Page 42 of Final Vendetta

She brought her mug up to her lips and took a sip of coffee, her brows furrowed in contemplation.

“How do you feel about that?”

I stared into the distance, trying to make sense of the warring thoughts in my head. “I should be thrilled he’s ready to move on from all that.”

“Butareyou?”

“I’ll always love Samuel Tate.”

“But you miss Gideon Saint,” she finished. “Don’t you?”

I exhaled a long breath, grateful to have her here to give me someone to talk to about everything. This had been consuming my thoughts more and more, especially after I tried to get him to fuck me the other night and he insisted on going slow.

“He treats me like I’m glass. Like he’s afraid of breaking me.”

“He’s probably still carrying a bunch of guilt over the accident. You should have seen him at the hospital, Ginny. I’d never seen him so distraught before.”

“I know. It’s just… He’s different now. Too…gentle.”

She tilted her head. “Like, during sex?”

I nodded. “It’s still good, but it’s not the same. He used to be so hungry. Now there’s less passion and fire. I guess that’s what I’m struggling with. I miss the intense need Gideon always had for me.”

“Have you talked to him about this? In my experience, keeping an open line of communication in the bedroom is important.”

I bit my lower lip. “Not yet. The other night was the first time we had sex since the accident. And even then, it was only because I begged him to finally sleep with me.”

“I see.”

“He said all the right things. Had all the right moves. But it still felt…lacking. When he was still Gideon Saint, there was this undeniable spark between us. This thrilling sense of mystery and danger that excited me. He exuded power and control. Now, it’s like he’s deliberately suppressing all of that. Like he’s trying to be everything Gideon wasn’t. Even Samuel had more passion than this man he’s become.”

Melanie reached over, placing a comforting hand on mine. “You need to give it time, Ginny. You two have been through more than most people can even fathom. Now you’re figuringout who you are. Figuring out what your relationship will look like, given everything that’s happened. You can’t expect things to be all unicorns and rainbows right away. You both have a lot to work through. But if there’s anyone who can do it, it’s the two of you.” She paused, her eyes surveying me before remarking, “Maybe you need to get away from here.”

“What? Like a vacation?”

“You’ve been cleared to travel, right?”

I nodded.

“Then maybe this is what you need. What youbothneed. Time away to remember what it’s like to be together without the weight of the past hovering over you. Just the two of you, without distractions. You both deserve that.”

The thought sent a glimmer of possibility through me. I couldn’t deny that I liked the idea of getting away. Going somewhere without ghosts, without the memories and threats that seemed to linger no matter how much I wanted to escape them.

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Haven’t you realized by now?” she replied with a smirk.

“What’s that?”

“I’malwaysright.”

Chapter Eighteen

Imogene

The sound of footsteps cut through the peacefulness surrounding me as I sat in a reading chair beside the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, relishing in the last few moments of daylight. My heart skyrocketed into my throat and I briefly worried it was Liam. It was a baseless concern, considering all the security in place around the bungalow. After the past few days, though, I couldn’t help but let my fears get the better of me.

Seconds later, Gideon strolled into the kitchen, his eyes distant, lost in thought. He was dressed in shorts and a hoodie, having spent the better part of the afternoon working out in the garage. As usual.

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