Page 106 of Boxed In

Chapter 16

But this time, Luke’s large, warm hand stayed firmly in hers, anchoring her to something outside herself. Something real and positive.

She had told him she loved him. And he had said it too. That made all the difference.

If she could have turned to look at him, she would have. But she wasn’t capable of moving, only of holding tight to him with the breath frozen in her lungs.

They fell through the blackness, joined together because that was what the two of them wanted.

Then all at once, she was lying on her back, staring up at a carved medallion on the ceiling.

She turned her head quickly, and her breath caught. Luke was lying beside her. But he didn’t look the way he had on the bed the last time she had been here. He appeared the way he had in the tunnel, his complexion ruddy, his skin wonderfully healthy. His eyes shining as his gaze locked on her face.

“Thank you, God,” she breathed.

He looked like he couldn’t quite believe he was back on earth as he touched the fabric of the suit which was now much as it had been when they’d come to the temple. He held up his hand, staring at his fingers, moving them.

“You’re whole again,” she whispered as she reached for him.

He reached for her at the same time, his arms strong and muscular as he pulled her body half on top of his and brought his mouth to hers—kissing her as though he never meant to let her go.

She kissed him back with the same fervor. When they broke apart, they were both breathing hard, and he was staring at her with a look of wonder.

“I’m really back. With you.”

“Yes.” She reached to stroke his face. “And you’re all right. You’re not burned.”

“Thanks to you,” he murmured.

“I couldn’t give you up—not when I knew there was a chance of saving you.”

He stared at her with sudden insight. “You risked your life to follow me.”

She swallowed. “I had to. I had to give the two of us a chance. We could never reach out to each other until we were forced to defend the box together. Then I realized we had been meant to be together all along. So I couldn’t give that up. Not without a fight.”

“Yes. We belong together.”

He was moving his lips over hers again when a knock sounded at the door, and she felt her cheeks turn pink. Quickly she sat up and smoothed her hand over her hair.

Luke sat up more slowly. “Yes?” he called out.

“May I come in?” Father Delanos asked from the other side of the door.

Luke glanced at Olivia, and she nodded.

“Yes,” Luke answered.

When Father Delanos walked into the room, he looked from her to Luke.

“You brought him back to us,” the priest said.

“Yes,” Olivia murmured.

“You were brave to undertake that mission.”

“I had to do it.”

He nodded, then turned his head toward the other occupant of the bed. “And now I must speak to you, Zabastian,” the priest said, his voice stern.

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