Page 139 of Burning Ember

“You said the meaning changes?”

He takes his time to answer. “Yeah. Being close to death a few times. Seein’ it happen to those around me . . . seein’ how it changespeople.” He links our fingers together and squeezes my hand. “It hovers over us day and night, and yet we take it for granted. We forget that tomorrow we might not be here. That those we love could suddenly be gone. And our time with them over.

“That’s why it was killin’ me to be patient for you when I knew you were what I wanted. None of us knows how many tomorrows we’re gonna get. And I want as many as I can have with you.”

He holds me for quite a while. Every so often, his hand trails up and down my back.

Still curious, I ask, “What about your other tattoo? These images on your arm.”

“Stories. From the Bible. Stories that mean somethin’ to me.” Looking down, he asks, “You ever read it?”

I shake my head no. “My mom didn’t believe in God or any of that.”

“But you do?”

“Yes, I do.” The memories of Will as a baby tunnel through my mind. She was so beautiful and perfect. Such a happy baby. And one hundred percent healthy even though Sunny had been doing drugs, smoking, and even drinking while carrying her. I used to thank God every day that he’d somehow protected her, and given her to me.

Mav’s hand pauses. But a second later, it resumes. “When I first started readin’ it, I hated it. I didn’t understand what most of the words meant. But eventually, I did and the stories interested me because they were a part of history and I loved all the fighting.” He chuckles and I feel the vibrations of it reverberate in his chest. “It wasn’t until later I saw the lessons behind the stories. Truths I always wanted to remember and maybe share with my own kids.”

Leaning up I ask, “Will you tell them to me?” His brows furrow. “The stories.” I rub my thumb over his brow and ease the tension out of it. “You can practice on me.”

His arms tighten around me. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Jesus, Doll. I don’t even think you know what you do to me.” Shaking his head, he takes a deep breath. “Okay, but don’t laugh. It’s been a while and I’m not much of a storyteller.”

I zip my lips closed and smile up at him.

“Which one first?” he muses while holding up his arm and turning it.

I point to the redheaded woman plucking a piece of fruit from a tree. I’ve been beside myself with curiosity since seeing her. Is she Dana or someone else?

He laughs out loud this time. “Eve?”

“Is that her name?” He nods. “Yeah, tell me about her.”

He proceeds to tell me about Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, and the serpent. At first, he’s stumbles through, forgets parts, and has to go back, but after a minute his passion for the story comes through and he starts adding other things he’s picked up from studying other versions of the Bible.

I ask questions and he tries to answer every one.

He finishes and says, “See what happens when you leave the fate of the entire world in the hands of a woman?” I smack him and he laughs playfully. Capturing my hand, he rolls me onto my back. He pins my hands above me and interlocks our fingers. His lips take mine in a slow but ardent kiss. Pulling back, he sighs, “I’ve always thought a little sin is good for the soul.”

“Oh, yeah?” I smile too.

He pecks my lips again. “Yes. I think sometimes we’re meant to sin in order to find our way.”

My eyes fall to the angel on his arm. “And that one? What does it mean?”

His body tenses and his hands squeeze mine.

Looking up into his face, I say, “You don’t have to tell me. I’m just curious.”

He shakes his head and says, “No. You should probably know in case . . .” His words fall away and a little of his darkness seeps back in. I can see it in his eyes.

“Dana was pregnant.”

An unexplainable pain shoots across my chest. “You’re a dad?” Then I realize what he said.Was. . . as in no more.

“No.” He lets go of my hands and rolls to his back. “Never got the privilege.”

What was it Bethany had said? That when Mav found Dana, it was a month later, and she’d been blissed out on drugs.