The Soul's Mark: FOUND by Ashley Stoyanoff Read Free Book Online Page B

closer to him and she found herself doing the same.   Her body ignited as if fireworks were
exploding within her and she tried to pull him closer.   She opened her mouth under his and felt his
tongue brush against hers.   He groaned a
throaty sound that vibrated through her, shooting sparks from head to toe.
    Amelia didn’t know who pulled away first
but the kiss ended just as quickly as it started.   She was trembling and her breath was coming
in ragged bursts.   When she looked at
him, she thought the expression he wore looked almost… pained.   And his eyes, they seemed brighter, and were
there streaks of red?   She blinked, sure
it was just a glare, and when she opened her eyes again the glare was gone and
he looked just as stunning as ever.
    “I’ve missed you, love,” he whispered and
kissed her lightly on the forehead.
    Amelia was about to tell him that she had
missed him too, but an image of Eric flashed in front of her eyes and her
nagging conscious screamed: He’s not even
real!
    Guilt poured over her, like hot lava, but
she couldn’t help but remember Eric’s soft lips on her hand and then on her
cheek.   It had been real.   She could be with someone who was real.   And that would be normal.   She wanted to be normal, and this, this was
far from normal.
    Her chest hurt.   It felt as if her heart had dropped to her
toes, chipping and breaking into millions of pieces on its way.   Was she ready to let Mitchell go?   Could she let him go?   Was Eric worth it?   Amelia reluctantly slipped off his lap.   She was shaking and cold.
    Part of her had expected Mitchell to stop
her.   But he didn’t.   He let Amelia leave his embrace and she could
feel his eyes burning on her back as she took a few steps and sat in the chair
across from him.   When she was seated, he
didn’t say anything.   He just sat there,
watching her and waiting.
    Amelia took a deep shaky breath.   “Mitch…” she said, glad that her voice
sounded strong.   “We need to talk.”
    Little creases indented his forehead and
the corners of his mouth tilted downwards.   “What’s wrong, love?   Did
something happen today?   Were your new
roommates unkind to you?”
    She shook her head and looked away.   “They were wonderful,” she said, dreamily and
then huffed a gusty sound.   “Absolutely perfect.”
    Mitchell laughed.   “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
    “Well, it kinda is,” she admitted and stood up.   Her
knees felt like Jell-O and she realized that maybe standing wasn’t such a great
idea and plopped back down on the chair before she continued.   “It made me realize something.”
    “And what did you realize?” he questioned,
leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees, hands dangling.
    “Um…” she fumbled, realizing that she
really didn’t know what to say.   How do you
tell someone that you don’t want to dream of them anymore?   “That it’s time to let you go.”
    Amelia could see the wheels turning as he
processed what she had said.   It was a
bit intimidating, not that he actually meant it to be but he was the kind of
person you could actually see thinking.   Even so, Amelia was relieved when she saw his face light up, as if he
had discovered what he was looking for.   “You still think this is just a dream,” he murmured, bemused.
    His statement left her confused.   “Of course it’s just a dream, Mitch,” she
muttered, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, twisting it around her
finger.   “And I met someone today.   And I, um... I like him.”
    Mitchell laughed and she stiffened.   When she looked up, he was lounging back in
his chair with a playful smile on his face.   Just yesterday, that smile would have turned her into a lovesick
puppy.   She would have run to him,
throwing herself into his arms.
    But now, it infuriated her.   Amelia straightened her shoulders and
clenched her teeth.   She could feel her
fingernails digging into her palms as she