“You think I don't know?' I heard Seth say in a smug, knowing way. 'That I didn't know this entire time I've been gone?''Know what?' Aiden sounded surprisingly calm.Seth laughed softly. 'She may be here with you, right now, but that's just a moment in time in the big scheme of things. And all moments end, Aiden. Yours will, too.'I wanted to throw open the door and tell Seth to shut up.'Sounds like something on the back of a twisted Hallmark card,' replied Aiden.”

“You know what? Lets go." I shot Aiden a defiant look. "Come on Seth. Let's go continue our lovers' quarrel.""Yes my love, that sounds fantastic. Don't forget to grab a dagger so you can poke my eyeballs out.”

“Flipping to the front, I caught Aiden's gaze and offered a sympathetic smile."Skittles?""Please."I dumped some into his open palm, then picked out the green ones. Aiden grinned at me."You know I don't like the green ones?"Shrugging, I popped them in my mouth. "The few times I've seen you eat them, you leave the green ones behind."Deacon popped his head between our seats."That's true love right there.""That it is."Aiden's gaze flicked to the road. I flushed like a little schoolgirl and focused on the remaining pieces of candy until Deacon drifted back into his seat. I handed all the red ones to Aiden.”

“Jeez, how old are you?” I total y knew how old he was, but I wanted to pick. Aiden cracked his neck. “I turn twenty-one in October.” “Huh.” I shook the bottle. “So have you always been so…mature?” His brows furrowed. “Mature?” “Yeah, you sound like a dad.” I deepened my voice and tried to look stern. “‘Don’t look at me that way’ or else.” Aiden blinked slowly. “I don’t sound like that and I didn’t say ‘or else.’” “But if you had, what would the ‘or else’ be?” I hid my grin with the bottle.”

“What is your name?” I asked, voice hoarse.“Alexandria,” she repeated in a soft voice I’d never heard Alex use in real life.“And who am I?”“Aiden.” She smiled, and I flinched. “You are my Master.”

“Hot or not, there went my tenuous grip on my temper. 'I don't need you looking out for what's best for me, Aiden. I'm not a child!'His eyes narrowed. 'I of all people know you're not a child, Alex. And I sure as hell didn't treat you like one last night.”

“My heart yearned for Aiden like he was the very air I needed to breathe, but at the same time I understood - really understood - that, even if Aiden had loved me in return, we could never be together.”