by Dale Mayer
Home.
She returned to Connor and led him inside, directly through the small living room to another doorway. The pool room. Opening that lock was a little more complicated. Once they were inside, Genesis took a deep breath and felt calm flow through her. These healing pools were connected. Taking care of them was vital for the community. However, the community didn’t know about this pool. It was hers. Taking care of it meant it was always there for her.
Pushing Connor into a seat at the side of the pool, she bent to undo his boots and tugged them off, followed by his socks, which she stuffed into his boots. His shirt slipped off over his head easily enough. Then it was his pants. Crap.
“Connor. I need you to stand up so I get your jeans off.”
He looked at her in confusion. Then blinked. “What?”
Not worrying about trying to explain, she tugged him upright and quickly opened the button and zipper and yanked his jeans down, leaving his boxers in place. He stepped out and stood, shivering. The pool would warm him quickly.
At least, she hoped so.
She urged him to the edge of the pool. “Connor, do you know what this is?”
“Healing pool,” he whispered. “But I don’t know this one.”
“That’s because it’s mine.”
A slip of understanding shone from his gaze, but it quickly vanished, as though everything happening around him appeared to be too much for Connor’s mind to comprehend.
“I need you to get in. It will help your head wound.”
He stared at the pool as if too much effort was required. She put her arms around him and urged him into the water. At the first touch of his foot in the water, it swarmed up his leg.
She gave him a gentle push; he stood off-balance momentarily and then toppled full-length into the water. Instantly, the water surged up, covering him, supporting him, helping him.
Genesis stepped back, confident that the waters were going to look after him, and returned to close the front door and retie the locks. Now no one could get in without her knowing. And Remi had other ways to get inside.
He didn’t need doors.
She did a quick survey of the cottage, checking that all was as it should be. It appeared to be exactly as she’d left it. The man from the tunnel hadn’t found it, nor had anyone else. Thankfully. She came here often; it was a special place for her and her sisters. It reconnected her to Granny’s spirit.
Genesis walked back and took a quick look to see Connor floating in the pool, apparently unconscious.
As long as he was breathing, she’d leave him in place. She went to work and soon had a pot of tea steeping and a kettle of soup simmering.
He’d need sleep after the pool session. Digging into the cupboard, she found the stash of towels. Taking several, she walked back to Connor.
He still floated, eyes closed, in the middle of the pool. Surrounded by natural rock on all sides, the water reflected off the bottom. Studying his color, she realized he needed to stay in a bit longer. She returned to the soup and turned the flame down, then poured herself a cup of tea and sat beside the pool with it.
Having him lying there in front of her, in a place she’d hoped to bring him a long time ago, had an edge of incredulity to it. He’d been her…everything. For one week she’d experienced heaven. And when it had gone bad, it had gone completely and utterly bad.
She had never regretted those nights; she’d only ever wished for a different ending. She was the sister who couldn’t leave. When he’d pleaded with her, she’d cried and explained that one of the three had to stay. There was no choice. Then, he’d made love to her like he couldn’t bear to part from her, and she thought he’d understood.
When she woke up the next morning…he was gone.
So what was this reunion, then?
Plus…up until tonight, she’d thought that seeing him here, in her home, would hurt. But it didn’t. It felt odd, strange, and good…in a weird way. It felt right.
And that scared her even more.
*
Connor came awake as gently as a breath blowing on the breeze. He sighed, a deep, long, last expulsion of old air, old emotions, and old hurts. He opened his eyes.
And except for the fact that he was in water, he had no idea where he was. He floated easily, loathe to get out, feeling calmer and more peaceful than he had in a long time. He studied the ceiling above him. A large glass dome let him see the starry night above; bright lights in a dark, blurry panorama. He tilted his head as best he could to see more. Small lamps created luminous pools around the room. And the water he floated in glowed with an unearthly light.
He turned his head to see a cozy room only big enough for this pool and a few chairs and a small table on the side. He swore he’d never been in this space before. Moving his hands slowly, he shifted enough so that he could turn around and see everything. And stopped.
Genesis sat at the edge of the pool, staring into a teacup as if the answers to the world were there.
She looked so lost, so fragile; his heart went out to her.
Slowly, his memories filled in.
He’d been in the underground pools looking for her. Matt had suggested he find her and ask her if she knew what was happening to the reserve.
Instead, he’d gotten his head bashed in without warning and she’d found him.
He studied her bent head, wondering how someone so small could be so strong. She’d come from humble beginnings. Been looked down on because of her ancient granny, survived that loss, and watched the dominoes continue to fall all around her as her sisters’ relationships broke up, with the two women leaving Genesis behind. Alone. Just like he had.
He’d loved her before. But it had been too fast, too powerful. And now he realized he’d never stopped loving her, and he knew he’d spend the rest of his days trying to convince her to give him a second chance.
Give them a second chance.
He had his head on straight now, and he knew what was important. As far as he could tell, they were alone here. And maybe that was a good time for his confession. To tell her what he’d done, and why. And what he was prepared to do to win her back. Which was…anything.
He took a deep breath and whispered in a gentle voice, “Hi.”
Chapter 6
Genesis looked over at him and her heart melted. That look in his eyes. As if she was the most important thing in his life. A look she’d always loved and never thought she’d see again.
In the same gentle tone he’d used, she whispered, “Hi back.”
He smiled, a long, slow smile that started with his mouth and moved to his eyes, spreading to encompass the room – with her in the center. She could feel her resistance crumbling. She loved him so much. Always had. But how did one reconcile what they’d been through?
And did that matter? Maybe they should move forward as the two different people they were today. He’d dropped in and would drop out again just as fast. She could enjoy the moment like she had last time. Only this time she was older. Wiser. She could love him and let him go. She’d have to. Because she wanted those moments – however fleeting – with him.
From the look in his eyes, he was willing. Her heart beat out a resounding message, to hurry, make the most of the moment. But her mind, that part of her that knew what kind of heartache lay ahead, whispered be careful. Whatever happened, it would still hurt in the end.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, studying his face. His color looked better, and he appeared rested. He looked relaxed and so at home. She deliberately kept her eyes on his face. He was lean and muscled, with tan lines that would have amused her if she’d been in the same place emotionally as the last time she’d seen them. That he looked equally well in a suit had made Grandfather happy to send him to the various elitist evening functions that she never could attend, not being one of them.
“I feel…” he closed his eyes and released a heavy sigh “…at peace.”
“Good. And the head wound?”
> He reached up a wet hand and gently touched the injury, surprise lighting his face. “It doesn’t hurt at all.” He glanced around the small room. “Where am I?”
She hesitated then realized it was too late to keep this secret. “It’s my place.”
His gaze zipped back toward her. “What?”
She raised an eyebrow and waited. He hadn’t known about this place as she’d never shown it to him. Hell, she’d never brought anyone here. His attention quickly searched the small room again, then zinged back to land and lock on her face. His gaze narrowed. “Yours?”
“Yes.” And she took a sip of tea, watching him over the rim. “And my sisters.”
He sat up slowly. “When did you get it?”
“It was Granny’s.”
She stood up in a smooth movement and turned her back on him. As she left, she tossed back, “If you are feeling okay, you can get out whenever you like. The towels are on the side of the bath.”
Back in the kitchen, she set the table with the light meal she’d prepared. After hearing the sounds of him moving around, she served two bowls.
Looking tired but more like himself, Connor stepped into the kitchen, instantly dwarfing the small room. Unconsciously, she stepped back. “I don’t have much food. I hadn’t expected visitors.”
His glance encompassed the space before coming to rest on the bowls on the table. He smiled. “I can’t remember a time when I was quite so grateful to see a bowl of soup.”
“Hungry?”
“Starved.” He pointed to a chair. “May I?”
“Oh!” She flushed. “Please, sit down.” She hated the sudden awkwardness, the immediate retreat to polite formality. When communication broke down, politeness became the comfortable medium to buffer the widening distance between them. She took her seat and immediately apologized. “Sorry there isn’t more.”
He shook his head. “This is just fine. Thank you for bringing me here.” He stopped and looked up from his bowl. “You took care of me and brought me to a spirit pool so I could heal. And now,” he smiled and waved his hand towards the food, “you’re feeding me.”
He spooned up another mouthful. “And I am hungry.”
“A side effect of the pools.”
“Really?” His gaze pinned her in place.
She nodded. She didn’t add that if one appetite wasn’t fueled, then another appetite became uncontrollable until it was fed.
“Thank you.” His quiet voice interrupted her reverie.
Taking another sip of soup, she said, “You’re welcome.”
She let the silence develop a little further. She could sense he was bursting with questions, but she had no plans to make it easy on him. Instead, she focused on finishing her soup while her mind filled with the issue of the oncoming night. He wasn’t going to fit anywhere in the little cottage. Connor was over six feet tall, and the bed in the spare room had been hers. Her granny’s bed was bigger, as it was a full-size bed, whereas hers was a hangover from childhood. At just over five feet, she’d never grown out of it. As long as her granny had been alive, she’d slept in the little one. Afterward, she’d switched to Granny’s bed. It felt slightly wrong to have Connor sleep there. But her options were limited. There were also her sisters’ rooms, more like studios, but they were private.
She glanced at the moonlight shining into the kitchen; it was past bedtime. They’d stay here tonight, and in the morning, she’d lead him back out again.
He pushed his empty bowl away. “That hit the spot.” Then he yawned.
Genesis stood up and collected the dirty dishes. “Bedtime.”
“I’ll help you clean up first.”
She quickly finished up and turned to face him. He might have healed, but he appeared to be hitting the after-pool effects. All the pools had different aftereffects, depending on their spiritual level, but at the same time, they had a lot of similarities. Her pool made one really hungry and really tired.
“Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
She led the way to Granny’s room. “This is actually my room, but I’ll sleep in the spare room, as that bed is too small for you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It won’t matter. I’m so tired, I’ll zone out with no trouble even if my lower legs hang off the end of the frame.”
She led him to her old bed and showed him. “It’s my old childhood bed.”
He winced and she laughed. “Come on, I’ll show you the other one.”
At the door to her bedroom, she motioned him to go in ahead of her.
“Oh wow. Just like in the room with the pool.” He stood in the middle of the room, staring upward.
“Granny was a stargazer,” she said by way of explanation for the huge, glass-domed ceiling.
“I didn’t think we had any more of those.”
She didn’t answer. Tears collected in her eyes. He turned, as if sensing her distress, and walked over to her. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”
Genesis swallowed hard. She smiled brightly at him. “I’m fine. It gets easier with time.”
He stroked her arms gently. “Easier, yes, but we always mourn those we’ve loved and lost.”
“True.” She sniffled, swiped at her eyes, then motioned to her bed. “It’s yours for the night.”
Connor protested, but she wouldn’t listen. “I’m too tired to argue over this. Go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.” At the doorway, she turned back. “If you wake up in pain in the night, head to the pool.”
“I will,” he said. “Thank you.”
And she walked away.
*
Connor turned back to the small room with the extraordinary dome and wished he wouldn’t be sleeping alone. He wanted Genesis more than he could ever remember wanting her. When he’d woken up in the water, the heat of the pool had somehow lit the heat of his loins. And damn if he hadn’t stayed in lust ever since. He’d barely made it through the evening with flames rolling through his veins. Just seeing her in front of him, the way she’d sipped her soup, licked her lips, and shied away like a doe when he moved. Everything about her stoked the flames.
The thrill of the chase pumped through him, firing up his heartbeat. He’d closed his eyes, feigning exhaustion when all he’d wanted was to throw her on the table and make crazy passionate love to her right there.
He shuddered. He should have taken the small bed. He wasn’t going to get any sleep this night anyway.
Throwing himself down on the bed, he sighed heavily. The night sky stared down at him. Stars, millions of them, gleaming brightly in the sky. It made him feel small. Insignificant. He thought about Genesis’s revelation – about her grandmother being a stargazer. He’d only heard of such a thing as an ancient art. Almost a myth now.
It was a skill that rulers once used to make the right decisions at the right time.
He couldn’t imagine. Her granny had been looked at as a joke. A bit of local color most people had avoided. Including him, on the couple of trips he’d taken to visit. He’d seen her at a store, in the park, and like everyone else, he’d avoided her.
He remembered what Grandfather had said about the oddness of Genesis’ family. The mockery in his voice at the time.
It couldn’t have been easy to be Genesis growing up in that environment.
He hoped she’d had a loving happy home. At least the four women had been close. And Genesis was special, so Granny had done a wonderful job. It said much about her upbringing even if the townspeople wouldn’t see it that way. They’d been so in love, her past hadn’t reared its head during his time with her. And her past hadn’t been important. Then.
Now he had to wonder.
That she’d chosen to stay here rather than leave with him had broken his heart. Had left him gasping with pain. He’d somehow thought it would get better. But all it did was highlight how much he’d missed her.
And still did. But now he understood. At least some of it. It wasn’t so much that she hadn’t wanted to leave, but
that she couldn’t. When she’d first told him that, he’d thought it was an excuse. Now that he understood more – Matt had helped with that – he understood that one sister had to remain here at all times. So with the other two disappearing, Genesis had no choice but to stay.
No more misunderstandings. They’d take it slow this time. See what their options were. He knew one thing for sure – he wasn’t leaving her again.
He closed his eyes, at peace for the first time in months…and fell asleep to thoughts of her soft skin.
Chapter 7
Genesis rolled over and punched her pillow, closing her eyes for the hundredth time. She groaned. Damn it. Why? She was exhausted, her body worn out. She’d needed to be clearheaded tomorrow. She had so much to do. She desperately needed a good night’s sleep.
But at this point, she’d be nothing more than a baggy-eyed witch in the morning. She flopped onto her back.
“Remi, could you just knock me out?”
He popped up beside her, his chatter fast and furious. “Yes, you’re right. This bed is small and he’s in ours.”
She sighed. She just couldn’t seem to relax. That might be her answer. The healing pool. She could use it herself. The only hesitation was that she’d be nude in her own pool. And what if he woke up?
She’d told him to go into the pool if he hurt.
Well, she’d have to deal with that when the time came. Once the idea of bathing was in her mind, the thought wouldn’t leave her alone. She took a quick listen outside of his door, and, realizing that she couldn’t hear any sounds coming from where he slept, she tiptoed to her pool. Closing the door, she slipped off her robe and stepped nude into the water.
Oh Lord, that felt good. Her heart ached, and after finding Connor, along with the effort of bringing him home, her body was sore and bruised. She stood waist-deep in the water and unbraided her long golden hair, using her fingers to untangle the wavy strands. Then she slowly sank down into the warm, blue, energizing waters until she was completely submerged. After a moment she came up for air, took a breath, and floated on her back. Quiet moans escaped as she lay there, completely supported by the water. She focused on taking several deep breaths, needing to release the stress and heal the multiple aches and pains that had permeated her body so deep she’d almost accepted them as normal.