POWERS OF NATURE Book 1 - Into the Storm

Chapter 13

Matt sat on the couch as he waited for Stephanie to return, his hands clenched in front of him. He wanted to believe she would just show Aiden she could learn to control her talent and walk away, but there was a voice in the back of his mind reminding him that it wouldn't be that easy. Despite Aiden's cold and harsh manner, Matt knew his brother cared for her. He'd seen how Aiden would watch Stephanie at the business center and he knew his brother, and he'd seen the guilty look on Stephanie's face when she had used her talent to stop Aiden from hitting him. The door opened, snapping him from his brooding thoughts.

Stephanie stood in the doorway, waiting for him to say something. Judging from the look on his face, she knew that he had some idea as to what happened in the barn. When it became apparent that he wasn't going to say anything, she swallowed and stepped inside.

"He's on my side, as long as I don't lose control." She said softly, watching as Matt tensed his jaw. He didn't move from his position, his eyes not meeting hers. His only response was a stiff nod, and Stephanie dropped onto the couch next to him.

"I'm sorry, Matt. I underestimated the whole history thing." She leaned against him, tugging in vain at his clasped hands. "Nothing happened, I swear." His head slowly turned in her direction, his blue gaze meeting her deep brown one. In her gaze, Matt could see she was telling the truth, but he could also see the worry behind the earnestness. And it wasn't worry for what he might think had happened, it was worry about what nearly, or could have, happened.

"I promise. I understand now the attraction and pull that our doppelgangers must have felt. It's not normal." She continued, finally freeing his hands and grabbing them in her own. Briefly, she thought about how it had felt to hold Aiden's hands without the buzz, before she pushed the thought away. With Aiden, there was no reminder of her talent, no buzz keeping her in line, it was dangerous. With Matt, she had the reminder that there was power in her fingertips and oddly she felt safer. "but I promise you Matt," she put one hand against his cheek, "I am not them, I am me. And I love you."

They both blinked, as the words sunk in for both of them.

Did I really just say that out loud?!

A blush spread on her cheeks as she realised she had said it out loud, and she turned away from him. She did love him, she couldn't deny it. She just hadn't been planning on saying it out loud, or so soon.

Warm arms circled around her waist, pulling her against his hard chest, as he lay back against the couch. Still, she refused to roll onto her side to face him.

"I kinda love you too." The whisper floated down to her ears, muffled as his lips were on top of her head, his face in her hair.

"Kinda?" She asked in a breathy, nervous voice. Her heart was beating painfully against her chest, her hands becoming sweaty as she slowly rolled so she could lay her cheek on his chest. The matching pace of Matt's heart against hers made her realise he was just as nervous as her and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

"Yeah, I guess." He chuckled into her hair and held her tighter. "I didn't realise I did until you left to go see my brother, and I thought of how it would feel if you were going to him for a different reason and I could hardly breathe. I don't ever want to see you walk away to another man, Steph. I love you, and I want you by me always."

A sniff caught them both by surprise and Stephanie jerked up, supporting her weight on her arms on either side of Matt. He lifted a finger, gently wiping the one lone tear that had escaped from her eye away as another blush crept up her neck.

"You made me cry!" She said, embarrassed and immediately Stephanie dropped her head.

"is that a good or a bad thing?" Matt laughed, knowing she would be rolling her eyes at this point, which she was.