Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

palm, the gesture somehow soothing. “I know it’s not supposed to happen like that, but it did. I had no idea in my head of meeting anyone. I was late and I was hurrying and then I looked up and it was like he came inside my mind and filled up every single lonely place inside me. I shouldn’t trust it, intellectually I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t seem to resist him.”
    “It can happen that way,” Blythe said. “And maybe he was meant for you, just like you say, soul mates, but Judith.” She leaned close, her gaze intent. “Honey, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious. I know from firsthand experience, that even if every single part of you knows with absolute certainty, that he should be the one, that he is the one, it doesn’t always work out as it should.”
    “When I’m with him I’m not afraid of myself and I feel as if he sees me. He can see inside of me and he isn’t afraid of my power,” Judith blurted, wanting all of them to understand, but especially Blythe. It was important Blythe understood, because, God help her, if she saw Thomas again, she was afraid she would fall right off that cliff all over again. If all of them thought she was crazy and told her so, she would still fall.
    Her eyes met Blythe’s in a kind of agony of need. She needed her to understand. These women in this room with her were the people she loved, her family—all she had left in the world. If she was making a terrible mistake they would love her enough to tell her, but she didn’t know if she had the strength to resist him if he came to her again.
    “Just go slow, baby,” Lissa said. “Let us meet him.”
    “Blythe met him,” Judith defended quickly, and then felt silly. She bit her lip. “Okay, see? See how I am? And even if he’s everything he seems to be, the perfect man for me, what about Jean-Claude? I know what Jean-Claude is capable of and is it right for me to put Thomas in danger? Jonas told me that there were pictures of Thomas with me already sent to the prison.”
    “Then it’s too late to worry about that, isn’t it?” Lissa said. “Tell your Thomas the truth and let him decide whether he wants to take the chance or not. You can only be responsible for yourself and your decisions, Judith. Thomas has to be responsible for his, and Jean-Claude owns his own sins.”
    “You make it sound so easy when it really is complicated,” Judith said.
    “Because you’re afraid,” Rikki said, shocking Judith.
    Rikki shrugged and set her cold teacup down. “I know you are because I was. It’s very scary to let another man into your life, but you know you’re also bringing him into our lives as well. This is our home. Would he fit in here? Would he contribute and love this place and all of us? Even when the relationship is brand-new, when you know your life is going to be different, complicated and you’re going to be the one to complicate everyone else’s life as well, it’s terrifying.”
    “So true,” Judith admitted. “And I’m a coward. I don’t want to get hurt. When I figured out what Jean-Claude was, I realized I loved the illusion, not the man. He was all wrapped up in my love of art, the romantic idea of Paris and I was all caught up in the fantasy. Thomas is real to me and even though I haven’t known him long at all, I’ve been in his mind and I feel him inside of me. I’ve been inside of him and we fit. If he breaks my heart, I’m afraid I won’t be able to put myself back together again.” Her eyes met Blythe’s.
    Blythe nodded, her eyes swimming with tears. “I understand, Judith. Take it slow. Be sure he’s the man your heart tells you he is.”

14
     
    JUDITH’S heart leapt as a hard hand clapped over her mouth. Her eyes snapped open and she stared at the familiar face peering down at her. Her heart settled into an accelerated rhythm and something deep inside melted into a soft liquid welcome before she could control herself.
    “You didn’t answer my calls.”
    Thomas didn’t lift his hand so she only nodded, drinking him in. His hair spilled onto his forehead, disheveled and so attractive. She wanted to touch it, to push it back for him, to feel the silky texture on her fingertips. She could barely breathe—and it had nothing to do with the fact that his hand lay over her lips.
    “It’s been four very long days. You don’t get to hide in your house, behind the gate and security system and avoid what happened between us.”
    That was exactly