Page 7 of Blissful Vixen

I chanced a glance her way, and it damn-near broke me. Without thinking, I gently massaged her thigh, offering a warmth I hoped she understood. When she was finished wiping the tears, I pulled into the parking lot of our destination.

I put the car in park, and turned to her. “Never apologize for showing up fully for something you wanted. Even if the other person doesn’t meet you halfway. That sounds a lot like his loss. If he wanted you, if he deserved you, then you wouldn’t be here mourning what you gave him, and he couldn’t handle it. I don’t know the situation, and honestly, I don’t want a reason to go looking for a man to make him understand that he hurt you. Instead, I hope to earn whatever parts of yourself you’re willing to share. I’ll even give you that same energy.”

Emberlynn laughed through the tears and shook her head. “This wasn’t planned. I didn’t mean to unload my bullshit on you.”

“I’m glad you did.” I reached into the glove box and pulled out some tissue for her. “Can I have you fix yourself up when you’re finished? We don’t want to take that pain in here with us. I’d rather have your happiness instead.”

Emberlynn half smiled. “I want to get back to that version of me.”

“I love that idea. We should start today.” I took her hand and kissed it. “Take your time.”

Emberlynn nodded before pulling down the visor to get to the mirror. She opened her clutch and easily cleaned up the lines of tears, restored her makeup, and turned to me with a smile.

“Ready,” she admitted.

Kissing her was the only thing I wanted to do at that moment, but the timing was wrong. She’d just made herself vulnerable, and I didn’t want to make myself out to be a creep who took advantage. Instead, I got out and opened her door.

When she slid from the seat, it was right into my arms. She looked up at me, searching for something I didn’t understand. I pulled her closer into my arms and held her in a hug to comfort the wounded woman hiding inside. For a minute, she held firm, but as we stood there, she relaxed completely into my arms to allow the warmth to go much deeper than the surface.

We didn’t speak. I kept my arms around her waist, and hers moved to my neck. Her head rested on my shoulder, and I gave her all the time she needed there.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Queen, any time.” I kissed the top of her forehead before we untangled. “Let’s go inside.”

Emberlynn was competitive, and I loved her energy. Inside the fun house, we played basketball on the huge indoor trampoline. She said she wasn’t good at it, but she made me work for every shot. We then played air hockey which she dominated. But it was laser tag that gave me a good look at who she was.

She was strategic. Hiding in spots a woman of her height shouldn’t be able to get into. She didn’t let her size dictate what she was capable of, and when she ended up above me, shooting from a rafter I never knew was there, I was doomed. Then we played against another couple and came out victorious.

Emberlynn communicated with not only words but her body too. Hand gestures and silent movements. And when we were hiding together, her body moved against mine to slow my heart from beating too quickly. I’d been breathing too hard, and she’d stepped in to help me calm down. The dark spaces had set off something inside me that stirred my anxiety.

Shots whizzed around me, hitting rocks, trees, and even bodies. The cries of wounded soldiers sang out in a harmonious defeat.

“Get out of there, Curie! You’re surrounded to the west. Abort the mission. Move your ass!”

I was spiraling quickly, and just when I thought I’d crash and burn, I felt her hands on my face. That was how she got me to see her instead of the terrors from prior combat missions.

Caught in the moment, I focused on her until our breathing matched.

Her hand moved up my face, touching the scars there. She traced them with her fingertips before she outlined my lips too. Trapped under her spell, I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding onto the curves at her hips. The horrors of my past disappeared, and all that was left was Emberlynn. We both wanted to go for that kiss that dangled between us and probably would have if we didn’t hear something to our left.

I ducked inside the corner we were in, pulling her with me just as she fired toward the dark figure lurking. We heard the buzzer that registered the laser shot and ended the game.

“Yes!” she shouted as she did this wiggling dance of hers.

I threw my head back, laughing as she carried on like she’d won a million dollars. “Happy?”

“And you know it.” She grabbed my hand to pull me off the wall. “Let’s go celebrate.”

“Whatever you want, Queen.” As long as she kept touching me, she could have whatever she wanted. Emberlynn made the demons disappear, and my heart slowed down from all the rapid drumming it did. She was good for me.

“You’ve got to stop calling me that.” She tossed over her shoulder as we exited the laser room.

“Why?” I searched my mind for ways that wouldn’t be offensive, and I found none.

“Because…” Emberlynn slipped on her jacket and turned toward me. “Because I like it. I can’t get used to all this niceness from you that I can’t keep.”

“Why can’t you?” I reached up and soothed the worry lines on her face.

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