Chapter 10 #2
Marisol traces the veins on the back of my hand as she says almost timidly, “I like you guys. All of you. You each have something so unique about you that makes me feel all sorts of ways. But I’m also nervous. I’m not good with change.”
I wait for her to look up before I explain gently, “We want to take things slowly. That’s why I convinced the guys to let me come out here by myself first. We’re hoping to take turns to simply spend time with you, to slide into your life however and wherever you want us to fit in.”
Marisol’s brows furrow and she whispers, “You’d do that for me?”
Cupping her jaw tenderly, my voice almost cracks as I say, “So much more than that. If you’ll give us some time, we want to prove it to you.
Let us show you how good life can be if we do it together.
Learn to trust us, rely on us.” With anyone else, I might be embarrassed at the pleading quality in my voice, but my pride has no place here.
I’m fighting for my pack and our future, our happiness, our fate.
Marisol leans into my hand, an affectionate smile pulling tenderly on the corners of her mouth. “I’d really like that.”
Unable to resist, I press my lips to her forehead and exhale the full force of my relief, my shoulders dropping with the immense weight they just shed. “A chuisle mo chroí, that makes me so happy to hear.”
Marisol gets comfortable, cuddling into my side as I wrap an arm around her, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore washing over us as we stare out at the ocean’s rhythmic breaths. “I still wanted to ask you, what does that nickname mean? You used it a couple of times at Nesting Grounds too.”
Leaning my head against hers, I give her the truth. “I call Killian mo ghrá, which means my love. Your nickname loosely translates to darling, or more accurately, pulse of my heart. Because you’re our missing piece, Marisol. When we met you, it felt like all our hearts aligned to beat for you.”
Marisol looks up at me, lips parted, eyes wide, and a radiant blush warming her cheeks. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
I press a hand playfully over her eyes. “Don’t give me those ‘kiss me’ eyes right now. I promised the pack that there’ll be no hanky-panky or inappropriate touching until we’re all together again. I always keep my promises.”
Marisol puckers her lips and pushes her chin out toward me. “So even if I tease you, you won’t kiss me or touch me?”
I shake my head and move my hand down, covering her lips instead. “Won’t do anything that I wouldn’t do in front of Doc Calla or Lucille.”
Mischief flashes in Marisol’s eyes, and for a second, it seems as if she’s going to try and seduce me with those wonderfully plump lips, but she blinks herself out of it and asks neutrally. “So, what’s in the box?”
I grab onto the safe topic with all my might and hoist the box into my lap. “We each got you something small.” Lifting the first item out, I pass Bash’s gift. “This is from your fox. He said to think of him when you soak in a bath later. He chose all the scents himself.”
Marisol takes her time sniffing all six bath bombs, a happy little shimmy in her shoulder with each one that passes under her nose. “This is so thoughtful. Please tell him thank you from me.”
“About that… If you’re okay with it, you can tell him yourself tomorrow morning. He was hoping to come here early to swim with you.”
“I’d really love that a lot. And Killian?”
I pass her Killian’s present wrapped in tissue paper while I relay his message.
“Killian has class until early afternoon, but he asked me to check with you if it’s okay if he comes round the pub after work.
He’d love to see you in your element and help you with closing up at the end of the night, if you’re not sick of him by then. ”
Marisol runs her hands across Killian’s favorite sweater before bringing it to her nose for a deep inhale. “That’s a very generous offer, but won’t it be too daunting for him? My friends will more than likely be there and will most certainly pester him with questions.”
I tuck some hair behind her ear and run a hand down her long silky locks.
“He’d welcome that. We all would. Any opportunity we can get to prove to you, and your friends, that our intentions are real, we’ll revel in it.
Besides, if you have any heavy furniture that needs to be moved, Killian would be all too happy to show off what his muscles can do. ”
“You won’t find me complaining about that. I’d be happy to have him there. And you?” Marisol puts the sweater on her other side and takes the airtight box I hand her.
I clear my throat and swallow against the nervous lump that’s suddenly appeared. “This is from me,” I say awkwardly. “I went fishing this morning and caught you something. Cooked it a little earlier and made some side dishes for you too. I hope you like it.”
“That’s amazing, Silas. Thank you so much. I know I’ll love it.” Marisol pauses and her eyes scan my face, the words sitting between us growing heavier with every breath that passes. “You’re really serious about wanting me part of your pack, aren’t you? All of you?”
“We are,” I say, my chest rising and falling as the air grows thicker.
“I think you’re going to make me fall in love with you.” The whispered sentence is barely audible, and I’m not sure if she wants me to respond to it or not, but I simply press my lips to her forehead and hold onto that hope as I return to Cape Easton, feeling excited and hopeful for the future.