Free West (A Roam Series Novella) by Kimberly Stedronsky Page B

my arms, and I kissed her, the kind of kiss that was meant to comfort and promise. Pressing her forehead to my chest, she took a deep breath before lifting her sparkling eyes to mine. “As much as I will always love Logan, I just don’t… I don’t trust him,” she cringed at her own words. “He has it within him- deep in his soul- to hurt me. It may surface someday. Not knowing if it will… is frightening.”
    “And you trust me,” I added to her words, lulling. She nodded, her cheek pressed to my chest.
    “Yes.”
    My god, I wanted her again. Right there and then, on the bathroom sink. I fought back the overwhelming urge to lift her to the counter, knowing she had to be tender from our marathon lovemaking. “ Then listen to me, Roam. Whatever Logan tells you, whatever he does to try to make you trust him- don’t . He may tell you terrible things, things that will hurt you and scare you, just to manipulate you. He has already been exposed to the dreams; he already has formed ideas about you and me and what we are.”
    Don’t listen to him. Don’t let him convince you that I’m a monster.
    “I need you to tell me now… about 1977. I need to know what I’m walking in to.”
    I focused on her eyes. She deserves to know. Separate my love for her from the prophecy.
    Protect her.
    “Okay,” I nodded. “First, we eat. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”
    We went to a restaurant at the Plantation, settling into a quiet booth. I told her about Julie as we ordered, enjoying her comments and opinions.
    Even as I recalled my life with Julie, she watched me from across the table, her eyes heavy-lidded and wanting. I could feel her need, watching her shift uncomfortably as we talked. I considered asking them to box our food up and taking her back to the cottage.
    Back to my bed.
    I stopped short, knowing if I continued with how Julie died, she wouldn’t eat. Changing the mood, I asked her what her favorite movie was. She was amused, but indulged me anyway. We bantered over silly first date questions, and I listened to her talk shyly about herself. By the time we returned to the car, I wanted to devour her.
    “Will you tell me the rest now?” She asked, referring to Julie’s story.
    “At the cottage. After I do what I’ve been thinking about for the past two hours.”
    She smiled, melting into my kiss.
    We made it as far as the kitchen. I lifted her to the table, tugging her thin panties aside and sliding into her slowly. She clung to me, really letting go, and I reveled in every pleasured expression on her face.
    Memorizing.
    We tried to get through the cottage to the back door, but ended up on the couch next, her straddling me.
    Somehow, sometime later, we sat on the shore together, sated.
    And I told her about Julie.
    At the end, I told her that I blacked out- which was true- and that I assumed it had been either Troy or the Alter who killed her.
    Which was a lie.
    The silence that follows a lie that you tell the one you love is terrifying. It’s a sale, and as I waited for purchase, I gripped her fingers in mine.
    “That is so awful. And then you ran,” she finally said.
    She believed me. Why wouldn’t she? Relief poured over me with each wave that crashed to the shore.
    I needed her to know.
    Now.
    “In all of the lifetimes we’ve spent together, Roam, I’ve never felt this way about you. Or anyone,” I urged. “I have loved you, but never thought it was possible to love you this much.”
    The smile that swept across her face filled my heart, lighting all the darkened corners and clearing the shadows of the past.
    “That’s a really beautiful… and dramatic… I love you,” she responded, so serious, and I grinned back at her, tightening my hold on her waist. “ West, I love you, too, ” she admitted.
    Soft. Resolved.
    She spoke, and I listened, and for hours we lay in the cottage together. I talke d, she talked, and I made love to her with my entire soul.
    She asked me what my favorite song