Envisioned (The Elemental Prophecy) (8 page)

“And?” he said, urging me to finish what I was saying.

“Having sex - I didn't want him to think less of me for having sex so young. He thinks I'm still a virgin, and I'm far from it,” I said, almost regretting it. I never regretted losing my virginity and having sex because it made up a part of who I was, which I didn't regret at all. I was a firm believer that every experience taught me something, even the experience of having sex. Still, I didn't like the thought of disappointing my dad.

“How far from it?” Jace jokingly asked with a goofy smile on his face.

“You want to know my number?” I asked in disbelief.

“Your number? What does that have to do with sex?” he replied.

I laughed, saying, “I mean the number of guys I've been with, silly. That's how my friends and I refer to it—more discreet than coming out and asking, 'Hey, how many people have you had sex with?'”

“Oh,” he replied, laughing loudly. “In that case, yes, I want to know your number.”

I chewed on my lip nervously. I didn't want Jace to think I was some hoochie, but I'm sure with his fame and lifestyle, he has had his fair share of girls. “I've been with four guys,” I said nervously.

“And you just turned eighteen? Shame on you,” he joked, tickling my sides.

“Stop it! I hate being tickled!” I exclaimed, which only made him tickle me more. I elbowed him in his gut, which was nicely firm, managing to knock some air from his lungs. I took off running towards the beach, which I could now see from where we were. Jace quickly chased after me, picking me up laughing in his arms once he caught up to me.

“No fair, you're a trained athlete,” I whined as he put me down, brushing the hair from my face, and kissing me gently on the lips as he did so.

“Your turn now—what's your number?” I asked.

“Honestly, I don't remember. I've lost count,” he admitted, looking embarrassed.

“Oh my God, you man-whore! How can you not know your number?!” I teased.

“Many drunken nights and one night stands,” he replied.

“I hope you've been tested—I've seen the type of girls you attract,” I joked.

“Yeah, girls like you,” he playfully retorted.

“I am nothing like those girls! I can't believe you think that of me,” I said, feigning hurt.

He stopped, pulling me to him so our bodies were against each other, and everywhere he touched me tingled. He tilted my chin up with his finger so I would look him in the eyes as he said, “Brielle, you are more amazing than anyone I've ever been with—part of me was missing until I met you, and it's because my soul was missing yours. I never believed in the twin flame stuff because I didn't think I could feel the way I do about you with anyone. I never wanted that until you.”

I felt heat rushing to my cheeks and tears pooling in my eyes. He didn't want to be in this whole twin flame situation, and it was all my fault that he was stuck with me now. I broke our embrace, turning away so he wouldn't see my devastation. He wrapped his muscular arms around my waist, pulling me in to his torso before he kissed my neck, sending shivers up my spine. He turned me around to face him, his expression shifting to concern upon seeing my tear-stained face, “What's wrong, mi amante?” he questioned.

I took a deep breath to compose myself. “I'm sorry that you have to be stuck with me when you didn't want any of this. When you didn't want me,” I choked.

“What are you talking about? Did you not just hear what I said? I wasn't complete until I found you. All I ever wanted, ever since the dreams began, was to find you. You're my heart, my soul, my everything now. Don't you feel the same? Can't you feel it through our connection” he asked, searching my eyes with his.

“Of course I do! I always hoped I would find you one day, and I'm so glad I did, but I feel like I've taken your whole life away from you. You don't even have the choice of whether you want to be with me or not—you're just forced to because of our twin flame bond!”

“I want you, bond or not! I wanted you before I even met you—none of the other girls have ever compared to you, and you were only a dream before. Now that you're a reality, there is no choice for me to make—it's always been you!” he said with conviction.

“What about your career? Your home? Your family and friends? Your life? You have to give it all up because of me!” I sadly pointed out.

“I don't care about all that—you are my life now, and I couldn't be happier,” he said, caressing my face. “I don't want any life without you in it, Brielle.”

Jace then cupped my face in his hands, kissing the tears off both cheeks before bringing his mouth to mine. He kissed me urgently, desperate to show me the truth in his words. I parted his lips with my tongue, deepening the kiss, oblivious to our surroundings. All I wanted was Jace, and our connection simmered inside me, the heat rushing throughout my body as we kissed. I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms around his neck as his hands caressed my hips and sides. He snaked them around to grab my ass, which caused me to jump and break the kiss.

“I'm sorry, I just don't want to start something we can't finish. We are right in the middle of the sidewalk in my town,” I said.

“You're right—it's just hard for me to resist you,” he replied, nibbling on my bottom lip.

I giggled, “Stop it. I have very little willpower right now!”

“I'm glad I have the same effect on you that you have on me,” he teased.

“Did you really mean what you said?” I asked, ruining our moment. I just had to know he really wanted me, that he wasn't forced to be with me because of the bond. I knew I would be crushed if he didn't truly want to be with me.

“Every word,” he replied, looking deep into my eyes.

“I'm not a burden to you?”

“Not at all,” he laughed. “I can't wait to spend the rest of eternity together, cliché as it sounds.”

I sighed, full of relief. “I feel the same way—is that crazy? I barely know you.”

“We've known each other for a long time, mi amante. The dreams connected us before the bond did. I've been attached to you long before I met you—I feel like I've known you my whole life,” he responded. He was right—the bond was something that wasn't meant to be fought, even if I wanted to, which I didn't. Even just standing next to him, my body ached to be closer, to touch him, to feel him pressed against me. It was like he had some sort of gravitational pull on me, like a magnet to metal. He just felt like home to me.

“That's true—I always felt connected to you in the dreams, and I never felt the same for anyone that I felt for you,” I admitted.

“See? Stop all of this insecurity crap. You're mine, I'm yours—forever. Nothing will ever change that,” he said, running his fingers through my hair.

“Forever?” I questioned, somewhat skeptically. Guys usually ran from commitment, so to hear him say forever was unexpected, especially after just meeting last night.

“Until my last heartbeat,” he replied. “We better get moving—our appointment with the realtor is in an hour, and we still have to eat lunch.”

“Our appointment?” I playfully questioned.

“Yes, our appointment. I was hoping you would live with me—not right away, if you don't want to, but whenever you're ready,” he answered, a shy smile playing on his lips.

Joy flowed through me—he wanted me to live with him after all that I had already put him through. I jumped into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck and kissing him on the lips. “Of course I want to move in with you, but I don't know how we are going to convince my dad—he will definitely not like that idea.”

“I'm hoping he will understand since our twin flame connection will cause you to be sick and in pain, even if we are apart for just a night,” he said.

“I still don't know if I believe that myself. We might have to test that theory out, just to prove that I'm not insane for moving in with you after knowing you for one night. So where are you taking me to eat?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Anywhere you want to go, mi amante,” he answered.

“I feel like pizza—there's a little Italian bistro close to the beach that I like,” I suggested.

“That sounds great—lead the way,” he said, grabbing my hand and threading our fingers together. We walked the rest of the way towards the beach, and entered the little Italian bistro I frequented. I was still in disbelief that Jace just asked me to move in with him, and that he wanted to be with me. I couldn't believe I accepted his offer to move in without hesitation, but I knew what my heart was telling me, even if my brain was telling me I was being illogical. Nothing about my life seemed logical now, and I knew if I was going to get through this, I needed to accept my new reality, not question it. I felt that taking time to analyze things too much could mean life or death in the Elemental World.

As we were seated, I decided we would use this date to get to know each other. Even though we knew each other for years in our dreams, we knew little about each other. “I know we are soul mates and all that, but I think we need to get to know each other better,” I stated.

“I agree—ask me anything you want,” he replied.

“Ok, when's your birthday?”

“September 20. And I know yours was yesterday, so June 3, right?” he asked.

“Right. How old are you?”

“Twenty-one. What's your favorite color?”

“Pink. What's yours?” I asked.

“Green—especially the green in your eyes,” he replied.

I laughed, “You don't have to sweet-talk me, Jace. I'm already yours.”

“I know, but I don't want you to ever doubt my feelings for you, so I am going to sweet-talk and spoil you any chance I get,” he responded.

I smiled, “I like the sound of that.” I had never been spoiled by any previous boyfriends, so this was all new to me. All of the guys I dated were self-centered, only doing things that benefited them. Dad always told me that I deserved to be treated like a princess by any man that I dated, and it seemed that Jace was planning to do just that. The waitress came up to take our order, and I ordered my usual—two slices of sausage, jalapeno, and pineapple pizza. Jace ordered three slices of pepperoni. When the waitress left, he gave me a curious look and said, “Sausage, jalapeno, and pineapple on a pizza? That's an odd combination.”

“What can I say, I'm unique,” I joked.

“That you are, mi amante,” he chuckled in response. “Any more questions?”

“Um... yes. What do you like to do in your spare time?”

“Well, I go to the gym and train most of the time, so I don't really have time for much else. What about you?”

“Well, I love to read—I'm a big nerd. Sometimes I can read two to three books in a day,” I replied.

“Smart and beautiful—I hit the jackpot!” he exclaimed.

“I don't know about that—I think I'm the lucky one having a hot, famous UFC fighter as my soul mate,” I interjected.

“Yeah, I am pretty great,” he cockily joked. Our food arrived then, and we ate, joking and laughing like we had been together for years, which we had, in a sense. I still didn't understand how we felt so strongly for each other, even with our bond, but I didn't see the point in questioning it—I couldn't fight Fate, and I didn't want to. I had wished for Jace for so long, hoping he was real, and now that he was with me, I didn't plan to take a single day for granted. I was blessed to have the promise of love for all my life, and I wasn't going to sit around questioning it when I could feel it so strongly. Losing my mother had taught me not to take a single gift for granted, and Jace was definitely a gift.

After we paid our bill, Jace took my hand and led me out of the bistro and towards the realtor's office, and excitement coursed through me. Jace, noticing my excitement, said, “I can't wait for you to see some of the places I picked out—I hope you like them.”

I was certain that anywhere with him would be absolutely perfect.

I loved seeing the look of joy on Brielle's face, especially when I was the cause. I was still in shock that she wanted to live with me, and I was waiting to wake up from this dream that now seemed to be my life. I was going to take advantage of every moment I had with Brie, and this condo was a step in that direction.

I led Brielle into the realtor's office, which was decorated much like you would expect a beach house to be decorated. There were paintings of lighthouses, waves, and sailboats adorned on the walls, and a lighthouse lamp stood on an end table in between two sand-colored sofas. The receptionist looked up from her computer, smiling as she greeted us, “How may I help you?”