Matthias put his arm around Taz’s waist. “Now, about that tour through town?”
“I’d really like that.”
They put his bag in her car, and while she was sure he noticed her bags weren’t there, he didn’t say anything. He took her on a tour of town, including walking the terraces, more thermal features she didn’t get to see on their first visit.
As the day waned and shadows lengthened, he suggested dinner. They had a quiet meal together. He didn’t quiz or scold her about her trip, and eventually she fully relaxed, relieved he wasn’t upset.
After dinner they returned to the car, his arm around her waist. He made no move to ask for the keys.
“Do you want to drive?” she asked.
“If you want me to.”
She looked at the keys and handed them to him, pressing them into his palm “I’d like to relax, I think,” she said.
He kissed her. “Okay.”
During their drive she rested her hand on his leg, glad to have him back. He eventually broke the silence. “How long do you want to stay?”
“I’m not sure. I know we’re going to London, I’m not trying to get out of that. I just need a couple more days. Okay?”
He nodded and patted her hand. “If we’re staying, would you mind if I play tour guide? We didn’t get to do much of that before.”
She couldn’t resist his playful half smile. “What do you have in mind?”
He shrugged. “I’ve spent a lot of time here. I love this place, and not just because it’s traditionally been a place of safety for us, either. It’s beautiful, powerful, raw, uncensored. Animals in front of you, not in cages, not in carefully constructed pens made to look natural. It’s real. Dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“As in it’s not an amusement park.”
She nodded.
“So?” he asked.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
He smiled. “Do you trust me?”
She studied him. She hadn’t tried to read him since he arrived and hadn’t felt a probe from him, either. “Yes. I do trust you.”
He squeezed her hand again. “We must get up very early tomorrow. Is that okay?”
She nodded. “Sure.”
Taz didn’t know what to expect from Matthias at the cabin. He retrieved his bag from the trunk and followed her. Inside he set it on the floor, and after she had the door locked, he held out his arms. She willingly went to him. He held her for several long minutes.
Finally, she said, “I missed you, Matthias. I’m sorry I left.”
He kissed the top of her head. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is you’re safe and you’re here and I’m with you. I don’t care about anything else.”
She took a long, shuddering breath. “I think I’m losing my mind.”
He held her so he could look in her eyes. “Why?” Her eyes brimmed with tears, and he sat her on the bed. “Taz, tell me, please. Let me help. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”
She shook her head. “I feel like Rafe is still alive. I keep hearing his voice in my head. Then weird things, like that night at the hotel, that was the last straw. It was like I wasn’t in control of myself, like someone else was pulling the strings. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He pulled her to him. “It’s okay. You’re upset. You’re grieving. You’re also going through a lot of changes right now—”
“If you try to tell me about the birds and the bees, big guy, I’ll slug you.”
He laughed. At least her snark was still intact. “You’re probably tapping into other people’s thoughts and memories without realizing it. Your powers are growing, expanding, as you use them. It’s like any other skill, or muscles, the more you use them, the better developed they become. That takes quite a lot out of a person. And it’s messing with your head.”
“That’s the understatement of the year.”
“You need time for this adjustment.”
He refused to rush her, let her set the pace. Eventually, she began to drop her mental barriers a little. Not all the way—she was still holding back. He didn’t want to overwhelm her. He was content to take as long as she needed to heal.
Just to have her by his side again was a blessing.
She reached out and touched his face. “You’re willing to put up with a crazy woman?”
He took her hand, pressed it against his lips, kissed her palm. “You put up with me. I would say I’m getting the better end of the bargain.”
“I just…I feel like I’ve turned you into some sort of doormat or something.”
“Never. Remember, I have several hundred years of age on you. I have a perspective on this far different from yours.”
She stroked his cheek. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”
“I am the lucky one, cara.” He could stare into her eyes forever. Gladly lose himself in them. “Let me make a quick call,” Matthias said.
She went to the bathroom while he did. When she returned, he sat, dressed, on the bed, thumbing through his BlackBerry.
“All set?” she asked.
“We need to leave here by three thirty tomorrow morning. I’m sorry so early, but we’ve got to go all the way up to Tower.”
“Really?”
“Can I surprise you?”
She smiled. “Okay. I won’t ask.”
They undressed and curled up together like spoons. She fell asleep almost immediately. He closed his eyes and inhaled, glad to be with her again. That’s all that mattered. He soon fell asleep, holding her, content.
Matthias awoke by three and gently nudged her. “Taz, time to get up.”
She rolled over to face him, nuzzled him, scooting closer. He was tempted to stay in bed, but it would ruin the surprise.
He kissed her neck, gently nipping her earlobe. “Darling, we must get up.”
She mumbled something as her hand brushed his crotch. He jumped and laughed. “That’s not exactly what I meant, sweetheart.”
He finally coaxed her eyes open and got her to sit up and turned on the bedside lamp. She blinked, rubbing her eyes.
“There’d better be coffee waiting,” she halfheartedly grumped.
“You’ll get some soon. Want a shower?”
She nodded, and he started the water warming. She was still sitting in bed when he returned. “Come on, love.” He took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom.
She finally started waking up. By the time she was dressed and in the car she was capable of coherent speech. She let him drive but was dozing again before they reached West Thumb.
Probably for the best.
By the time they were north of Canyon, she was awake again—sort of. When they pulled into the parking lot of the ranger station at Tower-Roosevelt, she was conscious. A young ranger walked out and greeted them, handing them both cups of coffee.
“Just in time, Matthias,” he said.
Matthias introduced her. “Taz, this is Arlo Grunyon.”
She sipped her coffee. “Coooofffffeeeee,” she mumbled. Then she remembered they weren’t alone. “Sorry. Hi.”
Arlo smiled. “I know it’s early, but it’s the best time of day. Ready?”
Matthias nodded. They followed him to a Park Service truck. With Taz seated between the men, they set out.
She didn’t ask where they were going. All she cared about was the steaming cup of wonder in her hands.
God help the man who tried to part her from it.
She didn’t pay much attention to where they were going, but they left the main road. After traveling more than twenty minutes, she noticed dawn touching the skies to the east, but it was still dark in the valleys.
They finally parked near the top of a hill, and Grunyon opened his door. “Ready?”