Page 16 of Dark Flame

“What do I say?” he asked, stopping on the porch beside Aislinn. The tiny woman reached out and gripped his forearm.

“Say what’s in your heart.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed his rough cheek, smiling.

Damn! Flip didn’t want to have to talk to Nat about this. He didn’t want to push her into moving into a home with him. She’d been living on her own since she was a child. Would she even want to share a home with someone? Especially someone like him. He was big and clumsy and odd looking and… aww, fuck it!

He stepped inside the massive living room of the Bellums and nodded at Uri’s wife, Melanie. Sitting on the sofa typing away on a computer was their daughter, Kelly, also one of the gifted.

“Hi, Flip,” she said with a big smile.

“Hey, kid, how are you?” Flip gave a half-hearted wave and smiled at Kelly.

Kelly rolled her eyes at the term ‘kid.’ She was eighteen years old and headed off to college next year. Flip liked the young girl, but right now, there was another woman on his mind.

“Good, I’m actually taking all my classes online! How cool is that? I’ll be done sooner than I thought and can start college right away.”

“Cool,” he said quietly.

“She’s in the back bedroom,” said Melanie, smiling sweetly. “I think you might want to go to her.”

Flip nodded and walked down the long corridor. Why was this so hard for him? He stopped in the open doorway.

“Nat? Nat, I’m sorry,” he said. She stood at the massive picture window, staring out over the hills. “Nat? Talk to me, baby.”

“You hurt me, Flip. I thought we agreed that we were together, a couple together. The other night meant something to me, deeply. I thought you understood that was a commitment for me. I didn’t want to have to ask to share your home.” The moisture in her eyes was nearly his undoing. He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head, and then looked down into her eyes once more.

“OUR home,” he emphasized. He took a deep breath and pulled her closer. “Our home, Nat. That was my mistake for not saying that, but it’s what I meant. It’s our home. I ordered the height of the countertops beforeus,and I can change them back if you like. But it will be our house with plenty of room to grow.”

“I don’t want this just because you feel guilty now or somehow obligated.” The pained, hurt look on her face nearly killed him. Flip was many things, deadly, dangerous, a killing machine, a child sometimes, but never intentionally hurtful.

“I don’t feel any of those things,” he said, moving closer to her. He pulled her against him and hugged her gently, kissing the top of her head again. His big hands stroked her back, his fingers gliding through the tangled mass of blonde hair. “I feel love, Nat. That’s all I feel when I’m with you, love.”

“You do?” she said with a tear.

“I do,” he smiled. “I love you, Nadine Ellis. I know it makes no sense, but when I think about the fact that Kane and Adam both fell in love within twenty-four hours, well, I guess that makes me slow.”

Nat laughed and kissed his lips, gliding her tongue along the bottom lip, tasting him, nibbling the meaty bottom lip. His lips warmed against hers, and he held her tightly to his chest, the warmth of their bodies melding into one. He could never live without this woman again, never.

The sun was starting to set behind the mountains, and Flip smiled to himself. His life was a complete one-eighty compared to what it had been just a few months before. He was in love, and he realized he was tired. It had been a long day for all of them.

“Let’s get the things stored, and you and I can figure out where to sleep,” she said, smiling up at him.

“I guess I should have kept the motorhome for a while,” he said, grinning.

“That might have been a good idea,” she laughed, “but somehow, I love that little tent. It will always be special to me.”

“Alright then. The tent it is until our place is complete.”

Nat smiled at Flip as he pulled her toward the front of the house. As they passed Melanie and Kelly, both smiled in their direction, knowing that all was well with the two. It didn’t escape Flip’s gaze, however, that Juan stood in the kitchen watching the mother and daughter. He wondered what that was all about and would ask Kane when he had a moment.

“You two good?” asked Adam as they stepped out onto the front porch.

“We’re better than good,” said Nat. “I do believe we’ll be sharing a cabin.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him close, kissing his chest.

“Well, alright then!” said Kane, slapping his friend on the back.

He’d hoped that Flip and Spook would find their partners, but Flip more than any of them. When they’d reconnected a few months back, he was in a dark place. Things were starting to look up for them all.

By the time everything was unloaded and placed in storage until the cabins were complete, it was nearly midnight, and exhaustion was fast setting in for everyone. Flip erected the tent and made it as comfortable as possible for him and Nat. Aislinn and Kane took the spare bedroom inside Uri’s home, with Adam and Fiona sleeping on the sleeper sofa in the basement.

---