The Gift

Chapter Seven

 

We made love three times that night.  By morning I was sore and Miles was exhausted.  We were as content as could be.  Both of us tried to ignore the conversation we knew we’d eventually have to have.  Instead we ate breakfast in silence.  The daylight put a distance between us that the night had not.

“Look, Lily…what I was trying to tell you last night before I got distracted-“  “You don’t want me to come with you.”  I interrupted.  “That’s not it.  I want you near me.  Believe me.  But I’m on the run and I seem to attract trouble.  The last thing in the world I want is for anything bad to happen to you.”  Miles explained.  “If you leave me, you know that I’ll follow you”  “You’ll wind up getting yourself killed.   Or worse.”  He replied.  “It sounds like I’ll be in danger either way.  With or without you.  So take me with you.  At least I’d have a chance with you there to protect me.”  I reasoned.  Miles sighed.  He was having a hard time arguing with my logic. 

“Miles, I know how to fight.  My dad taught me.  And I helped you fight off those men, the night before last.  If you trained me I could be a real asset to you.  We could protect each other.”  I implored.  “All right.”  He finally relented.  “You can stay with me.  But if things become too dangerous, you’re out.  I’ll drop you off at my brother’s village and you can hide out there.”   “It’s a deal,” I said with a grin and leaned over to kiss Miles.  His lips were so warm and soft, it was almost painful when he eventually pulled away.  “We have to get going, sweetheart.  By now Sebastian knows I’ve deserted and we lost a lot of distance by not traveling last night.”  Miles explained.  “So you’re sorry about last night?” I said with a hitch in my voice.  “Not in the least.  Never.  I could never be sorry for that.  No matter what happens, no one can take last night away from us.  But I’d like to get us to safety so we can have many more of those nights.”  He smirked.  I blushed, thinking about last night becoming a nightly fixture in our lives.  “You’re so cute when your cheeks match your hair.” Miles said as he jumped up and pulled me up beside him.  “Let’s get going.  The horses have had more than enough rest.  I just wish I could say the same for us.  Don’t pout, being exhausted is a price I’m more than happy to pay for the pleasure of last night.”  I fought the blush on my cheeks.  Eventually I’d get used to Miles and I being an item.  But for now it was all so new to me.

We packed up our small campsite and I untethered the horses while Miles tried his best to hide the fact that we’d camped there.  Eventually we climbed onto our horses and rode off in the direction of Chicago and our new life.