I couldn’t. Instead, I held him close, wanting this last night to be about me.
JIM…
Olivia’s hair tickled my chin and my chest. I didn’t move to scratch the itch, though. I didn’t want to wake her while I basked in our closeness. Five times during the night, she’d woken abruptly to claim my lips in a searing kiss. Twice, she’d climbed on top of me, hip to hip. The last time, she’d moved and nearly killed me.
I hadn’t let her apologize for any of those moments together. She’d explained herself, and I understood. It wouldn’t be long until she and the girls made the Judgement and her need to control Blake would end. I could wait.
Yet, part of me worried about waiting. I understood well enough that my ability to touch her and be with her like this only stemmed from my heartfelt belief that I was meant to help her in some way. Fate, the Lady, whatever, threw us together for a reason. But once the Judgement finished, that reason would be done. Then what? Would I have lost my chance to make Olivia mine? Would I feel crippling pain once more?
Are you awake?Winifred sent me.
I grinned up at the dimly lit ceiling, not missing the irony of thinking of crippling pain while receiving a message from Winifred.
Yes. Olivia is still sleeping, though.
Any trouble?
No. I would have reached out immediately. You?
Everything has been quiet here, for the most part. Gabby woke Sam a few times because of Urbat movement but almost as soon as she spotted it, the movement stopped.
I smoothed my hand over Olivia’s hair in appreciation. She stirred, nuzzling against my bare chest with her nose, mouth, and cheek while her hand roamed over my stomach.
Olivia is waking up now. Send Gabby to rest.Olivia will be able to sense when Blake’s on the move.
Good. Let me know when you leave.
I will.
“Good morning,” I said softly.
Olivia stilled then lifted her head.
“Good morning. Sorry about that.”
I studied her face. She never showed much emotion, but something about her expression seemed more relaxed than I’d ever seen it.
“No apologies. Let’s take what we want from life while we have the chance.”
She nodded slowly, a slight frown pulling at her features. I regretted my words, and wished I could take them back.
“Ready for some breakfast?” I asked lightly.
She smiled and slid from the bed.
“I’ll be ready in a bit.”
While she closed herself in the bathroom, I searched the floor for my discarded shirt then changed into a clean set of clothes. Olivia stepped out with a hint of mint in her scent and a cascade of smooth hair hanging down her back.
I handed her a set of clean clothes, which she accepted with a word of thanks before disappearing into the bathroom again. By the time she reemerged, I had the bags packed and everything ready. I took a quick turn at the bathroom before we headed out.
Not wanting to bring more unhappiness to her expression, I didn’t ask about her back as I helped her into the seat. Instead, I asked what she wanted to eat for breakfast.
“Do you like homemade waffles?” she asked in return. “They were too time consuming to make, so I’ve never had any. The freezer ones I tried were okay, but someone told me the really big ones were better.”
“I love waffles.”
I watched hopefully for signs for a waffle house but had to settle for a chain restaurant that I knew served breakfast food. They thankfully had waffles on the menu.
