Page 62 of A Celtic Longing
“How with the hours you worked?”
“I started working less.” Shannon looked a little guilty. “And for the first time in my career, I didn’t care.” She shook her head and blinked back tears. “I didn’t want to be there anymore. Didn’t want to put down one more animal.”
“Why didn’t you think Tréan would be released somewhere safe?” he wondered.
“Because cub or not, he had a bad attitude and was overly large,” she said. “They wouldn’t have released him or probably even put him in a zoo with other wolves.” She shrugged. “So I only saw one option.”
“Ah, yes, I know his bad attitude well.”
“Yet he didn’t seem to frighten you like he should.”
“Nay.” Liam thought about it. “I didn’t get the sense he would see through his threats.” He narrowed his eyes the more he looked at how he’d actually felt. “Or mayhap, deep down, I knew he didn’t want to. Not when it came to me.”
“Which would make sense now,” she mused, “considering his evident change of heart when it comes to you.”
“One much welcomed,” he said. “’Twill be interesting to learn his story. How he became your familiar.”
“I agree.”
They continued talking about random things after that. Not just the life they had led up until now but pieces of the life they had started to remember that took place here. How they had played as children. Flirted as teenagers.
“You were cute at every age.” She blushed. “How could I have forgotten the first time I looked at you as something more than a friend? I must’ve been around fourteen. You’d shot up between visits and were starting to fill out.” She flinched. “Things didn’t transition quite as well for me.”
“I disagree entirely.” He chuckled, remembering the somewhat awkward period when her body began to change. How uncomfortable in her own skin she had seemed. “I thought you charming if not a bit shy.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” She met his chuckle. “My nose was too big for my face, acne was a constant, I hated my breasts, and I managed to trip over everything I came across, dream state or not. I’d much preferred how everything was before puberty hit.”
“I never saw any of that.” He had adored her at every age. “Well, that’s not altogether true.” He winked. “I saw your breasts clearly enough.”
“I know.” Shannon rolled her eyes. “Part of the reason I disliked them. They were all you could look at for a time.” She shook her head and offered a small smile. “A habit you haven’t gotten over, by the way, however discreet you might think you are.”
“Idoenjoy them.” He trailed his finger down her neck. Along her cleavage. “Yet I don’t think I ever saw them at this size.” He brushed his lips over hers and ran his hand down under the top of her dress. Cupped her breast, then tweaked her nipple. “Not that I recall yet.”
“I don’t think you did either.” Her eyes drifted. “Honestly, I don’t think we experienced much beyond those awkward years. But I remember wanting to kiss you...hug you,” she murmured, then showed him exactly what she meant.
More than that, she showed him a memory from not this life but their last.
One that made clear just how lost they were when it came to one another.
Chapter Twenty-One
