19. Savior

19

SAVIOR

I pushed away every ounce of disappointment I felt over Sullivan not telling me she loved me too. I hadn’t planned to blurt it out the way I had, and it wasn’t fair that I’d expect her to say it back after being together a few short days.

I did love her, though, like I knew I’d never love another. If by fate, she and I parted ways one day, the Ashcroft line would die with me, and I was okay with that. What I couldn’t do was be with any other woman, raise a family with any other woman. Yes, it was crazy that I fell in love with her when we were children. It didn’t make it any less real.

The drive to the cottage was as silent as it could be, given we were in an ancient golf cart. Had we wanted to talk, we wouldn’t have been able to hear one another anyway.

“I don’t know about you, but I could stand to eat something more substantial than Christmas cookies,” I said once we were inside the cottage, warming ourselves by the fire.

“We could eat,” she said, her eyes smiling as much as her lips.

“Or?”

Sullivan took my hand, then led me into the bedroom and over to the bed, where she pushed me until I sat on the edge. Starting with my shirt, she removed all my clothes, then stepped back and removed her own.

Once we were both naked, she moved the bedclothes out of our way and lay down, pulling me with her.

Since she didn’t speak, I didn’t either. Instead, I remained still as she ran her hands and mouth over the entirety of my body. When I moved my arm once, she shook her head.

After taking me in her mouth and refusing to stop even when I told her I was about to come, Sullivan kissed her way up my torso, stopping at my heart to rest her hand and bringing mine up to cover hers. Then she looked up at me.

“I believe we’ve owned each other’s hearts since the moment we met. How else could you have possibly recognized a woman you hadn’t seen since she was a little girl, unless something in your soul whispered you’d finally found your other half, something we both believed might never be?”

“I—”

Sullivan put her finger on my lips. “I love you, David.”

My restraint snapped, and I rolled our bodies so I was on top of her, wanting to kiss every inch of her like she’d done to me, but I needed it all at once. I settled on her lips, my tongue twining with hers between repeatedly telling her I loved her. At some point, I realized it wasn’t my voice alone. She said it back as often as I did.

After making love again more times than I could count, Sullivan and I foraged for food in the kitchen, then sat by the light of the tree, snuggling in front of the fireplace.

“It’s hard to believe that the scariest night of my life had led to me being happier than I ever imagined possible.”

I kissed her temple. “I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thanked God, a higher power, or the universe that it was me who Typhon sent that night. That I was close enough to be first on the scene.”

She shuddered.

“Sorry. I was, and we’re here, and that’s all that matters.”

Sullivan rested her head on my chest. “I’ve wondered too if maybe it’s why we’re both loners. Or we were. What if you found someone else? What if I did?”

“Remember, my love, I’m the best sniper SIS has ever had. Sadly, you might’ve been a widow until you found your way to me.”

She giggled. “It’s awful that I find that funny.”

I shrugged. “No one here to judge us.”

When she yawned, I took her plate to the kitchen, then scooped her up and returned to the bedroom with her in my arms.

“Father Christmas will not come unless we’re asleep before midnight,” I said, holding her close.

“He wouldn’t get here at all with the amount of security roaming around, not to mention that which can’t be seen.”

“You weren’t meant to see any of it. Or them. I suppose thinking you wouldn’t notice was naive on my part.”

“David, wake up! It’s snowing,” said Sullivan, jostling me.

“You’re dreaming, my love. It rarely snows in this part of Scotland.”

She tugged on my arm until I opened my eyes and looked out the window, where, just as she’d said, snow was falling.

“It’s perfect.”

“Wait, where are you going?” I asked when she ran out of the room, wearing a robe I didn’t know was here or who it belonged to.

“I have to check on something. Stay where you are.”

I heard a clap, then felt her when she tumbled back in bed, then crawled on top of me. “Happy Christmas, David.”

“Happy Christmas, Sullivan.”

“Turns out I was wrong about St. Nicholas.”

I raised my head. “What do you mean?”

“Apparently, I underestimated his ability to circumvent security.”

I shook my head and chuckled. “Are you saying he delivered gifts?”

Her eyes opened wide, and she nodded slowly.

“This, I have to see. By the way, where did you get the robe?”

“I found it hanging on a hook inside the closet. Would you like me to get yours?”

“I wasn’t aware I had one.”

“You do.” She pointed to her robe. “Look, it even has our names embroidered.”

I blinked a couple of times, and sure enough, I noticed the one she wore said Sullivan.

“I think Mrs. Drummond is the real Santa Claus.”

She nodded. “I believe you might be right.”

My eyes opened wide, and my mouth gaped when I saw the number of gifts under the tree that, last night, was empty. “When and who?” I muttered.

“While you were still sleeping, and Gus.”

“Ah, how kind but also unnecessary.”

Sullivan shrugged. “Just kind, I think.” She pulled her hand from behind her back. In her palm, sat a small, perfectly wrapped box. “He had to deliver this. It’s for you.”

“Hang on.” I went around her and grabbed a similarly sized box that I’d hidden yesterday before we left for the meeting at the castle. I held it out. “And this is for you.”

“Let’s sit.”

I followed her to the sofa, and we exchanged the presents.

“Go ahead. Open yours first,” I said.

She untied the ribbon, tossed it to the side, then tore open the paper. “What is it?” she asked, running her finger over the antique box her gift was in.

“Open it and find out.”

She gasped at the sight of the locket that had belonged to my mum and that Gus had arranged to have cleaned and brought to me.

“It’s so beautiful.” She gingerly removed it from its container. “Is there anything inside?”

“Take a look.”

She gasped again and covered her mouth with her hand. “Where did you get this?” she asked, pointing to the photo of her when she was eight.

“Turns out Mrs. Drummond remembered seeing one in an old photo album.”

Sullivan raised a brow.

“She did. I swear it.”

“This is the Davy I remember,” she said, staring at the photo on the locket’s opposite side.

“I wish it wasn’t.”

“You were adorable.”

I raised a brow. “ You were the adorable one.”

“Open your gift.”

I carefully untied the ribbon, then lifted each place the paper had been taped. Between each flap, I looked up at her.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“What?” I asked, making a point of looking down at the wrapping she’d dropped on the floor.

I lifted the hinged cover and found a silver pocket watch inside.

Sullivan leaned forward. “Open it.”

Under the cover was an inscription. “For all our moments together,” I read aloud before bringing it closer to my eyes. “Is that an A?”

“Yes, ‘to A from A,’” she said. “I didn’t notice the initials when I first saw it. I just liked the inscription.”

“I love it, Sullivan. When did you…you know?”

“I saw it several days ago in a newspaper circular from an antique store and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Blessed Gus contacted them for me, and they still had it. He somehow managed to get it here by this morning. Quite the miracle worker, he is.”

“The same for me,” I said, pointing to the locket.

“He’s a good man, David.”

I nodded. “The best, and while I’m close to Con and Tag, it’s Gus who’s always been like a real brother.”

I remembered the photo on the shelf in my grandfather’s study, hoping it was still there so I could show it to her.

“Would you like to wear the locket?”

“I would—every day for the rest of my life.”

After fastening the clasp around her neck, I kissed her. “I love you.”

“And I love you. Oh, and before I forget, I invited Gus and his mum to have breakfast with us.”

“And they agreed?” I was stunned.

“Yes, and according to him, his mother cried when he told her.”

“I hope she doesn’t again when she finds out what abysmal cooks we both are.”

“About that.” Sullivan got up and went into the kitchen. “She planned ahead and made something I only have to pop in the oven, which I’m sure I could handle if I could figure out how to turn the bloody thing on.”

“Let me see.” It took me close to five minutes to finally manage it, only seconds before I was about to call Gus to ask. “What time will they be here?”

“An hour, which is how long she said this should be in the oven.”

“Then, we’d better hurry,” I said, winking as we raced into the bedroom.