Page 51 of Gravel and Grit

“I didn’t think you did. I understand you’re upset we didn’t talk about what would happen beforehand, and I get that, I do. But, I need you to listen to me and really hear me right now.”

He nodded and tried to brace himself for what she would say, his arms tightening around her naked body, pulling her closer to his.

“I love you, Zaek. I don’t regret what we did. At all. And this is not all on you. I didn’t ask what would happen before we had sex. I could have and should have, but I didn’t.”

He growled, not willing to let her carry any of the blame, but she shook her head and spoke over him.

“I know my reaction was— well, it sucked, and I’m sure it made you feel

worse. I’m sorry, Zaek. That wasnotmy intention. I was surprised, and I needed to work through it. But, you pulling away… I thought you didn’t want me,” she admitted quietly.

“Mira, no!”

“I know that wasn’t the issue now, but you shut down, and then I shut down, because I thought you regretted having a human, havingme, as your mate.”

He did not think his heart could take any more. “I want you, my Mira.

Macerodamn me, how I want you. More than anything in this world or any other,” he swore. “My sweet mate, I am sorry I ever made you feel otherwise.”

“I’m not telling you this to make you feel worse. This is my fault, too.

I’m not… amazing at talking about my feelings, but I’m going to do better.

And so are you. No more not talking to each other okay? If this is going to work it’s going to take work from both of us. I’ve never been in a serious relationship before. Have you?”

“No.”

“So, this is new to both of us. We’ll figure this out together, but we have to be open with each other and talk.”

“My vow, I will do better.”

“We,” she corrected.

“We,” he agreed.

Burying his face in her hair, he hugged her close. He had truly thought all hope was lost, thatshewas lost to him. He did not deserve her, but he was taking this boon the universe offered and holding on to it for as long as she wanted him.

“My Mira, myHondassa, I love you.”

He carried her up the stairs, down the hall, and to his bed. He showed her how much he loved her, how much he cherished her, whispered it against every inch of her skin as he savored her the way he’d wanted, but was unable to during their first mating.

Only when she asked, and not before, did he give her the mate kiss. He fed it to her slowly, building her pleasure with it as he moved in and out of her sweet heat, and when she peaked, he drank down her cries with fierce satisfaction.

After exhausting themselves in each other’s bodies, they lay spent, her nestled against his chest and wrapped securely in his wings. Just before they

fell asleep, he made her a promise.

“I will be a good mate to you, Mira. I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I have found you—after almost fifteen hundred years, across the universe, after I’d given up hope, I have found you. I will do whatever it takes to keep you.”

3 4

ZAEK

Sitting side by side at the dinner table, they consulted the maps laid out in front of them and plotted potential routes to the retrieval location, with plenty of alternate courses to account for any number of eventualities.

Mount Nirvana, where they were set to be picked up, was in the Northwest Territories in Canada and roughly one thousand miles from his cabin. Flying the entire way, carrying Mira, the beacon, and all the supplies they would need, would take too long, so they were discussing what other options were feasible.

Cutting his gaze to her, he watched her mutter to herself as she made a list of things he needed to gather when he went on his supply run. He’d learned she talked to herself almost as much as he did, and he loved it. He lovedher, more than he thought a being was capable of loving another. She was the most incredible person he’d ever met, and he could not imagine life without her. She held his heart in her tiny hands.

---