by J. K. Coi
As Celia turned to leave, Amy raised her arm and said, “Hey, how hard do you think it’s going to be for me to assist in heart surgery with this thing on my arm?”
“Hard or not, it has to be worth a shot to work with a surgeon like Torres.” Celia smiled and closed the door, giving Amy some privacy to freshen up.
Leaving the calming silence of the retiring room, Amy cringed inwardly as she was instantly assailed with the emotions of the hundreds of people in the hospital. When she’d first come back to work, it had been all she could do to get through the day. The bombardment of pain and fear had been unbearable. She had quickly learned to adapt, to erect and maintain a filter in her mind that kept the worst of it at bay. It was still a challenge, and at the end of a long day like today she was mentally drained.
Even so, Amy refused to slow down. She couldn’t afford a day off, to have time to herself, because whenever she was alone, she remembered…and Amy had promised herself that she wouldn’t let herself do that.
At least until the time came when it didn’t hurt so much anymore.
“Whoa. That’s enough, I’m done,” Baron huffed, drawing in great breaths and throwing his hands in the air. He backed away, off of the sparring mat where Rhys stood with his fists still at the ready. Rhys had been less than cheerfully beating the crap out of him for the past hour, all in the name of “training”.
If anyone had bothered asking, Baron would have said Rhys was less than cheerful about a lot of things lately, and being the smart and intuitive dude that he was, he had a pretty good idea what was wrong with the big guy.
“What’s the matter?” Rhys asked, breathing heavily.
“Oh, nothing a couple weeks in traction won’t cure,” Baron replied caustically, rubbing his side.
“Stop being such a wimp. You think the next demon is going to step back and wait while you take a breather?”
“Don’t make this about me. This is all you, man.” Baron crossed his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you just stop fighting it? Get over your brooding, bad-ass self and do what you have to do to keep her in your life.”
Rhys moaned. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever. But I’m done being your punching bag today,” he growled, leaving Rhys to deal with his demons on his own.
Baron hadn’t said anything that Rhys hadn’t already told himself a hundred times.
He asked himself the same questions every night when he dragged his ass into bed. When the darkness ruled and he was powerless to continue fighting the images that had lurked along the outer reaches of his consciousness all through the day, the doubts came and regret choked in his throat.
Even Alric had gotten on the bandwagon. “You know, I never thought I’d be talking to you about your love life,” Alric had said last night. After the confrontation with Gray and the Nina, he’d decided to stay on with Rhys and Baron for a few weeks, since Diana wanted to spend some more time with her family, but now he’d packed up and was just about ready to head out.
“I’ve never had a love life,” Rhys answered shortly.
“I know. That’s why it’s never been an issue before. You never cared about anything deeply enough that losing it would matter.” Alric hitched his army duffel high over his shoulder.
“I cared once, and it almost killed me. You have to understand why I had to give her up. You of all people. You sent Diana away. You did what you had to do to keep her safe.”
“No, man, there’s a huge difference. I sent Diana away temporarily for her own safety, but she’s still with me, still mine, you know? And she always will be. Amy you’ve lost just as completely as if she were dead.”
“She’s not dead. She lives, and at least now she’ll stay alive.”
“Maybe. But how can you ever be sure if you aren’t there? What will happen to her tomorrow, or the next day? Can you really say that she’s better off without you in her life? Because friend, I’m here to tell you that you’re so obviously not better off without her.”
“I—”
“Just think about it, that’s all I’m sayin‘, before it’s too late to go back.” Alric turned to leave. “And now I’m going to go pick up my wife and bring her back home where she belongs.”
Chapter Nineteen
Rhys was under her window.
Amy wasn’t sure exactly how she knew that because she hadn’t worked up the courage to go and look—yet. She was afraid to go to the window. Damn it! How dare he come here now? She couldn’t face him while she was still trying to get over him.
She reluctantly made herself go to the window and sure enough, there he was. Her stupid heart actually jumped for joy at the sight of him, but she tamped down the emotion, telling herself he was just being annoying stalker guy, since he’d probably heard that Gideon left town.
He must think she needed a babysitter again.
At that realization, her joy turned to irritation and her blood started to boil and churn in anger. When would everyone stop treating her like a child?
They locked eyes for a moment and her heart skipped a beat. He was coming up. She was tempted to double bolt the door and refuse to open it to him, but she knew Rhys better than that. If he was here, he wasn’t going to leave until he finished what he was determined to accomplish, which meant he would just break the door down if she locked him out.
Giving her anger free rein, she decided to let him have it. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, yanking open the door and planting her feet in the entranceway, effectively telling him that he was not welcome.
“Can I come in?” he asked, an impenetrable look in his eyes.
“I think you asked me that question once before, Rhys. Last time you told me it wasn’t a good idea, and I should have listened. This time I’ve learned my lesson,” she said angrily. “So I repeat, what do you want?”
She raised her hand before he could answer. “You know, on the other hand, don’t answer that. I don’t even want to know. If you’re just here to play bodyguard because Gideon’s gone, then don’t bother. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him, the same thing I’ve told both of you before—I’m not a child, nor am I incompetent. I’m a woman—in the twenty-first century, no less—and whether or not you idiots want to accept the significance of that doesn’t much matter to me anymore, but it means that I don’t need you. I’ll take care of myself, thank you very much.”
Rhys wanted to smile but didn’t dare. It was the first time he‘d felt this good in weeks, and it was all because of her.
He would gladly take Amy spitting fire at him for the rest of his days. He loved her spirit and strength, her stubborn will to do everything herself. He loved that she cared enough to heal the sick, loved how she unconsciously affected everyone around her in such a way that the air was sweeter and colors brighter when she was around.
He’d finally realized the importance of just being able to love her.
“Okay,” he said. “Good speech. I’m sure Gideon backed right off after that.”
Amy sighed and made a face. “Well…not exactly. He’s called every day, and I know that he sent Kane and Roland to check on me at work. I don’t think I was supposed to see them, but it’s hard to be inconspicuous in a hospital full of single nurses, especially when you look like those two.” Rhys’ heart leaped into his throat at the smile she threw him and the world dropped away. Her smile could move the earth under his feet.
He’d never really had a chance against this woman, and for the first time, he realized he was glad of it.
“I can understand how Gideon feels,” Rhys said roughly.
Amy frowned, shaking her head. “Uh-uh. No way. You don’t get to understand.” Her breath hitched slightly, pain darting across those expressive eyes. Her brief smile was gone and they were once again at a stand-off.
Rhys was the biggest jerk. How could he have hurt this woman whom he loved so much? “Please, Amy,” he said softly. “Let me come in.”
Her eyes were like windows. Rhys could always read her, and right now he knew she was about one regret away from slamming the door on him forever.
He didn’t think she would, though. She loved him. Just as much as he loved her. That certainty was what had finally made him come here and beg her to let him back into her life. She was right—she’d always been right. If he believed in their love, then they were strong together. Without her he had nothing, was nothing.
He was far from confident about the intelligence of what he was about to do, but very confident in the rightness of it. She was in his blood, a part of him, and he wanted to prove to her that he was worth another chance.
Amy’s expression had turned to stone and she really looked like she was going to choose to slam the door in his face, but after a long pause and a deep sigh, she stepped aside.
Embracing his folly, Rhys took the two steps through the doorway, pulling her right up into his arms. Amy gasped, her hands clutching his shoulders as he carried her across the room, his mouth already fused to hers.
She started to object but he was persistent, using his mouth and his body to show her how sorry he was, how much he wanted her.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, his lips pressed to the pounding pulse point at her throat, the vital testimony to her strength and resilience.
Rhys had always been so worried about protecting her that he had overlooked just how tough and capable she really was. The night they met she had run into a dark alley to save him, not knowing what she was going up against but determined to try. She had undergone a painful, life-changing physical transformation with grace and regal acceptance. She had held her own against Gray while shielding Baron from further injury.
And she had taken a chance on loving a lifeless, hopeless Immortal, and succeeded in teaching him what love could be.
“Rhys—” Amy broke the kiss, pushing her hands against his chest when he tried to overcome her objections. “Rhys, no. Don’t do this to me. Please.”
“Amy—”
“I can’t. Please. I can’t afford the hurt when you leave again. I told myself the very first time we kissed that I could. That I could have an affair with you, and that when you left I’d be able to get over you and move on. I knew then that you weren’t the staying type, but I wanted you anyway, maybe because of that. But then you and I…when we… I thought that had changed. I let myself start to think in terms of forever, and it killed me—”
“Amy, don’t. I’m sorry. You’ll never know how much.” Rhys cupped her face in his palms, wiping crystal tears from her face. He felt a sharp pain in his gut that he had caused those tears and the countless others she’d shed because of him. “I was so busy trying to protect you, to keep you safe from this life, that I didn’t want to believe in you and acknowledge that we could save each other.
“I know now how wrong I’ve been. I failed you. But you have already saved me, Amy. I didn’t even think I needed saving until I met you, but then you showed me how desolate my existence had been and showed me what it could be. From the very beginning you brought sunshine and laugher, acceptance and love into my life, something I haven’t had in centuries. You gave me back my humanity.
“I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you, but I promise that if you’ll forgive me, I’ll spend the next century making it up to you.”
Amy gazed into his eyes and he felt that she was searching his heart, looking for the truth, trying to see if he meant what he said. He opened himself up to her completely, unafraid that she might see his darkness, his fear, because he was confident that she would also see his love for her.
“What about the years after that?” she asked.
“What?”
“If you spend a century making it up to me, what are you going to do afterward?” She smiled at him, and his world was alive once again.
Happiness spread through him, warming him. He took Amy in his arms, crushing her to him in a tight embrace. Rhys chuckled as he moved to whisper in her ear, “Honey, that’s when the real fun gets started.”
Epilogue
Rhys hadn’t had a single vision in over a month. He didn’t think he’d even dreamed at all in that time.
Until tonight.
When he saw Amy in his dream, he immediately began to panic. God, please don’t let her be in trouble. She was walking a darkened hallway in a long night rail that trailed like a silver cloud of cotton behind her. He followed, calling out her name, but she didn’t turn from her path. At the end of the hall she stopped in front of a heavy oak door and reached for the large brass knob. Rhys entered the room behind her and watched as she crossed the shadowy room. He was surprised to see a baby’s crib placed against the wall.
The babe lying within snuffled and stopped crying as soon as she was picked up and cuddled in her mother’s adoring embrace. Rhys couldn’t help but whisper Amy’s name and hold his breath when she looked up, as if she had finally heard him. She smiled and his heart lurched at the beauty and love shining from her eyes.
She turned back to place the now-sleeping baby in the crib. She gazed down at the child, running a soft, gentle finger along the wispy strands of fine downy hair, and caressed a chubby cheek. The smile on her face was tender and turned into a happy sigh when a pair of muscular arms came around her shoulders, holding her in a loving embrace. After a moment shared in relaxed silence, the baby stirred again, opening her eyes—sparkling silver eyes.
About J.K. Coi
J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.
J.K. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by J.K.Coi
Brazen Games
Howling Sacrifices
Iron Seduction
The Morning After
Print books by J.K. Coi
Don’t Ask, Never Tell anthology
Steam Heat anthology
Watching it All anthology
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Immortal Duty
ISBN 9781419941740
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Immortal Duty Copyright © 2012 J.K. Coi
Edited by Rebecca Hill
Cover design by Mina Carter
Photos: 1234rf.com and Derek R. Audette/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication December 2012
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