Page 49 of Awakened Light

Her shy smile grew. “One week, and only one week. Then I need to go back.”

“I’ll take any amount of time with you I can. A week is better than the hour it’s going to be when the sun comes up and I’m supposed to have you back already.”

“One week.” She lifted a finger. “I can’t be gone any longer.”

“One week,” I repeated, then leaned forward and scooped her into my arms. With a soft kiss, I sealed our deal.

I loved how her body responded to my kisses, and how she leaned into my touch. I knew it would be torture saying goodbye, and an eternity of hell living without her, but I would try to forget the pain I’d be in next week and just enjoy every second of her touch, her kiss, and her laughter.

I pulled her into my lap and took her again on the cliff, our bodies connecting, again and again, ending in those explosive blue lights she emitted at the height of her pleasure. When we were done, I pulled her back in my lap and watched the sky lightening as the sun started its ascent for the day.

“You sure I’m not going to go up in flames?”

“I’m sure,” she said, then twisted her lips. “And just in case, you can dive off the cliff and hide in the water, right?”

Laughing hard, I nodded. “I suppose I can. On the off chance I go up like dry timber, just push me over the edge and wait here until the sun sets. I can’t die, so I’ll hold my breath and spend the day sitting at the bottom of the ocean, cursing your faulty magic.”

Her laugh matched mine as we sat together and watched the orange glow of the sky growing brighter by the minute. I couldn’t remember a time I’d felt as nervous as I did awaiting the arrival of the sun I hadn’t seen in centuries.

As the sky lightened even more, Catrain squeezed my hand and rested her head on my shoulder. “Now it’s my turn to show you something new.”

When the first sliver appeared on the horizon, I held my breath and awaited the searing pain that would follow. But the pain never came, and I struggled to exhale when I saw the sun lift from the water and illuminate the darkness around me. It felt like it’d been asleep for centuries and finally awakened after a long slumber.

The beauty of the world in the light stole my breath away. The rich colors of the green grass and the flowers surrounding us looked so different than the darkened hues I’d become accustomed to. The sky, no longer black and speckled with stars, glowed with soft blues that got richer by the second. As the sun continued lifting, the first warm rays stretched across the land, and when they touched my skin, I opened my hand and felt their warmth for the first time in centuries.

“Incredible,” I whispered as I stared at the soft glow on my skin. “I’d forgotten how amazing the sun felt.”

“I’m so glad I could do this for you.”

“So am I. And I’m glad I’m not sitting on my arse at the bottom of the ocean.”

Catrain tossed back her head in laughter, and I joined her.

“Me too,” she finally said between laughs. “I’d have hated to see your face after twelve hours of sitting under the waves.”

“When I came out, I’d have looked like a prune.” I laughed harder, but as she furrowed her brow, I realized she’d never seen one. “Never mind. An analogy for another time.”

I pulled her in for a kiss and then pressed my forehead against hers. “Thank you for this.”

“Thank you for showing me your world.”

We broke apart, and I sat back. Now that the sun had risen more, I saw the highlights in her hair catching the rays, and the way her blue eyes sparkled in the light. I’d thought it impossible she could be even more beautiful, but in the sunlight, she looked like the Goddesses she worshiped.

“So, one week, huh?” I asked as I rubbed my stubble.

“One week. What are we going to do?”

I waggled my eyebrows and watched the pink flush creep across her cheeks.

“Besides that.” She laughed.

“Well, I hadn’t gotten that far. But I have one idea to get us started.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

I glanced over to the dirt bike. “Now that it’s light out and we’ve got time, what do you say I teach you how to drive it?”

Her eyes lit up as she nodded quickly. “Yes!”