His Unsuspecting Eternal Love

Chapter 5 Too Many Questions, Continued

He smiles and digs in too. He then gracefully moves into the next topic, “tell me bout your life growing up.” I have a feeling he knows more than he should but humor him anyway. “Well, I was adopted at age 5. My early childhood was not so great, I’ll spare you the sob story. I had an ok childhood after the adoption. I struggled in school at first and by junior high it all clicked. I tried the college route after high school but didn’t like relearning high school just to get a diploma to say I studied a topic of choice. I also married right out high school.” Xander then asks, “how long were you married for? Kids? If so, how many and ages?”

Wow, he doesn’t waist any time, does he? He just dives right in, smack dab into a whole slew of personal s**t I’m not sure I want him to know. I also have the feeling I’m not gonna have a choice in answering and that he already knows this information. He has a very “Christian Grey-esque” personality thing going on with knowing things. I sigh, “I was married for 24 years, I have 3 kids ages: 19, 23, and 24. Before you ask, I have two daughters and a son.” Xander then asks, “what was your marriage like?” “Ok” I state, “that’s not a topic for here and now. Somethings are not meant to be discussed with strangers.” His lips thin a bit but doesn’t press for now.

“What about you” I ask. “What was your childhood like? Married? Kids?” “My childhood was wonderful. I studied under private tutors as my parents had a demanding job that required safety. Plus, in my era it was the norm for kids to study under tutors. Never married and no kids. Not sure I ever wanted any to be honest.” He says. “Why not?” Not sure why I am asking or why it’s important to me, but I am curious. “Why not married or kids?” Xander asks back. “Both” I say.

“I have been waiting a very long time for my mate. I finally found her. As for the kids, well, I know I’m a selfish person and do not want to share my mate with anyone. Not even kids.” Is Xander’s response. I pause, there’s that word mate again. Somehow, I do not think it means friends like they use in the UK. He says it like a term of endearment. His eyes went soft when he said he found her. Like he found the love of his life. If that’s the case, why is he insisting on having dinner with me? Why is he not with her? I ask, “what is a mate and if you found her, why are you forcing me to have dinner with you?”

“I have found her, that she, is you Aine.” Xander tells me, “I’m “forcing” you to have dinner with me because you would not accept my dinner offer last time we met.”

Oh, damn….. I’m his mate? But this still doesn’t explain what a mate is. So, I ask, “what is a mate exactly?” He looks nervous suddenly, like he knows I won’t like the answer. Knowing me? I probably won’t. He then says “a mate is a soulmate, the other half of your soul. Your reason for breathing and being.” That’s not intense or anything. I mean, he just basically said I was his reason for breathing. This hunk of man, whom I barely know is stating I’m his soulmate. Um, intense much?

With a shaky breath I say “um, I think you’ve the wrong girl there Xander. I cannot be your soulmate. I’m just a washed up 45-year-old mom of 3 adult kids. I’m so not what you need…” But I cannot continue my explanation because he suddenly is up from his chair, grabs me in his arms and presses a finger to my lips. I just stare up at his face. He’s beautiful, can a man be beautiful? He is. His lashes make me jealous and his chin and jaw are strong. His eyes just melt me into a puddle. He smells so good. I cannot place just yet of exactly what he smells like, but I want to just revel in it. I try to discreetly take a deep sniff. His scent is somehow calming me down from my moment of hysteria in talking him out of me. He is staring down at me, like he is drinking me in, like he wants to kiss me. That can’t be right…. I must seriously be in a lust fog right now to be thinking that.

I take a breath and try to push myself away from Xander. He doesn’t budge. He’s like a brick wall or something. He then starts to speak, “Piccola, I will not have you disparage yourself like that again in my presence. You are mine. My Mate, my life, my being. You are beautiful, funny, and stubborn. You are a warrior and a goddess. My goddess. Do not, I repeat, do not try to talk me out of pursuing you. You won’t win. I play for keeps. You. Are. Mine.” He says with such a finality I momentarily agree with him. Wait, what?! No, I cannot agree with him. He doesn’t know I’m nothing. I’m plain and simple and so not worthy of a man like him. Besides, I’m pretty sure he’s much younger than me. At least he looks that way. He speaks and acts like a much older, experienced man. Again, I try to push him away. I need to think and being in his arms, feeling that chest beneath my palms, and breathing in his scent (which is becoming addictive) I’m losing my mind. Like it's not my own anymore. All I seem to want to do is say yes, I’m yours. But I can’t. Nope…. I can’t. The minute something younger, prettier, and thinner comes along I’m toast. Not gonna get my heart broke, so nope, nada, no way.

Xander finally loosens his hold after a slight shake of his head. Like he was trying not to act on something. He still is holding me but there’s space now between us, not much, but I’ll take it. He then kisses my forehead…. I freeze. Then I run. I literally run.