Tension stretched between her shoulders, “I know what you are thinking, you don’t like me to fill his head with nonsense?” She says too embarrassed to look at him.
“On the contrary, I was thinking, damn, what happens next?” Victor laughs.
Summer is so shocked she almost flips off the log. “What?” She sets her tin cup on the ground.
“I was fascinated! I think life is hard enough, there’s nothing wrong with stirring the imagination. Teaching children to dream is nothing to be ashamed of. Why? Who called your stories, nonsense?” He demands.
“I never told my family, they knew I told the twins stories, but they didn’t know I wished to be published. I was afraid my father would be ashamed of me.”
“That's a shame. I'm sure he recognized your writing talent, Summer. You did help him with his work. He wouldn't have given his legacy to just anyone. He entrusted it to you,” he replies softly.
Sitting on the log staring at him, Summer’s heart heals a little by the power of his words. Touched, she leans down and kisses him softly on his parted lips. “Thank you, for saying that.” When she tries to pull away Victor’s hand latches on the back of her neck.
“That was for you, this is for me!” With a quick jerk, she is in his arms. As his mouth closes over hers, every thought she has evaporates, leaving only raw emotion. Passion beats at her and a hunger she cannot define. Her lips part, and her tongue dances with his. Is this what she'd been missing, this savage, burning desire? Had she known he would torment her soul with this longing, this need to belong, she would have run from him, but it is too late for those thoughts now. She wants him, in every way, his body, his soul and even his future. Summer wants, and it terrifies her.
Victor swears, against her mouth and forces himself to gentle his kiss. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t touch her. She needs to heal, but when she kissed him so softly, he couldn’t resist tasting her. Now holding her with her lips swollen from his and her face flushed with desire, he knows she is not ready yet.
“I beg your pardon, Summer. I….” Her hand closes over his mouth, and she shakes her head with tears in her eyes.
“Don’t ruin it, Victor. It was a perfect moment,” she whispers and runs her hand through his hair, not bothering to try to move. Why run away from what your heart is telling you is your destiny?
“Kissing you has become a habit, Summer.” Softly his mouth descends, and their breath mingles, he tastes her lips against his, her hand clutches a handful of his hair. He breaks away before he is tempted to take things deeper.
“I see that.” Her hand touches his mouth softly, and she whispers, “Your taste bewitches me Victor, and robs me of my self-preservation.” Her eyes are clouded with desire, and he kisses her hand and helps her stand up.
On trembling legs, she stares into his dark eyes. “Summer if there comes a moment where you look at your future, and you can imagine a place for Jonah and me, will you let me know?”
She doesn’t trust herself to speak, she smiles and nods at him. “Good night, Victor.” She retreats to the protection of the tent and smiles at the sleeping child. Jonah clutches his sword and dreams of adventures.
Her sleeping roll is on the other side of the tent. She changes to her sleeping gown and snuggles into her bedroll wondering about her future. Life had turned on her, sucking the joy and excitement away. She had been existing, moving from one nightmare to another. No more. Jung may have robbed her of her family, but he will not steal her future too! The crackling of the campfire and call of the insects lulls her to sleep.
Hours later, Summer sits up when she hears a tiny voice call out in fright. “Jonah?” She whispers, and he runs to her. He scrubs a tiny fist across his eyes and shivers in the dark.
“Come on, love. You can help keep my bad dreams away.” He sniffs and settles in beside her with a sigh. Jonah uses her arm for a pillow, and she cuddles him. Within moments his hiccups slow and just before he falls to sleep, she hears him say, “I love you, Summer.” She squeezes him and kisses the back of his head.
“I love you too.” Another crack in her heart heals, and she sleeps.
Victor listens from his side and moves his bedroll next to Jonah, he wraps them both in his arms. Summer sighs and snuggles into his heat with Jonah tucked between them, they sleep.
In the morning, Jonah wakes up and looks at them with a grin of delight. “It is magic!” He gazes at his sword with his mouth hanging open. Wiggling from his cocoon, he runs from the tent just as the sunlight breaks through the trees.
Victor strokes a finger down Summer’s cheek, looking at the faded bruise with a frown. He jumps when she nips at his finger with her teeth. Her sleep filled eyes open and her giggle of delight has him grinning back. “Serves you right for disturbing my dreams.”
“Were you dreaming of castles and fairy tales?” Summer leans up on her elbow with her hair cascading about her.
“No. I was dreaming of you, Victor.”
A dark look of passion enters his eyes, and he reaches for her, “You're killing me Summer.” He slowly pulls her toward him just as Jonah returns.
“Papa! The fish are jumping out of the water!” He plops down between them and holds out his prize. “Look what I found!” A large juicy slug glistens in the palm of his hand.
Summer's scream sends the
