Page 57 of Alpha's Secret Baby Girl
“Well, then. It seems as though that’s done.” Thera let out a heavy sigh. “Now, onto another matter. We will need a newElder Priest. We have been discussing the matter, and I’m sure you’ll agree with our decision.”
***
After a long meeting that felt like it went in circles, with everyone repeating the same thing in agreement, Rafael and Gwen finally left. They were exhausted from talking, and Rafael took Gwen by the hand and led her through town, toward the nearest beach. There, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“I hope it’s over,” he murmured.
“I think it is, for now at least. I think the demons will need time to regroup before they try anything else.” Gwen pressed her face into his shirt, inhaling deeply. “I’ve been so worried. Not just for Lianne, but for you, too. I tried not to think about it, but whenever I imagined something happening to you…”
She shuddered against him, and Rafael’s arms tightened around her. As he pressed his face into her hair, he sighed heavily. “I was afraid, too. I know I’m not supposed to admit fear, that fear is weakness—”
“Your dad was a dick,” Gwen interrupted.
Rafael snorted, then sighed again. “I wish things had been different. I wish that I could be standing here, missing him and not being angry at myself for missing him.” He kissed her temple, his thoughts turning to his mother. Perhaps he was starting to understand more about why she hadn’t left him. But he would never know that, either. “But you’re right. I shouldn’t be afraid to admit how terrified I was of losing you and Lianne.”
Gwen lifted her face toward him. “It’s been a lot, hasn’t it?”
“You can say that again.” Rafael gave her a pained smile. “I just wish we could have come back together without the demons.” He pulled her closer, his hands lightly running up and down her back. “I love you, Gwen Parker. I have always loved you.”
Gwen lifted her hand to trace his lips with her fingers. “I love you, too.”
They kissed, soft and gentle. It sent warmth flooding through Rafael’s body. For the first time since all this started, he felt whole once more. When was the last time he’d felt like this? Even when they made love, he’d had the lingering fear at the back of his mind that she was going to leave him. Now, he saw nothing but a fullness of life ahead of them.
When they broke the kiss, Rafael pressed his forehead to hers, so close their lashes brushed against each other.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, his voice low.
Gwen laughed. “We’re already married.”
“Yes, but will you marry me again?”
Gwen searched his gaze, growing more serious. “You mean have another wedding? Or do you want to tell everyone that we weren’t married to start with?”
Rafael let out a shaky breath. “I want to do what you are comfortable with. If you want to tell the truth, I will deal with the fallout.”
“I understand why you did it. But I think it’s probably a good idea to start being honest. With that in mind…” She kissed him again. “Yes, I’ll marry you again, Rafael Buchanan.”
Their lips touched again, and they did not speak again for a long time.
***
Lianne clapped her hands and danced from side to side. Her green eyes sparkled with delight. “I’m going to be the flower girl of honor!”
Rafael chuckled as he ruffled his daughter’s hair. Though he had expected Lianne to be pleased, he hadn’t realized how excited she would be. She started to sashay about, describing what her ‘princess dress’ would look like in increasingly detailed and contradictory terms.
Gwen and Rafael exchanged amused and pleased looks. They joined hands, and Gwen ran her thumb over Rafael’s knuckles, her gaze softening. He gazed back, so very grateful that his hot-headed and misguided actions when she had first returned to the island hadn’t destroyed everything. He wasn’t certain that he deserved her forgiveness, even for how certain he’d been that he was doing the right thing.
Should I tell her?Gwen mouthed to him.
Rafael’s heart skipped a beat.Whenever you think is right.
Her palm turned toward his, and their fingers tangled together. Gwen’s green eyes glowed with happiness.
“Lianne, there’s something else we wanted to tell you,” Gwen said, turning back to Lianne.
Lianne was too busy dancing to pay attention at first, but when Gwen called her a second time, the little girl dropped her arms and came back to them, beaming angelically. “Yes, Mommy?”
Gwen smoothed her hair from her face. “Well, you know when you asked about your father and I said that he lived far away from us?”
