The Keepers Book Two of the Holding Kate Series (9 page)

Dirk set his empty glass down. “I asked her the same thing this morning when I met with her.” He picked up his plate and glass and walked to the sink. “She’s shutting down the source matrix to be sure.”

Mel and Donnie shot each other a worried glance.

I barely noticed. Kate kissed away some syrup that dripped on my chin, and I thought I would have a heart attack if I didn’t get her to myself soon.

“I didn’t think that could be done,” Donnie murmured, Mel shook her head.

Kate took a handful of berries and offered me one before she bit into a strawberry. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. Mesmerized, I reached out to touch her cheek. She leaned into my hand. How had we gone so long without each other before our marriage? Now that I had a taste of the gift of Kate, I existed as a starving man, aware of my own malnourished soul.

The room fell silent as Kate and I burned for one another.

“Okay, okay.” Dirk clattered his plate into the sink and turned, hands planted on his hips. “We all have to be at the campus at 1:30. That’s when the parents are due to arrive. Until then, let’s clear out of here and give the newlyweds some alone time.”

Everyone stifled grins and busied themselves with not looking at us. Kate and I didn’t need to be dismissed twice, by the time they pushed their chairs back, we were already running to the bedroom.

I hated that clock. It stole all of my time. Kate lay on my chest listening to my heartbeat and I ran a strand of her hair around my face with one hand and stroked her bare back with the other. We breathed in synchronized harmony.

“What do you want to tell your parents?” I whispered.

“MmmmMMMmmm.” Her ‘I don’t know’ came out as a hum as she answered from her place of deep bliss.

“We can’t tell them anything about the Scriptorium or the Quantum Spheres. As far as they are concerned, we’ve only known each other for five weeks.”

“Mmmhmm.”

“And to them we are only teenagers.”

“’S true.”

“It’s up to you, Kate. You know them better than I do.”

She sighed and pushed herself up to look at me. “We can’t tell them anything, really. You are my boyfriend. That’s all they can know.” She seemed to become fascinated with kissing my chest.

“Kate?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“I have to tell you something.”

“Let me guess. You’re 1,229 years old and you’ve been married before. Oh and you are a famous faith healer to a tribe of tree dwelling monster lovers?”

I grinned. “Well, yeah, there’s that.”

“There’s more? Oh, wait, I know. You believe in electrostatic, clairvoyant dragons who steal young girls to make them into maternal source batteries to fuel whole planets.”

“Got it again. You are on a roll.” I turned her over onto her back to get her attention. That was a mistake. I completely lost my train of thought at the sight of her, and we became lost in each other’s caresses again.

Kate deactivated the phone. “No answer.” She stared at the screen and then turned a hesitant smile to me. “They probably just stopped overnight somewhere along the way. My grandfather loves casinos. They probably decided to stay over. They’ll be here tomorrow.” The tender skin beneath her right eye ticked.

I drew her under my arm and pressed my forehead to her temple. We lounged on the couch in First Cabin after poking around the village all afternoon waiting for Kate’s mom, little brother, and grandparents to show up, but they never did. Her dad wouldn’t arrive until Thursday.

“Corey, you and Donnie should leave tomorrow and get your trip out of the way. Then you can spend Thursday and Friday with my whole family.” She snapped her eyes to mine. “I mean if you want to that is. You don’t have to.”

“Darling, Kate, they are my family too, now. I think it is time we met, don’t you?”

She sparkled. “You are gonna love Jimmy. He is the coolest kid ever.” She bounced her feet on the ottoman and squealed in the back of her throat. “I am so excited to see them.”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm.

Donnie knocked on the screen door, and we called for him to come in. He plopped on the sofa across from us, kicked off his sneakers and stretched out on the ottoman.

“How did it go?”

“Brutal, dude.” He rubbed his temples. “Her mom seemed okay with it, kinda. I think she wanted her to finish college first, but her dad exploded. He had to leave, he couldn’t even look at me.”

Since Donnie and Mel were actually old enough to be married, they decided to just tell Mel’s parents. They had volunteered every summer at the village since Mel was in grade school until she graduated high school and were very familiar with the jump therapies. Mel’s brother and sister had also been jump commanders.

“Mel’s mom has always predicted Mel and I would end up together, but her dad had other plans for his baby girl that didn’t include becoming Mrs. Donnie Dudgeon.” Donnie planted a throw pillow on his face and growled into it.

“Kate wants us to go tomorrow morning, so we can be back by Thursday when her dad gets here. You up for that?”

“Jeep’s packed and ready to go. Mel’s dad probably needs some time to cool off, anyway.”

“He’s gonna need more than 48 hours to accept you for a son-in-law,” I jibed him.

He snorted and chucked the plaid pillow at me.

We packed the cooler with drinks and snacks and set it aside. Donnie went off to the boathouse and Kate and I went back into our room to say a proper goodbye.

The next morning I rose before the sun, stirred Kate with tender kisses.
How was I gonna cope with the next two days without her?
I held her so tightly, I feared I would break her. She clung to me with every ounce of strength. It just seemed so wrong to leave her. Everything inside of me screamed to stay.

“Corey.” She breathed my name with reverence and awe and I trembled at her power over me.

“Kate, I have loved you for a thousand years.” I kissed the crease at her neck.

“My husband, I will love you for thousands more.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

“Do you want me to stay?” I wiped her tears, concerned.

“Of course.” She buried her face in my hair. “But I want you to go so you can get back all the sooner.”

“It feels wrong. Leaving you feels wrong. I’ll cancel the trip.” My throat ached, and I clutched her tightly.

“No. You’re packed and plans are made. Go. Have fun.” She pressed her palms to my jaws, laced her fingers through my hair, and devoured me with her gaze. “Then hurry home to me, my husband.”

Kate and Mel walked us to the jeep. Kate stood at my door and leaned across me to touch Donnie’s arm.

He wrenched away from his kiss with Mel and turned his attention to her direction.

“Drive safely through these winding mountain passes, Donnie. Bring him home to me, safe and whole.”

Mel agreed. “Right, slow and steady.”

Kate took my face in her hands. “No daredevil stunts on the river. Play safe, have fun, and come home quickly.” She planted her full lips on mine. I almost hopped out of the jeep right then to stay with her.

Donnie started the engine and revved it in sync with an eyebrow dance. Kate laughed and fell out of my arms. Her boots scuffed as she landed in the gravel. The jeep jostled down the drive, and we watched Mel and Kate hook their elbows and wave at us.

The Jeep whipped around and I watched through the side mirror. My bride faded away into darkness as distance dimmed the blood red tail lights reflecting on her. Something wrenched apart in my chest.

I didn’t know. How could I have seen? Our honeymoon was over and things would never be the same again.