“You don’t know that. No one knows that but … Mother.”
She couldn’t hold back her tears. Rocque kissed them away.
“Don’t cry for something that hasn’t happened yet. It won’t happen. Mother said I would be given a choice, and I would never choose something that would separate me from you. I give you my vow; you will be stuck with me until time ends.”
His vow gave her hope. Mother had said she had a choice also. If they both made the right decision, surely they would be able to conquer what fate had in store for them.
As if reading her mind, he stared deep into her eyes and said, “Love always conquers. I’ve never lost a battle.”
“Love always conquers.” Destiny pulled Rocque down to her waiting lips.
The sounds of the night filtered into the cave, making her realize why he had wanted to make love their first time in the forest. He was more at home here, and the small cave offered protection if man or animal came across them and interrupted what he had waited so long for.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“For taking so long.”
“We’re in the right place at the right time. Don’t be sorry for that.”
She ran her hands down his arms. Taking his hands, she then placed them on her breasts. “Make love to me.”
Making love with Rocque was different than she expected. She had expected him to be dominant, and he was, but he was gentle, too.
His voice grew thick when he described how beautiful she was to him. When he licked her nipples, he said they tasted like wild berries. When he parted her thighs, his voice thickened even more.
“I’ve seen many wondrous sights, but nothing compares to you.”
He stroked her thighs as if she were a rare vase from Mother’s castle. When he bent his head, touching his tongue to her labia and tasting her, it was like he had never tasted a woman before.
She realized what he was doing. He was doing what she was doing, making memories. Ones that would last them a lifetime.
They twisted and turned on the blanket, each trying to make their own memories. Her gasps, his moans, her hips arching, his thrusting. It was a dance that had been performed since time had begun.
“I love you,” she gasped, her voice echoing in the cave.
“I love you,” he answered, taking her hand and placing it over his heart. “With my heart and soul, I take you as my wife.”
Destiny repeated the words back to him fatalistically, knowing there was no turning back. She had to trust in his vow and Mother’s love.
She felt the reverent beauty of the moment. They had to put the same faith in Mother as the humans did. Was that the choice Mother had said she would have to make?
The last part of her heart that she had been holding back because of fear slipped away, making her cling to Rocque harder.
His kisses were sweeter, his thrusts more relentless, striving toward the rapture that was awaiting them.
No matter what their future held, Rocque had earned her love by being patient. He could have returned home, but he had stayed by her side. He had no concerns for the human’s wellbeing. He had his hands full protecting his forests and the animals he was a part of. He had endured the cramped clubhouse because that was where she was. No woman could ask for anything more of her mate. He had earned, not her love, but her devotion.
Their breaths and hearts merged, creating a kaleidoscope of sensations that blended together as they sped toward their release too fast for their souls to grasp, exploding in colors that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye. Only the very fortunate few who had been gifted with the sight of creation being born would understand the profound moment of a man and woman creating a new life.
Sobbing, Destiny cried out her ecstasy into Rocque’s shoulder, and he lovingly slipped to his side covering them with a blanket as the candle went out, leaving them in darkness.
Destiny could see the outside of the cave. “I wish it was snowing.”
“Be glad it’s not. It’s cold enough as it is. Mountains get cold at night.”
“I don’t care.” She snuggled against him. She hated to spoil the moment, but she knew that Broni and Adam would be waiting for news of what Rocque had found. “You found food?”
“You know I did. You’re the one who told me where to search.”
“Shh … It was just a suggestion. Mother will punish me for interfering.”
“In that case, my skills as a wolf came in handy. We found a warehouse that has enough food to feed them for several months, as well as water.”
“Thank Mother.”
“Don’t I get some of that appreciation?”
“Of course.” She placed a loud kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”
He grinned then sobered. “Adam and Rhys won’t be thanking me. It’s going to be hard to get to, and they’ll have to take at least two trucks. It’s going to be dangerous.”
“Adam and Rhys can handle it,” she spoke confidently.
“My wolves are watching it. I’ll go with Adam and Rhys. When we come back, I want us to leave for my home.”
“There’s no need for you to go. I want you to stay with me at the clubhouse.” She tightened her hand around his.
“I won’t leave my wolves alone. If anything happens, I want to be there. The only reason I came back was to show them a safer way to reach the supplies.”
“Don’t go,” she pleaded.
“Don’t worry; nothing is going to happen.”
“Fine.” She knew there was no way to dissuade him. “But nothing better happen to you, or I’m going to name our children Rover, Spot, and Buddy.”
“My children are going to be girls, so that won’t be suitable.”
Damn, Rocque was in too good of a mood to prick his temper.
She gave a grin she was thankful he couldn’t see in the dark. Knowing his weakness—Rhys and Balder always towered over him—she decided to hit his manly pride.
“Fine. How does Eeny, Meeny, and Miny sound?”
He turned, tucking her under him. “Sounds like I need to get busy. You can’t leave Mo out.”
Rocque had another weakness that Destiny had forgotten about. He always had to have the last word.
Chapter 31
The door opened and closed, yet Hades didn’t look up from the glass ball in his hand. When the wraith didn’t speak, merely waiting, Hades finally lifted his eyes.
“What do you want, Grimm?”
“Why did you release her?”
“None of your business. You lost the right to my confidence.”
Hades didn’t have to see his facial expression that was no longer visible to know what he was thinking.
“I won’t tell you she was the best thing that ever happened to you; you already know that. What has my curiosity piqued is why did you not return her home?”
“Again, that is not your business. Go dust something. Leave me.”
Grimm glided toward the door.
“Grimm, the next time you wish to
speak to me in my office, ask permission.”
The hooded head nodded before gliding out.
“Tartarus!” Hades bellowed.
His servant entered as Grimm passed him.
“Do not let anyone enter my office without my permission.”
“Yes, my king.” The servant left, closing the door behind him.
Hades set his ball back down on his desk. Waving his hand, he then locked the door, making sure no one would enter, even Tartarus. He always knew who was entering and leaving. The only one who had been able to slip beneath his guard had been Zerina.
When his thoughts returned to her, his mind searched for hers. He remained sitting in his office, but because she remained on earth, he could pinpoint where she was, what she was doing, saying.
She had been gone for a day. He had witnessed her reunion with Broni and Destiny the previous evening. Listened in anger when Adam had wanted her to leave. Before he would have had to intervene, Abby had dissuaded him. She had saved his life without knowing it.
Before dawn had cracked, her mother and father had arrived, so had her sister Cara and her husband Jericho.
Hades had watched their reunion, his stone heart feeling heavier than it usually did. He heard Fate tell Zerina that Thor and Odin were still searching for Zeus, and as soon as he was found, one of them would carry her home.
He shook his head as if they could see him. Zerina would never see home again.
“I’m not going.” Zerina’s firm voice had him mirroring her family’s reaction.
“What do you mean, you’re not going?” Fated demanded, staring at her daughter as if she had lost her mind.
“She doesn’t want to leave Hades.” Valentine stared at his daughter, not in shock, but in sorrow. The saint could see what her mother couldn’t.
Fate’s lips tightened. “Do you see Hades here?”
Hades furiously paced across his office, listening to Fate berate Zerina.
“No, but I don’t care.” Zerina proudly faced her mother and father. “I love him. I no longer desire to go home. I want to return to Hades.”
“That’s not an option.” Fate’s voice rose. “My daughter is not going to go begging on his doorstep to gain entrance.”