Forbidden Bond (21 page)

“You have to understand something.” He set his elbows on his knees and studied the grain in the hardwood floor. If he didn’t focus on something else besides her eyes, he would never get all of it out. “In my world, it’s pack law that human and shifters don’t mix.”

“Don’t mix?” She cleared her throat. “Like can’t be friends?”

“Friendship is not encouraged. But it’s against our law to mate or reproduce with a human.”

“Oh…okay,” she mumbled.

“The spirit of our wolf is very old and wise, and my people believe that it never truly dies. He or she moves on once the human shell dies and passes on to the next shifter. It’s our wolf that makes that first initial bond to our intended mate. A spiritual connection.”

“I’m following. But what does that have to do with me and that day on the lake?”

Eion lifted his head, bringing them face to face. “When I pulled you from the water and brought you back…we bonded.”

A small breath escaped her lips and she sat back. “Oh, my God…” she breathed. “I remember that moment so vividly.” She closed her eyes. “You breathing into me. Waking up and seeing your face when I opened my eyes. You reached out, touched my cheek…” As if she were reliving every detail, Liv lifted her fingers and recreated the moment. “I remember feeling something like a bolt of energy race through my body.” She lifted her lashes.

All he could do was nod.

“I wasn’t sure if a bond would have the same impact on you since you’re human. But I was pretty damn sure what had happened to me, and all I could think about was getting the hell out of Little Crow Pass.” He surged to his feet and roamed over to the window that looked out into the darkness behind his house. “I thought if I got away from you, put as much distance as possible between us, that with time, as a human, you could move on and have a normal life. Just like you were meant to.”

The squeak of leather told him she’d moved, then the warmth of her presence said she stood behind him.

“But I was wrong, wasn’t I?” Slowly, he pivoted. Her green eyes shone with unshed tears, the sight of which put the pain from his bullet wound in the category of a mere scratch.

“All these years,” she laughed, but the sound emerged on the tail end of a sob, “I thought something was wrong with me. Like I was crazy for not being able to get over a childhood crush.”

“Oh, God,” he groaned. “I’m so sorry.” Eion grabbed her and yanked her into his arms. “I swear I never knew you were hurting. I thought the worst of the effects would only impact me.” He clutched the sides of her head and leaned back to study her upturned face. “I would have returned had I known. Fuck them all. I would have found you.”

A slight nod rocked his hands.

“When I came back and saw you again, I knew I was in trouble. The bond was as strong, if not stronger, than it had ever been. Yet I was determined not to interfere in your life. Besides, what choice did I have—the law hasn’t changed for more than a century with my people. Humans are considered a hazard to our existence, and as a result, mating is forbidden. But then I saw you and Taylor at
Chuck’s
, and how serious you two were when he offered you his ring.” “But I never accepted. I couldn’t bring myself to say yes,” she whispered.

Eion closed his eyes and drew in a deep calming breath. He cupped her face, the warmth of her tears searing his flesh.

“That’s when I knew something was up. That perhaps what happened between us twelve years ago never left you, just as you never left me. Olivia Wilson, you’re imprinted on my soul.”

Her lips parted, and she sucked in a shaky breath. This close, the sound of her pulse pounded like a drum in his ears. Or maybe it was his heart tapping out a beat? God knew he was soaring.

“I’ve tried to move on.” She tipped her head back on her shoulders and stared up at the ceiling for a long moment before bringing it forward again. “Dear God, I’ve tried. But there’s been no one I could ever...” She shook her head and blinked. “No one has ever felt right.”

“No one?” He narrowed his gaze on her. “You mean…not even Taylor?”

“I couldn’t,” she choked out. “As much as I care for him—and I do. He’s wonderful. But I couldn’t bring myself to give him all of me.”

“I knew I hadn’t smelled him on you.” His voice dropped to a hoarse rasp. The thought of Taylor crawling over her made his wolf squirm, his gums tingle, ready to burst and free his canines. He threaded his fingers into her hair, keeping their gazes locked. The primal part of his genetic code needed to see it. Needed to hear her say the words. “Tell me,” he growled. “Tell me why you never let him or any other man touch you.”

“Because when I close my eyes at night,” she breathed, “I only see you.”

The room swayed.

Her eyes closed, then she lifted her lashes and her green gaze bore into his. “Because none of them were you.”

Mine
.

He wanted to roar the declaration. Instead, he bent his head and kissed away her tears. “I’m here now.” He peppered her cheeks with his lips. “For as long as you want me, I’m here.” Eion covered her mouth with his own, breathing in her soft exhale.

And it was like coming home.

Nothing had ever felt more perfect, more right in his life. Damn them all to hell. This could not be wrong.

She wrapped her arms around him, and he dipped low, scooping her up behind her knees and placing her in his arms.

“Eion!” she cried out, and flung her head back.

“Do you want me to stop?” The concept had him screaming inside his head. It would almost kill him. But he would never take her without her wanting him in return.

Liv glanced up, searching his features, and he could have sworn time stood still while he waited for a response. Then the corners of her mouth tilted up in a sensual smile that had him on the cusp of spilling his seed right there.

“Oh, hell no,” she rumbled and shook her head. “Tonight, I’m all yours.”

***

Olivia never wanted to wake up.

This had to be a dream.

Eion lowered his head and kissed her neck, gently scraping the blunt edges of his teeth along the sensitive flesh. Gooseflesh raced over her body, and her nipples hardened into stiff peaks. Oh, this was
so
much better than any fantasy. This was real life. And reality was Eion Mandrake carrying her in his arms and wanting her in his bed.

He kicked the door to his bedroom open and strode inside. At his bedside, Eion allowed Olivia to slide free from his arms. His broad hand smoothed over her thigh in the process and then higher still over her hip to settle at her waist. Everywhere he touched, her skin tingled. She’d never felt more alive in her life.

In one quick movement, Eion grasped the front of his shirt with both hands and ripped it open. Buttons scattered across the hardwood, hitting the floor like a violent hailstorm. He shrugged the garment off his shoulders, revealing a broad, tanned chest lightly covered in raven hair. Twin tribal tattoos snaked around his biceps, and what appeared to be a Celtic circle tattoo with an intricate design sat over his heart.
Fascinating
. She followed the fine dusting of hair lower with her gaze. It cascaded over rippled abs to disappear behind the waistband of his jeans. Olivia curled her fingers into a fist, dying to trace the path with her fingertips.

“Turn around,” he commanded.

Olivia pivoted, reached up, and pulled her hair to the side. The warm and calloused tips of his fingers brushed her neck. Her eyelids drifted closed, and she savored his touch. He lowered the zipper to where it ended at the crest of her bottom. Her dress tumbled from her shoulders and continued downward to puddle at her feet in a crimson pool, leaving Olivia in nothing but her matching red lace bra, panties, and heels.

Her heart raced.

Air left her lungs in short pants.

But this time, her symptoms weren’t anxiety driven.

“Show me,” he whispered, the backs of his fingers burning a tantalizing trail down the side of her arm. Eion clasped her hand and held on as she turned. His gaze raked her, and a growl that began low in his throat rumbled outward with his perusal. “I’ve dreamed of you for so long…but nothing came close to how beautiful you are at this moment.” His nostrils flared.

“You take my breath away.”

“Eion…” She swallowed, pushing down the lump in her throat.

He tugged her closer, bringing them chest-to-chest and sank his fingers into her hair. Eion groaned. “God, help me. If I don’t touch you, I’m going to lose my mind.”

“Please,” she breathed. “I’ll go crazy if you don’t.”

Together they devoured each other’s mouths. Olivia teased his tongue with her own, an erotic game of cat and mouse that she was more than willing to lose. He seized her, scraping the delicate surface with his teeth, followed by a soothing suck that shot straight to her clitoris. She moaned and rubbed against his torso. Damn, he felt good. So warm and rock hard, she wanted to stamp herself all over him. The man was like catnip to her inner feline, which was a bit ironic, seeing that he was half canine.

Before she realized they’d moved, Olivia’s calves bumped the bed frame. She broke free from his lips and skimmed her fingertips down over the heated flesh of his chest, pausing long enough to trace the outline of his tattoo.

“So lovely,” she whispered. “Is that a wolf inside the circle?” He stiffened beneath her hands at the question, but the tension was gone so fast she chose to ignore it. She looked up.

“Yes,” he rasped. “But I’d much rather focus on us right now.” His lip curled.

A flush rushed to her cheeks as she traveled lower in her exploration over his abs, before catching the button to his jeans. She dropped her gaze. A long and thick bulge nearly cresting the waistband drew her eye. Her heart stuttered at the impressive length. God, how was she supposed to…

Eion cupped the sides of her face. “You were meant for me,” he said, his voice low, hoarse. A tremble set up low in her belly before traveling to her legs. “You’ll be fine.” He traced her lips with his thumb. “I swear it, Liv. I’ll do everything in my power to make this a night you’ll never forget.”

“I know.” She gave a slight nod. “You’ve already accomplished that.” Olivia turned her attention back to the task in front of her. With shaky hands, she worked the button free. Her thumb and forefinger on the zipper, she glanced up from under her lashes, a silent plea for permission. Eion lifted his chin in acknowledgment, and she lowered her gaze. As if she were opening a gift on Christmas morning she’d waited years to receive, Olivia held her breath and slowly tugged on the metal tab.

The crown appeared followed quickly by the remaining hard length. The shaft sprang toward her from its confines, and she gasped. He was magnificent.

Unable to stop herself, Olivia reached for him. She had to know what he would feel like in her palm.

Gingerly she coiled her fingers as far as they would go around his girth, leaving about an inch of distance between her tips. His pulse throbbed beneath the pads of her fingers, and heat seared the inside of her hand. She gave him a slight squeeze, mesmerized by his texture—so buttery soft and hard all at the same time. An oxymoron of pure pleasure.

“You’re so hot,” Olivia breathed. And he was in every way.

She slid her fist up the shaft and watched in fascination as a glistening drop of fluid formed at the slit. A hard shudder racked Eion’s body, capturing her attention. Olivia lifted her head. Eion held both arms tight against his thighs, hands fisted, biceps bulging. As if he fought a great battle, the veins in his neck stood out in sharp relief, jaw locked, eyes closed.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

His eyelids parted. “Never better.” His voice shook. “This is for you, baby. Touch me any way you want.”

“Oh, no,” she groaned. “I want to please you too.” She stood, the warmth of his cock bumping her abdomen. Olivia stroked his chest, but Eion snaked her hands into his palms.

“You’re touching me. So don’t think for a minute that I’m not in heaven.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a dead-sexy grin. He released her fingers, lowered his hands to the front clasp of her bra, and worked it free. The lace fell away and her breasts swayed.

“Christ, what you do to me, woman.”

Eion reached up and slid the loose straps down her arms, tossing the article to the floor. Olivia stepped out of her heels and climbed onto the mattress. Kneeling on top of the old-fashioned quilt that covered the bed, she watched in rabid fascination as her dark cowboy ripped his boots from his feet in two quick
thumps
, then shoved his jeans to the floor.

Moonlight cascaded over his shoulders casting shadows in the dips and hollows of his pecs and abs. Obsidian hair brushed his shoulders along with the braids that hung from his temples. Hard and straining, his erection jutted from a dark thatch of hair, the tip glistening with his lust. He reminded her of a warrior incubus who’d come to claim her body and soul.

And damned if she didn’t want to lick every square inch of him.

Olivia lifted her hand, palm up, in invitation. She’d never been so bold, but with Eion, it felt so right. He threaded their fingers and joined her on the bed. She lay back, bringing him with her. He loomed over her, larger than life, his sides expanding and contracting with each labored breath. She clutched his biceps, enjoying the hard feel of his muscle beneath her fingertips as he lowered his head toward her cheek. The scratch of his five o’clock shadow skated along her nerve endings and arrowed straight to her core, making her squirm.

“You smell so damn good.” Eion licked the outer shell of her ear before dropping lower to her neck, trailing kisses. At her breast, he laved the dark circle of flesh around her nipple with the flat side of his tongue. Olivia slid her hands into his hair, the strands so soft and silky. Exactly how they felt in her dreams.

He flicked his tongue over the hard tip and her back arched. “Oh, God,” she moaned.

“Beautiful,” he breathed against her flesh.

Again and again, he lavished the tight bud, alternating between hard strokes, licks, and gentle sucks. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he switched to the other breast, giving it the same treatment.