Page 43 of Love the Way You Lion
~Deli? Damn it, woman, fight! Fight for us like you promised you would, baby. I don’t want anyone but you. I don’t work with anyone but you. Hear me, baby. Hear me and fight for that. Follow my voice back. You can’t leave me here, baby. It’s too cold, too lonely without you. Speak to me, baby. Can you speak to me again?~
I push harder, fighting the haze and the fractured pieces inside, struggling to get to him.
~I’m trying so hard because I want you back. I need you; I love you. I can’t be without you inside me; it feels like I’m dying. Please hear me. ~
My eyes pop open, and I have to fight pulling away from him when I answer.~Baby? Did I—are you there? ~I’m scared that I imagined it because I can’t do anything else.
~God, yes, love of my heart, I’m here. I’m here, baby. I’m not leaving this place without you. Christ, I love you, woman! Do you hear that? I love you! ~
I feel him a bit and I know he has to be sending every emotion and thought he has, so I reach out, putting every bit of what little focus I can muster into finding it.~I love you, baby, so much. I’m trying. ~
His hands grip my arms as we reach each other for the first time in hours, and though it’s small, he keeps murmuring into my mind.~I love you like no other, so help me. ~
~I thought I lost you. ~Now that I’ve found him, I sink into our connection, immersing myself in us. I’ve never had something so deep, even for a short time, that being apart like this feels like dying. I don’t know what I’d do without him. It’s wonderful and scary simultaneously. Our souls re-bond inside and everything comes back: bodies, hearts, and minds joined as one.
~I was scared as fuck. I can’t get along without you. ~
Tears leak down my cheeks and I hold on to him like I’m never letting go.~Me neither. I need you; I crave you. I felt like I was dying and I didn’t care with you gone. ~
~Mine, baby. You’re mine. Only mine, sod it all. I want you, and no one else will ever get me.~
He twines our fingers, squeezing my hand, and I feel the cold metal of his ring against my palm. I rub my finger over it, pushing any small nuggets of doubt over that situation out of my mind, finding joy in having him back with me as he belongs.
“I’m kind of tired, baby. This has all taken it out of me. Can we sleep, do you think?”
His brow furrows. “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m still feeling—it was a rough night.”
“I’m sure. Want nothing more than to be with you.”
“You got it, baby.” He kisses my forehead and snuggles me close. “Love you, my wife, my everything.”
“Love you, too. Forever.” With that, I close my eyes, emotions so huge that I can’t even fathom them until I get some rest.
Until then, everything else can wait.
The Cat Gets Good News
DELILAH
The shopping trip I planned for today was to places that would make Taurus want to kill everyone in sight.
Luckily, he got called into workafterour intense ‘re-acquaintance session’. That ended in a tumble of sheets and snarls, as well as my promise not to be as careless in the future. Taurus doesn’t know how unlikely that scenario is because I didn’t mention it, but I was comfortable making a vow for caution.
I can’t really talk about why I lost focus and control—it’s humiliating and I’m keeping it to myself.
After popping to my house to check in with Rafe, I set out on my retail adventure. I need ingredients for stupid magick rooms and a couple of costume pieces to get this bloody party ready. Life has been distracting, and the date is looming ever closer; I don’t want to be ill-prepared, even if Leo and the gang are handling a lot of the details.
Parties at the Maison are known for being the best—this isn’t the time to challenge that reputation.
I dropmy bags on the floor of our room when I return. I left the magickal things at the Maison for the boys to take to my sacred space, but I want the pieces of my outfit here to keep it secret. Taurus isnotready to see what it looks like when my entire family is getting ready for a large party—the master bedroom there is enormous for a reason. He and Talia aren’t the type to hang about a Vegas backstage-style experience as we all help one another dress, so I assume they will do their thing at their own house.
Dressing for events is a very efficient and thorough process at the Maison. Rafe does faces and my hair. I style everyone else’s hair, and our clothes get passed from Hex’s expert treatment to Sandrine. She helps people get buckled, zipped, or whatever, so their outfits fit perfectly. Philomena critiques, criticizes, and keeps everyone with a drink in hand. Vic keeps mood music going and Caesar handles any last-minute runs to the store. Leo keeps everyone fed, and together, we’re a well-oiled machine.
It’s—well, it’s chaos that would make him and Talia want to retreat for two years.
They should come to the house once they’re ready to be attendees, not to take part in the day-long getting ready event. Our family’s comfort level with one another is not something I think they’re ready to witness.
The clone in question pads in from the bathroom, drying his hair. He must have come home and gone for a swim, because he smells like the ocean. “How’s your day been, love?”
