CHAPTER 7
Alec wasn’t quite sure what had happened but he shoved his phone, with Kian’s number in it, into his pocket. If anyone back home found out, he’d be so screwed and his father would be first in line to kill him. It was forbidden to get involved with humans – still, from the first time they’d bumped into each other, he’d been lost. Everywhere he went he found himself searching for Kian.
Even though he’d let Kavi put Kian’s number in his phone, he hadn’t needed it. He was so attuned to Kian, Alec could find him anywhere. At the end of the game, he walked out of the stadium and stood there for a few seconds letting his senses zero in on Kian. Turning, he set off in the direction of the one person he couldn’t seem to ignore no matter how hard he’d tried.
Kavi was opening the door to his vehicle when he caught up to them. “Hello,” he called out. “I guess I don’t need to call.”
Kian had been startled when Alec appeared behind him. Reaching out, he steadied Kian, not that he was at risk of falling but because Alec would have used any excuse to touch him. Cerulean blue eyes seemed to study where his hand touched Kian’s arm as if he could feel the current that flowed between them whenever they were together.
Alec had no explanation for the way his body reacted when he was close to Kian. It was as if every part of him short circuited around Kian. Even his body temperature increased.
It was dangerous to be with Kian, but Alec was helpless to keep his distance, especially since he was positive Kian was his mate. It was as if Alec were a moth and Kian the flame.
It made no sense that he couldn’t control his abilities around Kian. He was trained better than that. There was no doubt in his mind, it was a sign that he should stay away from his mate. He just couldn’t.
That didn’t mean he should allow Kian to ask the questions he could see in those pretty blue eyes. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Alec hoped it would remind him not to touch, no matter how much he craved the contact.
“You two have fun and I will see you later tonight.” Kavi jumped in his car, leaving before either of them could cancel their impromptu date.
Ending it before it began would have been the best option, but Alec couldn’t. There was something about Kian that spoke to him. Try as he might, Alec couldn’t fathom how to ignore his siren’s call.
Gravitating even closer to Kian until Alec’s mouth was next to his ear, he asked, “Shall we go?”
He smiled at the small shiver Kian gave. Whether it was from the sound of his voice, his closeness or the thought of spending time with him didn’t matter. Maybe he should heed the warning that Kian was as attracted to him as Alec was to Kian, but Alec pushed the thoughts of not spending this time with Kian from his mind.
He had just told himself not to touch, yet Alec found himself holding out his hand to take Kian’s. A thrill, along with a shot of pure energy, went through him when he took it.
He would have been content to stay just as they were, hand in hand walking around, but he’d promised Kian dinner. So Alec led him to his car. He opened the door and waited for Kian to get in.
It would be better in a restaurant anyway. For as much as Alec desired to be with Kian, it would be foolish to think for even a moment Alec could be alone with him. Kian was too much of a temptation to resist.
He drove to a local diner that was packed after the game. He’d managed to get them a booth in the back that gave them a modicum of privacy, yet still within full view of everyone there.
Even as he sat across from Kian, Alec knew it as madness to spend more time with him. If his father caught him, Alec would be dead. Yet, despite knowing that, he hadn’t been able to stay away.
His eyes never left Kian’s beautiful face as he sat across from him. There was no way Alec could talk about himself without giving something away about what he was, so he tried to steer the conversation to Kian. “Where are you from?” Alec winced at the abruptness of his question.
“About an hour away from here actually. What about you?” Kian seemed just as reluctant to talk about his past as Alec was. It made him wonder what he didn’t want him to know.
“Near the mountains.” There was no way Alec could tell him about his home but he knew he had to answer some of Kian’s questions if Alec wanted to get him talking. “Do you miss your family?”
“Not especially.” Kian’s face seemed to pale at the question.
The waitress brought their food. Alec took a bite of his burger as he contemplated Kian’s short answers. He obviously hoped to stop Alec from continuing this line of questions but he was intrigued and wanted to know more. “Do you not get along with them?”
A slight blush formed over his cheeks. “Actually, I’m an orphan. My dad died when I was two and my mom when I was six.”
He stopped chewing for a moment, not quite sure what to say. “I am sorry to hear that. Who raised you?”
“Foster families, five in total.”
No matter what he asked, Kian kept his answers short, answering but not offering anything more. It was apparent he was uncomfortable with his questions but Alec couldn’t seem to stop himself. “What was that like?”
Kian gave a small shrug as he swirled a French fry in ketchup. “It was okay, I guess. Just had to learn to stay invisible, yet still help every chance I got so hopefully I wouldn’t have to be moved yet again. Most of the families were okay.” Even though his answers were vague, Kian’s miserable childhood was evident in what he wasn’t saying. “What about you? Do you miss your parents?”
He hadn’t planned on answering anything about his life, but his mate’s misery touched him and Alec found himself telling him the parts he could. “Actually I lost both of my parents also.” Surprise showed on Kian’s features and he leaned closer to him as if not wanting to miss any of it. “I was lucky enough to be adopted. My adoptive dad lost his wife long before I was born, so when I came along, he decided to take me in.” Why was he telling him this?
“What’s he like?”
He grimaced at the thought of his dad and what he’d say if he knew Alec was out with a human. “He expects a lot from everyone. As his son, he expects more.” That was the understatement of the century.
Deciding to stop this line of conversation as he found himself inexplicably wanting to open up to his mate, Alec turned the topic to more general stuff, like favorite books, movies and music.
The waitress started given them angry looks when they were still there, even though the rest of the place was empty. It was time to go. Surprisingly, he found he wasn’t ready for this to end, not that he had much of a choice. It was way too early to spend the night. He parked on the street in front of Kian’s home but kept his walk up to the door slow. If they never arrived at the door, he would be a happy man.
A life with Kian may not be something that was possible but Alec couldn’t stop himself from wishing for the impossible. No matter how wrong it was to get involved, he would never be able to bring Kian back home with him. As much as Alec wished he could live forever in Kian’s world, he knew better. That wouldn’t stop him from wishing it could happen.
If he got involved with Kian as anything other than a friend, the consequences would be enormous. Nor could he put him in that kind of danger.
It would kill him to deny his feelings for his mate, but he didn’t have much of a choice. “Kian, I am hoping we can be friends but I must warn you that is all I am looking for right now.”
Kian’s gaze dropped from Alec’s. “Sure, I get it.” Kian’s steps picked up the pace as if he were trying to get away from Alec.
His heart lurched knowing he’d hurt Kian. Silently, Alec berated himself for making a mess of everything. What was he thinking asking Kian out? As they reached the front door, Kian said bye over his shoulder, but never even slowed down until he was inside.
He let Kian go even though every atom in his body screamed to stop him, pull him into his embrace and beg for his forgiveness. Instead, he watched Kian walk away.
Turning, he headed away. He didn’t know where he was going but knew he had to get away before he did something stupid. He hadn’t even gotten back to his SUV when he felt the crushing heartache as he heard Kian throw himself onto the bed and cried.
There were times Alec hated the abilities of his people. The wracking sobs were heard in his heart as clear as if Kian had been standing next to him.
Acting on pure instinct, he did what he knew he shouldn’t. He did something stupid.
In equal parts humiliation and devastation, Kian hadn’t been able to get away from Alec fast enough. Kian had refused to let the tears fall until he was in his room, which he barely managed. What’s wrong with me? Am I that awful? He just didn’t get it, Alec had seemed interested until they arrived back at the campus. What had Kian done wrong? Maybe that’s why he had no one. Maybe he was unlovable.
Grateful none of his friends were home, he flung himself on the bed not able to contain the tears anymore. Crying himself to sleep, he ended up dreaming of those emerald eyes. They were pleading with Kian to stop crying. Arms encircling him, holding him, rocking him.
Heat enveloped Kian, nearly scorching him with its intensity, yet he felt comforted. His eyes flew open, sure Alec had to be there, but all he felt was a slight breeze brush past him.
Jolted by the sensation, he sat up looking around the room. Kian didn’t understand. He was positive he’d felt arms around him. It couldn’t have been just a dream. He could still feel the heat. Reaching one hand up to his upper arm, he placed his palm against his skin. Warm, but how?
Throwing off the covers he made his way to the bathroom. Kian just couldn’t shake the feeling there had been someone in his room while he was sleeping.
Lying in bed for quite a while, not able to go back to sleep, the tears came again. Why didn’t Alec like him? Maybe Kian never had friends because he wasn’t likable. What if no one ever liked him? Would he be alone for the rest of his life?
When Kian heard the front door open and shut, he pretended to be asleep so no one would ask him questions.