Ronan didn’t seem bothered by the weapon. The hand on Aiden’s hip slid around to rest on his lower back, pressing them closer together while he continued to guide Aiden in a gently rocking dance to music only Ronan could hear. Or maybe he was dancing to the beat of their hearts knocking against each other.
“I don’t know what you expect,” Aiden said after a moment as he frantically tried to organize his thoughts while at the same time ignore the wonderful feel of Ronan’s arm around him.
“Expect? Nothing.” Aiden frowned at Ronan and his friend laughed. “It’s true. I thought you were dead. A thousand years, Aiden. There was no hope of ever seeing you again, hearing your voice.” He paused and smirked. “Seeing your scowl.” He stopped again and Aiden was shocked to see tears well up in Ronan’s eyes. “But last night, I saw you. You were smiling and surrounded by your family. You were alive and happy. Last night, we talked. I heard your voice, your chuckle. You said my name. Tonight, we’ve talked, laughed, and fought like the old days. I’m holding you.” Aiden swallowed hard and when Ronan continued, his voice was rough. “I treasure each of these things because I never thought I would have them again. And I, like you, I know too well it can be all ripped away in the blink of an eye. So I cherish every second with you.”
Aiden finally dropped the sword he was clinging to and placed his hand on Ronan’s broad shoulder, closing the circle between them. “So do I.”
The roguish smile returned. “That doesn’t mean I don’t hope for more. Even a rich man can find himself wanting something more, and right now, I am a very rich man in your presence.”
“I don’t remember you being half this charming as a human,” Aiden teased.
“I’ve never had a reason to try to be charming.”
Aiden’s head was swimming. He’d never danced with a man before, and he’d never even dreamed that it would one day be Ronan in his arms as they slowly moved about the floor. He was so tempted to give in to Ronan’s charm and sweet words.
Maybe this was all a wonderful dream. Ronan held him and he was smiling, making teasing remarks. The real world seemed so very far away. They could steal this moment. They could escape into this dream and be happy, the kind of happiness they’d never had as humans.
“I’m not expecting you to start trusting me simply because I made you blush and beat you with my sword,” Ronan joked, earning a narrowed gaze from Aiden.
“Couldn’t help yourself.”
Ronan rolled his eyes. “Well, I haven’t changed completely.”
“Clearly.”
“But in all seriousness, I would like to spend time together. I want to talk. Just talk. I want to know what happened to you over all these years. I want to know about your sons. I want to know about this woman who stole your heart away.”
Aiden jerked out of Ronan’s arms, his blood suddenly running cold at Ronan’s words. His friend looked hurt and confused, but Aiden forced himself to ignore it. The mention of Julianna was a splash of ice water waking him from this dream Ronan had been weaving.
What was he doing? Had he not suffered enough heartache and pain over his lovely angel, Julianna? He regretted not a moment of his time with her, but could he truly risk his heart all over again for Ronan? Fear squeezed his lungs, making it hard to breathe as he stared at his friend’s confused expression. Losing Ronan the first time nearly killed him. Losing Julianna to madness after he’d tried to save her had crushed what was left of his heart. It was only through the love and devotion of his sons that he’d survived this long. What would happen if he lost Ronan again?
It wasn’t just his life and heart on the line. What about his sons? What about their safety and well-being? No. This was madness.
“Julianna stole nothing. I gave her my heart freely,” Aiden snapped when he could unclench his jaw. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” He spun quickly on his heel and marched to the open doorway.
“I’ll wait for you, Aiden. I’ll wait an eternity. I just got you back,” Ronan replied as Aiden made his escape.
No, before Aiden could run. He was running. Running from Ronan. Running from these old and new feelings the man was stirring up that he just couldn’t afford to feel.
“You shouldn’t,” Aiden whispered and then hurried across the hall and down the stairs.
What the hell was he thinking?
He’d been thinking that he needed to lean in only an inch to brush his lips over Ronan’s. That only an inch had kept him from tasting the man’s mouth, feeling those full lips on his.