Endless

Union | Aleria

I sobbed and opened my eyes. It was dark, but strong arms held me, keeping me safe. Ryan. I burrowed closer to his chest, trying to deal with the profound sense of loss I'd just experienced. Ryan's hold on me tightened.

"What is it, Ali?" he asked gently. His fingers caressed my cheek, wiping my tears.

I sniffled. "I dreamed of my parents. I know why I came to New York."

He shifted closer, drawing me to him a bit more, comforting me. "Is it bad?"

"Yes." I fought back my tears, but they escaped anyway. "My parents. They wanted this death to be their last. I was supposed to be there. I was...supposed..." I sobbed harder, pressing my face to his chest. My father chose to die with my mother this time. They wouldn't start another life cycle.

"Oh Ali." He held me as I cried, caressing my back and shoulders.

"I lost them. I'll never see them again."

Ryan kissed my forehead. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I can't imagine how that must feel."

I shook my head. "It hurts. Like they died just now."

"Could they still be alive?"

"I-I don't know."

"If they were still alive, would you know how to find them?"

I wracked my thoughts, trying to remember anything that could be useful. Nothing came to me. My hope sank deeper and I cried more, shivering. "Nothing. I don't...know."

"It's okay," he said, squeezing me. "Don't be scared. It'll come back to you. One day."

"But why? Why can't I just remember?"

"You will." He tenderly nudged my chin up, then kissed the tip of my nose. "I know it's difficult, but you need to be patient with yourself."

Something about him just calmed me. I relaxed into him, sighing. When I did, something else struck me. "I'm...alive."

"Yes," Ryan said softly. "And safe. Alick won't come close to you with me here."

I shuddered at the reminder. "I could have killed you."

"Ditto," he said. It was too dark to see his face without me accessing my power, but I sensed his frown from his tone of voice. "You shouldn't have given your life away like that."

"Better that than me killing you."

"Why?" His body tensed against mine.

I shrugged. "It would have hurt, seeing you die because of something I did."

"Hurt?" he shouted, pulling away. "Do you have any idea about how hard I've worked not to hurt you? And then you basically begged me to do the opposite!" He grasped my shoulders. "I'd never be able to forgive myself-"

"Why not?" I shot back, sitting up. "You know I offered my life. You wouldn't have stolen it-"

"Because I care about you!"

We both stilled. The words reverberated between us. "You care..." I cupped his jaw.

"Yes. I don't know how, but I can't stand the thought of harming you. Of you coming to any harm."

Suddenly, it made sense. He protected me because he cared. Not because of some promise he'd made to someone else, but because I was important to him. It was a heady realization fraught with danger, but I wanted it. I wanted to be there with him, in his arms.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, splaying my fingers over the cotton covering his chest and snuggling up to him once more. "I didn't realize."

"You weren't supposed to." His voice was gruff, but his touch was soft as silk as he trailed his fingers down my arm. He covered my hand with his. "It's not really...normal."

I smiled and shook my head. "No, but maybe that's what makes it special. This idea of me and you. Well..." I mulled it over for a few seconds. "You beat your dark side to care for me, and I somehow managed to trust you enough to care as well."

He leaned in and kissed me gently, giving me a chance to change my mind. I didn't. Didn't even want to. I slipped my arm around his side, drawing myself nearer to him. It was all he needed. To know I was sure. Once he had that certainty, he deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth over mine. His body tensed, slowly, like a coiling spring. There was so much energy he held back.

He whispered against my lips. "I'm in trouble."

"Oh?"

"I could hurt you."

"You won't," I said and pecked his lips. "Maybe if you relax a little."

His laugh was breathy, but it worked. He stole a little kiss, his draw lightly tugging at my soul. It didn't feel dangerous, though. It felt right. I touched his lips, giving in to him, sensing my soul nestling with his as if we were one person. I gasped softly. The feeling was thrilling. Exhilarating.

Ryan moaned my name and muttered something in a language I didn't understand. He kissed me again, but this was different. Closer to the second time we'd kissed. Raw. Primal. My heart thundered. My stomach felt hollowed out. I turned onto my back, drawing him with me. It felt so good, I moaned against his lips, begging for more.

His touch seared my skin under my shirt, then the air cooled me when he pulled my shirt off. His hand roved down my sides, spanned my abdomen while his tongue engaged mine in a wicked sort of ritual. I moaned again, wanting to feel him beneath my fingers too. I all but ripped his shirt off. I breathed with relief to be in contact with the heat of his body. I caressed his back, letting his muscles play and stretch under my fingers.

He hummed softly, encouraging me to explore more. It was a surprise, though. I'd expected flawlessness, but instead discovered a variety of scars. His body was perfection anyway. Ryan trailed kisses down my neck, his fingers working my bra loose. Once he'd released the clasp, he slipped it down over my arms, making sure to touch every inch of skin along the way. I whimpered softly, pulling his face towards mine once more. He obliged, pressing his body to mine as we kissed. At the same time, he worked my jeans loose and pulled them down with my underwear. Once he'd tossed them aside, he stroked my thigh before resting his hand on my hip.

We didn't say anything, just breathing away a few moments, waiting for something. The whole time, his body pressed against mine, the contact burning me, marking me. But then he claimed my mouth again and worked his own trousers off. I moaned and helped him, keeping him close. He rested on his elbows and cupped my face between his hands, then kissed me with a deep yearning. I held him tight, wrapping myself around him. And then we were one, body and soul. He wasn't gentle and I didn't care.

Our movements were hard, demanding more, driving us on, fusing us closer. Our moan and breaths mingled into our kisses. It was heaven mixed with torture,relentlessly taking me up, up, higher and higher until it felt like he'd claimed my soul again. I cried out, clinging to him, letting pure, white hot pleasure wash over me as he moved. He moaned my name, his body tensing while he emptied out into me. I sighed in bliss and he kissed me, so softly. He held me while we caught our breaths.

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