Page 60 of Serpent & Saviors

His nostrils flared as I tickled his flesh. My stomach erupted in butterflies, and I bit my lip. Lining our palms up, I spoke again, wistfully, “I wonder if I’m right.” I maneuvered his hands, positioning them by stretching his thumb and pinkie out to the farthest level. “I knew it,” I declared smugly, letting his hand go.

“Care to explain?”

I shrugged. “I have naturally small hands, no thanks to genetics. My widest stretch is a minor tenth, and that’s still tough for me. I could always make up for it with agility, tearing through Mozart’s sonatas without so much as a single mistake.”

“Is that so? I’m impressed.”

“Yes, well, you, Sir, clear a twelfth easily. It’s quite impressive. You should take up lessons again. You never did say whether you were any good.”

“I’d take lessons from you.” He leaned in and kissed my lips. “Something tells me you’d be an excellent teacher. Just promise not to smack my knuckles with a ruler. I wouldn’t want to not be able to use my hands for other things.”

“Other things?” I asked, feeling my heart skip as he chuckled.

“You said your son draws. What do you think about this one?”

My breath caught in my throat. He held up a child’s sketchbook. He must have picked it up with the other one. It was sky blue and had random sketches around the edges, but in the middle was a blonde-haired boy with curls and an easel with a drawing on it.

I had to do a double take because the sketch on the easel was a drawing of a teddy bear. Tears sprang to my eyes as I reached for it.

“It’s perfect,” I said before breaking down right in the middle of the store.

That was an unexpected reaction. I moved to take her in my arms, setting the items down on the nearest display table. Other shoppers noted her breakdown, and I ushered her out of the store.

“Oh, God. I’m sorry I embarrassed you,” she stammered, panic filling her eyes. “Please don’t be angry. It won’t happen again.”

“Hey, calm down. You’re not in trouble, and you didn’t embarrass me. I wanted to give you some privacy to process whatever it is that’s going on. I’m guessing you miss your son.”

She nodded and burst into tears again. Today was our last full day and night together. I debated asking the guys to push up our timeline and get Declan from camp today. We could have them reunited at the safehouse by evening.

But part of her healing would be confronting Cameron and letting him know she was done. And I wanted more time with her. That was my truth. Marcus opened the car door, and I helped her in, but didn’t join her.

I went back inside the bookstore, grabbed the items I’d put down, placing them in a basket. I then grabbed the two journals she’d looked at. As I was standing in line, I had a bit of inspiration. I whipped out my phone and texted Alek.

COUNSELOR:

You know that safe you bought Isabella. Think you could find me a smaller-sized one? It would be for journals, notebooks, that kind of thing.

REAPER:

I can. How many are we talking and am I delivering it or bringing it back here?

COUNSELOR:

Delivered if you can, and the current number will be five journals, but maybe with room to grow.

REAPER:

I’m on it. How did last night go?

I typed, then backspaced, imagining him with a huge grin at my lack of a quick response. After two minutes his text came in. I erased the book I’d typed and read his.

REAPER:

So Ivan’s late-night musings might have some merit. All I ask is that you’re sure before you bring her home. Kinsley gets attached easily. I won’t have her heartbroken if you have a falling out.

Fucker, of course, he would tease me, and duh, I’m pretty sure I was the one who told him about Kinsley’s attachment issues way before he realized it.

COUNSELOR: