Forbidden

|16|

Eden

"One day Eden, you will find the man who makes you feel as your father makes me feel. You will be treated like the queen you are meant to be but remember this my sweet child, nothing comes easy. Love will be full of trials and pain but at the end of the day, it will be worth it for the one your souls connects with."

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I let the memory wash over me as I remembered the words my mother told me only a few weeks before the...incident. She was my light, the only person who truly valued me and..I..

The door opening saved me from letting myself sink back into that depression and I turned to look at Laurent as he walked in. The need to be close to him rushed me like a linebacker and I groaned at the stupid bond. I just wanted to be on my own.

"I'm sorry little one, Larry wanted to talk and it took longer than I expected."
He explained and I shrugged my shoulders, despite what the bond said, I really didn't want to be around him right now. He must've saw the uncaring look in my eyes cause he took a seat on the pallet on the other side of the room. An unexpected whine rumbled through my chest at his distance and my eyes widened.

"You can't be fucking serious." I whispered under my breath, so done with the conflicting emotions that were wedged deep in my heart. Laurent huffed and laid down on his pallet, closing his eyes but I could see by the slight twitching of his eye, that he was very much still awake.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Laurent asked suddenly, his eyes still slammed shut. I rolled on my side to face him and I just couldn't stay where I was. Reluctantly, I got up and without even saying anything, Laurent held his hand out for me to take. Placing my hand in his, Laurent pulled me into his side, wrapping his arm around me in a lazy hold. I buried my face in his chest and mumbled.

"You were there the whole time, you would know." I replied, closing my eyes as his scent, a mixture of fresh rain and honeydew surprisingly, filled my nostrils. It reminded me of a garden that my mother used to tend to in our backyard.

"I was only there until I gave the child the pet rabbit, after that I left, not wanting to intrude any further." Laurent said, as he ran his fingertips up and down my arm, leaving goosebumps in its trail.

"He was kind to me Laurent and I'm not used to that. It felt nice for someone other than Mason to truly take time out of their day and spend it with me." I tried to keep the hurt out my voice but it was difficult, especially since I was coming to a realization of how much I wished it had been Laurent instead of Waydi with me. Was that really how I felt or how the bond was making me feel?

"Will we ever feel anything real for one another Laurent or will the emotions be just a manifestation of the bond?"
I asked without warning. It's only been two days and I was emotionally drained with all that was going on, I knew Laurent had to be too.

"I don't..... know. I want to hope that what we feel will one day actually be us but I'm having doubts as well."
He replied, his fingers now playing with with the hem of my shorts. When the hell did he make it there? His finger slipped underneath and I swore my body heat went up some degrees. I looked up at him and Laurent's eyes were now opened but only half mast, making the golden depths gleam.

"Laurent befor-" My sentence was cut off by his lips pressing on mine, the pressure slight but heavy. His lips tasted of peppermint and mixed with his natural taste was intoxicating. Our lips moved in sync and I was losing the small bit of sanity I had left. When Laurent pulled away, I tried to speak again only for him to once again kiss me, this time invading my mouth with his tongue. If I thought I was losing my sanity before, Laurent's tongue slowly stroking my own, sent it flying out the window.

Taking his time pulling away, our lips parted with a small pop. I was all to ready to continue and reached for him but he chuckled and grabbed my arm, pressing them to my side.

"Non little one, we need to take our time with this. I don't want you to do something you'll regret later."
It was reasonable but I didn't want to be, so I glared at him and pouted like a spoiled brat who didn't get her way.

"Something that I'll regret or something that you'll regret Laurent? I'm not the one with ties to another woman." His hurt expression had anger swirling in its midst and he turned from me, his back now facing me. Shit, I might as well have just inserted my foot in my own mouth. Why did I always fuck things up?

"I-I'm sorry Laurent, I didn't really mean that. Sometimes I go overboard and say stupid shit. Don't be mad at me." Why was I apologizing? Why did I always end up apologizing?! I was always the wrong one wasn't I?! Without meaning to, a whimper rose from my lips and I backed away from Laurent. I didn't know what to do with all these emotions! I was starting to withdraw into myself, not being able to deal with the bipolar feelings. A hand grabbed my own and I jolted back, curling up in a ball against the wall.

"Somethings wrong. With me. With me ...with me.." I muttered over and over, insanity sparking up in my head like a Christmas tree. Laurent reached for me again and I screamed at him to go away, not wanting to further damage my psyche. He didn't budge and sat in front of me on his knees, keeping eye contact with me.

"Breathe Eden, it's okay." His aura exuded calm, relaxing my frazzled nerves. When I was breathing normally, Laurent spoke but it wasn't his voice, it was a voice that sounded almost feminine but manly at the same time.

"It's okay my child, do not be frightened of your emotions. It's normal for someone whose been so deprived of love to not recognize when it's being given to her on a silver platter. I searched far and near for the right one for you my love. The one who could eliminate your demons completely and make you believe that there is more out there than the nonsense the fools of Raiven sprouted in your head. Love him Eden, both your lives depend on it."

With wide eyes, I sat there in confusion and shock.

"Eden, talk to me! Are you okay?"
Laurent's voice spoke this time and I blinked away the madness of my mind.

"I'm fine Laurent, I was..um..preoccupied with the craziness in my head."
Heaving a relieved sigh, Laurent hesitantly reached for me again and this time, I didn't lose my shit and fly away. I let him bring me into his arms, enclosing me in a tight embrace.

"You scared me there little one, I hadn't meant for you to feel rejected. I just don't like having Val thrown in my face like that. I'm making an effort Eden, I really am." Wrapping my arms around his waist, I felt secure, home.

"I know. I can't keep doing that, this was my fault. I'm sorry." Kissing me gently on the forehead, Laurent laid us down on the pallet, cocooning us together in the blankets. Once I was settled between his chest and the wall, I drifted off to sleep, wondering what the voice meant.