Page 14 of Surviving in Everton

“How do you know that Declan?” .

This is it. The moment of truth. “Remember earlier, when we played pass the Rowen? You felt better and better with each embrace from the guys.” When she reluctantly nods, I continue. “Then how did you feel when I held you?”

“I felt better. Like… like I was at peace for the first time since this shit all started,” she admits.

“Did it feel better to be in my arms than it did the other’s?” I probe, knowing damn well it did.

“Yes… How did you know that? Oh right. You read my mind,” she grumbles and I can’t help but chuckle.

“No, Rowen. I didn’t have to read your mind.” She looks like she wants to interrupt me and ask what the hell I’m talking about so I rush on. “I can feel your emotions, Rowen.”

“Say what?!? Did you just say you can feel my emotions?!” she screeches at me.

I cringe at her ear-piercing decibel. “What do you know about soulmates, Rowen?” I ask her.

“What the fuck kind of question is that, Declan?! And what the hell does that have to do with anything?!” Damn it all to hell. I am feckin’ this up.

“Rowen! Will you calm down so I can explain, please?” I plead with her.

She gives me some serious evil eye, but she finally huffs and waves for me to proceed, which I do.

“It’s complicated, but stay with me, okay?”

She rolls her eyes but nods.

“Well, soulmates are cosmically connected, but sometimes, if one of the soulmates has an ability, they connect on an even deeper level. Depending on the type of ability, that connection can manifest in different ways. With people like us, people who have mental or emotional abilities, the one with the ability gets a… bonus ability? They can feel their soulmate’s emotions. In rare cases, when both soulmates have similar abilities, they will both gain the ability to feel their partner’s emotions,” I explain.

“So you can feel my emotions because we’re soulmates?” She crosses her arms and eyes me.

“Yes. And because you have empathic abilities, you can feel my emotions as well. That’s why it felt better to be in my arms than the other guys’. I’m not your favorite,” I chuckle. “You were just feeling both of our emotions at the time. It felt good to you, and it felt good to me. Therefore, it felt extra good to both of us.”

“Well… Holy shit!” she exclaims in awe. “How do you know all of this?” Ah, there’s the question I was hoping she wouldn’t ask.

“Jane had mind reading abilities too. As soon as I admitted to myself how much I loved her, I started experiencing her emotions. It was confusing, but luckily for me, her parents were the same way, so she knew all about it and was able to explain everything to me.”

“So Jane was able to read your mind and feel your emotions?”

“Yes, it was… complicated sometimes,” I admit with a chuckle. “But it was also amazing, and I wouldn’t change any of it. We both learned how to block each other and ourselves, so it wasn’t like we were constantly in each other’s heads or feeling the other’s emotions all the time. After a while, it became second nature, and we only shared our thoughts or emotions when we wanted to.”

“When you wanted to? When would you want to share your thoughts and emotions?” “Really, Rowe?” I cock a brow at her. “Come here and I’ll show you,” I growl at her.

Her eyes widen in understanding. “Ooooh. That,” she gasps.

“Care to test it out, love? See what it’s like to feel both your pleasure and mine?” I ask her seductively.

She swallows, then climbs on my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. “You know what? I think that might be fun, and just the distraction I need,” she purrs.

I let her close the distance between us and initiate the kiss, but I quickly take over. It can’t be helped, but based on the sounds she’s making, and the fact that she’s now grinding herself on my hardening cock, I’d say she doesn’t really mind that I took charge. She’ll have to get used to it anyway. I am who I am.

I finally pull back from the kiss. “How ‘bout we move this to the bedroom? Might be safer there.”

She smiles softly and nods, so I stand with her still in my lap. She wraps her legs around me and holds on tight as I carry her down the hall.

I kiss up her neck as I walk, her skin is warm and soft, inviting me to kiss her all over. When we finally get to her room I set her down on the bed and place a spell over the room. We can’t have any interruptions for what I have planned.

“We have a few things to discuss before this goes any further.”

Her eyes widen, then she nods in understanding, so I continue.

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