possibility of a
future with him.
The man was gorgeous. His honey gold hair hung a little past
his shoulders, but he kept it confined when on the job as a police officer.
Muscles rippled on his shoulders and arms. She loved running her hands over his
chest, but she hardly ever stopped there.
His ripped stomach drew her. After that, she couldn’t stop
without exploring his hips and strong thighs. It wasn’t simply his looks
though.
She didn’t even have to see him for the hunger to stir. His
light Italian accent sent excitement curling through her belly. Then there was
the way he smelled. Alex’s scent though always gave her a thrill. A woodsy
scent, like the forest right after the rain, seemed to rise from his skin.
Even with all that, she had a problem. She knew little more
about the man than she had the first day they met. He didn’t like to talk about
the recent past. He’d told her some stories about his mother and his childhood
in Italy. There had even been a few stories about his early twenties.
Anything within the last ten or so years, he avoided. His
past might contain things he didn’t want to relive, but there had to be good
moments. She hoped to discover more of who he was.
He didn’t have to talk about all of it. Any answer would
have been better than ignoring that portion of his life. If he’d just said
something about it, she’d accept it.
Alexander hadn’t done that. He kept her at a distance. Not
physically, but emotionally. She couldn’t have a long term relationship with a
man who didn’t let her close. Now, she faced the problem of deciding if she
could walk away from him. She wanted this relationship to work so much.
The desire and attraction flared so hot that she found
herself making excuses. She should give him time. Maybe he’d open up. She
sighed and bit her lip.
How long could she wait? If he’d only say a few words. It would make things so much better. As it was, her mind went crazy with the
possibilities from benign to horrifying.
Chelsea turned into the drive leading to her little cottage
in the trees. Bright pink, blue and yellow flowers bordered the driveway. She
stopped at the side of her cream-colored house.
Even as she gathered her things, her mind already focused on
the long, hot shower she planned. It was good to be home. She looked forward to
a great date with Alexander tonight. The thought that it might be one of the
last dates she had with him did depress her.
Unless the man began revealing more about himself. With a
sigh, she shook her head. She didn’t see that happening without some drastic
intervention.
She got out of the car and walked up the flower-lined path.
The scent of roses surrounded her, making her feel at home. Just before the
front step, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She took a deep breath. The sick
sensation continued, but it didn’t come from within her.
She stopped and focused. The troubling impressions came from
her left. She looked at a rose bush near the corner of her porch. Something
different about the feel of the plant pulled her toward the bush.
She strode over to it. Her hand lifted, but she stopped
before she touched the plant. The odd sensations coursing through her body
caused her to hesitate.
She frowned when she saw the problem. The leaves drooped.
Yellow blotches discolored the vibrant green foliage. The energy pulsing from
it wasn’t normal, even from a sick plant. Something was off.
What the hell happened to it?
The leaves had been fine this morning. They’d been vibrant
green. Several buds had stood tall, reaching for the sun. She’d looked forward
to watching the petals unfold.
Now, those same unopened flowers sagged. The sepals, which
protected the petals, had withered. This was not normal.
Especially for the home and surroundings of an Aelfir gifted
with the ability to heal and grow plants. A brush of her fingers could open
closed blooms. The transfer of energy into the plant could help mend disease or
breaks
future with him.
The man was gorgeous. His honey gold hair hung a little past
his shoulders, but he kept it confined when on the job as a police officer.
Muscles rippled on his shoulders and arms. She loved running her hands over his
chest, but she hardly ever stopped there.
His ripped stomach drew her. After that, she couldn’t stop
without exploring his hips and strong thighs. It wasn’t simply his looks
though.
She didn’t even have to see him for the hunger to stir. His
light Italian accent sent excitement curling through her belly. Then there was
the way he smelled. Alex’s scent though always gave her a thrill. A woodsy
scent, like the forest right after the rain, seemed to rise from his skin.
Even with all that, she had a problem. She knew little more
about the man than she had the first day they met. He didn’t like to talk about
the recent past. He’d told her some stories about his mother and his childhood
in Italy. There had even been a few stories about his early twenties.
Anything within the last ten or so years, he avoided. His
past might contain things he didn’t want to relive, but there had to be good
moments. She hoped to discover more of who he was.
He didn’t have to talk about all of it. Any answer would
have been better than ignoring that portion of his life. If he’d just said
something about it, she’d accept it.
Alexander hadn’t done that. He kept her at a distance. Not
physically, but emotionally. She couldn’t have a long term relationship with a
man who didn’t let her close. Now, she faced the problem of deciding if she
could walk away from him. She wanted this relationship to work so much.
The desire and attraction flared so hot that she found
herself making excuses. She should give him time. Maybe he’d open up. She
sighed and bit her lip.
How long could she wait? If he’d only say a few words. It would make things so much better. As it was, her mind went crazy with the
possibilities from benign to horrifying.
Chelsea turned into the drive leading to her little cottage
in the trees. Bright pink, blue and yellow flowers bordered the driveway. She
stopped at the side of her cream-colored house.
Even as she gathered her things, her mind already focused on
the long, hot shower she planned. It was good to be home. She looked forward to
a great date with Alexander tonight. The thought that it might be one of the
last dates she had with him did depress her.
Unless the man began revealing more about himself. With a
sigh, she shook her head. She didn’t see that happening without some drastic
intervention.
She got out of the car and walked up the flower-lined path.
The scent of roses surrounded her, making her feel at home. Just before the
front step, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She took a deep breath. The sick
sensation continued, but it didn’t come from within her.
She stopped and focused. The troubling impressions came from
her left. She looked at a rose bush near the corner of her porch. Something
different about the feel of the plant pulled her toward the bush.
She strode over to it. Her hand lifted, but she stopped
before she touched the plant. The odd sensations coursing through her body
caused her to hesitate.
She frowned when she saw the problem. The leaves drooped.
Yellow blotches discolored the vibrant green foliage. The energy pulsing from
it wasn’t normal, even from a sick plant. Something was off.
What the hell happened to it?
The leaves had been fine this morning. They’d been vibrant
green. Several buds had stood tall, reaching for the sun. She’d looked forward
to watching the petals unfold.
Now, those same unopened flowers sagged. The sepals, which
protected the petals, had withered. This was not normal.
Especially for the home and surroundings of an Aelfir gifted
with the ability to heal and grow plants. A brush of her fingers could open
closed blooms. The transfer of energy into the plant could help mend disease or
breaks
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