Shattered Promises 02 - Fractured Souls by Jessica Sorensen (motivational books for students TXT) 📕

I can’t do anything except let the feeling build as he pushes me closer the edge of reality. I get more lost with each connection of our bodies until I feel like I’m going to explode. I scream out as I lose it completely and it feels like I’m breaking apart on the inside, crumpling, falling into the dark.

Seconds later, Alex movements slow down. He gives one last deep press into me and we both cry out in unison. His fingers press against my wrist to the point where I wonder if they’ll bruise and he pulls my waist forward so our bodies align perfectly together.

As we both gradually return to reality, we work to catch our breaths and slow our heart rates. His fingers loosen on my wrists and he finally frees me from his dominating hold. I move my arms forward and lean back, massaging my wrist with my fingers.

Alex falls back against the mattress, his chest sheen with sweat. He places a kiss on my wrist before putting his hand on my cheek. “Are you okay… I was a little rough?” he asks, tracing my cheek.

I nod as he searches my eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine… Are you okay?”

He nods then removes his hand from my face. Then he lies down and draws me down with him, pressing our foreheads together. “About what I said in The Underworld.”

I hold my breath, too afraid to speak. What if he says he didn’t mean it? Can I handle it? Can I manage it if he says he loves me? I’m not sure what I’ll do, and honestly, I wish he’d just keep his mouth shut so I can bask in the euphoric sensations he put inside me moments ago.

He takes an uneven breath and then releases it, the warmth hitting my cheeks. “I think I… we need to… Jesus, Gemma I—”

Someone bangs on the door. “Alex! Gemma!” Aislin cries from the other side of the door. “I need to talk to you.”

Shaking his head, Alex leans back and calls out, “Not now, Aislin. Go away.”

“But Laylen’s missing!” she yells. “We were talking and he was upset and then…” she starts to sob, choking on her tears and her voice is muffled. “He took off and I can’t find him anywhere. I’m worried about what he’s going to do.”

“We’ll be right there,” I call out as fear ascends in me. Laylen was already in the wrong place before, fighting his blood thirst and now he’s hurting over his past. The combination is a deadly mix and I’m worried he’s either going to hurt himself or someone else.

I instantly climb off Alex’s lap and he slips out of me. “Shit, this is bad.” I reach for my panties balled up on the floor. “He looked so upset when my mom told him he was created on purpose.”

Alex sits on the edge of the bed, watching me put my panties and shorts on. “We were all upset.”

I fasten the button on my shorts. “Yeah, but he’s been completely alone.”

Alex stands to his feet and stretches his arms above his head, like he has no intention of hurrying. “So have you.”

I pick up my bra. “Alex, aren’t you worried about him?”

He collects his boxers and jeans from the floor. “Apparently not as much as you.”

I frown as I hook my bra. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He picks up his boxers and slips them on. “It means you’re awfully upset.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Maybe.” His blunt honesty throws me off a little.

I go to pick up my shirt and realize it’s in pieces. “Alex, if you lo… care for me at all, then you’ll help us find him.” I bite my tongue at my stupid blunder.

He slips his jeans on, studying me with an unreadable expression as he does up the button. “Okay, I’ll help you find him,” he says simply.

I’m not sure what it means exactly, yet it feels like it means something. The prickle is starting to emerge, but it quickly vanishes as Aislin bangs on the door again.

Alex tosses me his shirt. “Here, put this on.”

I catch it and tug it over my head, the smell of his cologne mixed with the calming scent of him overwhelming me. There’s so much that’s unsaid between us; so much that needs to be said. But I think we might be afraid of the truth in ourselves and each other. As he opens the door so we can walk out, I think about asking him how he feels about me, but in the end, fear owns me and my lips end up staying shut.

Chapter 33

Alex, Aislin, and I split up, Alex heading to town while Aislin and I go out onto the beach. With flashlights in our hands and cell phones in our pockets, Aislin hikes up the left side of the beach and I take the right.

“If you need anything, either scream or call me,” she says as she hurries down the shore, sweeping her flashlight across the sand.

I nod and turn away, aiming the flashlight in front of me as the waves rush over my feet. The moon is glistening down on the water, making it look oily and the stars twinkle so brightly they look like diamonds.

I walk swiftly, shouting out Laylen’s name as I leave my footprints in the sand. I check behind rocks, in the backyard of nearby houses, and I even stare at the water a few times, fearing that’s where he went. Hours go by and dawn arrives, kissing the land with shades of pink and orange, making the ocean blue again.

I’m about to head back to the house when my phone rings. I slip it out of my pocket and answer it.

“Did you find him?” I ask.

“Not yet,” Alex says. “But there are a lot of places he could still be.”

“Have you heard from Aislin?”

“No, but I’m going to call her after I get off the phone with you.”

“Okay, well, I’ll keep looking.”

“Come back to the house first,” he