Page 44 of Mated in Flames

Warwick

Idon’t know how long we lay, stretched out, on the living room floor. Eventually, however, Luciana nudges me and we stumble, yawning, toward the bedroom. When we get there, we crash down on the covers and are asleep in moments, the last twenty-four hours finally catching up to us.

When I wake, it’s to the sound of Luciana breathing heavily in my ear. I can’t help but snort and she groans before rolling over, obviously not ready to wake up yet. Free of her grasp, I sit up and yawn.

It’s nice, waking up like this. I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life, now, Luciana in my arms at night and waking up to see her peacefully sleeping expression.

I’m not sure what sort of life I’ll be able to give Luciana. But it seems that she wants that life just as much as I do, if the fact that she’s still beside me is any indication.

As though she senses my eyes on her, Luciana yawns, grumbling into her pillow, and then her eyes flutter open. She glances at her clock first and grimaces before glancing at me.

“The one thing I can’t get used to is the early hours,” she says, her voice thick with sleep.

I laugh.

“Better get used to it quickly if you’re planning on staying,” I say.

She smiles sleepily at me.

“Of course I am,” she says, and the part of me that was still unsure what she wanted settles. “I have no intention of leaving now.”

Unable to help myself, I lean down and kiss her softly.

“I love you,” I say.

Her eyes widen and I stiffen. I hadn’t meant to say that, not yet. I’ve been in love with her for some time, now, even if I didn’t realize it until recently, but I’m not sure now is the best time to confess in the wake of everything else that happened.

Slowly, Luciana sits up. And then she smiles.

“When you died,” she says slowly. “I didn’t take it very well. I don’t want to lose you again, never.” She meets my gaze. “I love you, too.”

My heart soars and I kiss her again. This was more than I could have ever hoped for. Luciana is definitely the only one I will ever want, but I also knew that it didn’t mean I would get to have her forever. The fact that she wants me, too, that she loves me in return, makes happiness burst in my chest. I can’t help but grin at her.

“Come on,” she says, sliding out of bed. “Let’s have breakfast. Then you can go and play with the pigs again.”

“I don’t play with them!” I protest as she makes her way to her wardrobe. “Your pigs just like knocking me over!”

“They didn’t do that to Dane,” she says with a shrug and an impish grin. “Obviously they thought you needed to be knocked down a few pegs.”

“Dane is just naturally good with animals,” I grumble.

“Yes,” she agrees readily as she pulls some pants on. “He was far more efficient, too.”

I mock-scowl at her.

“Then why don’t you ask him to come and help,” I complain.

“That’s a thought…” she says, putting a finger on her chin.

I roll my eyes at her teasing and get out of bed. All my clothes are still strewn in the living room, so there’s nothing to stop me from making my way over to her and wrapping my arms around her. She leans in for a moment before poking me in the side.

“Go get some clothes on,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “And, after we finish in the field, you need a shower. You stink.”

I laugh aloud and pull away. Life with Luciana is definitely not going to be boring.

We meet back up in the kitchen. Right away, I see that Luciana is in a more melancholy mood as she stirs two cups of coffee, frowning down at them.

“Everything okay?” I ask as I finish buttoning my shirt.

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