Page 78 of Shameless Expectations

“We land in Dallas.” Monti kissed her quickly. She finally pulled her fingers away and put them in her mouth, cleaning them. Her eyes fluttered shut as the flavor blossomed on her tongue. Damn, they would have to do that next. When she opened her eyes, Athena gave her a curious look.

“Do I taste good?”

“Like heaven.” Monti winked. She shifted away, uncomfortable, especially knowing they had at least another four hours before they landed in Florida and got to Athena’s beach house and she could take care of that very poignant discomfort. “Fix up your clothes, and I’ll meet you back at our seats. We should be landing soon.”

“Monti?” Athena snagged Monti’s fingers.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t give up on finding peace yet.”

Monti’s breath caught in her throat at the serious expression in Athena’s eyes. There was nothing she could say or do that would alter this moment. Nodding slowly, Monti let go of something. She wasn’t quite sure what it was yet. But Athena took it away so easily.

“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Monti said, needing to escape. She wasn’t ready for what she saw in Athena’s eyes. Neither of them were.

twenty-four

“Do you mind if we go on a walk?” Athena asked as she wrapped her arm around Monti’s back.

She’d been doing that more and more lately, especially since she’d fallen asleep on Monti’s shoulder on their flight from Dallas to Miami. The drive to Marathon had been easy, and Athena had gladly let Monti take the wheel on that one. She’d never quite enjoyed driving, and spending hours navigating traffic was stress she loved avoiding.

“Sure.” Monti slid her arm along Athena’s shoulders.

They walked like that, as if it was so easy and had always been that way. Athena adored it. Things were so simple with Monti in ways they shouldn’t be. But feeling with her, trusting her, being with her was easy. Athena sighed and nuzzled her cheek against Monti’s shoulder and let Monti lead the way onto the beach.

It was so easy not to be in control when Monti was there. Well, at least this kind of control.

“You seem more relaxed here,” Monti commented.

“I’m not sure if it’s the place or the company,” Athena answered, trying to be as honest as possible. She hadn’t been able to decide which it was. Either way, Monti was right. She was relaxed. She was happy. And for the first time in as long as she could remember, she was enjoying herself.

“Well, I do like to hear that.” Monti dropped a kiss into Athena’s hair. “I’m glad to be off the plane and out of the car.”

Athena chuckled. “I used to enjoy traveling. I still do, but it’s a lot more stressful now than it used to be. Well, before everything happened.”

“Where did you travel?”

“All over.” Athena smiled, her foot sinking into the rough sand of the beach as they stepped toward the sunset. They’d gotten there just in time to see the sun fall below the horizon. The air would start to chill them soon and they’d have to go inside, but listening to the quiet waves on the beach was idyllic.

“What was your favorite place?”

“Kathmandu.” Athena smiled. “I only went there once, and I didn’t get to explore for long. I wish I’d been able to climb up in the mountains and explore the surroundings a bit more, but I was short on time.”

“When were you there?”

“I must have been twenty. Kevin and I went for a late summer trip.” Grinning, Athena turned and glanced up into Monti’s eyes, but Monti’s look faltered slightly. Her face seemed to fall. “What did I say?”

“I’m glad that Kevin has been able to be there for you throughout your life. It must be wonderful to have a friend like him.”

“He’s family.” Athena slid her hand down Monti’s arm and twined their fingers together. “He’s always been family.”

They walked a few more paces down to the beach, just feet from where the water was rushing toward them, and stopped. Athena shivered slightly and sidled in closer to Monti.

“Don’t you have someone like that? I just assumed Fallon…”

“Fallon liked to pretend she was my mother. That caused a lot of arguments.” Monti frowned. She stilled, staring out into the ocean in front of them.

Athena watched everything she could about this intriguing woman. They were both going through a magical transformation, but Athena had no idea where Monti was in the midst of hers. Was she toward the beginning still? Athena’s had seemed to take off like a slingshot and it was impossible to stop it now.

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