She pulled her hand from his and sat up, wrapping the blanket around her. “There’s something I need to say first.”
Ryder waited for her to continue. From the dread on her face, he feared the worst.
“I’m sorry,” Kinsey said.
Now that, he wasn’t expecting.
“I’m sorry for everything.” She licked her lips and lowered her gaze to the ground. “I should never have feared you, and I certainly should never have told you I wasn’t sure I could forgive your leaving me. After being at Dreagan and seeing the enemies, I understand now.” Her eyes returned to his. “I’d have done the same thing. This is your family. You protect your family.
“But I was lying to myself when I said I didn’t have feelings for you. I lied to others about that as well. I never stopped loving you. Never.”
Ryder wanted to pull her against him, but she held out a hand to stop him.
“You were so patient and sweet, and I … wasn’t. You deserve better than that. I’d like … that is, if you’re willing … I’d very much like to start again. I may have done too much or said the wrong things, but I love you. I’ll go through interrogations or whatever to reassure you and Con and the others that I mean this.”
Ryder halted any more words with a kiss. He was so happy he could barely contain himself. Kinsey was going to be his.
“I know you mean every word,” he whispered as he caressed a hand down her face. “I love you, Kinsey Burns. It killed me to leave you, and I doona want to ever be apart from you again.”
Fresh tears welled and fell down her cheeks. “You’ve no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
“You’ve got that wrong, lass,” he murmured with a grin. “I’ll be the one who’s the happiest.”
A seductive smile filled her face. “Perhaps we can show each other just how happy we’ve made the other.”
“Ohhh. I like that idea. Shall we commence things here?”
“As long as no one can see or interrupt us,” she said and threw off the blanket.
Ryder hastily set up a magic door that would block anyone from entering—or seeing. His laugh bounced off the stones as she tore open his shirt, sending buttons flying once more.
EPILOGUE
Three days later …
“Do we really have to?” Kinsey said as she reached down and wrapped her hand around his cock.
“Hmmm. Did you say something?”
She chuckled and kissed his cheek. It had been the best three days of her life. They hadn’t left Ryder’s room, and it was wonderful.
“I suppose we need to get to work,” she said with a sigh.
Ryder lifted the laptop. “I’ve been keeping up with things.”
“With one screen. Admit it, you miss your monitors.”
He shrugged and set aside the laptop. “That I do, but I like you in my arms. Perhaps we should set up the monitors here.”
“Or we could set up our bedroom in the computer room.”
Ryder thought about that for a moment. “Nope. I doona like either idea. Let’s keep things the way they are.”
She laughed as he rolled her onto her back and kissed her. When he lifted his head, she ran her fingers through his blond locks. “I can’t believe everyone believes I’m innocent.”
“Because you are. And now we have two more allies,” he said with a smile and a wink.
“Two more mortals. That doesn’t concern any of you?”
“You’re my mate, Kins. You’ll only be mortal until the ceremony, which I’d like done soon. I doona like the idea of someone hurting you. Once you’re mine, you’ll be immortal.”
That thought still boggled her mind. She and Ryder had talked at length about how she was going to handle her family. It was going to be a delicate situation, but with her parents in another country and her sister starting her life, they were going to make it work.
“Are you still thinking about the fact you willna be able to have children?” he asked in a soft voice.
Kinsey looked into his hazel depths and smiled. “I was thinking about my family, but I have been contemplating the children issue.”
“Do you want children?”
“I don’t know. First I was too young, then there was my career. Then you.”
“And after me.”
“Yes, then after you left. I’ve not had time to think about it.”
“Would you rather hold off the ceremony until you can be sure?”
Kinsey smiled and brought his face down for another kiss. “This is why I love you.”
“Because I asked if you wanted to wait?”
“Because you’re always thinking about me.”
Ryder ran a finger from her forehead down the side of her face, tracing her hairline. “I’ll do anything for you, Kins. If that means waiting years for the ceremony so you can be sure about children, then I understand.”
“You’re mine, Ryder. I don’t want anyone else in my life but you. If we can’t have children, then we’ll find ways to fill our time. Who knows? We might adopt someday.”
“I’d give you as many children as you wanted if I could.”
“I know. It’s not your fault or mine. It’s just the way it’s going to be. And I’m okay with that.”