“What exactly do you think we’re about to do.” She laughed. “That looks like something from a sex dungeon the police found in the back of someone’s RV.”
“Well, you asked before about my hidden talent.” He smiled. “I happen to be good at climbing. Time’s running out if we want to see the show. So, if you trust me to take you just a little farther…” He crouched down and held up the harness.
She let out a sigh before taking off her coat so she could step into the loops, and he cinched the adjustable straps around her waist and shoulders. Her harness clipped onto one that he wore.
“Hold on tight.” He turned so that she could hop onto his back.
“You’re going to climb that rock with me on your back?” Her eyes widened as she looked up the sheer fifty-foot rock. “No, sorry. I’m out.”
“Bear strength and climbing powers, remember?” He dipped his hand into a bag that hung from his belt. His fingers emerged, covered in powder which he rubbed all over both of his hands. “You can’t get all the way here and not want to see the top.”
“I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.” She shook her head, jumping onto his back. “If you drop me and I die, I’m haunting you for the rest of your life.”
“You wouldn’t be haunting me for long.” He shook his head, sticking his hands into a deep crack in the rock. “Vincent would kill me.”
Jillian held her breath as they lifted off the ground, moving smoothly up the cliff face. He navigated around a corner where there were more apparent footholds, stopping only to reapply chalk to his hands as he went. The light creeping over the horizon bathed the landscape in a blue glow.
“Wow.” She clung to him as she looked out over the colorful treetops below. “You were right. This was worth getting up early.”
“Just wait,” he looked over his shoulder, “if you stick around, I’ll teach you some rock-climbing techniques, and you’d be able to do this yourself.”
“Are you trying to make me the Jane to your Tarzan?” She clung to him as he pulled them up onto the top ledge, and they crawled to safety.
“Woo!” She howled, holding both hands up in the air, looking out at the first blush of sunlight creeping over the tops of the trees. “This is unbelievable.”
“Have you ever seen a sunrise like that?” He took her hand, nodding to the pink and yellow sky. The orange sun bloomed from beyond the mountains, spilling its warmth over her face.
“Never.” She bit her lip. The only time she’d seen the sunrise was when she’d been out all night with Elaina.
“God, you’re beautiful.” His voice was barely a whisper like he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
They turned to face one another, and as their eyes met, that same magnetic pull urged her forward. Bowing his head, he pressed his lips to hers, sending sparks over every inch of her skin. She moaned as he held her bottom lip between his teeth, and all she wanted was more.
Suddenly an image of Finn’s face flashed through her mind. At first, she wasn’t sure if it was just a thought that came from her subconscious or if it was another vision.
Jillian pulled away, taking a step back.
“Did I do something wrong?” Conner’s arms fell to his sides.
“No.” She touched her lips. “No, you didn’t do anything. If anyone instigated that, it was me.”
“What is it?” He put his arms around her waist.
“It’s Finn,” she blurted out.
“Oh.” He stammered. “I didn’t even realize that you were into him.”
“I mean, I’m worried about him.” She crossed her arms and looked out toward the cabin. “This was one of the best date ideas in the history of date ideas.”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you.” He shook his head.
“No.” She scratched her eyebrow. “I liked kissing you. But these feelings and urges aren’t real; you know that, don’t you?”
“It feels pretty real to me.” He took a step closer.
“It’s because I’m a vessel.” She turned away. “I know it feels real, but I have had a couple of close calls with Vincent, too. It’s just the spirits using biology to fulfill their prophecy.”
“Do you remember what you said to me?” He closed his arms around her, and she leaned her head back against him. “When the fevers were setting in from the snake bite, you looked right at me and said, ‘If we had babies, their eyes would be so blue.’ I don’t think you were fully conscious at the time, so I didn’t read too much into it. But I keep thinking about it.”
“I definitely wasn’t conscious.” She giggled.
“I’m just saying, maybe some part of you isn’t so opposed to having a life here… with me.” He breathed into the back of her hair. “No one can fault you for not wanting to have kids for the wrong reasons. But who knows, maybe the right reasons will fall into place.”
She closed her eyes, imagining a little person cooing in her arms. With Conner’s arms around her, it was the first time she’d fantasized about having a baby with someone. She smiled at the thought of those big blue eyes before pulling herself back to reality.
Having a baby with someone she just met, even someone as fun and charming as Conner was absolutely out of the question. If she were going to choose someone to be the father of her child, she’d need to know them inside and out. Having kids was an even more significant commitment than marriage, after all. She’d be bound to that person by blood
