Page 61 of The Seer

Fintan had no idea where they went from here, or why the ancestors weren’t making his life a misery for defying them.

Was it too late? Had they resigned themselves to his downfall? Had he crossed that line never to go back?

If this were what it felt like, heaven at home, he’d gladly stay sequestered away forever with her.

A smile curled Taryn’s lips, and Fintan wanted to taste her again. Holding himself in check wasn’t easy after so many years of denying himself the pleasures of the flesh. Yet he didn’t dare move in case he broke the fragile spell holding this moment together. For decades, he’d told himself solitude was safer, and the monster inside didn’t get a future. But he wanted this. So badly. And not the sex. The sense of belonging to her.

Giving in to temptation, he brushed his fingers along the curve of her tantalizing hip.

Taryn frowned and peeked one eye open.

He froze.

“You’re awake,” he stated inanely.

“How many years did you deny yourself sex?”

“How long have ya been listenin’ to my thoughts?” he countered.

“A few minutes only. You’re right about Josie, I think.” Reaching up, she lightly raked her nails along his jaw. “How many years have you denied yourself, Fintan?”

“From the day I left you.”

Her hand dropped, and her face froze in shock.

“Sure, and maybe part of it was self-punishment for not being stronger and returnin’ to ya. But from the moment the ancestors entered my head, my magic grew, and I feared my monster.”

She rolled to a sitting position and grasped his hands. “I’m so sorry you felt you had to live in seclusion.” Her voice was low and carried a gravity that wrapped around his ribs and squeezed.

He opened his mouth to deflect—to joke or say it didn’t matter, but her sadness did him in. Loneliness had made him half mad, but he couldn’t admit it aloud. Couldn’t tell her the reason he was a grumpy bastard was because he was miserable without her.

Moisture welled in her eyes, and Fintan felt those building tears in his soul.

“Don’t cry for me,aoibhneas mo croí. I’m not worth it.”

“Shut up, you idiot! Of course you are.” She lunged for him, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing tightly. “You’re worth everything,” she whispered fiercely.

“I’m not, Taryn-Taryn. I made your life a misery when you visited.”

“But we both know why, and I can’t say I wouldn’t have done exactly the same.” She drew back and smiled through her tears. “I might’ve slipped you a boxful of laxatives to keep you from coming back.”

“I’d have returned,” he assured her. “I wouldn’t have eaten another thing ya gave me, but I’d have returned, to be sure.”

“Do you think they will leave you alone now?”

“You’re here, and that bleedin’ necklace they hate so much is gone.” He shrugged and drew her down to lie beside him. “We can only hope it’s enough to appease their selfish nature.”

Taryn rolled onto her stomach and rested on her elbows. Her face was still damp, and Fintan gently brushed away the evidence of her sadness and sympathy.

“I wasn’t faithful to you,” she said softly.

His heart stopped. “You mean the weeks we were together?”

“What? No! What do you take me for?” she demanded

Fintan’s relief was profound, and he did his damnedest not to laugh in the face of her outrage.

“Then what are ya on about, love?”

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