“I-I’m sorry,” I ground out. I ripped myself away from him, took several stumbling steps backward, staring at the ground. A tear slipped free to roll down my cheek, and I hoped to the Dagda’s entire blessed pantheon that he did not see it – even if it was entirely obvious in my every shaking breath. “I can’t – it won’t come.”
His answer was far too soft.
“It’s alright, Rosie. Maybe it’s meant to be mine.”
Caelan loosed a long, shuddering sigh, and when I finally looked up, something in my face seemed to steel him. Vivid as his eyes were, it was strange to see the way they darkened in that moment. Stranger still how my heart seemed to somersault in response.
“Fuck ‘maybe’. Itismeant to be mine.You’remeant to be mine, and I have been yours from the moment I saw you. I’ve been telling you that all along.”
He laughed, rough and with the barest hint of self-deprecation.
“Why am I pretending any differently now?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered, just a little pathetically.
“Probably because I don’t want to look foolish,” he said, helpful as ever.
I couldn’t help my small watery laugh, and the sound seemed to buoy him. He smiled at me, so achingly gentle.
“I can make a fool of myself for you. If that’s what it takes. If that’s what you want from me.”
“That’s not what I want.”
“Then what do you want?” He took a tentative step closer; then a bold one. “Tell me.”
A flutter of warmth soared through me at that familiar command. So often whispered against my skin in the heat of passion; now a soul-baring plea. And gods, there were so many answers poised at the tip of my tongue, each of them pulsing fire from my heart until the air around me shimmered.
I want you to stay.
I want you to love me.
I want you for my family.
I want magic, and laughter, and stupid fights, and explosive sex.
I want to spend our lives together.
Only one answer said it at all in just three words. And I could say it. I could do this. It was easy, because he’d done the hard part, just as he always did. I could meet him halfway; he deserved that, and so much more.
“I love you.”
I was burning all over and Caelan looked at me as though I were the sun, parting the clouds just to grace him with golden warmth. His brows lifted in the middle, eyes soft and reverent, a raw and honest response before he took two great strides and gathered me against him, flames and all. Then, speaking so fiercely I knew it was as much statement as answer:
“I love you.”
And that was it. No grand speech, no further tears. Nothing more to say now that the duet between us was complete.
My soul sang to his, and in his kiss I found my answer. He answered me again and again.
Epilogue
The grand re-opening was still to come, but there was far too much to celebrate that night. We had no choice but to pile around the bar and toast to all of our little victories.
To Roy, who found that Tanner’s farm had bypassed his estranged family and landed firmly in the hands of his best friend.
To Magnus and Will, whom Roy had promptly gifted the land, having spent months teaching Will how to farm and harvest cabbage.
To Sorcha, who was to be the chief barmaid of our newly refurbished tavern, and was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect. She was currently standing with a cloth in hand, wiping the counter and effectively marking her new territory.
