Chapter Fourteen

The Viper flew down the roads, weaving in and out of traffic when there was some, which wasn't often. He couldn't believe that Tanya had kicked him out. He knew what he had to do now. When he had driven the car out of the garage, he had no idea where he was going. But the farther away he had gotten, the clearer his head became.

He had been on the road for about an hour when the first call came. Looking at the caller ID on his phone he set it aside. He wasn't ready to talk to her yet. The phone had continued to ring incessantly until he reached his destination. Pulling into a small motel in Haines Junction in the Yukon Territory, he stepped out of the sports car and went to get himself a room. He had turned the phone to silent, not yet listening to the undoubtedly dozens of messages on his voicemail.

Getting settled into his room the phone started vibrating again. Glancing at the screen he frowned when he saw Kate's number come up. Picking up the phone and pressing the button he put it to his ear. "Kate, I really don't think --"

"Jesse, please don't hang up," Tanya said.

"What do you want Tanya?" he asked, his voice hardened with anger.

"Jess, I was wrong. I'm so sorry, I was wrong. I should have let you explain. Please, Jesse, come home and we can talk."

Her voice, the sincerity he could hear in it was almost his undoing. But it wasn't just for her he was doing this, he had to do it for himself too. "I can't Tanya. Not yet."

The long moments that stretched after he said that were almost palpable. "You... aren't coming back?" she whispered.

"I can't. Look, doll, I'll talk to you again. I promise. But I can't come back to your house right now."

"Our house Jesse. This is your home too. Please, don't do this."

"I have to Tanya. I'll talk to you soon," he paused. "Goodbye Tanya." He heard her sharp intake of breath as he disconnected. Closing his eyes, he lowered himself onto the bed he'd been standing by and curled up into the fetal position. It would have been so easy to drive back. Three hours and he would have been with her. But he couldn't. Not yet.

-

Three months had passed. When he stood in front of the mirror in the rented motel room he was finally satisfied. When he hadn't been actively hunting in the Kluane National Park, he had been completely useless, laying in the bed staring at the cracked ceiling. Letting his misery wash over him like a wave pool. He had talked to Tanya, but never had he told her what he'd been doing, or where he was. He only hoped that she would forgive him for taking so long to come back. But it was time.

He tossed the few things he had bought into a bag and looked around, checking to make sure that he had everything. Then he left the room for the last time and tossed his bag into the Viper. Going to the office he handed over his key. The smell of the woman behind the counter didn't bother him nearly as much as it might have even three months ago. He counted that as a small victory.

Climbing into the sports car once again he took off, the tires squealing as he left the motel parking lot. He would be home in less than three hours if he was lucky. He'd deliberately left late to avoid traffic and cops. Home. The word had taken on a different meaning in these last three months. Home was not a building, it was Tanya. Wherever she was, that was home.

He had timed his departure well, and arrived back at the large house on the edge of the forest in two and a half hours. Parking his car in the driveway he sat there, staring up at the front door. Almost scared to go in, which was ridiculous. Finally he opened the door and unfolded his tall body from the car. Shutting the door softly he walked up the walk to the front door. He was reaching for the knob when it disappeared from it's position as the door was flung open. Tanya stood there, and she looked pissed.

As she flung the door open to see Jesse standing there Tanya's anger at how he had left her for so long was evident, even she could feel the angry set of her jaw. However when she took in his appearance, ending with his eyes, all her anger dissipated. "Jesse," she whispered.

Raising his now golden eyes to hers he gave her a rakish grin that only he could pull off. "I promised you I'd come back doll. But I needed to prove to us both I could do this."

Tanya flew out the door and into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his neck in a vise grip, she pressed her lips to his throat before lifting her mouth up for his lips.

Jesse laughed and tightened his grip around her waist before obliging her waiting mouth with a deep, passionate kiss that released three months worth of missing her. Finally pulling back, both of their breathing was ragged. He reached up and gently smoothed the hair from her face. "I had promised myself I would never put you through what I did ever again. But I also needed to prove to myself I could do it. I'm sorry I left you, doll."

Tanya reached up, the pad of her thumb running in the hollow under his now golden eye. "I knew you could do it. If you had come back, I would have been here to help you."

"I know, Tanya, but I'm a big boy," he smiled at her disgruntled look. "Oh come on doll. I'm here now, and I did it. I will never kill another human. I promise you."

Tanya stood on tip toes to kiss him again. "I know you won't. Promise me you won't leave me again. That's what I want to hear."

He kissed her hair, her forehead, her cheeks, her neck. "I promise," he said before reclaiming her mouth.

-

They had made it inside, and to their room, barely. Spending the night making up for three months had been a sweet victory for them both. Now, as Jesse stood under the shower, letting the water spray his back, he heard Tanya getting dressed in the other room. Reflecting on the night he sighed with contentment and reached back to shut the water off. He stepped out of the shower and padded dripping wet to the bedroom where Tanya was pulling on jeans.

A mischievous smile lit his face and he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, soaking the whole back of her outfit as he did so. He buried his wet face and hair in the crook of her neck, shaking his head so the wet strands tickled her cheek.

"JESSE!" she screeched. A moment later she was laughing as he picked her up and tossed her onto the bed before falling down beside her. He lay on his side, his head propped up on his hand, looking down at her. His hair fell in wet strands over his forehead, adding to his charm.

Tanya's giggles subsided as she met his intense gaze. "Tanya," his voice was low and raw with an emotion she wasn't sure she wanted to name. "I love you."

She sucked in a breath. Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it wasn't that. The words sent her soaring on a high that she was sure nothing could pull her down from. She twisted her form so she was facing him and smiled a brilliant smile. "I love you too, Jesse." It was a relief to say the words finally.

The light in his golden eyes was so bright she had to blink. He leaned down, kissing her deeply, running a hand up her side. "Lets get you out of those wet clothes, shall we?" he murmured against her lips before tugging her top over her head.

They didn't get out of bed until much later that afternoon.