Page 31 of A Layperry's Hope
Timalah, Gendry, and everyone else files out. I can hear them outside, Timalah already planning a schedule for his warriors to take on sentry duties. My heart feels so full while my mind feels so empty. It will be an adjustment but one I truly look forward to.
Christian moves until he’s kneeling in front of me instead of against my side. He takes my hands in his own, squeezing them.
“Are you well?”
Christian nods. “Very.” He licks his lips, trying to find his words. Finally, he just blurts them out. “I love you.”
I suck in a sharp breath. Hearing those words hits me square in the chest. It feels like a warm balm, covering my soul. It feels so good and leaves me breathless.
“I love you, Ghenie. In front of your Ancestors, I have a question to ask you. Would you consider marrying me? We can follow your new tradition. We can get in front of everyone, declare our feelings for each other, and be united as a family unit.” Christian clears his throat, doing his best to stay composed but I can see how hard this is for him. That makes these words even more potent, more special. “I am yours.”
“I am yours,” I say to him, mirroring his declaration. I can feel the warmth around us increase, the Ancestors are cheering in their own way, revealing to us their feelings about our match. “I have been yours for a long time. It would be my honor to publicly declare that. But I would also be happy with something smaller to fit your comfort. Something for just us and those closest to us.”
Christian gets a soft look on his face and I am once again honored that I get to see this side of him. “I appreciate the offer,” he says softly. “We can plan something together, something we’re both comfortable with.”
“I love you. Your comfort is important to me.”
“Youare important to me,” he says before he’s wrinkling his nose. “Okay, that’s my line. That was too sappy for me.”
I chuckle softly, overwhelmed with my love for this man. Without saying another word, I pull him forward and hug him tight. All around us, it feels like the Ancestors are hugging us too, holding us together, approving our relationship in a new way that I haven’t felt before.
“There is one more thing I wish to discuss with you.” I bite my bottom lip, running my fingers over his arm. “I feel more free than I have in years and I wish to share that with you. May I?”
“Yeah, Ghenie, of course.”
I take his hand in one of mine, my other hand going to his face. Then I close my eyes and push into Christian’s mind. I have kept myself from invading his space while my mind was clouded with the Ancestors. I never wanted to accidentally push them into his mind or share his thoughts with them. I wanted him to have his privacy.
I push my feelings into his mind, letting him feel them for himself.
Christian sucks in a sharp breath, his body tensing.I hope this is okay. Now that my mind is fully my own, I want you to experience this with me. I want us to be open to each other. I want us to form a bond.
Christian’s eyes lock onto my own.I want that. Not here, not now. We’ll do this when things feel right, when we’re alone in the comfort of our own space. We’ll make it special.
I nod my head. “Your thoughts are still your own, but now I feel comfortable speaking to you in this way.”
“Thank you for sharing this with me.” Christian kisses my forehead gently.
“Pruist?”
“Yes?”
“Will you take me home?”
Christian pulls back and smiles at me. “It would be my pleasure.”
Chapter Thirteen
Christian
“Is everything alright in there?”
“Yes! No! I do not know! Shit!”
“Do you want me to come in and help?”
“No! That I know for certain! I need to do this myself.”
I stare at the closed door for a long time before finally sighing. “If you need me, just call.”
