“All right then, what’s your plan?”
She had really hoped that he’d be the one to come up with it. Just because she wanted one didn’t mean she had any idea what it should be. There was the one signal they had used in the past. She supposed that would be the simplest, if for no other reason than it would be the easiest to remember. “How about on your twentieth birthday, if you want to see me, you’ll put two lit candles in your window?”
Michael smiled at the memory. “Why my twentieth? Why not sooner?”
“It’s always been a delicate balance for me, deciding when to approach you. Too young, and it’s too strange to feel such a connection to a boy. Too old, and I’ve wasted time. In this case, I need to be sure that you’ve had plenty of time, plenty of opportunity, to seriously consider alternatives. If I come earlier, you won’t entertain thoughts of other women. I need to know that you’re making your choice with all the facts, knowing all your options.”
“All right.”
“This way, I can come that one night and check. If you don’t want to come with me, I’ll leave and never see you again. It won’t hurt my feelings if you choose not to, Michael. I want you to be happy.”
Michael cupped her face in his hand in his familiar and tender way. “Yes, it will hurt your feelings. Or at least I hope it would. But don’t worry, I understand your point.”
“Promise me you’ll do what’s best for you.”
“I promise. Now, can we put all talk of this away? I want to go swimming in the hot springs with you today.”
Michael straddled her and tickled her ribs, sending her into fits of laughter. She had never been ticklish before, but her skin’s sensitive reaction to Michael’s touch made her so. It felt good to laugh, to see Michael’s face smiling down on her. She wanted it to last forever, but in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn’t.
***
The crisp, cool air invigorated Amaia. They’d spent much of the last few days at the hot springs, and now they enjoyed a pleasant stroll while the sun stood at its zenith, struggling to send its warmth through the chill. Amaia’s hand was warm inside Michael’s. They didn’t need to talk. The peaceful silence between them was sublime. There was no one else in the world Amaia felt this way around.
“I’m getting better at masking my energy. There’s a chance we could settle down a little longer in one place.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve waited to tell you until I was certain.”
“That’s wonderful, Amaia.” Michael stopped and planted a firm kiss on her lips. She never tired of those kisses. They were always urgent, communicating his desire, while at the same time being forever patient, as if they had a thousand years ahead of them. “We could get a house somewhere, have a real life together.”
They continued walking. “Well, it won’t be the same as if I were mortal. We won’t be able to have children.”
“I don’t care about that. I never did. All I’ve ever wanted is you.”
“I just hope I’m enough.” She found it intimidating, being the sole focus of his love.
“Of course you are. You’ve always been this way, never believing that I really love you as much as I say I do.”
“I believe you, Michael. I just think maybe your love blinds you to some things.”
Michael turned her to face him. “I know you, Amaia. You’re mine. I see you for exactly who you are.”
“You’re the only one who ever has.” Amaia placed a hand on his chest, convincing herself she could feel his strong heartbeat through his layers of clothing. “I was thinking we should talk about where we want to settle. We could make friends.”
“I’d like that, showing you off to everyone.”
“What kind of work would you like to do?”
“I trained as a cobbler.”
“You’re not restrained to the skills you learned in this life.”
Michael laughed. “No, but we’d be living in town, around plenty of people so you could get the energy you need.”
“It doesn’t bother you, me sucking energy from people?”
“No. It can’t. I need you to stay strong. It’s better than the alternative. But if you don’t want to live in the city, we could live on the outskirts, close enough for it to be easy for you to feed, but far enough away that you don’t have to deal with all of us lowly mortals.”
“I’m happy anywhere, as long as you are. Where would you want to live? What city?”
“I don’t know. Do you have any favorites?” Michael pulled her in front of him with her back to his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
“Paris. It’s always been Paris for me.”
He brushed her hair behind her ear and placed a kiss on her neck. “Sometimes I wish we had run away together to Paris when you asked me to before I died the first time.”
“You mean before I killed you?”