When she reached a secluded copse of lilac bushes, she spread out a blanket from her pack and took out her mug of coffee. While Annalise had told her that they only allowed picnicking during the festival, a blanket and some coffee hardly constituted a picnic. Right? She doubted anyone would be here this early anyway.
As she sipped at the warm beverage, she opened her phone to read the news. She had to read the headline twice. “Murphy Embezzlement Scheme Uncovered”. She read on.
Late yesterday evening, Howard and Anna Murphy were taken into custody outside of their private residence in Beacon Hill. Authorities claim to have received a series of documents that allegedly show the couple has siphoned nearly 5 million dollars of donation funds into their own account in the Cayman Islands from their charity, The Murphy Foundation. While the Murphy’s have not made an official statement, they are expected to plead not guilty.
Her jaw dropped. Kalev had promised he’d get them. It had taken time, but she had no doubt—it was him. He must have set the wheels in motion before… She bit back a sob. She couldn’t fathom how much he had done for her, how much he would always mean to her. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the span of two months. She had gone from living mostly in seclusion, and maintaining the same routine, to fighting demons, falling in love, finding her confidence and then losing the love of her life. Although her heart still ached, if given the opportunity, she’d do it all over again. Except this time, she would’ve told him about her feelings sooner.
She wished that she’d had the chance to tell him how she felt. To apologize for being so cruel to him when he’d turned human. Her anger itself had not been misplaced, but some of the reasons behind it had been. She should have taken his side in front of Azriel and talked it out later. The few moments they’d had before Kalev had died hadn’t been enough. She hadn’t been able to explain why she’d said what she’d said or to tell him that her love for him was eternal and that nothing would change it. She couldn’t begin to count the number of times she’d whispered ‘I love you’ or some such iteration into the emptiness when she’d been red eyed and alone, when her heart had hurt so badly she thought it might stop beating. If somehow, saying it to the universe would make her words reach him.
“I will always love you,” she whispered, yet again, despite the futility of it.
“I know.”
The response had been so unexpected, Grace jerked, coffee spilling out from her mug and onto the blanket. It had been his voice. But it couldn’t have been. She must be imagining things, wanting so desperately to hear him again, that her mind had invented it. She flipped her eyes open anyway.
But there he was, in all his virulent masculinity. His dark hair, his sculpted muscles, his enchanting hazel eyes. The small upturn of his mischievous grin. The piece of hair that fell errantly across his brow. Every detail just as she had remembered.
“Kalev?” She choked on a sob as she got up to rush toward him. She half expected to go right through him when she launched herself into his arms, but he was solid. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her tight against him as he twirled her around.
Grace’s head spun. She had had this dream before. A hundred times at least. Had she fallen asleep in the park? She hadn’t thought she was that tired, but it was much more likely than what was happening now. But in her dreams, she never thought she was dreaming. She would wake up drenched in sweat, aching with need, and so disappointed that she would lie awake for hours afterwards.
As time had passed, she had come to anticipate the dream, even look forward to it. It was the only time she would ever have Kalev again. Even if it was just a pale shadow of what it was like to really be with him, it was something. But she worried that it had now crossed over into the day. Had she begun to lose her mind? To need him so badly, she could no longer tell what was a daydream and what was real?
“Am I dreaming?” She asked him, knowing even as she asked that it was a pointless question.
“No, you’re not dreaming, Grace.” He put her down and squeezed her hand, “I am real.”
A tear escaped the corner of her eye. He was so warm and strong under her hands. She felt so safe in his arms. She still didn’t know for sure whether it was real or not, but she decided that, in this moment, it didn’t matter.
“I love you so much,” he whispered before he kissed her with a fierceness that she hadn’t known he possessed. It was all-consuming, intoxicating, exciting. It was as if, with a single kiss, he was declaring to all the universe that she was his, that they should never be parted again. She savored the taste of him as their tongues swirled in an exotic dance. Their kisses before had been mind-blowing but this was earth shattering. This kiss claimed her, possessed her, consumed her.
Heat curled low in her abdomen, waves of it calling her to higher passions. She pressed herself against him, needing to be closer to him. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. If it was real, then …. God, she had so many questions, but they could all wait. In fact, if it meant that this could go on forever, she never needed the answers. All she wanted was to never be parted again.
She ran her hands down his strong back, savoring each delicious inch of him. She slid her hands underneath his shirt, desperate to feel the smooth ridges and plains of his warm body. He too seemed eager to touch her; he swiftly untucked her ruffled ivory blouse and glided a hand up over her rib cage. He caressed the soft curve of her breast. She trembled with anticipation, silently willing him to push away her balconette. He did. His quiet rumble of satisfaction made her shiver with awareness. She moaned softly as he deftly teased her aching nipple. She arched into his palm; she needed more of him.
“I want...” she panted as he switched his hand to the other breast, but she couldn’t finish the sentence. She wasn’t sure what she wanted. Her need was too overwhelming. She ached for him everywhere. She wanted him over her, on her, in her, touching her everywhere. It was as if every fiber of her being was about to explode. She didn’t care that they were outside, in a park, with dawn on the horizon. The spot was secluded enough; unless someone strayed off the path they wouldn’t be seen. She was so frantic with need at this point, she didn’t much care anyway, as long as they were left alone.
Kalev’s response to her statement was to slip his fingers lower. Down, down, teasing her skin with his fingertips. Goosebumps instantly rose everywhere he touched. As his fingers continued to make their way down her abdomen, she tensed with anticipation. He was agonizingly slow, stopping to appreciate every inch of her. When he finally reached the junction of her thighs, she cried out, unable to contain her reaction to the shock of pleasure that shot through her.
As he darted a finger in and out of her silken folds, she clung to him, fearing she would be unable to stand. Her pleasure peaked swiftly and intensely; the arm around her was the only thing that held her up. Her head swam with the pleasure of it, riding out the fierceness. She had wanted to make this time with him last, but it had been too long. The power of her desire, of her longing, had been uncontrollable.
“I never want this to end,” she sighed.
“It never has to,” he responded. He claimed her mouth again with his. She didn’t dare believe it. If she did, when she finally returned to reality, from whatever this was, she might never recover. But just the idea of it, of him staying with her, made her press into him again. He answered her by resuming his demanding strokes, causing her to climax a second time.
Grace released the kiss as the ferocity of her excitement finally ebbed. By all rights she should be more than satiated, but when it came to Kalev, she didn’t seem to ever be able to get enough. Now, at least, her need was not so acute. Instead, she could take the time to bring him pleasure in return. He throbbed against her, his own need readily apparent. She smiled at the look of intense concentration on his face as he forced himself to focus on her pleasure before finding his own.
Grace went down to her knees, taking his pants and boxers down wit
h her. His eyes widened as comprehension dawned. Grace smiled wickedly as she realized Caleb had never experienced this type of pleasure before. Nor, had she ever really wanted to do this with someone. Steve had made it an obligation, and she had never offered it without him asking. She had always felt unsure of herself, clumsy, and Steve had only reinforced her feelings of inadequacy. With Caleb, it was different. She was turned on just thinking about how much he was going to like it, how he’d be putty in her hands. She didn’t question whether he’d enjoy it or not. She knew he would. The confidence she had found in herself because of him made her feel bold enough to take control. She gave a throaty laugh. They were both in for a treat.
✽✽✽
The sight of Grace looking up at him, a broad smile on her face and a wicked little gleam in her eye nearly unmanned him. Her cries of delight only moments before had made his heavy erection pulse with need. He couldn’t believe he was back on earth with this amazing woman. He’d wanted her for so long, assuming the entire time that she could never be his. But now she was. In his wildest imaginings he couldn’t have dreamed up this moment.
There was so much he needed to tell her, but with her hands already cupping him, he could barely think straight. He hadn’t been able to apologize to her for everything he’d done. He wanted her to know that he never meant for her to get hurt, that he’d never wanted to lie to her, that the first time they’d made love he’d felt as overwhelmed with emotion as she had. He wanted her to know and believe that he was truly here to stay.
He’d just organized his thoughts enough to start to explain when her lips brushed gently against him. The sensation instantly had him as taut as a bowstring; the last vestiges of coherent thought vanished. Giving himself over to her, he buried his hands in her silken cascade of hair, locking his legs in the hopes of bracing himself. He doubted it would work for long. With each lap of her tongue along the thick length of him, his entire body hummed. He groaned trying to restrain himself, not wanting the pleasure to end. Her mewls of enjoyment, licking and sucking him as if he were a delicious ice cream cone, did nothing to help him either.
All too soon, the muscles tensed at the juncture of his thighs, entreating him to give a final thrust to climax. He forced himself to pull back from her. Some other time, perhaps, they could finish that way. But not this time. When he came, he wanted her to join him in pleasure. He wanted all of her against him, under him, wanted to see her own face as rapture swept over it. He wanted to make love to her with his whole body. To show her with every move he made that she was the most precious thing in all of creation to him. Words would never be enough.
She raised a questioning eyebrow at him as she licked her upper lip. Lord, did she even know how sexy she was? He shook his head trying to clear it.
“Not like this,” he managed to say.
She smiled knowingly at him, taking his hands. She gently tugged, inviting him to come next to her on the blanket. He kneeled and touched his forehead to hers. Eyes closed, he breathed in the scent of her, mixed with the perfume of the surrounding lilacs. The aroma calmed him, steadying him enough to be able to take his time. A glossy lock of her hair brushed against his cheek as the smooth silk of her shirt glided under his palm. He carefully undid each of the round ivory buttons that were half hidden in the ruffles of her collar, planting a feathery kiss on each new patch of exposed skin. After lifting the gauzy shirt over her head, he went to work on the back hooks of the bra that he had so quickly pushed aside earlier, taking his time to smooth his hand over the delicate skin of her back.
Her breath hitched when he finally removed the straps with his teeth. That little sound made him want to rush through the rest of the process, but he forced himself to keep a slow pace. They would have a lifetime to enjoy together and he wanted this moment to be one they’d have to spend that lifetime trying to top. She may not believe it yet, but he was here for good.
He took in the soft curves of her breasts with their flawless porcelain skin. He leaned in to lick the already stiff rosy nipples, causing her to pull his head close to her body and lean back on the blankets. Her eagerness inflamed him. He would never tire of pleasuring her. Seeing her free of pretense, giving herself over completely to the sensations of her body, was mesmerizing. The flush of her cheeks, the little ‘o’ of her parted mouth, a few stray strands of hair plastered to her head with perspiration. She was the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen. He needed her so badly, it hurt. The pulse of desire that he had gained control of only minutes before, had come back with a vengeance. There would be no denying it this time.
He drew down the rest of her clothes with one hand while holding himself a few inches above her with the other. He settled himself between her legs, shuddering at the contact of his bare flesh finally meeting hers. Although her eyes were partially hooded, he could tell she was staring at him. He met her intoxicating gaze and held still. In those few moments of silence, they said more to each other than any words could ever convey. All the longing, pain, hurt, hope, desire and love they had each experienced in the last few months passed between them. He had never experienced such a powerful feeling of ‘oneness’ with another being in all of his life.
Finally, inch by inch, he eased into her, her feminine softness enveloping him. He was home.
✽✽✽
His skin felt so warm compared to the slight chill of the morning air; she couldn’t get enough. She ran her hands up and down his muscled back, eager to pull him as close to her as she could. Through her half-closed eyelids she made out a bead of sweat on his brow, his own eyes closed in concentration. She could tell that he wanted to go over the edge as badly as she did but wouldn’t go without her.
The moment they’d just shared, right before he’d entered her, had been the most incredible moment of her life. She hadn’t known that two people could lay bare their souls to one another without saying a single word. He had conveyed his longing, his regrets, his hopes and his love for her all in one intimately revealing look. She knew for certain now, that this was no dream. She could never have imagined this.
The gentle rock of his hips called her back from her thoughts. Grace’s body rose to meet his automatically. They were so right together. She wanted to memorize every aspect of this moment, to carry with her forever. Every kiss. Every touch. She wanted to remember exactly what it felt like. She loved him with all her heart, and, now she knew he loved her just as deeply. After going through so much, after thinking he had been ripped not only from her life but from existence itself, they were, instead, finally together. That knowledge alone stoked the fires of her need more than any physical action could.
She urged him to move harder and faster as her need grew more frenzied. It was quickly slipping out of her control. Each stroke sent tingles pulsating through her abdomen, causing her muscles to clench and her hips to buck. She dragged her nails along his back as she clung to him greedily. She panted with the effort. The force building within her threatened to overwhelm her.
She stopped fighting it. Instead, she let herself soar as the pleasure that had been rising within her burst in a sudden explosion of utter ecstasy. The strength of her release reached every sinew of her being, overpowering her. It was as if she had been sucked from the world and was floating in a sea of stars. But Kalev was right there with her. His entire body stiffened, and a low groan escaped him, as he too careened into this blissful stasis. Here, in this place that was meant only for the two of them, she knew what it meant to find pure bliss.
When they finally did come down from that unidentifiable space between heaven and earth, Kalev drew back to look at her. She would never tire of looking at his face. He was handsome, surely, but it was his look of unabashed joy that took her breath away.
Kalev rolled to the side, using one of his strong arms to keep her pressed firmly against him. With the other, he grabbed the edge of the blanket to wrap over them, keeping out the morning chill. It wouldn’t be long before the sun was fully up into the sk
y, its warmth evaporated the dew, and they’d have to leave this perfect moment.
“There is so much I have to tell you, so much I have to explain,” he started. “I should have told you so many things so long ago-”
Before he could go further, Grace delicately laid one finger over his lips and shushed him.
“Just tell me one thing,” Grace stated.
“Anything.”
“Did you mean it when you said that this never had to end?” She asked, promising herself she would be okay no matter what the answer was. The time she had just been given with him was more of a gift than she could ever have asked for. For months she had longed to be with him one more time and the cosmos had finally, miraculously, granted her request.
“I did mean it. I will never leave you. Not in this lifetime, nor in the eternity after that,” he murmured, “I’ll stay with you for as long as you’ll have me.”
She drew him in for a long, deep kiss more overjoyed by his answer than she could ever have hope of expressing. Instead of trying to, she whispered her answer in his ear. “An eternity sounds just about right.”
Epilogue
Grace peeked her head in the slightly ajar door from the dark hallway. Lit by the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Kalev was sitting beside Matty reading his favorite book about dinosaurs. While last month he’d wanted to be an astronaut, this month he insisted he was going to be a paleontologist instead. Grace suspected that next month he’d be something else entirely. Since Matty had come to live with them that spring, he’d gone through at least five different future career changes.
Both Grace and Kalev had embraced each one with equal enthusiasm, doing research, reading stories, and using their imaginations to play out all sorts of wild adventures. While Grace had suspected that Kalev would make a good father, she could never have imagined how spectacular he would be at it. Since he himself had never had the opportunity to explore the possibilities the world had to offer, he approached it with the same child-like wonder Matty did. It was not unusual for Grace to walk into a room and be kidnapped by pirates, taken in a rocket ship to the moon, or handed the reins of a bucking bronco that refused to be tamed.
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