by Lexi C. Foss
Lizzie almost fell out of her chair in her attempt to reach him. He caught her hips and hoisted her into the air as her arms flew around his neck.
Real.
He’s real.
She hadn’t wanted to believe—had refused to let hope capture her heart—until she touched him.
And he felt very much alive, and hot, and hard.
Wearing designer jeans and a long-sleeved forest-green shirt, he was just as she remembered him. Even the windswept brown hair was right.
She pressed her nose to his throat, inhaling his cedar scent.
Very, very real.
His palms went to her ass as she wrapped her legs around his waist. The shorts Eliza let her borrow rode up her thighs, but Lizzie didn’t care.
“You’re here,” she breathed. “You’re alive.”
He chuckled. “As are you.” He slid one hand up to tangle his fingers in her hair and gently pried her face from his neck. “I missed you, Red,” he whispered after catching her gaze. “So much it hurt.”
“I missed you too.” She caressed his face with her eyes, memorizing every strong, masculine line. “I thought you died.”
“I’m right here, Liz,” he murmured. “And I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
She leaned forward to kiss him, but the clearing of a throat stopped her. Lizzie lifted her gaze to the man standing in the foyer.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt.” Tom dragged his fingers through his blond hair, looking a little sheepish. “I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’re okay, Liz.” The hesitancy in his tone stung. He’d never been uneasy like this around her. Granted, the last few times they saw each other hadn’t been all that pleasant for either of them.
Jayson tugged a strand of her hair to catch her attention. “Do you need a minute?” he asked softly.
She swallowed. He was offering her a chance to talk to Tom, but only if she wanted it.
Did she?
Things would never be the same between them—likewise for Lizzie and Stas—but that didn’t mean she wanted to hate him forever. They might not be best friends after this, but they could still be friends. Even close, over time.
And if what the doctor implied about Lizzie’s Seraphim genetics was true, then her time on Earth would be infinite. Just like everyone else on this island.
Amelia walked around the table to enfold Tom in a hug, her lips at his ear. He nodded at whatever she said, but his eyes were so sad. Lizzie had never seen him like this. Was he hurting because of her? Because she didn’t want to talk to him? Because she refused to forgive him?
He died.
She attended his funeral.
And he lied to her in the worst possible way.
Yet the pain of losing him had nothing on the agony she experienced after losing Jayson. And she understood, on a logical level, why Tom kept her in the dark. He meant to protect her, as he always did. That didn’t excuse his behavior, but his heart was in the right place.
“I’d like to talk to him,” Lizzie decided. “But don’t go far.”
Jayson captured her mouth in a kiss that knocked her world off-kilter. “I think you’ll find it nearly impossible to get rid of me now, Red.” He kissed her again before helping her stand. “Let me know when you’re done. We have a few items to discuss.”
The promise in his words, whether intentional or not, doused her in ice water.
In all the excitement of seeing him, she forgot about something very important.
The baby.
Was that what he wanted to discuss? No, of course not. He couldn’t possibly know.
Oh God. How would he react?
Three thousand years of sex without consequences… No way would he be pleased by this news.
It threw her history in both their faces. She was a woman created in a lab. What man would want someone like that? Lizzie’s classification didn’t exist. A Seraphim created in a mortal womb.
“Lizzie.” Jayson’s hands cradled her face. “Don’t give up on me yet, sweetheart. Talk to Tom, and afterward, we’ll catch up, okay?”
She swallowed and nodded. “O-okay.” He obviously had no idea, or he wouldn’t be so calm.
One problem at a time.
Talking to Tom would be a cakewalk compared to the father of her child. She forced a smile, and Jayson traced the edges of her lips.
“Trust in me,” he whispered.
Adoration emanated from his soft brown eyes, causing her heart to flutter with hope. This was the man who kneeled, accepted a collar, and died—all for her. He might not be thrilled by the idea of a child, but he would at least be open to discussing it. As for her being different, he already knew and never looked at her differently.
A lifetime of insecurity and being told she would never be good enough exploded in a single moment as she realized, To Jay, I’m good enough.
Because he loved her.
And she loved him.
“Of course I trust you,” she replied with conviction. She’d trusted him from the moment he waltzed into her apartment uninvited—an innate, gut reaction to her soul recognizing his.
“Hold that thought, Red,” he murmured with a smile. “Tom first.”
She returned the smile. “Okay.”
He brushed his lips against her forehead and stepped back to address their audience. “I’m going to provide Amelia and Eliza with an update on what happened. We’ll be outside.”
Tom nodded. “I understand.”
“Is everyone all right?” Amelia asked as Jayson opened the front door.
“Physically, yes.” His reply whispered through the room, causing Lizzie to frown.
“What does he mean?” she asked, her question directed at Tom.
“Osiris forced Alik to use his mental abilities on Luc and Balthazar, and he’s not taking it well. And Stas found out that Osiris might be her grandfather.”
Lizzie’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Yeah…” Tom rubbed a hand over his face and scratched his jaw. “I’m not quite sure how that works considering Ichorian genetics.”
“Do you believe him?”
Tom shrugged. “Honestly, after the things he knew tonight? It’s entirely possible. Or he’s fucking with us at her expense.”
“God,” Lizzie breathed. “Is she in Hydria? Because I should go to her. She must feel so alone.”
“Wakefield’s with her.”
“He is?” After the way he acted toward her on the beach, that surprised her. “You’re sure?”
“Oh yeah.” Tom shook his head. “I might have my own issues with him, but he does right by her. I’ll give him that.”
She nodded slowly. From what she’d witnessed, he cared deeply for Stas, even if he’d been a bit distant earlier. “She’s in good hands.”
“Not sure I’d go that far, but okay.” The air changed subtly between them as the focus shifted from their mutual friend to the elephant in the room.
“Fuck, Lizzie, I hate that you’re mad at me. I know I deserve it, and if you never want to speak to me again, I will do my best to honor it. But you need to know that I never meant to hurt you. Ever.”
He palmed the back of his neck. “It all went down so fast. Did Jayson tell you what happened?”
She cleared the emotion lining her throat and forced herself to say, “He mentioned you saved Amelia from a bad situation. And he said you both faked your deaths.”
Tom nodded. “That’s high level, but yeah. John put me on an assignment to watch Amelia out in the middle of the woods, and the things they were doing to her…” His fists clenched. “Let’s just say, I couldn’t let it continue. But the only way to protect her was to convince John we were dead, and I couldn’t bring you into that, Liz. Not without endangering you too.”
“So you left me alone in New York City with a hoard of Ichorians and the CRF.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm or the annoyance in her tone. Because really? That was probably the worst place to keep her.
“
I only saw a glimpse of your file, and I overheard my dad once talking about the serum you needed, and Luc wondered if it was something meant to keep you alive. We couldn’t risk removing you from the potential life source without knowing for certain, which was why we sent Jay.” He dropped his hands to his sides in defeat. “I realize it left you alone, but there wasn’t a moment that went by when I didn’t worry about you. I’ve always adored you, Liz.”
“When did we really meet?” she asked, curious.
Tom frowned. “What do you mean? You were, like, ten or something. We met at one of those damn brunches. You don’t remember?”
She shook her head and picked up her file. “According to this, I lived in a lab until my eighteenth year.”
He stepped forward to take the paper from her, skimming it. “This is bullshit.”
“I don’t think it is.”
“No, I definitely met you as a kid. I remember thinking you were like the sister I always wanted.”
She smiled sadly. “I think they implanted that memory.” Just as they did all of hers regarding the childhood crush that never blossomed into anything more. “It makes sense. They wanted you to assume the big-brother role to protect me, and they wanted to give me a love interest that would keep me occupied.” So she wouldn’t be tempted by anyone else until they were ready for her to breed.
And then she met Jayson.
Tom read the paper again and set it down, his eyes blinking. “That… that…”
“Is really messed up?” she supplied with a humorless laugh. “Yeah, it is, but it’s probably true.”
He stared down at her, his tan face paling. “I had no idea, Liz.”
“I know,” she replied. “I don’t blame you, and I understand why you did what you did. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, but it’s enough to start forgiving you.”
Moisture glistened in his eyes. “God, when did you grow up?”
She laughed. “Really, Tom?”
“I mean it. You used to be this fragile, demure little girl. But this new you, she’s not demure at all. I approve.”
She rolled her eyes. “Six years, at least in my mind, I tried to get you to notice that I’m a woman, and now you work it out. Figures.”
He chuckled and mussed up her hair. “You’re still like a sister to me, Liz.”
“A womanly sister, though.”
“Sure,” he agreed, his brown eyes grinning as he pulled her into a hug. They stayed like that for a long moment, his chin on her head and their arms around each other’s backs. It felt right. Not in the same way Jayson felt right, but in a friendship kind of way.
“I’ve always recognized your beauty, Liz,” he added softly. “But I respected you far too much to act on it. Stas, too.”
“And Amelia?” she asked.
“Amelia,” he repeated, his tone deepening. “I never stood a chance at denying her.”
Lizzie smiled, happy for him. “You love her.”
“I do,” he agreed as he pulled away. “More than I should.”
“Good,” Lizzie said, meaning it. “I hope she drives you crazy.”
“Excuse me?” He managed to sound both amused and floored at the same time.
“What?” She batted her eyes innocently. “We both know you deserve it, Tom Fitzgerald. Oh, and by the way, if you ever die on me again, do not expect me to attend your funeral. I’ve done that once already, and I refuse to do it again. So stay alive. Got it?”
He swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Great. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I need to talk to Jayson.”
Tom chuckled and shook his head. “You know, I worried about the two of you, but I think you’ll handle him just fine. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.”
“And what does that mean?” she demanded.
He shrugged as he started toward the foyer. “Oh, nothing. Just musing out loud.” He turned the handle. “Jay, she’s all yours. And, uh, good luck, buddy. Bye, Liz!” He popped out of the house before she could get in another word.
“Rude,” she grumbled.
Jayson locked the front door. “Sounds like you two worked things out.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Lizzie replied. “Pretty sure I might want to kill him again now.”
His lips curled in amusement. “Tom seems to have that effect on a lot of people, though his talents are unquestionably useful, so we keep him around.”
She giggled, and it felt good. After so many hours or days, she needed it.
And then she sobered as she realized the importance of their pending discussion.
“So much has happened,” she started.
“Yes,” he agreed. “And before you start us down that path, there’s something I need to say.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
He wiped his palms against his jeans as he approached, his expression serious. She tried to read the emotions in his chocolate eyes, but they were vacillating between too many for her to catch.
Jayson stopped in front of her and took her hands. “I’ve debated all night on how I wanted to do this and what I needed to say, but no matter what words I form in my mind, nothing measures up to the magnitude of this moment.”
He paused to clear his throat and wet his lips with his tongue.
He’s nervous.
“In my over-three-thousand years, I never thought it would be possible to feel this way. The notion of a family didn’t exist for me, and I was always okay with that because I grew up knowing that inevitability. But now, life has given me the most precious gift I didn’t even know I wanted, in the form of you.”
She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. The intensity pouring off him was almost too much. It escalated her heartbeat to what had to be unhealthy levels and, at the same time, stilted her breathing. Because she didn’t want to miss a single word, and even a simple exhale was too loud.
He held her gaze as he dropped to one knee. “I can’t begin to explain how it feels, Elizabeth, to suddenly have everything you never knew you wanted, given to you on the whim of fate.”
He dropped her hands to grasp her hips.
“Knowing you has changed me on an irrevocable level. I thought my yearning for you was a passing infatuation, just as the others who came before you were, but the desire grew with each day until I couldn’t deny it anymore. And so I broke the rules, and tasted you, but, God, Liz, it wasn’t enough.” His grip tightened as he pressed his forehead to her stomach. “I don’t think it will ever be enough.”
Tears glistened in her eyes as he lifted her shirt to place a reverent kiss on her abdomen. He stared up at her with a look of worship as he kissed her belly button.
“A family, Lizzie,” he whispered. “I never thought I could ever have a son or a daughter, or even a wife. And I never knew how much I wanted all of that until you. I will spend every day for the rest of my life thanking you, loving you, and cherishing you. And I will do whatever you need me to do to prove that I’m worthy of this amazing gift, Elizabeth. To prove that I’m worthy enough to love you, and to raise our child.”
She sniffled as he clasped her hands again and straightened his back while still down on one knee. “I want to marry you, Elizabeth. I realize it’s an antiquated tradition, and that humans rarely take their vows seriously, but I want to promise myself to you in front of all our friends and family. What we have is so rare, Lizzie. And I need to do this right, not just for us, but for our future.”
He cleared his throat as affection poured from his eyes. “A baby,” he whispered, his voice awed. “I’m going to be a father.” His gaze shifted upward as if in prayer. “It’s the miracle I never knew I wanted, Lizzie.”
“Jayson…” She could barely see him through all the water clouding her vision. And if he kept speaking, she’d be a sobbing mess. Of all the things for him to say to her, she never expected this. But it was so perfect, so heartfelt, and so extremely right.
He kissed her knuckles and bowed his head over her hands as tears
streamed down her face. “I have the benefit of time and experience behind me, and I can say with utter certainty that no one has ever made me feel the way I do for you. It might seem fast, especially to you, but I know in my heart that this is it for me. There will never be anyone else, and I will wait, for as long as you need me to, for you to feel the same.”
Moisture gathered in his gaze as he looked up at her again. “Eternity is a long time, but I want to spend forever with you, if you’ll have me.” He kissed her wrist, his eyes holding hers even through the tears. “Elizabeth Watkins, will you marry me?”
29
Pizza Is Forever
My name is Elizabeth. I am no longer 4-7.
—Entry Log 124.11.4-7
Jayson’s heart raced while he waited for Lizzie to say something. Anything. Even if the words Fuck off rolled out of her mouth, he wouldn’t care, because the anticipation was killing him.
She licked her lips, opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again, killing him more. Never had he needed an answer more than he wanted one now.
“Oh God, Jayson.” She shook her head as more tears rolled down her pink cheeks. “No, that’s not a no… hold on… I’m just… oh my God, I’ve gone and screwed it up already.” She laughed and shook her head again. “Crap!”
Her face reddened even more, which he found both adorable and infuriating. The latter only because he wanted to kiss her, but he couldn’t while she was still deciding how to respond.
She took a steadying breath, her hands gripping his harder than she probably realized. After several agonizing seconds, she finally met his gaze again and smiled.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes matching the word. “Of course, yes. Always, yes. I… I don’t even know where to start, but yes. I would love to marry you.”
Adrenaline shot him to his feet as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed the life out of her. Her silky hair felt like heaven between his fingers as he coaxed her head to the angle he preferred. She melted against him, giving him what he needed as he returned the favor.