressive. She knew all too well what kind of strength that large muscular frame possessed. He took a seat on a high-backed barstool and waited.

She finished with the customers she was with and then went over to pour him a cup of coffee. “Hello, Sheriff,” she said with a smile.

“Hi.” He returned the smile with a little more heat. “Zach says Bethany is planning some dinner party tomorrow night.” Kalissa nodded. “Are you going?”

“Yes.”

“Great.” He leaned over the bar countertop and gave her a quick kiss.

Kalissa glanced out into the dining area of the Café. Feeling that eerie chill up her spine again, she scanned the people enjoying their lunch. In the far right corner at the front of the Café was the ‘gossip group’ of Maxville. They were watching her and Ayden, most likely getting ready to make them their next rumor mill victims. Kalissa smiled and waved at the group of four women.  A mixed-age group, two of the ladies were in their late thirties—best friends from grade school—and the other two were their college-bound daughters. They returned Kalissa’s wave with wide smiles and a few giggles. Kalissa shook her head and moved on to scope out the rest of the diminishing lunch crowd.

There. Sitting at a two-seater table in a dark corner, reading a paper and drinking coffee was the source of her uneasiness. She moved around the bar into the dining area and stalked toward the guy. He noticed her coming toward him and bolted out the side door next to the table where he had been sitting. Kalissa ran for the door with her heart beating so hard she thought it would jump right out of her chest. Exiting the Café onto the walkway, she looked around, but he was gone. It was like he hadn’t been there at all.

It wasn’t until Ayden came up next to her that she realized she was having a difficult time catching her breath. A panic attack. Damn, what was wrong with her? She’d sworn that man sitting at the table looked like Liam, but…different. 

“You okay?” Ayden asked. He extended his hand to her but didn’t touch her.

Kalissa took his hand and stepped into the warmth of his body, needing to feel the safety Ayden provided. It was something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Maybe it was the fact that he was a Divinity, or maybe it had something to do with their bond. He wrapped her in his arms, warmth and security enclosed her.

“Please tell me you saw that man,” she whispered into his chest.

“Yeah, I saw him.”

Kalissa relaxed a little. “Good. I’m not completely losing my mind.”  

“Have you seen him before?”

She looked up into Ayden’s baby blue eyes, her pulse still racing. “He looked like someone I once knew.” She stepped out of the security of his arms and looked inside the Café. Everyone turned their heads away quickly, trying not to look as if they’d been watching them. Everyone except the rumor patrol. By this time tomorrow, the good people of Maxville would be planning her and Ayden’s wedding. “You know we’re the next scandal of Maxville.”

Ayden looked around and then laughed. “Yeah, it appears that way.” He turned back to Kalissa. “Are you all right?”

Kalissa nodded. “Yes. I’m only going to be here a few more minutes, and then I’ll head home.”

He kissed her on the forehead and said, “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Don’t be late,” she teased.

“I won’t,” Ayden said before walking to his patrol car a few feet away.

Kalissa shivered without the heat of his body, gave one last glance around, and pivoted to go back inside the Café.  

“
You are such
an idiot.”

“Are you following me, Samoan?” Liam let out a growl as he transformed from raven to human but didn’t turn to look at her.

“Only for the last thirty minutes.” She pushed away from the wall. She’d found him and the two Divinities inside the Café, so she’d decided to make herself comfortable and enjoy the show. When the female had noticed Liam and started walking toward him, Samoan had filled with excitement. Liam alone would be no match for two bonded Divinities, despite him being a Dark Divine. That meant she would have to rescue his ass. She itched for a good fight.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Liam spat out.

She ignored him. “Was that her?”

Liam didn’t answer and continued his long strides down the street to his Jag. She took that for a yes and followed him. “Your job is to spy, not stalk.”

He whirled around to face her. Midnight blue eyes bored into her and flashed to red. “I know what my job is. If you must know, I was able to get some valuable information.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?” Samoan asked.

“That is between me and your father.” Liam reached his Jag and pulled open the door.

Samoan smiled at him as he climbed into his car, slammed the door shut, and drove off. “No, Liam. It is now my business. Dear old Daddy has given me a babysitting job.”  She laughed. Demetrius was right. Liam was digging his own grave.