Taking of his shoes to lay down, then curling up against her back, he placed an arm around her waist. “You were warned about something?” Reaper had placed his mouth next to her ear.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“What were you warned about?” Reaper kept his voice whisper-soft.
Ginny buried her face in the pillow instead of answering.
“About you?”
She didn’t respond.
“About me?”
Ginny linked her hand with his tightly.
“Anyone else?”
She nodded her head into the pillow.
“The Last Riders,” he stated.
“None of you would have survived in prison. The Last Riders have made too many enemies.” Ginny rolled over to face him, lifting her hand to his face. “Life wouldn’t be worth living without you in the world, whether you’re with me or you decided to be with a thousand other women.”
“You’re the only woman in my life.”
“For now. I’ve been keeping you busy.”
His lips curled up into a smile. “Yes, you have. Who gave you the warning?”
“Fynn.”
“Is he usually right?”
“Always.”
“Does he know, if events are changed, if it’s for better or worse?”
Her answer was slower in coming. “Occasionally.”
“Did he this time?”
“He wouldn’t tell me. Fynn never does. He shares his gift, but to give you the outcome of your chosen path is to interfere with free will. In life, we alone are responsible for our triumphs and our failures.”
“What happens if Fynn does?”
“The same thing that happened to one of their ancestors when she healed one of her relatives—the gift was taken away when she needed it most. Their gifts all come with a price; it isn’t up to them how much they have to pay back.” Ginny continued stroking his cheek as she stared lovingly into his eyes, completely baring her soul for him to see.
“You might not share their gifts, but by you taking the DNA test it came as a cost that should have been mine to pay.”
“There is no price I wouldn’t pay for loving you. And I do love you.”
“Ginny, I don’t even know if I’m capable of loving someone like I did before.”
“That’s okay. I have enough to share.” Teasingly, she removed her hand from his cheek to place it on her chest above her heart. Pretending to pick something up with her thumb and forefinger, she mimicked twining something around her finger and making a squiggly line as if there was imaginary thread, floating toward his chest. Pressing the tip of her finger to his chest, she tapped his chest twice. “There. A couple more treatments and you’ll be as good as new.”
“I wish it were that easy.”
“I don’t believe in wishes; they never come true. Put your faith in someone else.”
“I can’t. Unlike you, I don’t have issues with God. I lost my faith in Him the first year I was held captive.”
“I wasn’t talking about God. I was talking about me. Trust that my love will stay strong and true. I swear, Gavin, I will be there for you, even when you no longer want me there. Have faith in me. I will be there for you.”
Folding her hands on top of each other, she placed her chin on his chest to stare down on him. “Not only are you my soul mate, you’re my heart mate now. You’ll never be able to escape me,” she vowed solemnly. Then, removing her hands, she placed her cheek directly over his heart.
Reaper wanted to move her away, to put space between them. However, lifting his arms with that intention, he found himself hugging her closer. “I’m never going to be the man I used to be.” Swirling emotions had him wanting to break free from the upheaval she was creating within him. It was like trying to sludge through quicksand—the more he fought against letting Ginny in, the deeper he sunk.
“That’s okay. I love you just as you are.” Scooting up his chest, she pressed a delicate kiss on his lips, whispering unintelligible love words to him that, at one time, would have had him running. He had never wanted or needed the lovey-dovey, flowery words that women used to express their emotions, but laying side-by-side with Ginny, he soaked her words up like a dry sponge. Smoothing her hands over his chest and arms, he basked in her attention, wanting more and more … never wanting the moment to end.
The doorbell ringing from the other room, followed by several knocks couldn’t break the spell Ginny had weaved around them. It was only when dusk began to filter through the shaded window that they made a move to leave the sanctuary of their bedroom.
“I’ll get the clothes.” Languorously stretching, Reaper then snagged Ginny around her waist to give her a quick kiss before releasing her to go into the other room.
Rolling a dress cart back into the room that had been left unattended outside, he found Ginny standing in the same spot he left her. “I thought you would be in the shower.”