Page 96 of Forged in Deception

Karlin pressed her face into Axel’s shoulder, preferring another snot situation to having to look him in the eyes right now.

“Shh, sweetheart,” he was saying softly. “Just cry. Just let it out. You’ll feel better.”

“I’m so sorry,” she choked out after several long seconds, struggling to get the sobs under control. At the moment, she would have strongly preferred the solitude of the Senera main lab’s supply closet.

“How many times have I cried in front of you? Or in your arms? It’s getting ridiculous at this point.”

“Five,” he said without missing a beat. “But I’m not counting.”

That got her attention.

She pulled back a little and looked up at him. “You literally are counting, though. You gave me a number.”

He didn’t argue.

Instead, he leaned down and kissed her, slow and gentle.

Even after getting drugged twice, traipsing through the desert for hours, and getting soaked in the rain, he still smelled way too good.

She didn’t want the kiss to end.

Everything about it–everything about him–was pure comfort, security, and another word that she was scared to name, even to herself.

She’d never met anyone like him before, that much she could say with certainty.

When he was close, she felt like she could actually breathe, like the heaviness of her past suddenly didn’t seem so unbearable. It felt like a miracle.

So why was she still so scared to tell him everything?

Why did she hold back, when her heart was begging her to open up?

He pulled away at last, giving a contented sigh as he pulled his arms more tightly around her. Even though his clothes were wet, he still felt warm.

“You know, you are the most argumentative woman I have ever met in my entire life,” he announced. “And I work with some serious contenders. Our head of security, Dolly? Yeah, she used to scare me, but she’s a pussycat compared to you.”

She might have tried to give him a playful smack, but he had her gripped too tightly against his chest. “Whatever. To be fair, youwerecounting my tears. I’m sorry that I’m such a mess.”

He chuckled. “The Bible talks about that, actually.”

“What?”

“There’s a verse about God counting our tears. I think it’s in the Psalms somewhere.”

“Well, in that case, I guess I can’t be too upset with you for counting mine. I mean…thank you. I appreciate that you care. Even if I’m a mess.”

Axel cleared his throat, saying nothing for a long moment.

She snuggled in more closely, trying to warm up. The woodstove could probably use another couple of logs, but she wasn’t going to let him get up right now. His body heat would have to suffice for the two of them.

“God is always listening, Karlin,” he said gently.

“I know. I’m starting to see that. Even if I still have doubts.”

He nodded. “I’m glad, but that’s not all I wanted to say.”

She said nothing.

For once, she didn’t want to interrupt, to argue, or even to tease him. After everything they’d been through together, she was questioning her lack of faith more than ever. She was far from having it all figured out, but maybe John was right about a whole lot more than she’d ever given him credit for.

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