Chapter 24
Calliope
We walk in silence for a while but something in Lucky has changed for the better. His shoulders seem further from his ears and his stance less likely to spring into action. Even though his eyes dart about for danger, his pace slows, more like a guy on vacation.
He doesn’t feel like talking and I don’t push. Perhaps we made a breakthrough, maybe not. I have no idea what goes on inside his mind and I am frustrated to the max.
He brings my hand to his lips, stops, and kisses it. Then, with his arm around my waist, he stares out into the ocean. Children jump in and out of the water, screaming with delight. A mother scolds, a father builds sand castles, and families sit under umbrellas on bright towels.
He sighs deeply as the waves roll in and out. “I’m afraid if I stay, you and the baby may never have this.”
“Why?” I barely whisper the word, inhale, and hold my breath. Is he going to open up?
“I’m toxic. People around me die.” When he toes the sand, I slip my arm around his firm waist, and squeeze.
“I didn’t die, Lucky. Neither did our little peanut. We’re here because you never gave up.”
“But, if I didn’t work for Patten, none of this would’ve happened.” Brown eyes darken as they turn up toward mine. “I was the one who convinced you to come to New York. If not for me, you would’ve had a safe job at the uni.”
I lift a shaky palm to the stubble on his cheek, my heart pounding. “You can’t really believe that. Grayson
offered me a job long before I met you.”
“You said you wanted to make EMF waves safer, not build weapons.” His eyes close, he turns his face, and kisses my hand.
Steaks of white clouds hover over the horizon as a soothing, salty breeze caresses us. No one has ever taken responsibility for my actions so it takes me a few minutes to formulate a response. I need to get this right.
Slipping my hand from his waist, I cup his other cheek and wait for beautiful but sad eyes to meet mine. “Grayson was the one who persuaded me. If I want to make EMF safer, I need to lead the research. Only then, can I get the public to understand how dangerous it is. He’s letting me save the world.”
He nods a couple times and purses his lips. “I can’t make you leave your job?”
“No, honey. I love it. I thought you liked yours, too. We have a great life here in DC.”
“I like it well enough. However, when I get my degree, I may have other ideas.”
“Whatever you want to do, is good with me. I’d prefer you don’t reenlist but I’m here for you. No matter what, I don’t want you going away until the nightmares fade. Deal?”
“Only if the intervention is over.” Grinning, he scoops me up and starts to let go but I grab him around his neck.
“Lucky, no. We just got dry. I swear, no more.”
Laughing, he drops me into the ocean, and I get him back by wrapping my cold body around him. He ducks under the water, bringing me with him. We play like two kids until waterlogged and exhausted, we head back to Grayson’s house.
There’s a note on the kitchen table in female script.At the beach with the kids. Go have fun.
“What do you think?” I kiss his cheek. lift my eyes to the face I love so much, then inhale sharply.
The black centers of his eyes darken, his nostrils flare, and below his waist, his suit tents. “I need to have you right here, right now.”
I shiver, our gazes lock, and he pulls my bikini ties. My suit drops to the floor. Naked and pregnant, I stand before him and wonder how he can find me sexy.
“So fucking beautiful.” Stepping forward, he backs me up to the island, lifts my butt onto the countertop.
My clit clenches and a chill runs up and down my spine. He briskly rubs the goosebumps on my arms away.
“You cold?”
“My God, no. I got a fever, for you.” My hands at the back of his neck, I dig in my short nails, and bring him to my mouth.
