wanted to ignore it and kiss him, kiss him until the truth was forced into her brain.
Whatever truth it was would break her heart, and she’d had enough of that shit.
He held her face between his hot palms, and his kiss said everything for him. It told her of his need, his longing, his pain.
He devoured her with that kiss.
For the first time, she let herself fall into Z.
At that moment, she was his Rune and he was her Z, and there was nothing else. They’d lost each other, and then, unimaginably, miraculously, they’d found each other. Right then, she didn’t care if she might hurt or change or destroy him.
He was there.
Somehow, he was there, in her arms.
That was enough.
Z.
I’m here, sweet thing.
And he was.
“I love you,” she said. “I always loved you.”
Then there were no more words.
She watched him as she helped him undress.
It didn’t occur to her that they were in a dangerous situation.
She didn’t care that they might have an audience.
As booms and distant screams and explosions lit up the night, she kept hold of him, afraid he’d disappear.
So afraid.
She tossed her clothes aside with shaking hands and then she and Z collided once more, eagerly, with the single-mindedness of children. Hands grasping, lips searching, hearts bursting.
There was simply nothing else.
He worshipped her body, using every part of him to touch every part of her.
For the first time in her life, she made love to a man.
“Finally,” he said, his voice thick with sorrow as sticky and sweet as syrup. “I waited forever.”
The ground was hard beneath her back as he lay on top of her, his hands gripping her arms. He stared down at her, his eyes as pure and full of love as they’d always been.
She cupped his face with hands still raw and healing. “Z.”
Do you remember when I killed you?
Do you remember when you saved me?
I remember when you loved me.
Their souls recognized each other.
“I remember,” he said.
But his voice was sad. Regretful.
She would not ask him why. Not then.
“Z,” she murmured, over and over and over because saying his name made it real. “Stay with me.”
“I’m trying. I’m trying so hard.”
And that scared her more than anything.
He entwined his fingers with hers and held them above her head, then lowered his mouth to hers. Stretched out, belly to belly, connected.
In another world, you’re meant for me.
In this world, I’m meant for Death.
She moaned against his lips, trying to shut out the intruding voices.
“Shhhh,” he whispered, brushing her lips with his tongue. “I’ve got you.”
She felt it as he slid inside her, a connection deeper than sex or lust or even love. It was something she had no name for, and it was stronger than any world. Stronger than any death.
And whatever it was, it would always be.
No matter what.
That’s what she’d have to hold on to, when…
When things got bad.
When I lose him again.
But with Z inside her, on top of her, melding with her, she knew she had never really lost him, and she’d never really lose him again.
He was part of her.
Something changed at that moment, expanded, exploded…
Became.
She gasped against his mouth as her blood seemed to heat, to boil, as her mind and heart stretched and swelled and retreated, and then, something was created.
Something was produced and twisted and shaped, and it was too much for her.
Her body stiffened as she physically felt Z release inside her. His semen shot into her, hurt her, fixed her. Changed her.
That very encounter, that very moment, was the reason she lived.
She didn’t know why, couldn’t think why, but it was.
It wasn’t her only reason for being.
It was the biggest reason.
She couldn’t scream, because it was more than a scream.
Z was cemented to her. Neither one of them could move, or speak, or comprehend, as they were molded by unseen hands belonging to something greater than both of them.
And when at last the hold was gone, she floated into blackness wrapped in his arms and knew that nothing would ever be the same.
Chapter Two
“When I first awakened here,” he told her, much, much later, “my mind was confused.” He lifted a hand from her belly and gestured helplessly. “I can’t explain. I was like a child just born. I floated in darkness as my mind reknitted, as the person I am now was formed.”
“You’re still Z,” she insisted. Implored.
He kissed her cheek, then her forehead, and finally, her lips. “I am Z.”