Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
He ignored the gagging noises his brother made from the front seat.
She smiled, glanced at Dax, and then chuckled, her eyes glowing.
* * * *
Leah looked up at Jasper, marveling at how quickly he had launched into battle and jumped in front of a plane to save her. She’d wanted to hear the words for so long, even though she wasn’t ready. Now, he’d said them, and she had them.
She’d fallen in love with him on the side of a burned-out bridge in the freezing cold years ago during another war. She’d known it then, but she hadn’t been ready. Not completely. She always had a mission to complete, but maybe now he would become her mission. She knew the toll it had taken for him to let her use herself as bait, but they’d succeeded in the end. Wallace would never kidnap another woman. Of course, that no doubt meant the war with his family had intensified. Montana might be a good place to regroup and plan.
She ran her palm along the whiskers of Jasper’s jaw—so sharp and strong—and stared into his bluish-green eyes. How anybody could mistake him for human was beyond her. Yeah, she was tired of running from him. From herself and her feelings. It was time to take a chance. With him.
“I love you, too. Always have.” She felt like she sat right where she belonged. “I’m looking forward to our next adventures.”
He kissed her then, going deep, finally leaning back and smoothing the hair away from her face. “As am I.”
She giggled, knowing he liked the sound. His gaze warmed. She’d never been much of a giggler, thinking it silly. But if allowing herself to be silly brought that ease to him, she’d have to do it once in a while. He’d never know how much it meant that he’d included her on this mission. Allowing her to be in danger went against everything he was, but she needed to be there. Not only for herself but also for the women. She loved that he saw her true being and accepted her.
“You’re thinking awfully hard.”
“I usually do,” she admitted. Danger never concerned her too much, but she’d have to be more careful from now on. The idea of losing him hurt something deep inside her, and he apparently felt the same. Plus, now that they’d fully mated, if something happened to her, the Maxwell Curse would kill him. His well-being depended on hers. “Being mated to you comes with serious responsibility.”
“Yes, it does.” He kissed her forehead. “But even if it didn’t, my primary goal would always be to keep you safe. You have to know that.”
She did. “Are you going to teach me how to heal myself?” Those healing cells were too amazing not to explore.
“Of course. Although it might take a few centuries for you to get the hang of it.”
How odd to think she’d live for centuries. Where would the world be then? Would they get a chance to travel to other planets? Would the internet go down? Would AI try to take over the world? “I’m happy we’ll have centuries together, Jasper Maxwell.”
“Me, too. I find that I’d prefer you to have the Maxwell name. Call me old fashioned, but I have lived four hundred years.” His eyes softened to a mellow aqua. “I’m thinking we should get married.”
She smiled. “We’re already mated. Does marriage matter?”
He kissed her again. “With you, everything matters. Will you marry me?”
How kind that he’d actually asked. She filled with warmth and a happiness she never thought she’d find. “Yes.”
Chapter Fourteen
One week later.
Fall colors in Montana glowed bright with golds, reds, and even orange leaves falling to the ground. Leah sat contentedly on the porch of her sprawling log cabin, rocking in a handcrafted wooden chair with a cup of coffee in her hand.
She waved as Ivy jogged out of the forest, holding a plate of what appeared to be pumpkin-shaped cookies. It had been a year since she and her friend had been together, and she had missed her every minute.
“Hey.” Ivy bounded up the stairs, her strawberry-blond ponytail swinging, and her green eyes sparkling. “I made cookies.” She handed the plate to Leah.
“Thank you. Have a seat.” So far, the only furniture Leah had were the two rocking chairs on the front porch and the bed.
Ivy happily sat and reached for a cookie. “How are you liking Montana?”
“It’s beautiful.” Leah breathed deeply. “I finished my list of traffickers to take down, and it’s nice to have a little break.” And break was exactly what they’d done to the bed the night before. “I need furniture.”
“Nia’s bringing you a catalog later today,” Ivy said happily. “I think Odette already ordered you a kitchen set. I hope you don’t mind.”
Odette was Jasper’s mother and seemed like one of the kindest people on the planet. “I don’t mind at all,” Leah admitted. “Picking out furniture doesn’t interest me. If anybody else wants to do it, I’m fine.”