Page 60 of Gripp

As she stepped out of the plane, the warm, moist air hit her in the face, and the cool breath of wind from the sea tickled across the back of her neck. The wave of familiarity she felt brought a smile to her face, and her heart soared.

Home.

How insane was it that the place where she’d been tested and tried almost beyond endurance could feel so familiar, so right? She’d truly found her mettle here. She’d put together the story of a lifetime, transformed into a stronger woman … and fallen in love.

She walked across the rough runway, headed for the nearby village. As she came amongst the locals, it occurred to April for the first time that she did not even know if Gripp was here.

What if he changed his mind? What if he went somewhere else, and now I’ll never find him?

Even though her fears whispered to her with sharp sounds, her heart was not afraid. With some deep, inner knowledge that came from her soul, she knew she would find him. In a perfect world, he’d have been waiting for her, watching the plane land. She, of all people, knew the world was not perfect.

A relationship wouldn’t have worked then. She knew that. Trying to keep him from his purpose, or tear herself away from her work, would have destroyed them both. There was nothing else she could have done at the time.

Maybe he doesn’t want to see me.

April asked around the village, and soon, she was directed to Gripp’s house. Everyone knew him and seemed eager to talk about his tireless efforts to build a better life for all of them. April’s heart swelled to hear it.

He is so much more than what he appears to be. All he truly wants is to help others.

It made her feel bad that she had not been able to cherish his heart in the way he so clearly needed. She shoved away her doubts, telling herself that she was here now and she would make everything right somehow.

As she headed towards Gripp’s house, she let the heavy, moist air stir her memory. The long walks through the jungle, the nights they’d spent curled together, and all the soft, shy smiles that had brought their hearts together.

When she arrived at Gripp’s place, she headed inside. The door was unlocked. Like most people in the village, he had an abundance of trust but also not much to steal. She knew she was in the right place because the few items she found were undeniably Gripp’s. Even a few of his weapons were stashed in a cupboard in the kitchen.

April wondered where he was and if he’d be back soon. She had barely stopped, let alone slept, since she left the studio. She made herself a cup of tea and sat on the sofa, hoping to relax a little before he got back. She still had no idea what she was going to say to him.

Exhaustion crept up on her, and April found herself curling up on the sofa as sleep slipped in and stole across her mind like a cat stalking through the night shadows. She had not slept very well without Gripp these last few months, but being back on the island …home… was enough to lull her into the deepest sleep she’d had in a long time.

A small sound stirred her. As she sat up in the dark room, she realized it was the door opening that had woken her.

“Gripp?” she asked, sending her query into the shadows.

“April?”

A lamp flared to life, revealing Gripp standing by the door with a lantern held in his hand. He walked toward her, the leaping flames in the glass flue throwing flickering shadows against the wall.

“What are you doing here?” Gripp asked. He knelt in front of her, putting the lantern on the table. His face was impassive, and April got the sense that he was holding himself back as if he was afraid to show any kind of emotion.

April reached out, her fingers gently touching his cheek. He flinched but did not pull away.

“I came for you,” she whispered. Her breath was caught in her throat, making the words very soft. She kept her fingers pressed to his cheek, her entire world narrowing down to the sensation of his skin under her fingertips.

Gripp reached up and covered her hand with his own. His eyes were so deep and dark, full of emotions she could not fathom. His face remained impassive, and April’s heart twisted in her chest.

“I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t survive without you. I’ve been miserable without you, Gripp.”

The emotion in his eyes finally broke … a flood of sorrow crossing his features. His hand tightened on hers as he leaned toward her.

“I love you too,” he whispered.

For the briefest of moments, they paused. Their lips were less than an inch apart. Then, as if a magnetism beyond their power was at work, they were drawn together until their lips finally touched.

April let out a cry as the thrill of Gripp’s touch flooded every inch of her body. She gave into the building gravity between them, letting herself slip off the couch and into his arms. They were tangled on the floor, their arms entwined, their legs twisted together, and their hearts were beating as one.

“What about your work?” he mumbled between kisses. April laughed.

“I can do whatever I want now that the first production is complete. I can travel with you anywhere you want to go.”

---