KELLAN WARD
"Who?" asked Kellan.
"Miss Qin. Some people around here think the two of you are childhood sweethearts who should marry."
He looked at her blankly as worry churned in his gut. Aurora was upset and that made him upset, too. "I don't have a childhood sweetheart."
"Yes, you do. It's me. Don't you remember rescuing me from the rose bush? It was the same day my mother died from her illness."
Kellan swept her into his arms. "I didn't think you remembered. You always thought Aiden Cross was your hero."
"I was wrong," she said. "You really don't know who Miss Qin is?"
"I don't think so. I know Ashton Qin. He's the heir to the Qin Group. But we rarely interact."
Aurora seemed satisfied with his answer. She puckered her lips and demanded, "Kiss me."
So he did.
***|***|***
They'd only been seated in the restaurant for a couple of minutes before Jingyu appeared. His assistant leaned down and whispered, "Your grandfather insists that you return to the old house tonight."
"Understood," said Kellan.
"He wants you to bring Madam, too."
"I'm sure he does."
"What should I tell him?"
"I'll handle it."
"Yes, sir." Jingyu nodded at Aurora. "Madam Ward."
She nodded back in acknowledgement. As soon as his assistant left, he found Aurora's green eyes focused on him like twin laser beams.
"What happened?"
"It's fine. Nothing for you to worry about."
Aurora reached across the table and took his hand. He delighted in the feel of her slim fingers intertwining with his.
"Don't hide things from me, Kellan. Let's not keep secrets from each other. How can I protect you if you're not honest?"
"It's not your job to protect me. It's mine to take care of you."
He could tell right away he'd said the wrong words. She tried to pull her hand from his, but he held on tighter. "No secrets," he said, happy when her hand relaxed. "We'll take care of each other." He put his other hand over hers. "Am I dreaming? Because everything feels surreal. I'm afraid I'll wake up and you'll be gone."
"I know I have to build your trust in me," she said softly. "But I'm sincere, Kellan. I love you. I want you. And I will never give my heart to someone else."
Kellan felt a dip in his chest. Her earnest gaze was giving him hope. "I'm obsessed with you," he said. "I can't love you any other way, Aurora. I ... I want to lock you up. Hide you from the world. I don't want people to look at you. To covet you." His hands on hers tightened with every word he said. "Even now I'm worried someone will take you from me."
"I won't leave," she said. "Do you agree to be honest with each other? We bear the burdens of our lives together, right?"
"As you wish," said Kellan.
"So? What happened?"
"Grandfather wants us to return to the old house."
"You don't want to go? Yeye Ward loves me, you know."
He smiled. "Yes. But I'm sure my mother and younger brother will be there, too."
"Oh."
"Don't fret, little butterfly. I will always protect you."
"You're the best!" Her smile was like a beam of light straight into his dark soul. "What do you want to eat?"
"You," he whispered.
Her face turned a bright shade of red and she looked down. But he could see her pleased expression.
And that made him smile, too.
***|***|***
In the back seat of the Maybach, Kellan cuddled with Aurora. She drowsed in Kellan's arms acting much like a well-fed kitten.
"Aurora," said Kellan quietly. "Why are you so different now?"
"You're afraid that I'll change my mind about us, aren't you?"
"One of many things I fear when it comes to you," he admitted. "I still feel like this is a dream. What if I wake up and you hate me again?"
"I won't." She snuggled against him, rubbing her head against his chest. She really was a little cat seeking attention.
Adorable.
Still...
No matter how often she reassured him, his personality wouldn't allow him to be completely at peace with their relationship. He'd been obsessed with her since he was twelve and she was eight. Now that she knew he was the one who held her while she mourned her mother, it should be clear in her heart who she should follow.
But Aiden Cross had taken advantage of her for so many years. Kellan had watched his beloved become that scumbag's licking dog.
"What if I told you that I had a very long dream? I married Aiden, but then I found out that he'd lied to me about everything. He colluded with Ivy to torture and kill me. They wanted my mother's designs and the Moonlight fashion business she built with her own hands."
Kellan looked down into the bright green gaze of a very awake and aware Aurora. "They killed you?"
"After my death, you made everyone who'd wronged me pay the price with their lives. You vented my anger and then..."
"And then what?" asked Kellan.
She tugged on the lapels of his jacket. "You committed suicide at my grave."
"I would do that. Because living in this world without you is impossible, Aurora. If you weren't here, I wouldn't want to be, either."
She put her hand against his cheek. "You know that's excessive, right? You shouldn't end your life because mine is gone."
"I don't care how other people love their soulmates. This is how I love mine." He kissed her forehead. "You're my addiction. Every day, I want you more, not less. It's been that way for fourteen years. It will never change."
Aurora smiled. "I'm so lucky. How many people can boast that one person on this planet loves them more than all the stars in the sky?"
Kellan cupped her face, his loving gaze bringing warmth to her heart. She stretched up and pressed her lips against his.
For a moment, he didn't move, his eyes wide, his lips still.
Then he grabbed her by the waist and brought her onto his lap. She looped her arms around his neck, her heart pounding as he kissed her back. After a long moment of lips meeting again and again, she pulled back. She was panting, her lungs begging for air.
"You don't know how to breathe," he said. "Let me teach you. Open your mouth."
She did as he said and his mouth took hers gently, coaxing. He stopped only long enough to say, "Breathe through your nose. Keep your mouth open."
Aurora did as he said, and he kissed her again. After her lips were wet and pliant, and her body tingling with desire, he lightly touched her tongue with his.
"Kellan," she whispered, shocked at the erotic feeling of his invasion. "What are---"
He cupped the back of her head and added pressure to his kiss, once again letting his tongue penetrate her mouth.
She liked it. The way he kissed her. The electric feeling building in her belly. The way he groaned as she touched her tongue to his.
"Sir!"
"Shut up, Jingyu."
"Sir, there's a---"
The urgency in Jingyu's voice had Kellan looking up. Out the front window and saw the massive truck barreling toward them. Aurora screamed, throwing herself over Kellan, holding on tight as the truck slammed into the Maybach.
Spinning.
Tumbling.
Metal crunching.
Glass shattering.
Pain stabbing into his side.
And then they fell, fell, fell into the endless dark.