This is it. There's no way back now. Whatever happens, don't act like a total idiot.
Yosh still hasn’t turned around, but he senses something’s off. Confusion must be written all over his face.
Then he turns, raven-black high ponytail catching the light, catching the wind, catching me, right with a sharp pointy arrow in the chest.
Fuck me, he looks absolutely gorgeous.
My lips part, the guava rolling like a bowling ball from my hand, cracking open on the floor.
Shit. So much for not acting like an idiot.
His eyes follow the mess on the floor, then they lift back to mine.
I need to make my move, quick.
“I only packed my toothbrush. My instruments are on their way.”
I step over the guava mess and move closer. We’re only a few inches apart now.
I offer him the roses, one for each day we were apart. His fingers touch my skin as he takes them from the crook of my arm.
“I’m here,” I say, my voice soft. “For good, if you’ll have me.”
He presses the roses to his chest and all I can do is look into those beautiful brown eyes and put everything I am on the table.
Damaged.
Trying.
Hopelessly in love.
My lionheart is his. All I ask in return is that we get to be Love and Sapphire again.
His hand reaches for the back of my neck, kissing the spot between my brows.
I close my eyes, feeling his lips slowly stitch my heart back together.
“Welcome home,” he breathes against my skin.
Those words destroy the dam.
I don’t think he realizes what that word means to me. Having a home. Him saying it to me. To belong, to leave my pack and start a new one with him. It’s everything. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.
He sets the roses on the yoga mat, then my cheek slams against his chest. His strong arms wrap around me, full snake mode.
Tears find their way through my curls. We stay melted into one while the class walks past us.
Kissing. Right. We can do that!
We both miss the first try, bumping noses. We do it messy and frantic, tears and sweat mingling.
I feel a tiny tremor against my ribs and I hold him so fucking tight.
My hands find his face, his hair, anything I can grab to reassure him.
“I’m staying, love. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here with you now. Not leaving.”
I tell him that over and over. He needs to hear it. He’s asked me so many times. For some reason he was really scared I was not coming back. But I kept reminding him of the promise I made to the mermaid pool: I’m ready to belong here, on Avalon.
