Page 52 of Destined Lovers

She shrugs. “I guess if you want it. It’s yours, but I’m not done. Can we stay maybe twenty more minutes before we hike back for lunch?”

“Whatever you want, babe.” I smile as she goes back to get lost in her art.

I try to get comfortable and continue my reading, unable to help the thoughts that run wild through my head as I continuously stare between my book and my girl. I’m still worried about her, but shedoeslook happier. Content even, and it almost feels like we’ve turned a corner of sorts.

I wasn’t sure what to expect on this trip. I’m actually still fecking shocked she accepted. Although a part of me thinks I have Agnes to thank for that because Nora seemed like such a live wire when we first reunited.

But as our time together progresses, I see more and more ofmyNora shine through, and I hope that’s a sign that we can only move on from here.

Or at least I hope.

I’ve spent days trying to figure out what has happened in her life that would cause her to run, but I haven’t gotten a clue. Whatever it is, it must have been beyond comprehension because Nora is one of the strongest people I know and has always fought for what she wanted.

So if she had to leave me and run from the life we both longed for, I can’t imagine she did it without regret—that I’m sure of. And, although I’ve spent a decade of my life searching for her, I can tell you now that we are reunited. There is not one inch or one bone in my body that would change the way I went about it.

I don’t care how much time it took or how much money I spent, even though those paths did not lead me to Nora, whereas pure coincidence did. Having her here with me now justifies it all.

“You haven’t told me any ‘fun’ facts today.” She chuckles and turns her head to look over her shoulder, just as a rare sighting of the sun peeks out and shines down on her face. Her eyes sparkle, and her skin glows like a pure angel.

She smiles brightly, and it’s then I think maybe all my worries are for nothing because she’s happy. With me, here in her element painting, she’s happy.

I lean back, put my book down, and cross my arms to get as comfortable as possible.

“Aye, you’re right Pip. I haven’t.” I smile up at her. “These beautiful mountains, right here in front of us, have inspired some of the greatest literary artists of all time. Especially C. S. Lewis, hence why I am readingNarnia. He once said, ‘I have seen landscapes, notably in the Mourne Mountains and southward, which under a particular light made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.’”

She raises her eyebrows in shock. “You just have this shite memorized in your head like it’s no big deal?” I shrug.It is no big deal.

“He also said that part of Rostrevor, here in the Mournes, which overlooks Carlingford Lough, was his idea of Narnia. The very same Lough we walked around last night… ishisidea of Narnia,” I say, still utterly amazed as I’ve just learned the information myself. I pick up my book to show her. She gifts me with a bright smile.

“Come on, Pip, admit it. It’s pretty cool if you think of how so much history has passed through this very spot we sit in right now. From facts to folklore, you can’t deny the magic of it all.”

“Yes, Dec. Very cool,” she says through her smile.

“Why are you still smiling like that? You look deranged.”

She smirks and lets out an uncharacteristic giggle. “It’s—”

Her giggle turns to laughter, and when she finally stops, she wipes her eyes, walks over to me, and kisses my lips.

She’s bent down, looking me in the eyes. “Don’t ever change, Declan,” she says and then bops me on the nose with her wet paintbrush.

“What the hell, Nora?” I chuckle and grab her hand, using it to wipe off the paint.

“You, Declan, are my perfect canvas,” she whispers and kisses me again quickly.

“I wasn’t laughing at what you said, just you in general.” She shakes her head, “that came out wrong. I mean, look at you…your one arm is practically bigger than my waist,” I roll my eyes at her exaggeration, and she hits me playfully.

“And, your body is filled with tattoos. You’re a meathead rugby player, by most standards.” She laughs and shrugs. “What I am trying to say is that this is the exact problem with stereotypes. If someone took one look at you, they would only see what’s on the outside. Not your IQ level or what’s inside this beautiful heart of yours, or what a deep and thoughtful thinker you are. I started laughing because I imagined what people see versus what I see. I’m glad most people only see what’s on the outside because your insides are too extraordinary to share with the world. Only save them for the special people in your life.” She leans in again, only this time, I don’t let her back up, pulling her onto my lap.

“You are the extraordinary one, Hanora,” I whisper against her mouth.

She opens to deepen the kiss, and her tongue slowly sides through my parted lips.

This is life right here… Nora and me in Ireland together again.

Her hands run up and down my body, exploring and learning every inch of my build.

She traces her fingertip up my neck and pushes through my hair. Massaging, then pulling at the roots as our kiss gets deeper and our tongues collide uncontrollably.

---