"I suppose I hadn't looked at it that way." His sigh is long. He looks so sad, his usual joyfulness absent from his features.
"I'm the one who needs to apologize. I put your career on the line. I could have hurt you. I could... Well. No matter. You have to take me in."
Fitz reaches out for me, but drops his hand, thinking better of it.
"I've been on the phone with my superiors. Charles Murray is the only person who will be facing charges for the murder. You're free and clear."
I nod. The nod turns to a shake. Fitz's words don't make sense. I can't be free or clear of guilt. Not for Stanley Campbell's death, nor any of the other terrible things I've been forced to do over the centuries. I can't move on from that. Not now. It's too soon and I don't know how to forgive myself.
“Murray is a MacGregor. He was born out of wedlock and adopted as a baby. When he found out, he tracked down some of his family members. He found out about the bridle through a great-aunt. He did a lot of research, using an alias, of course. That’s why we weren’t able to track him down sooner. He became Campbell’s assistant to get access to the bridle and a bunch of other objects he saw as his own.
“He was obsessed with obtaining what he saw as his birthright. He’s unwell, Sorcha. Any person who plans out a series of revenge killings like that isn’t in their right mind. You didn’t do this. He did.”
I nod like I understand. But the information Fitz has shared doesn’t do much to appease the guilt inside me.
“There are people you can talk to about all of this. How to get passed it.”
“You mean therapy?”
Fitz nods and gives me a smile. I return it because I love him. Because he isn’t completely wrong. I do need to get help if I am to live out a normal life. Fitz closes the distance between us.
His presence so very close to me both comforts and strengthens me. I hold my breath, hoping that his feelings for me haven’t evaporated.
"Sorcha, I'd like to ask you something." Fitz runs a hand through my hair. His fingers graze the strand of seaweed woven there. That is a part of my kelpie that I will never be able to remove. "Stay." The word is heavy, thick with emotion. “I'd like to be with you. Stay.”
His last word comes out as a plea. It leaves me breathless. Speechless. Hopeful.
"Why?"
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and cups my cheek.
"Because I'm in love with you. And nothing that has happened today changed that."
I look down, avoiding his eyes. Fitz drops his forehead against mine and takes a deep inhale.
"You're insane, Fitz," I whisper to him. Because he is. He's crazy to forgive the things I've done. I'm just as insane as him, elated that he can love me.
"But you love me too," he says confidently.
"But I love you too," I confirm.
A laugh bubbles out of me and he catches the end of it, placing his lips on mine.
"I've seen your tears, your fear. Now I want to savor your smiles, your happiness.” Fitz seals his words with a kiss.
It feels like a new beginning. It feels like redemption.
Epilogue
-Fitz-
"Fitzroy." Even over the phone, my dad's voice is chilly. I'm sure it won't be getting warmer any time soon.
"Dad."
"I heard you did some good work on that murder case."
I wait for the metaphorical punch.
"I also heard that you got really close to the suspect. In fact, you didn't even know she was a suspect until you realized she was the actual culprit."
I sigh in disappointment. No matter how badly my father thought I did the job before, I know this won't compare. He'll never let this go.
"Kelpies are fairly rare, unless you're in the United Kingdom. Better agents than you could have missed that. Although, I can't say that I'm proud of the fact that my son was involved with a murderer."
"Extenuating circumstances," I protest.
"Right. I heard. We called the Scotland offices. We wanted to make sure we were dealing with this in the proper manner. It appears that once a kelpie is in the control of a stolen bridle, there is nothing to do. They've had similar cases over the years. The kelpie is not brought to justice for the actions. Sorcha Ross is free and clear of all charges. She can return to Scotland."
My heart soars and sinks in the same moment even though I already knew all of this. Hearing it from my father holds a different meaning.
"Or perhaps she can stick around. Whatever she decides to do, your mother would like to meet Sorcha. She's never met a kelpie and she's interested in asking her a few questions for her research."
"All right," I answer. It comes out sounding more like a question than a statement.
"You're very trusting," my father says. "That's why I don't like you doing this job."
Anger spikes inside me. I'm not prone to anger, but if anyone can bring it out in me, it's my father. Especially when he says inflammatory things.
"What I mean is, you're a good boy, Fitz. You're kind. You see the good in people. You don't want to believe that creatures, paranormal and human alike, are fundamentally bad."
"Well, gee, Dad. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"No, I'm saying this all wrong. I even practiced saying it with your mother." He takes a deep breath. "I'm trying to say that the way you are, how you see the world... These are good things. I've always enjoyed seeing the world through your eyes. I'm scared this job will beat all of that out of you."
Suspicious, I'm still waiting for the gut punch.
"I wanted you to choose a career that was more suited to who you are. I get that you're where you belong now. It's nice to know that not every agent is a hardened, jaded prick like me."
I'm fairly certain my eyes have gone as big and wide as a full moon.
"Thanks?"
"I'm proud of you. Any other agent would have arrested the woman and not done any sort of due diligence based on her breed. You insisted and it's a good thing you did."
I'm stunned. Shocked. Pleased.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Bring Miss Ross to meet your mother?"
"I'll ask."
I sign off and drop the phone onto the kitchen counter. That took a positive turn I hadn't expected. Though I don't know how I feel about having Sorcha meet all of my sisters. Or my mother. They'll become thick as thieves and that's dangerous for me. There are just too many embarrassing pictures of me that will be proudly shared.
"Hey," Sorcha says, placing a kiss on the back of my neck. "Everything okay?"
"I think we should go for a swim."
"A swim," she repeats. She hasn't gone into the water since I've met her. It’s a damn shame.
I can't tell if Sorcha can see right through me. I told her once that I had a fantasy of being deep inside of her while in the water. I wonder if that's what she's thinking.
Sorcha unzips her short jean shorts and wiggles out of them. I watch as her luscious ass moves to and fro with the motion. Next, she reaches for the hem of her shirt and pulls it over her head.
The bikini hiding all her naughty bits is as itty bitty as they come. I swallow a few times, trying to cool my lust to a dull ache instead of a clawing desire.
"Are you just going to stand there and watch?" she says to me before running outside toward the dock.
I'm close on her heels and I watch as she jumps into the water. I swear I hear her laugh as she launches herself into the lake.
I make quick work of my pants and shirt and jump in after her.
With ease, I capture her in my arms as we tread water in an embrace.
"This is kind of beautiful," I say, wrapping the strand of seaweed around my fingers.
"Sure," Sorcha rolls her eyes.
"I mean it. I like that it's a piece of your shift that's always there."
She shrugs, wading water just out of my reach.
"Hey, Sorcha?" I ask, my voice thick with want. She turns the full strength of her green g
aze onto me and it cuts off the circulation to my limbs, save one.
I close my hands around her waist and, being an absolute genius, she closes her legs around my waist. She grinds up, then down, feeling my erection against her core.
"As I recall," she whispers in my ear, "this is the beginning of one of your fantasies. Am I wrong?"
Her lips collide with mine. She continues the grinding motions against me, and I can't help the animalistic groan pulls from me.
"Sorcha, you're driving me wild."
She laughs. Her hand dips into the water. I feel her drag down her bikini bottoms. Next, she lowers my swim trunks. Her warm hand closes around my erect shaft.
The warmth of it is a stark contrast to the cold of the water. It's a heady mix. One that is going to drive me crazy. With her sure hand, Sorcha lines me up to her core.
I move my hips as best I can. Sorcha grinds against me.
I nuzzle her breast, capturing a nipple through the material of her bikini. I suck on the pebbled nub. Sorcha's skin is covered in gooseflesh. We move together. Our movements wild and unmeasured yet in sync.
"More," Sorcha moans, biting into my neck.
I'm only too happy to oblige, letting the slow rhythm of the water overtake us. The heat of her core is snug and sucks me in so tightly, I feel the base of my spine tingle.
"I don't want to come without you," I whisper to her. "Come for me, baby. I want to feel you lose control." I close my mouth on her nipple and grind my hips upward.
"Fitz," she gasps. Her core becomes impossibly tight on my cock. I feel her orgasm hit as she milks my own release.
I hold her close to me, relishing the moment.
"How was that? Everything you wanted it to be?"
"So much more," I say truthfully.
As soon as we're both out of the water, I take Sorcha in my arms. She squeals in delight, her laughter sounding so much freer than it did before.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I want more of you," I whisper against her neck. "Always."
The End
About the Author
Alexa Gregory writes love stories for the people that fate forgot. She believes that love should bring people together, especially in the darkest of times. She began writing before knowing what words were and never stopped. The home Alexa shares with her husband is overrun with filled notebooks, stacks of sticky notes, and enough books to build a bridge to another world. She is currently working on a novel or two.
You can find Alexa on social media at the following links:
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The Kelpie's Redemption Page 10
