“I know,” he graciously murmurs while kissing my forehead.
He pats my arm once before heading down the hall to his room. I smile as I walk toward Gabe, and he smiles back encouragingly at me.
“You still make things better, I see.”
“I just know Clay well enough to know he’s strong. There’s a reason he’s the commander.”
He smiles bigger, and then he hands me a number.
“That’s my cell. If you need me, you call. Hale said you’d wait out the storm tonight, but he planned on leaving as soon as day breaks. In case I don’t see you again, I wanted you to know how to reach me. I’ll show up anytime, any place.”
“Thank you, Gabe,” I say while wrapping my arms around him to offer a hug.
He hugs me back, and then he withdraws with a smile.
“I’m going to go climb into bed with my wife and sleep off this grueling day.”
“I wish I had time to catch up and meet her,” I sigh.
“You can after this is over. I know you’ll beat them. You’re too strong to let them end us, and I believe in you. I always have.”
“Thanks,” I say while blushing.
“I think Hale is waiting on you. He’s upstairs, second door on the right.”
I smile again while offering a wave, and I sigh as I head up the stairs. Everything keeps piling up. There’s constantly a new curve with a brick wall popping up once we make the sharp turn. It’s a never ending game it seems.
I almost smile when I see the door, and I use my gift to open it from the inside when I realize I don’t have a key. My breath leaves me when I see the red petals littering the floor. I look around at all the roses lining the room, and I’m in shock at the sea of red. Even the bed has rose petals scattered over it.
“Hale?” I murmur softly while walking into the candlelit room.
He suddenly appears from the back room with a soft smile and light eyes as he walks toward me. Ginger music plays dully in the background. His lean, sculpted body is shining beautifully under the soft glow of candles. His perfect upper body glistens from the shower he just freshly left, and his scent is intoxicating as his wet hair drizzles slightly. Those low-hanging pants are all that cover him right now, and I’m still a bloody mess.
“What’s this?” I muse as his lips reach mine.
“This is the first time you’ve been mine in so, so long. I wanted it to be special,” he says while his lips stroke mine.
“You don’t like romantic stuff,” I giggle out while returning the kiss.
“I’ve changed, baby. I may still not be overly fond of such things, but my need to make you smile is quite the addiction.”
“I love you,” I murmur softly as his lips cover mine again.
“I love you, Araya.”
He smiles as he pins me against the wall, and I grumble when I realize I’m still covered in his dried blood.
“I can’t do this right now,” I huff as I gently push him back.
“What? Why?” he worries.
I smile lightly as I offer him a sweet kiss, and then I murmur, “Because you’ve showered, and I’m still a wreck.”
I motion to my blood stained fiasco of a body. He laughs lightly while pulling my hand up to meet his lips, and then he follows me to the bathroom. I’m so ridiculously girly right now even though I look like I just slaughtered a small village. The dried blood cracks around my lips when I smile too big.
“I bought us some food, so we can eat when you get out,” he says so sweetly.
“I wish you hadn’t showered yet. Then you could just join me,” I provocatively entice.
