Chapter 0192

My mate, bless him, blushes just a little but then clears his throat, I think wondering where to begin.

I raise my hands to his cheeks, cupping his face between my palms. “Jackson, are you all right? I –

I’m so, so sorry.”

“I’m okay,” he says, nodding, his voice choked. “I’m sorry I stormed out of here – I was…really

freaked out.”

“Are you still freaked out?” I whisper.

“Oh, for sure,” he says, his eyes widening as he lifts them to mine. And I can’t help it, I burst into

laughter. He takes a second and then he laughs too, but his arms wind around me, holding me

tighter and I think…well, I think everything’s going to be okay. “Ari, this is absolutely insane – I

mean…I was…” he scowls, hanging his head for a second, “I was completely convinced you were a

boy.”

He lifts his head and narrows his eyes at me for a second, sniffing the air, as if he still kind of

suspects that I am.

I burst out laughing, giving him another shove. “I’m a girl, I promise, see?” And then I raise my

hands to my head, making quick work of my braid, letting my hair fall down around my shoulders.

Jackson groans again, taking a second to dip his head close to my hair, taking a deep breath of my

scent before he slowly raises his eyes to meet mine again, though his are half-lidded now. “Boys

can have long hair too,” he murmurs, sounding a little drunk.

“Do you require further proof, sir?” I ask, sitting up straight, half scandalized and half…well.

Tempted.

“No,” he murmurs, ducking his head against me again and pulling me back against his chest,

making me smile ridiculously with joy. “No, just…stay here, please. Right here. Don’t ever leave.”

“Have to leave at some point,” I murmur, running my fingers through his dark hair, which is silkier

than I thought it would be. “Kind of…a big day tomorrow.”

“I know,” he groans. He lifts his head again, blinking at me, lifting a hand to tuck my hair behind my

ear. “Stupid sun. Now would be a great time to blow it up or melt it, you know,” he says, making me

laugh again. “Make sure tomorrow never comes and we can just…stay right here.”

“Really?” I whisper, still smiling at him. “You want to spend the rest of our lives sitting in the dirt

under this rocky overhang?”

“Yes,” he replies, instant, leaning forward to brush his nose against my cheek, dragging it back

towards my ear and then down my neck. “Right here, for the rest of time. That would be…perfect.”

And I bite my lip at the sweetness of him, but even as I do I realize that he’s…he’s kind of right.

Right here it is just us in our own little world. But tomorrow, if and when we do get back? There is…

a whole lot of truth waiting.

And, for me…another mate.

Another mate who is not going to be pleased when I show up on the mountain top smelling all over

of Jackson McClintock.

But still, as I wrap my arms tighter around Jackson’s neck, I realize that in this moment? I…just

can’t bring myself to care.

My mate, I think sensing my joy and my anxiety at once, lifts his head from its place tucked against

my neck to look at me. Slowly, a smile takes over his lips.

“What is it?” I whisper, grinning at him, unable to help it.

Jackson just shakes his head at me, marveling. “I just can’t believe you’re real,” he whispers, and

my heart breaks and heals and breaks again, all in an instant. “I’ve been…thinking about you my

whole life.”

“Me too, Jacks,” I whisper, pressing my hand warm to his cheek, my stomach filled with butterflies –

because, honestly, it’s not a lie. “I’ve been waiting for you too.”

He kisses me then – slow, and rich, and deep.

And if that were my magical gift, to blow up the sun and prevent tomorrow coming, or stopping time

right now and live in this moment forever?

Honestly, I’d probably do it.

Because this – and Jacks…

It’s just…perfect.