Redemption by Lindsey Gray Page B

trees.
    She ran until she reached a clearing next to the frozen riverbank. She sat at the edge, slightly exhausted, her lungs taking in each unnecessary breath. Her face illuminated in a golden glow of the waning sunlight, now only inches above the horizon.
    She heard a sound from behind her at the edge of the tree line. She almost turned to see what was intruding on the perfect sunset, when the amazing scent of Patchouli hit her nostrils. If she had a heartbeat, that would have been the moment it would have started racing.
    The anticipation had been torture for him. He couldn’t stand to be away from her for a second longer. After watching her for only a day, he had fallen in love with her all over again. He had no idea what to say or what to do, he just had to have her and let her know he was still hers, forever.
    He was only steps behind her. He knew she had heard him approaching, but she didn’t turn to face him. Her head just dipped down to her side then back to straight in front of her. He crouched down behind her, knowing she was waiting for him to touch her.
    “Wait, please?” she asked. The glorious pitch of those words resonated throughout his entire being.
    “Forever, my sweet.”
    Her breathing became heavy and uneven as a million different possibilities for that moment came flooding through her mind. She wanted to turn and take him in her arms, never letting go. She had no idea how or why Ryan was finally there at that moment, she couldn’t care though. She just needed her husband’s arms around her after over a century.
    His hand made its way to her shoulder and trailed down her arm to her hand, his warm fingers laced through her icy cold ones. She brought them to her lips and took in a deep breath.
    “I would recognize that scent anywhere. I haven’t smelled anyone quite like it in over a hundred years.” She closed her eyes as she brought his hand to her chest.
    He sat down behind her, his legs stretched out on either side. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her back into him. He rested his head on her shoulder, his lips dangerously close to her ear.
    “I knew you remembered.”
    She shuddered at the feeling his hot breath made across her skin that flowed down to her core. She could instantly feel her temperature rising as she felt his soft kiss on the hollow just below her ear.
    “Turn around, please.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Why?”
    “I’m so afraid it’s all a dream. I’ve wished for this moment for so long, I just can’t believe it’s real.”
    He brought the back of his hand to caress her cheek. “Does this feel real?”
    She dipped her cheek into his palm as her eyes softly shut. “Yes.”
    “Can you feel my lips here?” He placed another kiss at the base of her neck then pulled her clothes away from her skin, trailing kisses across her collarbone.
    “Yes,” she moaned.
    “I’m real. I’m here. I’m not sure for how long, but I can’t wait a minute longer.”
    He scooted back slightly as she slowly turned to face him, raising her slender fingers to his slightly stubbly cheek. She ran her thumb across the creases next to his eye as a tear escaped. She could hear his heart beating wildly in his chest, his pulse thumping through his veins.
    “Not exactly how I left you, am I?”
    She smiled at his words. “I think it was I that did the leaving, not that I ever intended to.”
    “I know. I know,” he whispered, as he kissed her forehead. “Peter explained everything.”
    “Of course he did.”
    “I don’t know how long I have.”
    She put her finger to his lips. “I don’t want to think about that now. I just need this.” She brought her lips to his. Slowly caressing each others in unison, his tongue aching for entrance. She swallowed back the venom that was pooling at the back of her throat and let his tongue pass her lips. Their kiss became more passionate as she pulled him to her. Her fingers a mess through his silky, onyx strands, his hand