Chapter 13 - Love is

Her heart yearned for him. But in truth, if she was being honest with herself, to herself, her heart had been doing that lately- yearning for Jasper- what else was new?

But, it yearned more deeply as she stood at the door frame, while he sat on the steps. She closed the door behind her and went to him. Allowing her heart , this time, to do the leading.

Heaven help me, she prayed inwardly.

She sat quietly beside him and put down the plate of cookies beside her, wrapping her arms around his middle. His arms came around her firmly yet gently and they stayed that way for a long while, saying nothing, giving room for the night song of crickets and owls to envelop them.

He'd been out here for hours. Martha, the seer had told her to give him time, but after he’d been here so long and he hadn't come back in, she went out to him. She was scared he would turn her away, but now, in his arms, she was grateful she hadn't let her fear hold her back.

"I love you." She heard him say, the words were quiet, a sort of reverential whisper, and she was sure for a moment in time her heart stopped. She gently pulled away from him so she could look up at him. His eyes told her she'd heard what he said and had heard well, it had not been a mistake.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"I -–me?"

"I don't see anyone else here." His words were gruff, and she could hear the hurt in his words. Her eyes grew wide. He was being honest! He loved her!

He loved her.

"Jasper, you love me?" She asked again, more gently, but she didn't feel gentle inside, she was a volcano about to erupt.

"Yes, Hannah, I do, I love you." He said my name, she thought. He said my name and he loves me. He hadn't used her name since that day in the woods, and even now hearing him say her name and not merely 'milady' made her heart dance, she thought, believed, hoped she could hear him say her name forever.

"Jasper, I love you too. I love you too." She closed her eyes, and tears slipped past them, she didn't mean to cry, they just came unbidden. the man she loved, loved her back, and it made her so happy. And in the depths of heart she thanked God.

She felt his fingers brushed away her tears, but she didn't open her eyes, it was her way of savoring the moment, carving them unto her heart, making them one with her soul, she never wanted to forget this moment, the way she felt. Happy and whole and grateful.

Jasper's lips were on hers, he kissed her gently, his hand went to her hair and caressed it, he kissed her cheeks, kissed away the tears. It was as though he was adoring her vulnerable state. And when she finally opened her eyes, finally met his eyes, she knew, within the heart of her heart, she knew, he was the faceless man in all the dreams she'd had, when she'd wake up and feel a sudden longing, he was the one her heart had waited for.

"Is this all real, Jasper?"

"It is, my heart." He rested his forehead on hers and kissed the tip of her nose. "It is."

"I love you, Jasper." She whispered, looking into his eyes.

"I love you, Hannah." Happy- she was happy to hear those words again. He took her mouth again. And somewhere deep down, her heart sighed blissfully. Mine.

~~~~

He kept his arms wrapped around her, his heart was all over the place. He couldn't call himself an emotional man, but in that moment he felt like one, he had all these things happening to his heart all at the same time he wondered how he could be lying so still. Perhaps he could, because of the woman tucked beside him. His woman. His Hannah

He kissed the top of her hair and she snuggled closer, if that was even possible, seeing as she was all but glued to his side. Martha had welcomed them to spend the night at her house, she'd made them a warm dinner and given them a room. when they'd tried to refuse she'd all but rolled her eyes at them and told them goodnight, leaving them alone in the room.

It was sometime in the middle of the night and Jasper couldn't sleep, Martha had also told them she knew they had more questions and for some she had answers. He had no idea what her answers would hold, he wasn't sure he would like them either. But the truth was, whatever they held, one thing was sure, he would do all he could to keep the woman he loved safe, at all cost. And no one, not even The bloody Athànatoi could do a thing about it.

"I love you, Jasper." He heard her say in a small voice that was filled with sleep, and his breath caught.

"I love you too, my princess. Sleep now."

"But you're not sleeping." Her words were heavy, he could tell she was tired, very, and he didn't want to keep her awake.

"No, I'm not. but soon."

"Okay."

No, nothing would take her from him, as long as the creator helped him. He prayed with all his heart he did.

He could hear her steady breathing that meant she'd fallen asleep, and he let the sound lull him to sleep.

~~~

He woke up alone.

“Now, where-”

He scanned the room, looking for her before acknowledging the sounds of chatter that came from downstairs.

He laid in bed for several minutes recalling the day before.

"Hannah." He whispered to himself, smiling to himself, lovestruck as he was, grateful that he was loved by the woman he loved.

"And what are you thinking of, smiling like that?" She asked amused, as she sat at the foot of the bed and he found his smile grew wider, he had not hear her come in and now that she was here,

"You." He said, sitting up and pulling her to himself with such speed, a giggle escaped her lips, but before she could make a comment, he brought his lips to hers. He filled his senses with her like a starved man who could never be satisfied, because with her, the more he had of her, the more he wanted her.

She was dazed when he pulled away from her, her eyes cloudy.

"I think I'd love to catch you thinking of me again."

"Not a problem, it happens all the time." She giggled and he stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"How did you sleep?"

"Well. Martha has breakfast for us. I helped."

"Should I be scared that you helped?"

She gave a dramatic gasp that made him chuckle.

"You underestimate me, Jasper. And you'll be eating your words when you see what I did down there. Well Martha and me. But still."

"I don't, I could never underestimate you. You're so much more, even than you know. And this my heart, is the truth." She smiled shyly at him, and he kissed her on the cheek. He wasn't placating her, he meant every word, there was so much to her, she was so much more than he knew she gave herself credit for. And she was the woman he loved. The woman who loved him.

He reached out to touch her hair she had left loose.

"I've missed seeing you like this. With your hair undone."

"Yeah, well, it's not as long as it once was." she reached for her hair that now fell inches above her shoulders.

"No, but it's still a glory. You're beautiful, Hannah." She smiled that shy smile of hers again, and it made him wonder. A beautiful woman oblivious to her own beauty, and lo, it was so much more than the physical.

"Wash up, then come join us downstairs." She said, after moments passed.

"Okay." She kissed him gently on his lips before getting up. Then giving him a smile that stopped his heart she headed for the door.

~~~~

"Is he coming?" Martha asked as she reached the kitchen.

"Yes, he needs to wash first anyway, but he shouldn't be long."

They set up the table in companionable silence and sat each to a cup of chamomile tea, while they awaited Jasper.

She had her heart soaring over seven seas, it had been that way, since the evening before, from the moment Jasper had told her he loved her. She was happy, truly so. But she wondered still, what was next for the both of them? When the war with the Athànatoi was over, what would tomorrow hold for them? Would he stay with her, or would he go back to Moline? And if he did, would she go with him?

She placed both hands on the cup before her, and she thought she knew, with all of her heart, she thought she knew the answer to the last part when she saw him walking into the kitchen all Ruddy and radiant, with his eyes on her.