Over the next two weeks, they were inseparable.
Kieran showed Aiden his world—introducing him carefully to Marcus, who cried upon meeting Aiden's reincarnation. Taking him to vampire-friendly establishments where Aiden learned about the supernatural community that existed in shadows.
Aiden showed Kieran his world—brought him to Columbia campus, introduced him to his friends (as a new boyfriend, which made James raise his eyebrows but say nothing). Took him to family dinners where Kieran charmed Richard and Sophia with old-world manners and careful conversation.
"There's something different about him," Sophia said later. "Something... old."
"He's twenty-five," Aiden lied. The truth—sixteen hundred years old—would have caused problems.
They went on dates. Normal, human dates. Movies (Kieran was fascinated by modern cinema). Museums (where Kieran could point to paintings and say "I knew him" about various historical artists). Quiet dinners where they talked until restaurants closed.
Aiden fell in love slowly, naturally. Not because of past lives or destiny, but because Kieran was wonderful. Patient and kind and funny in dry, understated ways. Thoughtful and protective without being controlling.
And Kieran fell in love all over again. Discovered that this Aiden—Aiden Luxury, not Adrian Chen or any of the previous incarnations—was his own person. Same soul, but different personality shaped by different experiences.
"You laugh more in this lifetime," Kieran observed one evening as they walked along the Hudson River.
"Is that bad?"
"It's beautiful. All your incarnations have been beautiful, but you seem... lighter this time. Less burdened."
"I had a good childhood. Loving parents, stability, opportunities. Maybe that makes a difference."
"It does." Kieran pulled him close. "You deserve to be happy, Aiden. In every lifetime, but especially this one."
"I am happy. Right now, with you, I'm happier than I've ever been."
It was true. The void inside Aiden had filled the moment Kieran entered his life. The sense of waiting, of incompleteness, had vanished.
"I think I'm falling in love with you," Aiden admitted.
Kieran stopped walking, turned to face him. "You think?"
"Okay, I know. I'm definitely falling in love with you. Which is crazy because we've only known each other two weeks—"
"We've known each other for a thousand years."
"Fair point." Aiden smiled. "Still feels fast."
"Does it feel wrong?"
"No. It feels perfect. It feels like finally finding something I didn't know I'd lost."
Kieran kissed him then, deep and thorough and full of nine hundred and twenty years of longing finally finding release.
"I love you," Kieran said against Aiden's lips. "I've loved you for a millennium, and I'll love you for a millennium more."
"That's a long time."
"It's not long enough. It will never be long enough."
They went back to Kieran's penthouse that night. Made love for the first time in this lifetime—gentle, careful, both of them learning each other's bodies anew.
Afterward, wrapped in Kieran's arms, Aiden felt complete for the first time in his life.
"This is what I've been waiting for," he whispered.
"Me too," Kieran replied, pressing a kiss to his hair. "Me too, love. Me too."