41. Chapter 41
41
As I rummaged around in the cart, it occurred to me that I hadn’t had a moment alone with Esta since we bonded. I wrapped my treasure in a faded blue cloth, wondering if Esta would notice my flushed cheeks. She drifted over to me, sensing my nerves in the thread between us.
My heart kicked in my chest at the future that might have been.
The one where Esta never forgave me.
“What is it?” She hooked her fingers through my crooked elbow, and I drew her away from the group. I was hungry for her, ravenous, really. But that future was dust, and I would have so many golden years to prove my love still.
I urged Esta to sit and placed the wrapped cloth on her lap. My stomach danced with butterflies.
“I wanted to wait until we settled in our new home to put on the mantle. But you need something to lift your mood today.” I chewed my bottom lip as I pulled the cloth to reveal a scorched teapot.
Her mother’s.
Discolored from the fire. The oranges were brown, and the white was scorched black and yellow. But it was whole.
Esta gasped, covering her mouth in delicious surprise. “H-how? I thought everything was lost in the fire.”
I would search through a thousand charred house shells just for one glimpse of pleasure in her crystalline gaze.
“Almost everything. The mantle collapsed, and somehow it was shielded enough to survive. I wouldn’t recommend using it for tea, and none of the other pieces survived, unfortunately. But I know you treasured this.”
She made grabby hands at me, only satisfied when my stubbled cheeks were clasped between them and her lips glued to mine for a deep kiss.
“I know we haven’t had much time to talk, but after the bonding, I worried…” I whispered against her lips, opening myself in a way I never would have in the past.
Having her threading through my heart made it easy. There were no secrets between us, not laced in the pleasurable thrum of her emotions or the sweet cloud of her scent.
“Are you still worried about how it happened?”
“You didn’t want it to happen out of fear, and I’ve never felt terror like that, ever.”
“I was afraid when I was alone. But I knew you three would come for me, and honestly, Hale, the only thing that frightened me was never having you here like Ruck and Oliver were. I don’t regret it, and I hope you don’t.”
I pressed my forehead to hers as my muscles softened. I’d been holding onto a secret fear that there was regret in the violent way we bonded. Bloody desperation. She deserved better, and I intended to give it to her.
“I lived enough of that when I thought I’d never earn your forgiveness, Esta. Any moment I have with you is a blessing I cherish. You don’t even know how much.” There was a hot coal in my throat.
She did know, of course. Esta could feel me laid bare before her, and her only response was to seek my lips again. The kiss turned into ten, and Oliver demanded his own fair share. Ruck, after watering and feeding the horses, explained it was a combined effort to search the rubble, but only I was lucky enough to find the treasure.
So, he deserved some kisses as well.
Esta gave them and even offered a cuddle.