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He smashed his lips down on mine and I captured his low groan as he came with a violent shudder that sent us both down onto the bed. He rolled immediately so that I lay draped across his chest, one wrist still encased in his rope, sucking in air.
“Are you okay?” His voice was deep, gritty. He stroked down my back.
I lifted my chin to look into his eyes. “I can honestly say, I don’t think I’ve ever been better.”
His great boom of a laugh rumbled out and he turned his smile on me.
“I love you more than life.”
Draped across his chest, him looking at me like I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, there was only one thing I could say.
“I’ve never been so loved.”
He reverted to his customary serious expression. “Are you going to be okay, today?”
I nodded and offered him a genuine smile. “Yes, my Viking, I’ll be okay today. Yesterday was bad, but it’s over,” I shrugged apologetically. “Until the next time.”
“Don’t apologize,” he murmured. “You don’t owe any apologies.”
Chapter 37
Terrible Familiarity
Willa
The next few days were a blur of activity.
Thursday I stayed in my office with Muffin all afternoon where she lay cuddled up in my lap. When Olivia got to the shelter with Bex, Muffin took a turn in her little bed with Olivia sitting quietly beside her.
“Why is she coughing, Auntie Willa?”
“Ah, birdy, she’s an old girl.”
Olivia kept her eyes trained on Muffin. “Is she sick?”
I sighed. Obviously, I hadn’t thought this out. “Yes, birdy. She’s sick.”
Olivia sighed. She sounded like Mara and me, and I smiled at the thought. “She was probably not the best choice for your first pet, Auntie Willa, but it’s good that she has you.”
Sometimes Olivia surprised me by what she saw, with what she understood. Because she avoided eye contact, and did not often engage in conversation, people often assumed she wasn’t paying attention. I was guilty of this myself on numerous occasions. She understood much more than anyone realized. This was one of those times.
“You’re right, Olivia, she’s probably not the most logical choice, but sometimes the emotions of the heart overrule the logic of the head. It’s not always a bad thing.”
Olivia turned a critical eye on me. “You do know emotions come from the brain as well, right?”
I laughed. “You’re too smart for me, birdy.”
Putting Muffin back in her enclosure for the night broke my heart. I felt terrible for missing my visit with her yesterday. She was deteriorating. Barrett ordered the vet techs that were monitoring the sickest animals over night to call him, no matter the time, if she worsened suddenly.
That night I fell asleep in his arms with a sick stomach, knowing the end was near.
Friday morning, I stumbled into the bathroom and promptly threw up.
Barrett ran into the bathroom. “Are you sick?”
I wiped my mouth on a piece of toilet paper. “Stressed. This happens sometimes when I get stressed. I’m okay.”
“You worried about Muffin?”
