“It’s strange being back.”The tension in my voice was obvious.
“Nothing bad is going to happen.”
After everything we’d been through, I was surprised at his confidence, but then, that was Eli—calm, in control, and always so damn sure of himself.
It’s part of why I fell for him.
“That depends on what we find out,” I murmured, leaning in to see the tourist office out of my window.
Set apart from the other facilities, it had been built on top of an elevated rocky ledge and was reachable by a lengthy ramp or, for the intrepid, several hundred steps.Looming over me, the building was like a courthouse—the place where judgment on my negligence would finally be handed down.Had Chelle made it back to safety?Had she been grieving for James and trying to get in touch with me?Or, had something terrible happened to her out there, for which I was going to carry the burden of culpability for the rest of my life?
“Either way, I’m here for you, and you can stay at the office while I hike to the cabin and retrieve our things if you prefer.”
“What?”I twisted to look at him.“No.I don’t want you to go off alone, sir.”
The last time I’d allowed someone I loved to do that, I never saw them again.
“I’m very capable.”
He laughed as though I’d forgotten how proficient he was.Eli might not have been fully healed, but he’d managed to bind me and give me an abrupt lesson in how he wanted me to give him head the evening before.That had required the strength to stand and thrust ferociously into my mouth for a sustained period of time and conveyed a physical ability that belied his injuries.Eli had managed the effort with apparent ease, and I had the sense he was feeling more like his old self by the minute.
The intimate muscles between my legs clenched at the scintillating memory.His resurging dominance had left me in no doubt about who was in charge in the bedroom or how much I enjoyed our consensual dynamic, although I had worried about Owen overhearing us.His house was large, but not a castle, and our guest room wasn’t far from his bedroom.We’d definitely need somewhere more private to play as soon as the funeral was over.
“I remember, sir.”
The last few days had been such a headfuck of colliding, competing emotions.I’d seen more death than I’d ever thought was possible.I’d lost Chelle, and then Mum, and I still had the sickening guilt of Hawkins’ demise to contend with, but at the same time, I’d survived abduction and the wrath of the storm, and I’d fallen in love, even managing to save the man who’d altered me in the meantime.
The familiar flush of warmth and amazed gratitude at the thought of our burgeoning feelings washed over me as I stared into his eyes.In spite of all the hell we’d been through, we’d fallen for each other, and I hoped the excited butterflies in my stomach never calmed at the thought of how wonderful that was.Against all odds, we’d found love in the desolation.
“Good.”He reached for my hand.“And I hope you also remember that I love you.Whatever happens, we’ll get through this.”
Despite the relentless apprehension clawing at me, I couldn’t help but smile at his soothing tone.There was such a strength to his certainty.Eli wasn’t only made of muscle, but he had enormous mental resilience as well.If the news about Chelle wasn’t good, I’d need to lean on his reserves, and I knew he’d be able to carry that burden.
“I love you, too.”
The butterflies in my tummy fluttered their wings in different directions at the declaration.It still seemed odd to tellanyonethat.After so long on my own, I’d wondered if I’d ever feel anything for anyone.The fact that a complicated god like Eli had been the one to topple me over the precipice was still unfathomable, but suddenly, I was ready to consider a happy ever after.
Sure, Eli had his faults.His prior life as an assassin topping that list, as was the disturbing news that he’d been seeing visions from his past right up until the moment we’d connected.We would need to address those serious matters, to talk them through and see if he needed any professional help to deal with them, but I was reassured.He’d been honest with me, and I respected that.His desire to be open helped me to understand our connection was about more than only the incredible fucking we enjoyed.He truly did know me in a way no one else ever had.
“This just feels overwhelming,” I admitted, gripping his fingers.“Being back here and finding out what happened to Chelle.”
“It’s a lot,” he agreed.“We don’t need to go in right away if you’re not ready.”
“No.”As though some of his resolve had washed over me, I pulled in a determined breath.“It’s time to find out the truth.”
“There’s my girl.”He patted my thigh tenderly.“I know most of the staff here, so hopefully, it shouldn’t be too taxing to get answers.”
“I’ll let you lead, then, sir.”
I smirked at the idea that I could ‘let’ him do anything.The intimacy between us meant I’d surrendered most of myself to him already, and since that first day in the cabin, I’d loved every bloody moment of my submission.His dominance set me free.The more he led, the more I was finally able to just let go.I didn’t understand much about the magic that was going on between us, but one thing was for sure; there wasn’t much I wouldn’t have allowed him to do.
“Oh, you’llletme lead?”
The gleam in his eyes would have been tantalizing at any other moment, but knowing what we were there to do took the edge off his predictable charm.The moment was about Chelle, James, and Miles.They warranted that much.
“Can we go inside now, sir?”I glanced back to the tourist office.“I’d like to get this over with.”
“Of course.”
