Page 50 of Awakening Storm

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“Do you think you canstand the peace and quiet?” Aidan asked Rhianna as they stretched on the grassy bridge overlooking the waterfall. It was a warm day for late October, and the sun shone high overhead. The perfect day for a picnic.

“Oh yeah.” She laughed. “I’m finished with excitement in my life.”

He smiled. He and Rhianna were finally alone on the island once more. Seth had left the minute they’d returned, and while it had taken them four days and multiple trips to get everyone off his island, they were all gone.

Dillon had even agreed to cancel the TV show and had relinquished all footage to Aidan. Given what they had been through, Dillon didn’t even bemoan the loss of the money he’d already spent, and he hadn’t seemed in too big of a hurry to begin another “adventure.”

“I’m taking a vacation,” he’d told Aidan and Rhianna as he boarded the yacht they’d managed to retrieve. The coast guard found the vessel floating unmanned in the pacific.

Rhianna hadn’t quite decided her next course of action. She only knew she needed time to think, time to explore her feelings for Aidan without the threat of death hanging over them, time to decide what, besides her grandfather, was truly important to her.

When they were in Riam, everything had been so intense, so black-and-white.

“What do you think happened to Theodora?” she asked, rolling to her side.

He shrugged. “Who knows. As far as I can guess, she will remain in that universe forever.Alone.” He had stored the ring and scepter deep within the Divine Tree where no one would get it.

She looked into his eyes and smiled. She had fallen in love with him. There was no denying it now.

Takeshi took a running leap over both Aidan and Rhianna. “Hey, you almost knocked me down,” she squealed as the dog ran into the woods. “I don’t need grass in my teeth.”

Aidan stretched over her. “Let me see.” He pretended to examine her mouth and then zoomed in for a kiss. She giggled.

“I like it when you laugh,” he said. Then he leaned in and kissed her again.

His lips were firm, and he tasted like the oranges they’d eaten. Rhianna snuggled closer, gravitating toward his warmth and running her hands over his solid, muscular shoulders. She kissed him back, harder and more demanding. She wanted more of him, all of him.

He pulled back, and they both caught their breath. “I believe we have a promise to fulfill,” he said.

“That’s my understanding,” she whispered, leaning into him. There were many things she wanted to forget about their experience in Riam, but the sultry kiss they’d shared in the Falcon station wasn’t one of them. When they’d vowed to love another day.

He slid his hand under her top and smoothed his fingers across her ribs. She purred, and he groaned. That one delicious touch was all it took to start clothes flying in all directions.

He shoved the picnic items aside and gently guided Rhianna down onto the blanket in just her bra and panties. “You look so delectable. And I’m a very hungry man.”

“Just a man?” she teased, looking at him from beneath her lashes.

“Okay . . . a shape-shifter,” he corrected in a reluctant tone.

“Immortal,” she said with pride.

His brows came together, and he pulled back. “Maybe we shouldn’t . . .”

She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to her. “I love everything you are.”

His frown faded, and he stood up. Without fuss of fanfare, he stripped off his pants. She swallowed, barely stifling a gasp.

Wouldn’t you know it? He’s a commando man.

Her heartbeat raced at the sight of his magnificent body, sleek and muscular. He was a warrior.Herwarrior.

With a tiger’s grace, he knelt and ran his fingers along her jaw, down her neck, and over her breasts, pausing to admire her. She loved the intensity in his hazel eyes, the way they turned several shades darker as they flashed his longing for her. He slipped a finger along the smooth edge of her shirt and eased it down, exposing one of her breasts. She hissed in a breath, and he growled.

He glanced up, meeting her eyes. “You are incredibly beautiful.”

So was he. She undid the front clasp of her bra, and his gaze followed her hands. As her breasts fell free, he wet his lips.