She had a chance for redemption, and she didn’t take it.
I stay beneath the bed for what seems like hours. Her screaming stops and I hear Lee fly away. Bernie is definitely dead. There’s no way she survived the ceiling crashing in on her or the dragon who made it happen. Besides, if what he said all of those years ago is true and we really are mates, then he’s not going to take the chance that she could hurt me again.
He’s not going to risk anything.
I wait quietly with my eyes closed. After a long time, I hear noises in the cabin and someone pushing away the pieces of wood that have fallen. There are little bits of roofing tile all around, lots of dust, and lots of debris.
“Come on, princess,” he says. “It’s over now.” I allow Lee to pull me out from under the bed. He lifts me.“Keep your eyes closed,” he warns me, and I listen to him. He sets me down outside. I open my eyes.
“Are you hurt?” I whisper, reaching for him. There’s a little bit of blood on his face.
“I’m okay,” he says quietly. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” I shake my head.
“Good. Stay here.”
Then he goes back into the cabin and comes back a few minutes later. He makes a couple of trips, bringing out things he’s found of Bernie’s. There’s a duffel bag with some clothes and a cell phone, as well as bunch of other random tools and weapons. He makes trip after trip and then, when he’s finished emptying the cabin, he stands beside me and just looks at it.
“It was a lovely cabin,” he says.
“It was a lovely cabin,” I agree. “What are you going to do now?”
“There’s a lot of...evidence in there. If the wrong people were to stumble across it, it wouldn’t look good.”
“Burn it?” I whisper.
“Burn it,” he says. Together, we haul the things from Bernie away from the cabin. Then Lee jumps into the air, shifts, and hovers above the cabin. He hesitates for only a minute, and then he breathes fire. It shoots from his mouth in a long, even stream, and part of me can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s the most incredibly beautiful thing.
He seems strong now, powerful. Brave.
He comes beside me and we wait, watching the cabin.
“I’m sorry about your space,” I tell him. “You brought me here to unwind, and you ended up losing everything.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I found everything I’ve ever needed. You.”
Then he kisses me in front of the fire. It’s hot and messy and wonderful, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel complete. Whole. I shouldn’t be falling for Lee again. Not right now. It’s bad timing, and there’s so much happening, but I don’t care about any of that. I just care about him.
He lays me down in the soft grass. It’s a little overgrown, but feels delicate and soft.
“Lee?” I whisper.
“I have missed you.”
He doesn’t need to say anything else. I don’t need a promise of love. I don’t need forever. I don’t need a “Will-You-Marry-Me?” I just need this moment. I just need him.
He strips off my clothes easily, quickly. It’s like we’ve never been apart. His lips cover my neck, my chest, and then my breasts. Slowly, he sucks one nipple between his lips, followed by the other.
“Lee,” I whisper, reaching for him. I run my hands through his hair as he explores me slowly, tauntingly kissing each inch of me, and I’m reminded of one of the many reasons I loved being with Lee. He always took his time with me in this way. He always was careful to go slowly. He would touch me and kiss me and fuck me until I was wholly satisfied. He never rushed.
Even now, here in the grass, he is quiet with me and gentle. The sun is setting and the cabin is burning, but the only thing I can do is close my eyes and just feel.
He runs his hands up my legs and traces his fingers on my thighs. Then he looks up at me.
A silent question.
Am I ready for this?