“We’d been drinking, Renny?—”
Santiago’s hand fisted. She didn’t know why he was getting so angry. The phone call would have to end fast, even though he was the one who wanted her to answer it.
“It was just so easy to be with her, she was laughter and lightness?—”
“And what, I was frowns and heaviness?” she asked. Now she was getting pissed.
“No! No, you were...you never really needed me. It felt good to be needed, to come to the rescue and be appreciated.”
“Sooo, I wastoocapable for you?”
The figurative dark cloud above Santi’s head was now sending out jags of violent electrifying energy.
“I just never felt capable enough when I was with you. That was my insecurity, not a lack with you.”
“Oh I know.” She now fully comprehended that she’d dodged a fucking bullet when she left.
“I hope you and Lahn all the happiness with the baby.”
“Um...Lahn terminated the pregnancy within a week of you leaving. That was in one of the messages you deleted. The only reason she thought she could keep it was because she thought,despite everything, you would be there to bethe number one auntie. Like she’d have it as an apology and offer the child up to you.”
“Get off the fucking phone,” Santi snapped at her. “This.This was the motherfucker you thought was the man for you?”
“Why are you yelling atme!”
“This is some bullshit. To be absolutely fucking clear, Derrick, she has a man who values the shit out of her. Strength, courage, intellect, and big fucking heart. If you’re weak as fuck, just say that. Now go find your equal and don’t call Lauren again.”
He disconnected the call and stomped out of the house. Lauren sat in bemused silence for a good ten minutes trying to figure out what the hell just happened. Then she followed Santi outside.
She began stripping at the porch.
By the time she reached him she was completely naked. The waning sun cast red, orange, and gold light over Shrouded Lake.
The slight breeze was cool against her skin, and the rocky sand was firm beneath her bare feet. She wrapped her arms around Santi’s waist from behind, pressing the side of her face against his muscled back. They breathed together until his breathing slowed and hers grew stable.
“Who knew that all I needed in my life was a man who would fight for me?”
“I did.”
She began to unbuckle his pants and proceeded to shed him of all his clothing as she had hers.
Reaching out her hand, she smiled at him, unable to dim the all-encompassing light of her love.
“You ready?” she asked, walking into cool waters with him trailing slightly behind.
He swooped her up into his arms and carried them into deeper waters until she was floating against him.
“Ancestors of the blood pact, great spirits of the waters, you have made me
whole with your intercession. Grandfather, I sleep in peace. Thank you for Lauren Gael Green; the other half of my soul.” His lips brushed across hers; his palm stroked her from the small of her back to the curve of her ass. “My own little wild wren. I accept all that you bring to this life, hellion, your heart, your trust, your courage and diabolical mouth. I unify our soul pact within these waters, upon these lands. I pledge to love you long after our physical bodies no longer walk this earth.”
She took a deep breath; then another. “Wow…um…I…”
She couldn’t calm her racing heart.
“I never thought I’d see you at a loss for words,” Santi laughed.
She flicked water into his face.
