“Roger that.” I smirked. “The same goes for the flirtatious stylist.”
“Of course. You’ve been dressing me for years anyway. You might as well be brought on to the show.”
I breathed through small bits of fear rising in me. “I agree.”
“You agree to it all?”
“I do. No more fear. I’m just going to walk to the edge of the cliff and jump. I don’t care what happens. I could crash and die. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’ll never crash with me, Ivy. I’ll always be there to hold and keep you safe.”
“I’m sorry for leaving you tonight.”
“I’m not.” He shrugged. “Apparently, a nap in the snow is just what you needed to get us going. If I knew that, I would have thrown your ass out in the snow years ago.”
I laughed.
He pulled me into his big arms and encased me in warmth. There, I melted against him, feeling safer than I’d ever felt in my life. I would always be safe in his arms. I knew that with every inch of my soul.
He brushed his lips against my ear. “I love you, Ivy.”
Tears left my eyes. I rested my head against his shoulder. “I love you too.”
I’d said it many times to him. However, this time I meant it deep down in the crevices of my soul. A rising ache came. It was almost painful, but not the bad type. It was the sort that brought people back to life.
He leaned away and studied me. “Don’t cry.”
“Don’t worry. These are happy tears. Maybe even ones of relief.”
“When I saw you in the snow tonight, I thought all would be lost.”
“No way. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He dropped his gaze to my mouth. “Is that right?”
My skin buzzed, craving the feel of his lips on mine. “Yes.”
He leaned in and kissed me, taking my breath and all thoughts away. I closed my eyes and opened my heart—my soul—my very existence completely to him. I held him tight. Calming warmth flooded my chest. And there was this sensation that the iciness inside me was melting away.
And the air charged around us with electric energy. I felt like we were at the center of a vortex as magic whipped around us. I swore my hair lifted and sparks burst in the air.
Saint stopped the kiss and embraced me again. I closed my eyes and went back to resting my head on his strong shoulder, happy that I’d finally come to my senses.
We stayed like that forever, holding each other and never letting go.
And still, that same electric current drifted along my skin.
A woman whispered, “Ivy.”
I opened my eyes.
My mother stood before me, glowing in golden light. That rope was still wrapped around her neck. The end of it floated in the air. Suitcases and handbags dangled from the long line. She held her hands out and wore a big grin on her face. “Can you see me?”
I nodded.
“You finally learned.”
Right as I was about to speak, sparks snapped around the rope. My mother widened her eyes and looked down as bag after bag disappeared. Her glow brightened. “What’s happening?”
I left Saint’s hold and stared in awe.
The golden light brightened to white.
My mother held out her hands. “Ivy?”
Saint spoke, but it sounded like he was far away. “What’s wrong, Ivy?”
The rope disappeared. Gasping, my mother touched her neck. She glanced at me as if I had the answer. And then large white wings grew from her back. Gold tipped each ivory feather.
“Oh, Ivy.” She looked over her shoulder at them. “I think I have to go.”
“But. . .you just started coming.” An ache filled me. “Please, don’t go, mommy.”
“Don’t worry, honey.” Her wings expanded high and wide. “I’ll still be watching you. It’ll just be different this time.”
And then she disappeared.
I sat there in shock.
“Ivy? Why are you crying?” Saint placed his hands on the side of my face. “What’s wrong? What are you looking at?”
I turned back to him. “Nothing.”
“Are you okay?”
“More than ever.”
“You called for your mom.”
“I did. She got her wings. Everything is going to be okay. It’s all going to work out for her, Dad, and even us.”
“Good. That’s the best news I’ve heard all year.” He trailed hot kisses across the curve of my jaw.
And that night we made love.
For so many years we’d fucked—his cock thrusting in and out of me. But that night, our naked bodies tangled in passion. Our hearts merged. Our gazes remained on each other, swimming in a lusty daze. I was swept up in the intensity of his deep blue eyes.
I swore my heart almost exploded from the intensity of it all—the moment and his love. Only the feeling of his cock inside of my pussy could thrill and shock me at the same time. There was a new connection between our bodies and souls—new lifelines beginning. New memories to keep us warm on the coldest nights.