Zera wasn’t surprised to find Aaron outside the house at the pack estate, awaiting her arrival. He probably saw Miguel bringing Zion and Quincy home and asked where she was and why she wasn’t with them then. Learning that she had gone to rescue Davine must have put him on the edge and on the verge of restlessness.
George released Davine from his grip, and the other man set his feet down firmly for the first time in almost four minutes of racing from his place over to the pack estate.
Aaron stepped towards them, his steps fast and impatience, which was not Aaron’s virtue she was familiar with.
He pulled her into a tight hug, and they stayed for a while before he pulled away. “Do not go off on a reckless hunt on your own without giving me a heads-up.” he breathed in relief.
She chuckled and hugged him back. “It wasn’t reckless, Aaron; it was necessary, and I wasn’t alone; I went with George.”
He grunted and pulled away from the hug, cupping her face so she would look at him. “You know what I mean.”
She nodded. “I promise this will be the last time.”
“Good,” he said before moving his gaze over to Davine, who had been silently standing there for the last minute. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“And I owe my life to your wife. If she hadn’t come to rescue me when she did, I wouldn’t be here.” Davine replied, his tone filled with gratitude.
“I’m glad to hear that then.” Aaron turned to George, “thank you for keeping her safe and please see Mr Yates to the guest inn,” he said.
“I do not want to be stubborn, but I would love to see Quincy, just so he can see that I am fine.”
“I understand, but it would be best to see him when you’re not all covered up in your own blood, don’t you think?”
“You’re right, thank you.” Without another objection, Davine followed George to the guest inn, where he would bathe and change clothes. This left the couples alone with each other.
“I hope Zion hadn’t missed me much.”
“He hasn’t; he’s playing brave with Quincy and assuring him that his super hero mom got it covered.” He said it with a corny smile. “Come, I’ll show you.” He said that and took her hand in his, leading her into the house.
They approached Zion’s room, and they could already hear little voices coming from inside, and they seemed to belong to Zion.
“Your father will be safe; my mom will bring him back.” Zion said, confirming what Aaron had told her earlier.
Aaron slowly pushed his door open after a soft knock and stepped inside. Zion looked up at him, and so did the little boy. “Are you two okay?”
They nodded. “We are fine,” Zion answered. “Is mommy back yet?”
Zera stepped out from behind the massive Aaron, and the eyes of the boys moved over to her, and grew wide. “Mommy!” Zion called and ran off his feet and over to her. “You’re back!”
She chuckled, dropped to her knees, and hugged him. “I had to return; I don’t plan on leaving you just yet.”
They pulled away, and her eyes travelled to Quincy, who had stayed quiet despite the optimistic look now on his face.
“What about Mr. Yates? Is he safe and with you?”
“He’s not with me, but he is safe.” She told him, but her eyes remained on Quincy.
He exhaled in relief at her response to the question, and she smiled. “He will be here to meet you in no time, Quincy,” she tells him.
“What about the bad guys?” Zion asked.
“Mom took care of them, son,” she answered.
Zion turned to Quincy and said with pride, “I told you she would.”
His friend nodded. “Yes, you did.”
They stayed with the boys until Davine came looking for Quincy, and they stepped out to give them space. Davine took hold of her hand as she tried to walk away. She paused and looked up at him. “Thank you.”
“I think it is something anyone would have done,” she said.
He shrugged, “Still, you did it; not only did you bring my son to safety, you also risked a lot to come and rescue me,” he said.
“Well, if you put it that way, then you’re welcome.” She said it with a smile. “Remember, you can stay here for as long as you want.”
She nodded, “I know, and I thank you.”
They left with Zion. “Would you like to spend the evening with dad or mom?” Zera asked.
“I will never choose between you and dad, but I want to spend the evening with Uncle Damor instead. He got so many fun things to tell me about Ireland.” the little boy replied, pulling his hands away from their hold and running over to Damor, who stood on the other side of the field, smoking and staring at the clouds.
He noticed Zion coming close to him, and he put out the fire and tossed it away.
“Did he not quit smoking?” Zera asked with a narrowed gaze.
“He’s quitting,” Aaron told her.
“Since Zion is with Damor, and he probably will be putting him to sleep tonight, do you think we could…?”
He didn’t get to finish because she cut in, “Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I’m about to say.”
She glanced up at him, and their gazes locked. “I don’t need to know; the answer is yes.”
They barely made it back into the bedroom, as they were unable to keep their hands away from each other’s bodies. All their clothing came apart the minute the door closed behind them, and their eagerness was so obvious.
Aaron took her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around him. He helped take off the rest of the pieces she had on, which were her white singlet and bra. He tossed them to the ground and took her to bed.
“I know you’re a sage, but I always have this fear that I might lose you when I least expect it. That is why I am always so protective.” Aaron admitted, kissing her shoulder up to her neck.
Though she knew he was protective because he cared, she didn’t know how deep that fear was. Hearing him tell it to her now told her it was much more than she had thought.
“I never intended to act recklessly-to put you in a state of panic.” Zera started, and though her cause had a just reason, she didn’t want him to think that was what she wanted to do. “I have so much to live for, and I will never do that to you or Zion.”
“I’m glad you remember that,” he said, taking her lips between his before driving into her.
She melted against him, wanting to be claimed by him like this.