Fatal Strike (McClouds & Friends #10)(138)

“Oh, shut up,” she snapped. “You’re gorgeous, and you know it.”

“Let’s get you someplace warm,” he said again, scooping his arm around her waist.

She held him back. “One last thing you’re forgetting.”

He read what she wanted in her eyes. “Really? After all we’ve been through, all we’ve seen, you want to risk head-texting again?”

“Absolutely,” she said. “It’s not a risk. Not with you. It’s wonderful, and I trust you. Besides, I’m strong. You couldn’t swallow me up if you wanted to, because I wouldn’t let you. You’d choke on me.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he murmured. “You’re pretty yummy, Lara.”

“Seriously.” She gripped the lapels of his coat. “Please, Miles.”

He stared into her searching eyes, and let his tension out in a long, quiet sigh. He rested his forehead against hers. Closed his eyes.

It wasn’t automatic to tease it apart again, the braided energy flows, to open that sealed shield again. Not anymore. He couldn’t do it at the first level of concentration he reached, or even the second. He had to go deeper. He was just getting some traction when she spoke up.

“You know, for a mindbending killer monster freak, you sure are a slowpoke,” she murmured.

“Give me a break,” he grumbled back. “I have to go in and reprogram the bastard on the spot. Write new code. Under pressure.”

“So rise to the occasion, already.”

“So stop distracting me.” He couldn’t stop grinning, shaking with laughter. “This takes concentration.”

It was the laughter that did it. It kindled a glow of happiness that pulled it all together for him.

The door opened, wide and welcoming, just for her. Beckoning her in with perfect trust.

She made a soft sound of pure wonder, and ahhh. She was inside.

o god i missed u so much. i missed this.

me 2 yours now forever and always my love

They stood in the swirling snow, locked in that tight, swaying embrace. The deepening shadows swathed them like a dark cloak, but they were warmed from the inside. Lit up, glowing. Shining with the perfect, holy rightness of it.

With no fear at all of losing their way.