136 Life with you a new perspective (2/2)
Jos frowned. ”You know as well as I, had I shifted there was a very slim chance I would have remained in control.” She glanced away. ”I am the beast... the monster they fear most... The Kraken.”
Arei shook his head. ”The Kraken is a name they give you, give your shifted form... not who or what you are.” He brought her face up to meet his. ”But it doesn't matter. I love you, not the beast, not the demi-goddess...” He gently poked a fingertip to her chest where she had his shirt clung tightly against. ”You.” He kissed her lips before pulling away and asking. ”Now tell me, why are you here instead of in our room?”
She frowned, ”I thought you'd left without me... That you'd somehow changed your mind again and taken off AGAIN to find solace in someone else.” Her eyes trailed over the many grains of sand at their feet.
He pulled her face back up to look at him. ”Jos, look at me. I promise you, I will never seek anyone else's arms as long as you live. Do you understand. I have made some mistakes, but I plan on spending an eternity righting those wrongs... whether it favors me or not...” He didn't give her time to try deciphering his cryptic words as he lowered his head and took her lips fully this time. Once he was sure this discussion was well concluded, he pulled away. ”Now, if you don't mind slipping that on, I'd like nothing more than to go back and pack our bags and say goodbye to this horrible town.”
Arei stopped packing the bags and walked over to her. Gripping her jaw as he stroked its sharp ridges with his thumb, he asked. ”Why would you even ask that? Of course it's possible. Why wouldn't it be? Hell, I thought by now it would be obvious to you.”
She frowned. ”I was once told no man could ever love me, not really. That man would only ever be drawn to the pull of the curse. That they would believe themselves in love and grow mad with desire. I do not wish you to go mad...”
Arei laughed, ”Were you told that by your mother or by the sirens who raised you?”
Her frown deepened. ”The sirens.”
He nodded. ”They are correct, man and a select number of creatures especially weaker ones will have trouble resisting your charms.” He lowered his lips to hers, letting them hover directly above but not touching. ”But I promise you, I'm not like them. You can not control me and I can not be lured in by you or your adopted siren family. Nor could any of my brothers. I am a very old demi-god, one of powerful parents. I will admit your beauty and innocence are enough to seduce the gods themselves. But know, kitten, it is your power as a woman that draws me to your bed, not a curse.” He closed the distance that separated their lips and kissed her deeply, taking full advantage of her parted lips. When a content moan broke free of her throat, Arei pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. ”I should not have said those words to you... not yet... I should have waited until after your final review.” He held her eyes. ”I do love you though, and I'll not leave your side unless you demand it. I want you to know though, even if there comes a day you wish to be rid of me, if you ever need me after... I'll always be there for you.”
Her tiny hands reached out and cupped his face, ”I would never ask you to leave me. I will want you for all times.”
He pulled back from her kiss, a sad smile curving his lips. ”Yes, well just in case the time comes, I still want you to know I'll always be yours. I'll always have strong feelings for you.” He turned away not wanting her to see the regret and fear in his eyes. ”It's time we leave. I have the bags if you'd like to close the doors behind us.”
Jos nodded, her brows furrowed in confusion and frustration. Everything this man said was always contradictory. The day she had told him how she felt, he'd turned her down flatly. He'd told her she was being foolish and that it was only the convenience of having someone around that incited such feelings. He'd gone off and she'd followed. He'd drank heavy and taken three of the barmaids to a room for the night. Her chest tightened as she imagined him doing those things to those women that night, as he had to her several different nights now... Tears filled her eyes as the sight of the bed they'd shared vanished behind the closing door. He now says his feelings has changed... it's as if there were two different sides to him... two entirely different men... but that was impossible. She quickly wiped at her eyes as she watched him hand the keys over to the old lady behind the bar. She tried smiling when he held his hand out to her, but the pain in her chest continued tightening. Every thing he has said thus far implies he has very little plans of staying past the review... regardless of either their feelings... but why? She stayed quite their entire walk back to the beach and most of their voyage as her mind worked through all his words so far... and worked out a plan of her own... a plan to keep this incredibly stubborn man...