Soon her hips gave way from his weight as well and she was flat on the ground as he took her, his weight grinding her into the grass.
Her body tightened, flew, shrank and expanded, burst into existence and infinity all at once. Every feeling sharpened and intensified by the love she felt for him. By the deep safety she felt at his hands. And she screamed his name. Screamed and came and came undone for him.
She felt him behind her. And she knew he was going through the same ordeal. She could feel his pleasure racing through her as if it were her own. His body caged her in. Protected her, held her, and mated with her.
Minutes passed before Emin could roll off of her. They panted into the cold air, their breath in delicate white fogs in front of their mouths. She shivered from the dew and from the ecstasy she’d just undergone.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“Forever,” he responded instantly. “I love you now and forever.”
They stood then, together, laughing at the dirt and grass stains covering their bodies. They both wanted to linger, shower and drink coffee, tangled and naked.
But Glory’s home called to both of them.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
By the time he and Glory were walking up to Mama and Papa's house, the shiny rental van in the driveway, a calm had stolen over Emin. He was at peace with his new reality. Glory was his world and he would die to keep her safe if he had to.
There was no locking her in a box and just hoping she wouldn't claw her way out. She was too strong for that. Too smart. He knew that there was no way to keep her safe and healthy other than being alongside her. And stepping in between her and danger when the moment was right. And for that, he needed to be calm and ready.
Even so, the sight of his brothers and parents assembled on the front porch had his stomach flipping. All those arms crossed across their chests. Maxim scraped a hand over his stubble as he discussed strategy with Papa. Danil argued with Dora over who was driving and Anton stood, stony-faced, glaring down at AJ who was glaring right back.
And Katya. Katya just looked worried. She came down the porch stairs to take Glory's face in her hands.
"Oh, child," she said.
"We have to go, Katya," Glory said, her voice solid and older than Emin had ever heard it. "You know Emin won't let me go alone."
"And his brothers will not let him go alone," Katya replied, nodding. "All my children go. Into the wilderness. Where Navuka waits."
"We can't hide from them, Mama," Anton said, brushing past AJ and coming to wrap an arm around his mother. "They win if we hide. We can't let them capture and torture and split up our families." He reached out to Glory then, pressed a quick kiss on her forehead.
Glory's eyes filled.
Emin stepped forward and kissed his mother's hands. "I have two mothers now, Mama. You and Glory's mother. Because Glory is my whole heart. I love her until I die. Happily. With joy. I give her my family. She gives me hers."
Katya nodded again.
Maxim loaded a bag of supplies in the back of the van. "We're not going off to war. Let's get a move on." On closer inspection, he looked a little worse for wear. Some of his usual cheer was a little dimmed.
But before Emin could say anything about it, a man stepped out of the woods.
"AJ?" he called and Anton reflexively put himself between AJ and the man.
"Dad?" AJ stepped around Anton.
"What is this?" Brett Constance called to her. "You're going somewhere?"
"No, she stays here," Anton growled. "But we go."
"No," AJ's glare for him could have burned the hair off a peach. "I'm going. Just for a few days, Dad. Nothing to worry about."
Brett shifted on his feet, tugged a little at his collar. "You, uh, weren't gonna tell me?"
AJ raised an eyebrow. "I'm 25, Dad. I was gonna text you from the road."
"Alright," he tugged at his collar again. "Well, uh, travel safe then."
His look was so uncomfortable, so out of his depth, that AJ's tender heart had to take pity on him. She crossed the yard and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Just a camping trip. I'll see you in a few days, okay?"
He nodded, still unsure, obviously picking up on the tense vibe of the group.
"You come in for coffee!" Ilya commanded, wading through the group. "Your daughter is like my daughter. So we should be like brothers now." Ilya slapped Brett on the back hard enough to send the man stumbling forward a foot, but it also seemed to knock some of the discomfort out of him.
"Um. Alright. Coffee."
Katya, thrilled to have something to do besides fret over her sons, turned to Brett as well. "You have good English? You like crosswords? Come."