Closing the door behind us, we head towards our bedroom. I slide my arm around her shoulders, holding her as close to me as I can. Her softer body is an aphrodisiac that will always turn me on, no matter what. “How did I really do? Do you think what I said was helpful?” she asks as I open the door for us to walk inside.
“Of course, it’s helpful. You gave us information that has helped us piece things together.”
She smiles as I slide my arms around her waist, bringing her tight against my body.
“Did you ask Bion to look at my wrist?”
“No. But that’s what he does. Bion is our healer—a good one. When he sees someone that has been hurt, he immediately has the urgency to help.” I kiss her forehead before lifting my head again. “Don’t worry, I will be with you.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I’m not worried about him checking my arm.”
“Bion will not touch you unless I’m there.”
I see her surprised look, but that’s just how it is. No Elemental will touch another man’s mate, no matter how innocently, unless he’s there or unless she has been hurt and the mate isn’t around.
“When I first started hearing the Elementals were after me, I was afraid. I knew there was something different about all of you, by the way you all move. And when I first heard your tread, there was something deep inside of me that triggered curiosity.” Her hand rises to my jaw as she strokes it. “I know that you have gone through a lot because of me. We are at war with one of Cape Town gangs because of me.”
A tear escapes the corner of her eye.
My heart feels like it’s being constricted by the pain I see in my woman’s face. I open my mouth to speak, but she places her index finger on my lips.
“Let me finish,” she whispers.
“What I want to say is thank you. I never thought that life could be like this. There was a time that I gave up and I didn’t see a way out, but you have shown me that miracles do exist, and that I’m not the person that I thought I was. You have shown me what it is like to care for someone, what it’s like to have people around me that are genuine and friendly. You say, Dag, that I’m the light in your life, but you have brought meaning into mine. I love you, Dag. I didn’t know what love was, but this overwhelming feeling of always wanting to be with you, only thinking about you, and knowing deep down that I can trust you completely is something that I cherish. It’s something that I never thought I would have, or dreamed I would have. You, Dag, are the man that I love with every fibre of my being.”
To hear those words coming from Esmeralda is everything I didn’t even know I wanted. To know that she wants me, loves me, and that she now accepts this life and is happy here gives me peace. I want this woman like I have never wanted anything in my life. I want her happiness, her trust, but most of all her love. Esmeralda is more beautiful than she knows, and I will spend the rest of my life showing her how absolutely perfect she is.
“I love you too. You are perfect to me in every way. You are more courageous than most people. You have survived and maintained the goodness in your heart even though you were tortured, physically and mentally. I wouldn’t ever change you for anything in this life, you are my love—my life.” The tears are now running freely down her beautiful cheeks, her green eyes glowing with love. Lifting my hands, I cup her face, lowering my head to kiss my woman, my mate, my very life.
THE END