Page 2 of A Contemporary Mythos Summer
“Do you truly have any idea how amazing you are or do you just pretend you don’t?” Squinting at her, I bit my bottom lip and cocked my head to the side.
She laughed—fluttery and full of life. “Shut up, Seid.”
The laughter came less and less lately, so it was a whale song’s melody to hear it.
The smile faded, and her hands slid over her face. “I don’t know what more we can do.”
“And that’s why—” Peeling her hands away with one of my fingers, I caught her gaze. “I know your first instinct with what I’m about to say will be guilt and refusal, but hear me out first. Okay? Take ten seconds before responding.”
She sucked her lips into her mouth and nodded.
“I think we need a break, even if it’s for a few hours. Tomorrow is the first day of summer, so I say—” I wrapped both her hands with mine before grazing her knuckles with a feathered kiss. “We spend some time on the Gulf beach. Soak up the sun. Maybe do a little swimming.”
A mere three seconds passed before she opened her mouth to protest. “But what about—”
“Cory. What happened to ten seconds?” Quirking a brow, I tapped the back of her hand. “Think about it. My bronzed abs. You in that sexy white bikini?”
A hint of a grin pulled at the corner of her lips before slipping into a frown. “You’re right. I feel guilty.”
“Starfish.” Sighing, I cupped her cheek. “We are in a constant whirlpool with no means to an end with this search. And we won’t be doing Rhode any favors by continuing to look—to think—with foggy brains. You’re not abandoning her by taking a few moments for yourself. You’re still helping her by helpingyou.”
Cordelia’s shoulders slumped as her focus drifted to the floor. Staying silent, letting her think it through, I stroked her jawline.
“Alright, Seid,” she whispered, her brown eyes lifting to drown me in her gaze. She raked her slender fingers through my beard, combing it, before slipping her hand to the back of my neck and pulling me toward her. Our lips met—brief, sweet, and laced with newly rediscovered fondness.
When she pulled away, I pressed my forehead against hers, giving her the dopey smile I knew never failed to make her smile. This time it was no exception. “Have I told you lately how much I missed you?”
She feigned a gasp as she leaned back and pressed a hand over her chest. “Why, ithasbeen over twenty-four hours. You’re slacking.”
Chuckling, I bumped a knuckle against her knee.
“Can I invite Meg?”
“You never have to ask that, Cor. She’s family as far as I’m concerned.” Securing the rouge strand of hair over one ear, I leaned on my armrest.
Flashing that radiant smile, she leaned forward, giving me a clear view down her shirt as she squeezed my thighs through the jeans clinging to them. “And have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
Tapping my chin, I paused as if thinking it over. “You’re right. It’s been at least three hours. What gives?”
Her jaw dropped, and she let out a girly screech of protest before playfully batting my arm.
“Now that we have that settled, how about we play another match to make up for that last one, hm?” I nudged my chin toward her screen that’d gone into save mode—an underwater scene with fish swimming and the occasional sea turtle.
“How bad was it? Did I place second?” Her brows rose.
Squinting at her, I spun in my chair to face my gaming desk.
“Seid? Third?” She let out a feminine growl. “Fourth?”
Feverishly wheeling myself to the desk using my heels against the tile, I scooped the headset into my grasp and yanked it over my ears. I offered a shrug as I peered at her over my shoulder and tapped the headset mouthing the words, “Sorry, I can’t hear you,” while repeatedly clicking the mouse until the monitor screen woke up.
She glared at me but also half-smiled. No doubt my hair in disarray from haphazardly slipping on the headsetandthe fact she thought I looked like a sexy telemarketer in them had something to do with it.
We ended up not only playing one more match but three, with her coming in first place each time. I knew how hard it was for her to emerge from her shell enough while still having Rhode in the back of her mind. Cordelia, my forever wife, and Queen, made me so damn proud I couldn’t ever begin to explain it to her in words. And it was for that reason I’d spend the rest of our eternal livesshowingher in every way possible.
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C O R D E L I A
