Chapter 68

Tears began to roll down my cheeks. It had been years since I had read the story, but I knew the gist of it and how my namesake ended up at the end of the book.

"You read it?" I asked. I set the book down on the kitchen table and took McKayla in my arms.

"Of course," my lover replied. That was a silly question; McKayla read anything and everything she could get her hands on. I bet that she got through the entire book in a few days. "It's a good story."

"You know," I wiped the tears from my eyes. I kissed her playfully. "If I do turn into the tree, I'll protect you and the rest of the elves from the demons."

McKayla pressed against me. Her grasp was firm, almost desperate. I tilted my head back as her lips descended on mine. This kiss was hungry and primal. My arms wrapped around her.

"You're doing that anyway, Paige," her whisper was so soft I almost didn't hear her.

I could hear the blood pounding through my veins. I could feel her heart beating next to mine. Her touch was hot. Her face flush. I looked McKayla in the eyes and saw something there I had never seen before. It was more than lust or desire. It was love.

We stood in the kitchen holding one another for a long time. I never felt rushed around McKayla. I never felt like she was trying to hurry me in to bed. I loved that she was just as content to hold my hand as to feel me up. When we were together, we could lay against one another without tickling or groping (not that those didn't have their places, though... ) and be content just being next to one another.

"Where did you get the book?" I asked finally.

"There's a store in California that specialises in that sort of thing. One shot collectable type books," she smiled, apparently happy that I liked her gift. "For fantasy geeks."

"It must have cost a fortune," I started. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," McKayla said simply.

"Well, I love it," I told her. The smile I returned to her was a little subdued, a little bitter. "My parents would have liked it, too."

"What were they like?" she asked.

"They were dorks," I didn't mean that in the bad way. "They liked to read almost as much as you do. They used to play dress-up, too, and they'd make us go along. They belonged to a group called SCA: the Society for Creative Anachronism. Ever heard of them?"

"I have," McKayla grinned broadly. "Don't tell me they used to put you in costumes and take you to Renaissance Fairs?"

"They did!"

"Got any pictures?" she asked teasingly.

"Not that I'm going to show you," I retorted playfully.

She leaned in and kissed me again.

"They loved fantasy books and all that stuff." Talking about my parents brought back a flood of happy memories. "When other kids' parents belonged to bowling leagues or had poker games, my folks were making my little brother chainmail armour out of paper clips or playing Dungeons & Dragons with their equally dorky friends."

"It's a wonder you turned out as normal as you did," McKayla said and there was something in her voice that sounded like she was about to burst out laughing.

"Well..." I started and my voice dropped. "Dad gave all that up right after Mom died. He was never the same. There's a storage building full of their stuff that used to belong to them out at

my uncle's place, but I haven't gone out there in years."

McKayla's hand was under my chin. I lifted my gaze to meet her eyes and tried to smile. "Paige ... my little Elven princess ... you know what?"

I shook my head.

"I used to belong to SCA," she admitted sheepishly. "I haven't gone to any events in a while ... but if you'd like me to take you to one..."

My eyes got real wide. A thousand things to say raced through my mind, but I couldn't process any of them.

"I'll show you pictures if you want." McKayla was grinning from ear to ear. "We're not all that dorky."

"Not now, my lady," I said, trying to remember how my parents used to talk to each other when at these things. We shared a hungry kiss. I felt her hands reach down, cupping my ass. "Thank you for my book. You don't know how much that means to me."

"You're very welcome, my love." My heart leapt when she said that word. "Now do I have to slay a dragon to win your favour?"

"You have it, McKayla," I whispered. "You had it the first day I met you. Now make me yours."

"With pleasure." She replied.