#Chapter 61: Cupcakes, Kisses, & I Love You''s


    What Alex doesn''t know, is that I made him-well, a card, es—but also a birthday cupcake. Not a full cake, because I don''t know how he would react after his disy this morning. But something sweet to show him that I care for him, no matter what.


    Because it''s true. I can''t just stop loving Alex because I know he''s mated to someone else, anymore than I could stop when I found out he isn''t exactly human,


    We walk, hands sped, in silence toward the stream. We both know what''s going on, and what each one of us will have to give up. Even if we haven''t spoken about it.


    When we enter the clearing, Alex smells his treat before he sees the nket and the unlit candles.


    The sky still hasn''t cleared, and the stars and moon are hidden beyond dark clouds that have been threatening rain since yesterday.


    I can''t see him in the dark, but his scent changes. The tanginess that tinged it is now gone; he smells...clean.


    "What did you do, Cynthia?"


    I pull him over to the nket and sit down, feeling around for the lighter. Once the candles are lit, I see him across from me, leaning his weight on one arm, watching


    me.


    "You never cease to amaze me."


    I smile in spite of my sadness. "I know you don''t. Want to cecelebrate your birthday. But I want to. Give you something."


    His face is warm in the flickering yellow light of the candles, and I want to kiss him so badly. Instead, I unwrap his cupcake and hand the te to him.


    There is a singe candle in the center, which I light. "Make a wish."


    Alex closes his eyes, smiles, and blows out his candle.


    He doesn''t say anything at first, and it takes several seconds before I see a wet stream trickle down his cheek.


    I reach over and wipe the tear from his face. Like any girl, I can''t watch a man cry without breaking down, so all the tears I cried this morninge back to me.


    Alex leans in and grabs hold of me, wrapping both arms around my body and bringing me to him. “This is perfect. Thank you," he whispers into my neck. That vibrating sensation, which stopped after we left his house, returns. "What did you. Wish for?" I ask.


    Alex leans back to look in my eyes. With one hand on each side of my face, he uses his thumbs to clear the tears from my cheeks, and rushes forward, his mouth colliding with mine.


    There''s such an urgency in his kiss, the thrill fills my body and I''m on a whole other ne of existence.


    "His hands are in my hair and his lips are and tongue are searching mine, looking for an answer he''ll never find.


    But I want the same answer. I feel the same heat. My body is ame with a passion that can never be quenched, like it can never get enough of him.


    Before I know it, I''m someone else. My hands are up his shirt, caressing his beautiful muscles. I''m inching toward him as if I can''t get close enough.


    Then our bodies are dangerously close, and I only want to dow...


    Until he suddenly stops. His breathing is ragged as heys is forehead against mine. It''s wet and slides up and down slightly as he works to catch his breath.


    When he finally sits up, his eyes are glowing gold and his teeth are slightly longnes


    Holy shit...


    But it doesn''t scare me. If anything, it makes me want to get him again! There must be something wrong witha


    the!


    "I''m sorry," he says, turning away to hide his face.


    I reach for his cheek with my open palm and turn his face back toward mine. "Don''t hide,"


    His teeth are back to normal, but his eyes are still intense as they look into me. "I was going to tell you that we don''t have much time left. With me being..."


    1 interrupt him. "I know. You don''t have to sss-say it."


    "Hove you, Cynthia," he whispers. "I''m sorry."


    I start to cry again. Happy tears. Grateful tears. If those words are all we ever have, then I can live with that.


    "I love you, too, Alex."


    He pulls me back into him. The electricity is still there, right below the surface, but


    its intensity has waned. I scoot my back to his chest as we watch the water.


    The clouds have cleared long enough for stars to dance across the water. I take that as another sign.


    Today''s Bonus Offer