“If we were to bond, Keagan, we would be together with no end. If we parted, it would destroy us physically and mentally. If I chose to die, it would take you too, and the afterlife would be torturous. Since I would never do that, you have to understand that it would be longer than you can even imagine.”
“Are you… asking me to do it?”
“No, not yet. It’s too big a decision to make lightly. I’m telling you because ordinarily, once the Horror is banished, I leave.”
My chest tightens as I nod.
“But I don’t want to leave this time, Keagan. I want to stay, and I want to believe what Talon said. I want to see if you and I can fall in love.”
My eyes well with tears. “You do?”
“I do. It’s been decades since I’ve opened myself up to the idea of love. I never wanted to lose it again, but Talon’s message was too strong to ignore.”
His words swirl around my mind. “How will we know?”
“I think we just have to be brave enough to try.”
“And you think you’re brave enough?”
“Yes. I’m well out of practice and I may need nudging, but I’m open to it. Obviously there’s attraction between us. There’s comfort, even intimacy. There could be so much more if we try.”
Even as I dig my teeth into my bottom lip, a sense of hope and possibility blooms in my chest.
“I’m not known for my bravery,” I say, “but I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of in the last few weeks.” I smile as my courage grows. “Love is always about bravery, isn’t it?”
“I think so.”
“I know you still have a lot to do because of this thing I let in, but it’s the middle of the night. Surely, it can wait until morning?”
Wilder nods. “It can.”
“Then take me to bed, Wilder. We can start trying to love each other tonight.”
Chapter 22
Wilder
Sex is no big deal to me. I’m a pro at keeping my emotions out of the equation, so why are my legs shaking as we climb the stairs together?
Keagan is holding my hand, following me up, and when I glance over my shoulder, he has a serene smile on his face. That does a lot to calm me. I’m the one who put it out there that we might be destined for each other, but the reality of that truth is affecting me much more than I expected.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Keagan asks when we get to the landing.
“No, of course not.”
I lead him to my bedroom and guide him to the bed, where he sits on the edge, his arms extended behind him in a casual pose, a sweet smile still dancing on his lips.
“Can I watch you undress?” he asks.
I nod. “Can I undress you next?”
“By all means.”
I kick off my boots while I unbutton my shirt. Keagan’s eyes follow my every motion.
“Do you always dress so nice?”
“Not always.” I flick open the button on my slacks. “But I have few reasons to dress up, so I do it often on my working days.”
