“I see,” she says again.
I resolutely keep my eyes on the rug, but I can feel my shoulders inching closer to my ears.
She finally takes pity on me. “Help her use her gifts. Help her remember her gifts. I know she’s asked you questions about home — use it. You can tell her about pieces of herself without overwhelming her.”
I consider her words. I’ve been so careful with what I’ve told her of home. Maybe I’ve been too careful.
“I’ll try.” I lean over, brushing a soft kiss against her cheek. “Thank you, Betsy.”
She pats my knee and stands. “You’re a good boy. Believe that everything will be fine. Tell yourself that. Words are spells after all, boy.”
She would know.
My hand is on the doorknob when she speaks again. “Forgetting something?”
I turn, confused. She’s holding a black lace bra and a belt in one hand, a smirk on her face.
“Fuck,” I mutter, quickly grabbing them from her hand and turning to flee.
Her delighted cackle follows me out the door.
I wake with Calida in bed instead of Flint, her head a heavy weight on my belly. My body feels deliciously sore from our marathon the night before, but I have zero regrets. I need to speak with Flint about that Jedi mind trick he’d pulled. It was intense. Not bad-intense, but I think if we do that every time we make love, I could very well die.
Well, at least I’d die happy.
I gingerly extract myself from my blue baby and pad naked to the shower. The scratches and bruises from my attack have faded. The new bruises on my neck and hips from Flint bring a sexy little thrill. Almost like badges of honor.
I’m pulling on soft yoga pants and a support tank when I hear the door. I brace until I hear Flint call out “I’m home!”
The delight that single, simple phrase stirs in my chest is immeasurable.
I love this man, I think.
Holy shit.
I stop, one hand on the door, one pressed to my heart. Do I?
I meet my own gaze in the mirror.
I think about the last few months. The fun, the chaos, the stability that he’s brought to my life. The strength he’s helped me find. The devastation he’s held me through.
Shit.
I do. A grin breaks free and my heart surges in my chest. I love him.
Oh, shit.
AN INTERLUDE
An Interlude I
Brett staredat the ceiling and took a moment to realize what he was seeing. Rock. Wet rock, at that. It took a few additional moments for him to realize that wasn’t right.
He sat up and looked around. Nothing but darkness surrounded him. There seemed to be light coming from somewhere above him, but it was only enough to cast a small circle around where he sat. He realized, slowly, that he was sitting on a raised slab of stone. An altar?
“What the fuck?”
He tried to shield his eyes enough to squint and find the light source.
