“Take her and go.”
Jericho turned to leave the room, not waiting to hear Cara’s pleas. He should have known better.
He was halfway across the room when the first missile hit him in the back. He quickly turned, trying to protect himself, but it was already too late. The truck keys hit him in the face. He then saw her reaching for a bottle of water left from the poker game they had played earlier.
“That’s enough, Cara.” Jericho tried to make his voice threatening. Again, not a smart move.
The bottle hit him in the chest.
“And she’s the gentle one in the family.” Thor’s amused voice diverted his attention long enough for Cara to grab his empty beer bottle.
Jericho realized talking to the woman was useless, so he grabbed her before she could throw her new missile at him.
“You’re a jerk. Do you know that?”
“Yes, but I’m right and you know it, Cara. I can’t protect you here. It’s too dangerous for you.” He brushed a tear from her cheek and gave her a tender kiss on her trembling lips, trying to give her what she needed, though unable to do so. He couldn’t give her a heart he didn’t possess.
“I can’t leave you, Jericho. I love you. Please don’t ask me to leave.”
Jericho turned to Thor. “Take her,” he said as he pried her hands from around his neck.
“I won’t go; do you hear me, Jericho? I won’t leave you!” Cara screamed at Jericho’s back. “Don’t you dare touch me, Thor.”
Thor backed away from his sister, his hands raised in surrender.
“I don’t care if every immortal comes to take me away or if I’m never able to see my family again. I will never leave you!”
Jericho stopped and turned back to Cara. She was on her knees on the floor, tears running down her cheeks, her body trembling.
In that moment, he truly understood what being loved felt like for the first time in his life. Cara loved him enough to sacrifice her life to stay with him, enough to give up her family and her way of life, enough to cry for him on her knees after all the rejection he had thrown at her. All of this, just to spend an unknown amount of time with him, a man she couldn’t be sure would ever be able to return her feelings.
Something inside of Jericho broke. He felt as if the ice surrounding his soul shattered from the warmth of her love. The man he had become was suddenly no more, unable to exist in the light of her love.
His feet slowly moved as he walked back to her. When he stood in front of her, he got down on his knees. His hand reached out to caress her face before raising it so he could see her face.
“I love you,” Cara whispered brokenly.
Her beautiful smile made the words she had said over and over for the past week finally sink into his mind. She truly loved him in the purist form of the word, and it was a love given freely, without expecting anything in return except to stay with him instead of leave him behind when it would have been easier and safer. She had done what no one else had ever done—fight for him.
As he took Cara into his arms, kissing her with every ounce of emotion he had denied himself, her arms circled his waist and held him close.
A throat clearing broke the tender moment. They continued to hold each other as they turned to Thor.
Smiling, Cara looked up at her brother. “You’ll be going home without me.” Happiness shone from her face.
Thor simply stared at the happy couple.
“Tell my mother I love her.”
“Tell her yourself.” With those words, he raised his hands and sent a bolt of electricity, killing them instantly.
Thor stared at the mortal bodies lying on the floor. Sometimes, being a god just sucked.
Chapter 13
“Are you still angry?” Cara murmured to Jericho, who was sitting on the side of the bed with his back to her,
She scooted across the bed until she could touch him, gently running her hand down his spine. When he didn’t answer, Cara moved closer until her bare breasts brushed his back. Leaning forward, she put her arms around his neck, hugging him to her naked body.