Firefox

“I haven’t been straining.” The furrow between Chloe’s brows told another story.

“You have, because if that’s your relaxed face I’d be afraid to see you get tense.”

Without missing a beat, she slapped his thigh and made him laugh. “Shhh, you’re too noisy for a teacher.”

“Think it, Chloe. Think come here.” He rubbed his fingertip in a circle between her eyebrows in an effort to get her to relax, and eventually she did.

The butterfly floated toward them, and landed on top of Chloe’s head.

“Is it there?” she asked, excited, holding stock still.

“No, it flew past,” Sparrow said.

She blinked a few times. “No, it didn’t! It’s on my head!”

“How do you know?” He waited to see how she’d verbalize it, curious how she might explain something he’d always had trouble with. His answer would have simply been I just know

.

But in typical Chloe style, she impressed him yet again. “I feel it…sharing the same space with me. I feel its energy next to mine.”

The butterfly flew to Sparrow’s knee then, and made a few lazy circles, exploring its perch, before flying away. Chloe laughed with happiness at what she’d done, what she’d learned, and leaned over to cup Sparrow’s cheek and kiss him.

Her happiness made him happy. She’d been learning quickly, and had rejuvenated a wilting flower yesterday with merely a touch and a thought. This was the first living thing she’d called to her, but Sparrow knew soon she’d be able to summon birds and animals easily, as well.

Then they would explore her full power, power like his but so much stronger. He was eager to see her wield it, but thought a step at a time was the prudent approach. Besides, for a while every time they made love, Chloe would unlock more of her goddess-hood. That would eventually stop, but it didn’t matter. Sparrow intended to make love to her in every square foot of his place in the Twilight.

That morning, they’d bathed in the stream, and had waded into the deeper parts so that she could easily sink down onto him while he stood. Sparrow swore the flowers lining the banks were brighter and taller when they were done.

Her kiss didn’t stop now so she could demand they try something new, or to suggest they pick some fruit to eat. Instead, she pushed him onto his back on the soft cushion of grass. She sucked him into the wet, hot cavern of her mouth, tongued him like he was a delicacy.

His back arched and he shouted as he came, and Sparrow felt his power surging in tandem with hers.

Chapter 17

A few days ago, Chloe had been prepared to throw the clothes she could fit into a suitcase and leave her life behind, again, to escape an abusive ex-husband intent on stalking her. She’d been soaking herself in bourbon, crying in a bathroom stall, and sure that she would spend the rest of her life on the run from the horrible man she’d chosen when they were really little more than children.

Chloe hadn’t known that happiness like she felt in the Twilight with Sparrow could exist for her. She wouldn’t have believed it had someone told her.

She hadn’t believed it when Sparrow had said basically that very thing.

But they were together now, in this beautiful place, and Chloe didn’t care if they ever left. Worries about her job, her house and possessions, her ex-husband were as far away as she supposed earth was from the Twilight. And the idea that she might never need worry about any of those things again sparked a kind of joy she wondered if she really deserved.

Sparrow’s arms were wrapped around her midsection. She sat on his lap facing away from him, and they had actually put on clothes for a change. She’d grown comfortable being naked in his presence in this place, but one or both of them kept getting derailed as they tried to grow her powers. The lessons kept stopping early, because they seemed to have made it their mission to have sex in every corner of his cottage and the whole outdoors.

They both thought maybe even a little clothing would help them focus better. She wore a long white nightgown that had once been his mother’s, and he wore soft white pants that were similar to sweat pants but a silkier material. He didn’t wear a shirt, and Chloe thought maybe he was going to have to put one on if she was supposed to concentrate on anything except the firm muscles of his chest and abs.

“Chloe?”

“Sorry.” She’d been thinking about his lean, hard body again.

“Think flame.”

His hands found hers. As she closed her eyes, she heard the fire being born, and felt the heat against her face. Chloe smiled as she opened her eyes to see the crackling fire in the hearth.

“You did it.” He kissed her behind the ear.

“I think we did it.” She giggled when he nibbled her earlobe. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”