“Bloody hell, I’d never keep the baby from them.And I believe they’ve sort of adopted me already, so happy days.”
Tamsin tipped her head back to meet Aisling’s gaze.“I wish you’d told me sooner.”
“If it were one-sided, I didn’t want ye thinking ye needed to agree just to get along.No way would I ever put ye through somethin’ like that.”
“This is how I felt about Maisie, too,” she quietly said.
“I’m sorry.I never want ye to think I’m tryin’ to replace her?—”
Tamsin kissed her, driving coherent thought out of Aisling’s mind for several sweet minutes.
“I know,” Tamsin said, sadly smiling.“Mate bond, remember?”She reached up and tapped the center of Aisling’s forehead.“I never imagined I’d experience something like that in my life, much less lose her so soon.Or meet someone else I’d feel this way about.”
Tamsin sadly smiled.“Had I known, we’d already be married.Obviously, I’m not happy about what happened to Maisie and Rupert.”Her smile faded.“The pain is still there.My love for Maisie—for both of them, although Rupert was like a brother—is still there.My grief is still there.I had just started finding the will to keep living, because I knew that’s what Maisie and Rupert would want me to do for our daughter.But I wasn’t quite doing it for myself yet, mind you.”
Her gaze searched Aisling’s face.“You are not her.I’d never expect you to replace her in my heart.But my heart isn’t a finite size that can only hold love for one person.There is more than enough room for her and for you, too.And for us to grow something fresh and new without it taking anything away from my love for Maisie.”
Aisling’s pulse fluttered.“You’re brilliant,” she softly said.“Absolutely brilliant.I honestly never thought I’d feel a mate bond for anyone, and bloody hell if it’s not for the one person I’m supposed to protect.”
“Did Trevor hire you because you’re gay?”
“He swears that’s not the main reason; it was a bonus.He mostly hired me for my skills and because he trusted me and knew I’d be a cipher when it came to your father knowing who I was.An extra level of protection for you.”She sadly sighed.“For all the good it did, in the end.”
Tamsin’s fingers lightly trailed across Aisling’s flesh.“I know you’re not supposed to tell me about certain things because of your job, but it might get quite bad soon, won’t it?Things most of us don’t know about?”
Aisling grimly nodded.“Mebbe.”
Fierce determination filled Tamsin’s face.“You arenotallowed to die on me!”
“I will do my blessed best, love, but I don’t know if that’s a promise I can make in good faith.I have to help put an end to this shite once and for all if any of us, especially Maisie and the other babes, are to have a chance at a normal life without this darkness hunting them.”She caressed Tamsin’s cheek.“Promisemethat, no matter what, you will keep living and one day be happy again, even if I’m not here.”
Tamsin blinked back tears.“I will,” she whispered.
“I gave my word to Peyton and Trevor,” Aisling said.“I couldn’t turn my back on that oath and risk people dying when I can help.”She smiled.“Besides, having you and Maisie to live for will give me extra piss and vinegar.”
“Teach me how to defend myself.If Ken could learn how to reasonably protect himself, so can I.Teach me how to shoot and fight.There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to.What if you aren’t here and we’re attacked?”
Aisling sighed.“While I wish I could protest and say that isn’t necessary, it’s actually a bloody good idea, all things considered.”
“What if I go to them and ask them not to put you in danger?”Tamsin said.“I know they would do it for me if I asked.”
Aisling stroked her cheek.“I’m not askin’ ye to do that.”
“But you wouldn’t tell me not to?”
She tried to think of how to phrase it.“Love, I take my oath seriously.And yes, yer father’s now lawn fertilizer.But this is a much larger situation that I cannae tell ye everything about.And I have training and skills that play a big part in why Trevor and Peyton asked me to come to work for them.”
Tamsin studied her for a long moment.“I’ll think about it then,” she quietly said.“I’ll still likely talk to Peyton.To impress upon him I would prefer you take a more supervisory role, if possible.”
“I don’t want ye to work yerself up over this.One way or the other, I’ll still need to go over there because I’m helping with the plans.But keep in mind that my presence there could be the difference between a successful mission and us losing people.I’m not trying to guilt ye, here, but it’s something I need ye to keep in mind.”
Tamsin nodded.“I just… I need time to wrap my head around it all.I don’t want to lose you.”
“I don’t want to lose ye, either, pet.”She pulled Tamsin against her, tucking her so her head lay against Aisling’s chest.“So let’s enjoy life one day at a time and celebrate our blessings, aye?”
“Yes.”
They ended up taking a nap and playing around more before taking a shower and finally emerging from the bedroom.
