Page 161 of The Defiant Curse

That Moment Of Healing

Late Afternoon

Never let it be said that he didn’t understand this was the best possible outcome. On this one, Ethan Blackhawk had dodged one hell of a bullet and actually made the right choice by chasing down his wife.

It was crystal clear that she needed him as much as he needed her.

Now, it was time to find each other again.

Taking his wife into his arms, he scooped her up, and carried her toward the soft grass in the middle of the field. He put her down and then headed back to the horse. There, he took the saddle off and grabbed the blanket that had been under it.

It appeared they were going to have a little picnic in the flowers.

And she was the meal.

Ethan couldn’t remember the last time he’d had any time alone with her, and now, he was going to show her why they were together.

There was chemistry there.

There was love.

There was healing.

Heading back to her, he spread it out, and then opened his arms to his wife.

It was time to show her that he did want to love and protect her, like he’d vowed all of those years ago.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said.

Oh, there was no need to thank him.

“I told you I’d find you in the world, Elizabeth, and I meant every word of it. Consider yourself no longer lost. You’re found. I found you again.”

And she was.

Without a word, Ethan found her mouth, and the heat exploded around them. There was that reconnection that had somehow gotten broken.

But that ended here.

One of the reasons their unit worked, and so well, was because when one person was floundering, they were protected and helped back to their feet.

Like now.

Elizabeth needed to know it was okay to lean on them, and be herself for a little while as she rested.

Ethan would carry her.

Everything fell away, but that moment, and in that field of flowers, there was more than just beauty.

There was value.

There was desire.

There was love.

Breaking the kiss, he stared into her eyes, making another promise to Elizabeth.

“I will always be here for you to hide when it’s too much out there in the world. I won’t let you down. I’ll protect you, Elizabeth. I promise.”