Hey everyone, It's been awhile, but a lot of things have happened in the last few weeks, but I really don't want to go into any of that at the moment. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter.
Sorry for any errors I didn't catch.
Whitney (Whines8)
Please don't forget to comment and vote and tell a friend about my story.
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Chapter 49 - Everything Is Changing Part 1
Moments later we were standing by the door that led to the bottom level of the house. As Jayden opened it, he moved aside and motioned for me to pass. The first thing I saw were the wooden steps that were being illuminated by a wide pendant light hanging from the ceiling above.
"Just stop once you get to the bottom and I'll lead the way from there," Jayden said from behind me while he shut the door.
Giving a nod, I did as he said, making my way down the stairs and stopping once my feet landed on the dark wooden floors of the lower level. Looking around I was surprised at how large the lower level was. From what I could tell, there was more than just Jayden's studio down here.
Right in front of me was a large space with lounge furniture, a huge wall mount TV that sat in between to large sliding doors that led to the patio outside, a few end tables and a wide ottoman in the center of it all. Off to one side of the large space was a built in bar that was surrounded by black stools and was furnished with wall cabinets, granite counter tops and a small fridge. Behind the seating area was a pool table and I even noticed a few instruments tucked in a corner. I instantly wondered whom those belonged to. Everything down here seemed so much more laid back. Compared to the upstairs levels, this area was the complete opposite; it looked more 'lived in'.
Shooting off from both side of me were two wide hallways which were both being lit by nicely placed spot lights that went all the way to the ends of said halls. There were a few large portraits resting on the walls of the halls and as I looked a little harder, I noticed that some of the faces on the portraits were very familiar. Every single one of them looked amazing and I just knew they all were the work of Jayden.
"You like them?" Jayden asked as he came to stand beside me.
Twisting to look over at him I couldn't help but smile as I nodded my head, "Yeah, your work is... breathtaking," I couldn't think of a better fitting word for his work and even though it was true, I still slightly blushed at my one word description.
Giving me a smile as well, Jayden pointed to the portraits, pulling my attention back to the walls in both directions, "I've done a portrait for every person I've ever cared about and I've placed them on these walls. Hopefully one day... your portrait will be among these as well."
Looking back at Jayden, I shook my head at what he'd just said; "You've already sketched a portrait for me."
Jayden's smile stretched a little wider at my response before tilting his head to the side, "I mean a real portrait, Love, one that would be created with immense detail and perfection."
My smile faltered a little at his words, they were very sweet, but at the same time they took me by surprise. He wanted to paint me; put me up on a wall next to all the people he cares about... I didn't know what to say to that and I silently hoped he didn't expect me to.
When it was obvious that I wasn't going to speak, Jayden shook his head, smile still in place and gestured towards the right hall, "My studio is this way," he said as he placed his large hand on the small of my back and led me down the hallway.
I was more than a little aware of the fact that Jayden's hand was in such an intimate spot, but I didn't really mind, he was being a complete gentleman and that was way more than I could say about Cole.
We walked passed a closed door that Jayden explained was for wine storage, we also walked by a small bathroom and a laundry room before we finally stopped at the last door in the hall, "Here we are," Jayden said as he pushed the door open and stepped aside so I could walk in first.
My breath caught at the sight of the studio, it was more than I'd ever wished for myself one day. The windows were the first things that caught my eyes; they were along the entire back wall; void of any window coverings so that natural light could stream in. The walls were a bright white, which in any other circumstance would probably look flat and clinical, but in here it fit. It made the room feel bigger and probably brighter when the sun was shining through, it kind of reminded me of a blank canvas.
There were two long steel craft tables lined placed on either side of the room along the sidewalls. One was visibly stained with dried paint and had two work lamps resting on its top. There were also a few containers full of brushes, pencils and other supplies giving away just how much the table has been used. Beside the stained table on the right side of the room were also wall shelves. They went almost to the ceiling and were cluttered with loads of more art supplies. There were also a bunch of finished art pieces littering the same side of the room, and just by one of the windows on the right side of the space were two easels; both holding unfinished canvases.
I walked over to them immediately wanting to get a closer look. Not wanting to touch the pieces, too afraid of ruining them, I intertwined my fingers together as I analyzed Jayden's work, "It feels good to see how my work seems to capture your undivided attention, Love," Jayden said from somewhere behind me making me spin around to gaze at him.
Nodding, I smiled, "Your very talented, I can tell you have a true passion for your work. I like seeing what you create... I'm kind of envious actually," I said that last part as I looked away, over to the identical, oddly untouched side of the studio.
"Why? I've seen some of your work you're very good... I think, if anything, I should be envious of you... seeing as I have a couple hundred years of practice on you and you're just as good as I am; it's very embarrassing." Jayden said humorlessly making me give a light laugh.
Shaking my head I returned my gaze to him, "I'm not as good as you, but thanks for the complement though."
Turning back to his unfinished pieces I said, "Is this what you were working on earlier?"
"Yeah, Ever since this morning... I've just been inspired, I guess."
"Inspired, huh? By what, if you don't mind me asking," I said without turning back around, I was still too caught up in the pieces to turn away. They both looked abstract, but as I looked a little harder, I couldn't help but think I was missing something in the paintings, like it were right in front of me but hidden at the same time.
As my eyes traveled over the two canvases, I suddenly felt a presence near me and before I could right myself fully to turn around, Jayden's arms shot around me as he grabbed one end of each of the canvases in front of me and pushed them together, "You, Love, I've been inspired by you," Jayden said right beside my ear, his breath a soft whisper as he slowly leaned back from me just a few inches.
Just like earlier, with Cole in the kitchen, I sucked in a staggered breath at Jayden's sudden nearness, but didn't move as my eyes were glued to the two paintings that I, only moments ago, thought were unfinished, but as I realize now are most certainly not.
The two paintings apart only looked like a very creative abstract painting, but put together it was so much more than that and shocking to say the least. Seeing it clearly now, I looked at what the two paintings made... a side view silhouette of a woman's face.
"Jayden..." I whispered as I gazed in awe at the creation before me. It was me I was sure of it, even though it was a side angle, I knew it, from the curve of the forehead, down the wispy looking tresses of hair and to the slope of the shoulder, I could tell it was me.
"When... Why...?" I tried to ask, but my words came out sounding more like a jumbled mess then an actual question. Needing to look at him as he answered me, I twisted to face him, my breath hitching to a stop, and my heart began pounding in my chest at that very moment as his nearness stunned me once again.
Jayden, who had stepped a few inches away earlier, now stood only a breath away. His dark eyes boring down at mine with a look of determination in them as he spoke, "I started it this morning, after my brothers and I found out you were staying here for the holiday. As for the why..." Jayden paused for a moment as he looked over to the vacant side of the studio before his eyes found mine again.
He still didn't speak though as he gazed down at me. I watched him half curious as to what he would say next and half unsure if I really wanted to hear what he had to say. If felt like an eternity before he decided to speak again but when he did... time seemed to stand still.
Taking my hands in his large ones, Jayden let out a long, slow breath, "I need to tell you something and I've been wanting to say this for some time now, but there were too many things happening at the time, but now... now that you've signed that contract and are about to be tied to us by marriage, I need you to know."
An overwhelming feeling that things were about to change suddenly washed over me. For some reason I just knew that if I let Jayden continue on with whatever he was about to say, things would just get even more complicated than they already were. And seeing as I wasn't, in no way, ready for more complications being thrown at me, I did the only thing I knew to do...
Sliding my hands from his, I quickly shook my head at Jayden before side stepping him and rushing towards the door to the studio, "I should leave, I shouldn't have come down here." But, before I could reach said door Jayden had appeared in front of it and held his hands out to stop me.
"Amelia wait, just give me a minute. I need to say this... please," he exclaimed his voice sounding as determined as he looked. Not really having a choice in the matter, seeing as he was blocking my only way out, I stopped about a foot away from him.
Jayden didn't give me anytime to object to his request as he went to speak again, "Everything with me has been and is real," He began and I shook my head in confusion not really understanding him fully.
Jayden didn't falter though as he took a few steps forward, "The gift I gave you and my reasons behind it, " he said before taking another step in my direction, "The kiss we shared that day in your room," he continued to explain.
At his words, the memory of that day came flooding back to me, my body warmed involuntarily as my mind played that moment over again; my pulse started racing.
Not liking what I was feeling, I took a step backwards trying but failing to put some much needed distance between Jayden and I as the tall vampire continued to walk towards me, "The way I feel about you, how much I want you, Amelia, all of it is real."
I was shaking now, but not out of fear. My body was humming with unexpected emotions and feelings and I didn't know how to react. Jayden's admission, even though seemingly very honest and sweet, took me by surprise. I didn't know how I should respond and I didn't have to at the moment as he kept going.
"It's been so hard giving you your space these past few weeks. Everyday I came into The Den and saw you... it took everything in me not to pull you aside and tell you how I feel. But I can't hold it in anymore, not when you're here, not when you're so close."
He said the last part right as his hand slowly slid up my arm and over my shoulder. The intimacy of the touch left a tingling sensation in its wake that seemed to slowly start chipping away my defenses.
My chest was rising and falling in a struggled motion as my eyes followed Jayden's light touch. I couldn't understand why I wasn't trying to pull away from him, but I also couldn't dwell on that confusing fact as Jayden's voice cut through the small space between us once more, "I have feelings for you Amelia, I know you may not believe me with everything that's happened but it's true," Jayden spoke softly now as he took my chin in between his thumb and finger to pull my attention back to him.
His fingers then let go of my chin and gently skimmed along the line of my jaw before gliding down my neck to brush the hair hiding it off my shoulder to fall down my back. My lips were parted now as my body seemed to feel every touch he gave, but even though I couldn't deny what was happening... Jayden was right, I was having a hard time fully believing everything he was saying.
Knowing his nearness was clouding my judgment, I stepped away from him again, this time backing up as far as I could only stopping once my back hit one of the many large windows, "Please... just stop. I can't deal with this right now... I can't hear this," I said in a strained whisper as I shook my head.
Jayden ignored my plea, shaking his head as well, "I can't keep hiding the way I feel about you, Love," he said just before he appear right in front of me, his body pressed up against mine as his large hands pushed against the glass of the window on either side of my head.
Panting now, I pressed my body as far as I could into the window behind me as I looked wide eyed at the man before me, "Jayden, what are you doing?" I stuttered shocked at his proximity and at how my body was reacting to it.
Instead of answering my question, Jayden continued with his passionate speech, "You do... something to me," he said while shaking his head, as if he couldn't understand himself just what he was saying, "I'm drawn to you." He said huskily this time, his breath blowing over my heated cheek.
Looking away, I tried to calm myself as I finally spoke again, "You don't even really know me... how can you say you have feeling for me?"
Jayden pressed the back of his long fingers against my cheek and lightly brought my attention back to him. Tilting his head to the side he looked at me for a long moment, "I know more about you than you think. I know what you look like when you're sad and on the verge of tears. I know when you're angry and stressed, I know what your most passionate about... and I know that happy moments are very rare when it comes to you."
Frowning now I opted to look passed his shoulder, "You know these things because you've watched me," I said before locking eyes with him again, "You and your brothers."
Jayden nodded in acknowledgement, "Yes... and I regret none of it."
Angry at how unremorseful he was about invading my privacy, I tried to push him away. His hard body didn't even budge and before I could try again Jayden grabbed my hands, gently holding them to him, "Look, I know what we did was wrong, I'm not saying that it wasn't, but if we hadn't watched you for all those months then yes I would know nothing about you. You would be, at most, a beautiful stranger."
"But, that's what you are to me... a beautiful stranger."
"And that's fine, I don't mind having you get to know me... because you're special, Love, and you don't even realize just how much," Jayden assured me before motioning with his head towards the empty side of his studio, "I wouldn't have cleared out one whole side of my studio for just anyone."
My brow furrowed at his words and I looked over to the vacant side of the room once again, "What...?" I whispered.
I heard Jayden's deep voice before I felt his breath against my ear, "In the contract you asked for a studio, I thought it was my duty to make sure you got what you wanted."
Still staring the empty side of the room I was in disbelief. When I'd asked for a place to do my art, I'd just thought they would give me a few easels and canvases and I'd set it up in my room. But this was more than I'd expected, "I can't believe you did this," I said as I turned back to him, "Thank you, Jayden... this means a lot to me."
Jayden leaned forwards as he spoke softly, "I told you, you're special... it's just a bonus you're beautiful too."
In that moment, as I knew it would, everything seemed to change. The cool window now felt hot and slick, the air fizzled with electricity and Jayden's hard body was locked against mine like a magnet. We stayed this way for what seemed like forever, our breaths increasing with every second that passed by.
Jayden's eyes shot down to my lips once, twice, then a third time that lingered a little bit longer before locking his eyes with mine again. I knew what he wanted, I wasn't sure I knew if I wanted the same thing, but I wasn't trying to dissuade him either. Nervous and confused with my emotions I bit my lip as I look from his dark eyes to his full lips.
They parted instantly as Jayden sucked in a sharp breath and without warning closed the distance between us as he pressed his soft lips to mine. Shock flooded me first as my mind registered what was happening, but after Jayden started to slowly massage his lips with mine while bringing his big hands up to rest along the curves of my neck, something else lit throughout my body all together.
My mind almost shut down then, as my body relaxed into Jayden's ministrations. My head hit the window with a gentle thud and my eyes slid clothes as I let Jayden have what he wanted... what I seemed to have wanted as well.
Feeling me relax, Jayden pushed against me harder as he slid his tongue along the seam of my lip asking for entrance. I opened for him slowly and his tongue connected with mine. His mouth was warm and wet and I couldn't help the small moan that slipped through our intertwined mouths.
Jayden's hands left my neck and made their way pass my shoulders and down my sides before wrapping them around my waist and pulling me to him again. On their own accord, my arms reach up to wrap around his neck. My fingers played with the hair on his nape as Jayden's kiss pulled us both in deeper.
In between our kiss I could hear Jayden deep voice as he spoke, "I've wanted to do this again for so long." "Your lips feel so good against mine." "The things you do to me..."
Everything he said sent tingles down my back, every time his hands caressed me my body shook and my knees wobbled. But in the back of my mine, there was still that tiny voice that kept saying to stop, that this shouldn't be happening... not right now. But I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop, I didn't want Jayden to stop. It felt good to be touched, he felt amazing and he was being so sweet. I couldn't help myself and I found myself moaning again, but it was much more vocal than the last one.
Jayden's kiss got more hurried after that as he pulled away from my lips to move down to the curve of my neck. My breath hitched at the feel of his lips there just before his tongue shot out to drag a wet line up to my ear lobe.
My body quaked in reaction to what he was doing as he glided his tongue back down my neck. As he placed soft pecks just above my collarbone, my mind was slowly going to mush. I knew things were getting out of control but I couldn't find the strength to push him away, I couldn't even make out a complete sentence. Jayden just felt so good, he was making me feel things I didn't even realize I wanted to feel. He was making me want things I didn't think I was allowed to want.
Then suddenly, I felt a slight scrape along my neck just as Jayden let out a deep groan. The sound that came from his throat vibrated through my body, which pushed the fiery flame that was slowly growing inside me, to another level; I whimpered against his ear.
Jayden let out another deep groan, but this time as he did so his one hand slid around to the back of my neck while the other passed over the left side before resting on my shoulder. Jayden pushed us back into the window again as his hard body was flush with mine... then without warning, a sharp pinching sensation shot down the right side of my neck where Jayden had been kissing me.
"Ouch!" My eyes flew open immediately as I tore my neck away from him. Jayden's eyes shot open as well, but only to hooded dark slits as he stared down at me. Instantly I placed my hand against my neck before bringing said hand over to examine it.
My eyes went wide as I saw there were to tiny drops of blood smeared along the middle of my palm. Looking back to Jayden, I quickly slid away from him knocking over one of his easels in the process.
His fangs were elongated, in full view and the stain of my blood covered both pointy tips, "Oh my God!" I yelled in horror as I continued to back away from him, "I can't believe you just did that!"
Jayden finally seeming to realize what he had actually done, took a few steps away from me, "I'm so sorry Amelia, I didn't mean to... I didn't realize, I'm so –"
I didn't stay long enough to hear anymore of his apology as I rushed passed him and over to the door, "Stay away from me!" I said as I opened the door to the studio and ran out.
I passed door after door on my way to the steps that took me back up to the first floor. Once back in the front of the lower level, I instantly stopped in my tracks when Marla came out of a room from the other hall, "Amelia dear, Carmela has been looking for you," she started before stopping to take a closer look at me, "Are you alright dear, did something happen?"
Not wanting to be down in the lower level so close to Jayden, I just shook my head as I looked back down the hall at where a guilty looking Jayden was now standing. Shaking my head, I placed my hand back on my neck and raced by the old, kind woman and up the stairs.
I ran pass house employees scattered about the first floor as I made my way to the grand staircase that led to my room. When I got to the top of said stairs I ran right into Kendall who grabbed me by the shoulders to settle me, "Eh, no need to rush, you found me," he said jokingly with a grin.
I backed away from him a bit, looking back down the stairs before bringing my attention back to him. Kendall must have seen the look on my face because his grin faded into a hard line.
I pulled my hand away from the small wound on my neck and looked at it again, besides the two, now dried, drops on my palm it didn't look like I was bleeding anymore and I was grateful for that. Looking back at Kendall I noticed he had moved back a few more steps, "What happened?" he said as his eyes stayed glued to my neck.
Still to out of it, I only said one word, "Jayden..."
TO BE CONTINUED.........