“There is one more thing I wish to discuss with you.” I bite my bottom lip, running my fingers over his arm. “I feel more free than I have in years and I wish to share that with you. May I?”
“Yeah, Ghenie, of course.”
I take his hand in one of mine, my other hand going to his face. Then I close my eyes and push into Christian’s mind. I have kept myself from invading his space while my mind was clouded with the Ancestors. I never wanted to accidentally push them into his mind or share his thoughts with them. I wanted him to have his privacy.
I push my feelings into his mind, letting him feel them for himself.
Christian sucks in a sharp breath, his body tensing.I hope this is okay. Now that my mind is fully my own, I want you to experience this with me. I want us to be open to each other. I want us to form a bond.
Christian’s eyes lock onto my own.I want that. Not here, not now. We’ll do this when things feel right, when we’re alone in the comfort of our own space. We’ll make it special.
I nod my head. “Your thoughts are still your own, but now I feel comfortable speaking to you in this way.”
“Thank you for sharing this with me.” Christian kisses my forehead gently.
“Pruist?”
“Yes?”
“Will you take me home?”
Christian pulls back and smiles at me. “It would be my pleasure.”
Chapter Thirteen
Christian
“Is everything alright in there?”
“Yes! No! I do not know! Shit!”
“Do you want me to come in and help?”
“No! That I know for certain! I need to do this myself.”
I stare at the closed door for a long time before finally sighing. “If you need me, just call.”
The scrap of something being tugged across the room sounds through the door but instead of asking again, I walk away. Picking up Maribel, I pack up a few spare diapers and some clean clothes and head across the street.
“Hey, what’s up?” Miles asks as he opens the door, looking between me and Maribel.
“Is there any way I can cash in a favor?”
Miles raises his brow. “Is everything okay?”
“Ghenie is stressed out. I can hear him rearranging shit inside our bedroom but he won’t let me help. Plus, he’s been havingawful back pain the last few days. Can you watch Maribel for a few hours while I try to get Ghenie more settled?”
“I would love to watch my goddaughter,” Miles says right away, holding out his hands for her. I pass her over, letting out a sigh of relief. “I think I should warn you.Layperrymen nest right before they’re ready to give birth so don’t be surprised if that’s what’s happening right now.”
I blink slowly at my best friend. “Well fuck.”
Miles snorts. “Yeah. He’s probably feeling the drive because he’s almost ready for your baby to be born.”
“Fuck,” I say again, running my fingers through my hair. “That makes sense but Jesus, for some reason I thought there would be more time!”
“It sneaks up on you,” Miles says with a laugh. “Remember how it went with Timalah and me?”
“It’s different when it’s happening to you!”
