Gabriel’s POV
“Come on, Aria, focus,” I said as I grabbed her hands in mine. “You can do it.”
She sighed and closed her eyes. I could see her reaching for the source of her power. We had been practicing for the last three days and she was getting better. She could now project emotions, but she still had trouble with focusing them on a single person. She brought us all down yesterday when she projected pain.
“Can you feel my aura?” I asked her. “Can you feel my warmth?”
“Yes,” she mumbled with her eyes still closed.
“Good,” I said. “We all have our auras. We all have different levels of warmth. You need to differentiate it. Separate us from one another and focus only on one of us. Try focusing on me. Feel me.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together, and her hands squeezed mine.
“Try focusing on what you feel for me,” I told her. “Don’t create an emotion. Project your own feelings. That should be easier to do.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. A few minutes passed, but I felt no emotion coming from her. I wanted to say something and help her, but I was afraid I would distract her.
I continued looking at her face and waiting.
A few moments later, a warm feeling spread through me. I recognized it as love.
She loved me.
A huge smile spread across my face.
She opened her eyes and looked at me. “Did it work?”
“You love me,” I said happily.
“I do,” she smiled.
I pulled her to me and hugged her tight. Goddess, I couldn’t be happier right now.
“Did I do it?” she asked, still wrapped in my arms. “Are you the only one who felt it?”
“I don’t know,” I said as I let her go. “Let’s go ask them. We should stop anyway. I don’t want to tire you out.”
She nodded and we got up, walking out of the room.
“It’s Nick’s birthday tomorrow,” I said when we left my room.
Her eyes widened and she stopped walking. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
“I forgot,” I shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Shit,” she muttered. “We have to do something. Like a small party or something like that. I can’t really go buy him anything right now.”
“We could do that,” I smiled. “Tonight, maybe?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “We should surprise him.”
“Good idea,” I said and took her hand in mine. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and talk to the guys.”
We walked downstairs and saw Cassie and Jacob sitting in the living room.
“Did you feel something a few minutes ago?” Aria asked them as soon as we reached downstairs.
“What?” Cassie asked, turning to look at her.
“Warm feeling,” I said. “Love.”
Jacob and Cassie shook their heads, and a huge smile spread across Aria’s face. She jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly. I wrapped her legs around my waist so she wouldn’t fall and hugged her close to me.
“I did it!” she squealed happily.
“I knew you could do it,” I said as I turned my head to kiss her temple.
“You managed to project to one person only?” Jacob asked excitedly.
Aria let go of my neck to look at Jacob, but she didn’t jump out of my arms.
“Yes,” she said. “It took me a long time, but I did it.”
“You will be able to do it faster, now that you know how,” I said.
She looked at me and smiled.
“What is all that?” I heard Nick’s voice behind Aria.
I looked at him over her shoulder and saw he was pointing at Aria in my arms. She turned around to look at him, and I let her go.
“I managed to project only on Gabriel!” Aria told him.
Nick smiled warmly at her. “Nice job, love. I knew you could do it.”
He walked up to her and kissed her forehead, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You are a badass, Minnie,” Blake said and sat down beside Cassie.
“Thanks, Blakey,” Aria grinned at him.
“What did I tell you about calling me that?!” he narrowed his eyes at her in mock anger.
Cassie, Aria, and Jacob burst out laughing.
“Oh, Goddess, I totally forgot about Blakey,” Cassie said as she laughed loudly.
Blake rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Nick, can you help me with something in the kitchen?” Aria asked him.
He nodded and started walking. Aria followed him and looked at me intently. She was leading him away so I could tell the guys about the surprise party.
As soon as they left, I walked over to the guys and sat down on the couch.
“Tomorrow is Nick’s birthday,” I said quietly. “Aria and I were thinking about throwing him a surprise party tonight.”
Cassie squealed excitedly.
I shushed her down. “You will give it away.”
“Sorry,” she smiled. “I am excited. It’s been a while since we went to a party.”
“You mean it’s been a while since you had an excuse to wear a dress,” Jacob said teasingly.
“That too,” she rolled her eyes.
“Okay, so does everyone agree?” I asked, looking among the three of them.
They nodded, and I smiled.
“It will not be anything big,” I said. “We can’t go buy him anything. But we have enough liquor and snacks to relax and have fun tonight.”
“Great,” Blake sighed. “I think we all need it.”
I nodded, and Cassie shushed us. “They are coming back.”
Aria and Nick walked back inside, and Aria gave me a questioning look. I nodded and she smiled.
“Do you want to have a spa day, Ari?” Cassie asked, turning to look at Aria. “Just you and me. Hair mask, face mask, soaking in the bathtub. What do you say?”
“I say hell yes,” Aria smiled. “That sounds amazing.”
“Great,” Cassie said and got off the couch.
She grabbed Aria’s hand and pulled her upstairs. They were laughing and chatting excitedly.
“Should we make lunch?” Jacob asked.
“I would help, but my cooking skills are terrible,” I said as I raised my hands in surrender.
“Don’t worry,” Blake laughed. “Jake is an amazing cook. He won’t need any help.”
“You will help,” Jacob said and stood up. “I need somebody to fetch things for me.”
Blake rolled his eyes and followed Jacob to the kitchen.
Aria’s POV
When we walked inside Cassie’s room, she squealed excitedly and gave me a tight hug.
I shushed her. “Quiet. You will give it away!”
“I can’t help it,” she said as she let me go. “I am so excited.”
“I can see that,” I laughed.
“Your present will be the best one,” she said and winked at me.
I furrowed my eyebrows. “What present? I don’t have anything for him. Hence the party.”
“You will be his present,” she smirked at me.
My eyes widened.
“Oh, come on, Ari,” she sighed and sat down on her bed. “That man is one fine piece of ass. Don’t tell me you don’t want to hit that.”
I could feel myself blushing. I did want him. I was just a lot braver to admit that when I was turned on than right now.
“I do want him,” I said quietly and looked down at my feet.
“Of course, you do,” Cassie said. “He is your mate.”
I looked up at her and smiled. “What do I do?”
“You will look amazing tonight,” she said with a playful smirk on her face. “He won’t be able to tear his eyes away from you. And when the party ends, you will take him to your room and show him the meaning of pleasure.”
I laughed. “Oh, Goddess, Cass. That doesn’t sound like me at all.”
She flicked her hair behind her shoulder. “I will teach you.”
“Okay, now I do need that spa day,” I said and rolled my eyes playfully.
Cassie laughed and stood up. She took my hand and led me to the bathroom.
“Do you have a bathing suit?” she asked me and started filling up the tub.
I guess she wasn’t joking when she said we would soak up in the bathtub.
“No,” I said. “You do?”
“Of course,” she said, rolling her eyes at me. “That’s why I like Annie. She is always prepared. Just like me.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“Come on,” she said and went back to her bedroom. “I will give you one of mine.”
I followed her and sat down on her bed. She rummaged through her closet and pulled out a two-piece red bikini.
“This should fit you,” she said as she handed me the bikini. “Go change and wait for me in the bath. Do you want a gin tonic?”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “We are drinking?”
“Yes, girl,” she said enthusiastically. “We are starting early.”
I laughed and nodded. “Hurry up.”
She winked at me and ran downstairs to get us a couple of drinks. I smiled and went inside the bathroom to change.
Cassie came back, and before I knew it, we were sitting in her bathtub, sipping our drinks and chatting.
“Did Annie call?” I asked Cassie.
“Yes,” she said. “Still nothing. But we shouldn’t be talking about that.”
“I know,” I sighed and took a sip of my drink. “I am worried. It’s been three days since they left.”
“Don’t worry, Ari,” she said. “They will find her.”
We heard the bedroom door open and Gabriel’s voice calling for us.
“Bathroom!” Cassie shouted.
Gabriel peeked inside and chuckled when he saw us. “I am jealous.”
“You should be,” Cassie said.
“Is everything okay?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he smiled at me. “Just came here to tell you I convinced Nick to take a walk with me later. It will give you time to set up.”
“Great,” I smiled brightly.
“Now go,” Cassie scolded him. “You are disturbing our spa day.”
Gabriel laughed and left the bathroom.
“So, what are you wearing tonight?” Cassie looked at me with a smirk on her face.
“I have no idea,” I sighed.
“Tell me you have a dress,” Cassie rolled her eyes.
“Nope,” I shrugged. “Didn’t pack one.”
“You are killing me, woman,” Cassie whined. “You are lucky to have me, you know?”
“The luckiest,” I smiled and blew her a kiss.
“I have just the dress for you,” she smiled wickedly. “You will look like a candy he will want to unwrap.”
I laughed aloud. “Goddess, Cass, where did you pick up that talk?”
She splashed water on me, and we ended up laughing until our bellies hurt.
After a long bath, Cassie and I ended up in her room choosing our dresses for Nick’s surprise party.
Cassie chose a black dress that reached just above her knees and hugged her body perfectly. She put on silver high heels that made my head spin.
“How the hell are you walking in those?” I chuckled and pointed at her shoes.
“Practice, my darling,” she said and winked at me. “Close your eyes so I can do your eyeliner.”
I closed my eyes and let her do her magic. She curled my hair in soft waves and let it fall down my back. I told her to keep my makeup light and she did. I was really happy with the way I looked.
Cassie put her long hair in a tight ponytail, and her makeup was perfect. She kept the makeup on her eyes light, but she put on bold red lipstick that looked perfect on her.
“Okay,” she said as she put the final coat of her lipstick on. “Now it’s time for your dress.”
She walked to her closet and took out a gorgeous red satin dress. It had thin straps, and it was short. Maybe a bit too short for my taste.
“It is gorgeous,” I said quietly. “But I don’t know, Cass. It is not me.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t fight with me. Put it on.”
I sighed and took the dress from her. I went to the bathroom and put it on. It was amazing. It fell down to my mid-thigh and it showed each and every curve of my body. I felt beautiful.
I stepped out of the bathroom into the room, and Cassie’s mouth fell open.
“Oh, my Goddess,” she said quietly. “You look amazing!”
“I feel amazing,” I smiled shyly. “But are you sure, Cass? Maybe it is too much. I mean, my brother is downstairs.”
“If you take this dress off, I am going to kill you!” She threatened me in a serious voice.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine.”
I put on a pair of black high heels and took another look in the mirror. I’ve never felt prettier.
“Let’s go downstairs,” Cassie said and took my hand in hers. “Guys probably need help setting up.”
