“Oh, an item here, a scarf there.It wasn’t much of a challenge to remove some of your possessions when you typically toss them around and often can’t find what you’re searching for.It seems you have a habit of misplacing important things, valuable things, overlooking what’s right in front of your nose.”
“Are you talking about physical things?Or are you including yourself as an item I overlooked and perhaps underappreciated, Jackson?”she asked, her face thoughtful.
“Take it any way you’d like,” he replied without bothering to hide his bitterness.
Suddenly, filled with remorse and stunningly aware of the truth of his words, Crystalia rose and approached him.Standing before him she reached up to cup his cheek with one soft hand.
“I’m sorry I hurt you, Jackson,” she whispered.“It was never my intention.I actually believed I was doing you a favor.”
Jackson took her hand and kissed her palm.
“Then do me a true favor,” he replied softly.
“What?”
“Don’t do me anymore favors,” he breathed against her cheek before he claimed her lips.
CHAPTER5
Crystalia's heart pounded in her chest as Jackson's lips met hers, sending a rush of conflicting emotions through her.His touch ignited a fire that had long been smoldering inside her, a mix of desire, anger, and regret.She felt the intensity of his kiss, the raw passion simmering beneath the surface.
As their lips moved together in a dance of longing and turmoil, her mind raced with memories of their past, of the love that once bloomed between them before withering away.She could taste the bittersweet essence of what could have been, of the choices that had led them down separate paths.
But in that moment, wrapped in the embrace of the man she had once cared deeply for, Crystalia felt a flicker of something new stirring within her.It was a spark of hope, of second chances and redemption.The icy walls she had built around her heart began to crack and it scared the hell out of her.She could almost hear them splintering and as he slipped his hand into the hair behind her head and held her panic swelled in her chest.
She’d been done with this, done with him and males in general.Never again did she plan to let her physical needs overcome her common sense.Males were dangerous.Once they gained the upper hand you might lose yourself in the passion they inspired.You might find yourself making reckless decisions based on their needs and not your own.
Jackson could do that to her.She’d sensed it immediately when he pulled her body tightly to him.Weakness washed over her like a heavy wave, taking her under as her toes curled and the blood sang in her veins.She had to stop this, stop it now before it was too late.No rush of passion was worth another broken heart.No night of unbridled love would make her whole again.Who did she think she was kidding?Once he tired of her she would return home in shame, cast aside and broken.He’d made it clear he desired revenge, payment for the wrong she’d done him.Not once had he mentioned love or commitment other than his intention to keep her in his frozen castle until he was done with her, until she’d paid her debt.
Crystalia beganto struggle in his arms, pushing against his chest.
“No, Jackson, no,” she panted out.“This is wrong for so many reasons.”
“It’s not wrong,” he growled back, his mouth nipping her ear.“The timing is wrong, I’ll give you that.It should have happened decades ago.”
She thought he was going to push it.His arms trembled and the hand buried in her hair tightened painfully.Then he took a deep breath and let her go.Stepping back, her chest heaving she stared at him, caught the look in his eyes, nearly silver now with anger and frustration.Taking a step closer she reached out her hand, but he batted it away.
“I’m sorry Jackson, so sorry,” she whispered.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“What are you sorry for, Chrissy?For running out on me with no explanation?”he asked with a snort.“Perhaps you’re sorry that your human dream man let you down and you were forced to raise his child on your own.
“I was here, Crystalia, all the time, waiting for you and yet you chose to continue living a lie, isolating yourself on Snow Capped Ridge like a heartbroken widow when you were never a bride at all.
“You had a brief, passionate affair with a human who never put you first.That’s nothing new in the Elven world.Elves have dozens, perhaps hundreds of affairs in their lifetimes.Why couldn’t you put it behind you and move on, why can’t you now?”
She gasped, a hand flying to her throat.Did he have to lay all her secrets out as though each one was one of a thousand tiny cuts to his pride?
“I never promised you anything,” she hissed in self-defense.
“But you did,” he countered, “maybe not with words, but with your eyes, shining with desire for me.You craved my touch.You teased and tempted, flirted and taunted me until I nearly lost my mind.I could have taken you any time, but I held back, waiting for the right moment, the right setting.I wanted it to be perfect, beautiful, and enchanting, so glorious you would never have even a tiny regret,” he stated, running his hand through his hair.“Now, because of my unbelievably inane sensibilities we are both filled with regrets.”
“We shouldn’t be,” she insisted.“We made choices and…”
“You made choices,” he barked out angrily.“I was forced to live with them.”
The air between them crackled.Crystalia's heart raced with a mix of fear and a dangerous thrill at the unpredictability of the situation.She knew Jackson was not the same gentle, patient male she once knew, but the intensity of his current demeanor was unsettling.
