Forbidden Bond (25 page)

It had been too late when he’d finally made it home last night to call Liv and let her know he’d returned. Even though he’d been bone tired, Eion had barely closed his eyes after hitting the bed. At dawn, he decided to saddle his horse and head out for his and Liv’s haven by the river. He needed some clarity—some sign—and a part of him hoped that sign would be Liv waiting for him there.

Fifteen minutes later, Eion cleared the tree line that bordered the stream. He scanned the bank on the other side. His heart galloped and blood surged to his groin at the sight of his bonded female sitting on a blanket a few hundred feet downstream.

Mine.

He patted his horse’s neck and nudged her across the shallow streambed to the other side. They climbed out onto the dry bank, and it was all Eion could do not to launch her into a full gallop. More than ever, he needed to hold Liv in his arms. Feel her warmth, her acceptance next to his skin. Know that what they’d shared hadn’t been some wild and crazy dream. He’d fantasized about having her in his life for so long that the reality felt surreal.

Liv glanced over her shoulder and a smile bloomed as he approached. Eion tugged on the reins, bringing his Appaloosa to a full stop near Liv. He dismounted, tossed the reins over a low-hanging tree limb, and turned to find the woman who owned his heart by his side.

“You came back,” she said, staring up at him, happiness and something that resembled relief in her eyes.

“I promised you I would.” Eion reached out and smoothed his palms over her hair. She’d left it down today, and he loved the feel of it cascading through his fingers. He lowered his gaze, noting her shoulders were bare. She wore a pale yellow and green sundress with thin straps that disappeared around her nape, and a low neckline that accentuated her full cleavage. The bottom half of her dress stopped right above her knees and billowed in the early morning breeze.
Beautiful
. But it was Monday morning. Why hadn’t she dressed for work?

“Yes, you did.” Her smile grew even larger.

“Come here.” Eion pulled her in against his chest and claimed her mouth, showing her exactly how much he’d missed her. So damn good. Nothing felt more right than when she was in his arms.

Liv broke away with a gasp. “As much as I hate any moment not spent kissing you, I want to hear about your trip.”

He groaned and stroked a thumb along her cheek, savoring the soft and smooth texture of her skin. “And I would like to hear why you’re out here in your pretty sundress and not in your scrubs ready for work. Not saying that I don’t love the view.” He grinned and raked her with his gaze. “‘Cause I do. Believe me.”

“Ah. That.” She turned and headed back to her spot by the water. Eion followed. “Thank you, by the way.” Liv lowered onto the blanket, stretched out her legs, and smoothed her dress over her thighs. “I thought it might be best to give Taylor a little time at the clinic without having to see me.”

He reached out and clasped her fingers, bringing them up to his lips. Lowering her arm, he brushed his thumb pad over the back of her hand. “Do you think things will eventually smooth out between you two and you can continue to work together?”

“I really hope so. He said he wanted that too, but he was hurt and needed some time.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t blame him.” Liv shook her head and pulled her hand from his. “Everything happened so fast. For him, it was as if there was no warning. But believe it or not, after we’d officially broken it off, he said he wanted me to be happy.” A hint of a smile curved her lips. “And I really think he was sincere. Says a lot about the kind of guy he is. He’s a good man; it’s why I’d convinced myself that we should continue dating for as long as we did.” She turned and studied the babbling stream. “I just hope that one day we can reclaim at least a part of our friendship.”

Eion sucked in a long breath. “I do too. I can see how much that means to you.”

“Yeah.” She sighed before she turned towards him and squared her shoulders. “So tell me some good news.” Liv gave him a tight smile. “How did the trip go?”

“Trip went fine. Uneventful. That’s the good news.” Eion faced the water, tossed his hat on the blanket, and stretched his legs out. “It was what happened after I got to my parents’ home that wasn’t a complete success.”

“Your father refuses to see your side about you and me?”

“For years he’s groomed me to take his place, and his son having a human female at his side was never part of the picture.” Eion filled her in on the details of their conversation, including the law’s origin against human mates, the risk of hybrids and their weaker DNA, and the pack’s fear of extermination. “In the end, my father reinforced his ultimatum. He has no intentions of capitulating.”

Liv stared back at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She’d been silent while he spilled everything about his visit to Screaming Eagle. Well…everything except the part about his run-in with Tawny. Liv didn’t need to hear about that small detail. Tawny had definitely meant to threaten, but Liv didn’t deserve any more stress on her plate. Eion would watch her back. He would die before he let something happen to her.

Finally, she spoke. “It breaks my heart that you have to be placed in this situation.” Her voice cracked. “It’s not fair.”

“I’ve discovered very little in life is, baby.” He reached over and cupped her chin, turning her face up to his. “You just have to choose the things that mean the most to you and hold onto them with everything you’ve got.”

Eion drew her closer and leaned in, sealing his lips over hers. He nudged her mouth open and dove inside. A groan erupted from his throat at the sensation, her flavor. He tore his mouth away and lowered his head to the column of her neck, struggling to control his impulse to take things much further.

“It’s pretty quiet out here,” he whispered next to her ear.

“Yeah. It is,” she said, her breathing coming in gasps. “The hands are branding the new cattle that were picked up at auction last week.”

“That’s right.” His pulse roared a staccato beat inside his head. Blood surged to his groin, setting up a steady throb that refused to be ignored. “I almost forgot. That should keep everyone
very
occupied for a few hours.” He nipped the soft flesh of her earlobe, wringing a small moan from her lips. Eion dropped his attention to her shoulders, kissing her there. Unable to resist, he followed the strap to her dress to where it tied at her nape.

Liv bolted from the blanket, heading straight for the stream.

“Hey!” he cried out and rolled back onto his palms. “What are you doing?” He chuckled.

“I wasn’t nearly finished here.” Liv whirled around, laughing, her dress fanning out around her, and faced him. Eion patted the warm spot on the blanket she’d left behind and smiled. She grinned in response and kicked off her shoes.

“Getting a little hot out here. Don’t you think?” She fanned herself. “Phew!”

“That, I can certainly agree with.” He sat forward and draped his arms over his knees. “Why don’t you come back over here? I have something that’ll take care of your symptoms.” He crooked a finger in her direction.

Liv back pedaled until her feet dipped into the water. “Why don’t you come and get me?” She winked. “I dare you, Eion Mandrake…” Liv added in a sing-song voice.

Eion rose from the blanket. His veins hummed. Liv took another two steps further out, the water coming up around her ankles.

“You dare me?” He tugged a corner of his mouth up into a grin. “I know you are
not
going there, Olivia Wilson.”

“I think I just did.” She cocked her head and wriggled her eyebrows. This time, Liv crooked her finger, beckoning him.

He advanced to the stream’s edge. “Don’t you remember how you
never
won all those dares?”

“Hmm…” She slowly shook her head. “That’s not quite how I remember it.”

“Oh, really?” Eion grabbed one boot, pulled it from his foot, and then the other before tossing them behind him. Oh, she was so going to get it.

“Oh, really,” she stated, her tone mocking.

In one quick move, he unzipped his pants and shoved them from his legs, leaving him in his boxer briefs. “I think someone is begging to be spanked for taunting their elders.”

She gasped. “I think
someone
just admitted to being an old man.”

“Okay, okay.” He nodded, putting on his best game face, as if he had no intention of coming after her. Liv kicked at the water, sending a spray of icy droplets in his direction.

“That does it.” Eion launched into the stream.

Liv squealed, spun, and darted downstream.

Water splashing up near his hips, Eion charged after her. He could have her in his arms in two seconds, but he let her take the lead, loving her playful side. A side he hadn’t seen since he’d returned, and a part of that was his fault. She glanced over her shoulder and laughed, holding her dress up as she surged through the shallow stream.

Suddenly, she stopped, whipped around, and doused him with a large wave. His breath hitched as the icy water flooded him from head to toe.

“Oh…you so do not play fair, woman,” he grumbled, flashing the tips of his canines for effect. Before she could respond, Eion leaped, landing directly in front of her, taking them both down into the stream.

“Oh, my God!” she cried out. “So cold!”

Eion brushed her damp tresses out of her face. “It is, isn’t it?” He chuckled.

“Yes!” She reached up and pushed the long strands of hair behind his ears, her expression sobering. “A part of me feels like such a selfish bitch, Eion.” He watched as she swallowed hard. “You stand to lose everything by being with me. But I just can’t help it. God, I want you so much.”

He couldn’t have stopped the growl that forced its way out of his lungs if he’d tried. Liv wanted him, and to hell with the world! She was his. Eion scooped her from the water, rose, and marched back toward the bank. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as if he were her hero. And damn if he didn’t want to be that for her.

Lowering her onto the blanket, Eion followed a trickle of water with his fingertip where it trailed down her neck and pooled at the hollow of her throat. “I want to lick every drop from your body,” he stated, his voice dipping to an edge that was less than human. She shivered, her nipples hard and tenting the cotton material draping her bust.

“Cold?” He rubbed the outside of her arms.

“Not in the least,” she whispered.

A rumble vibrated in his chest at her implication. He bent his head closer and traced her lips with his own. “Don’t ever think badly of yourself for how you feel,” he breathed against her mouth. “I love you, Olivia Wilson, and I don’t regret it.”

Her fingers found their way into his hair, holding him next to her. “I love you so much.” Her breath hitched. “I don’t think I can remember a time when I didn’t love you, Eion.”

He crushed his mouth to hers. She opened and he slipped inside. Their tongues dueled, danced, and when she stroked the roof of his mouth, the sensation arrowed straight to the tip of his cock. He groaned, and she arched into his chest.

Pulling away, he cursed under his breath. “I want you, baby. All of you.” Eion’s veins were on fire.
Mine.

“I want you too.”

“No. You don’t understand.” He shook his head. “If we go any further, I don’t think I can hold back… Not this time.”

“What do you mean?” She braced her hands against his pecs, and her eyelids narrowed. “You’re so warm.”

“A symptom of our bond,” he said. “When I’m near you, I can’t help but want you, and my body sort of goes into overdrive. Once a bonded couple completes their mating, that will gradually dissipate.”

“Completes it?” Her eyes crinkled with confusion.

“Remember the day we bonded at the lake?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Eion fisted the blanket beneath them. “That was more like a spiritual connection between us. That’s why I wasn’t sure how long or how deeply you’d be affected.”

“Okay…”

“What I’m feeling, what my body is demanding—and what I want so badly at this moment that I can barely breath—is to make you my mate. Body and soul.”

“Oh, Eion,” she whispered. “What would that mean? How?”

“Before, when we made love, I used a condom. That kept my seed from marking you internally with my scent. When I told you I needed you to take me from the top it’s because when I was buried inside you, I didn’t think I could restrain myself from marking you with my teeth. A sign to any other wolf that you belong to me.” His canines ached at the thought.

“If you mark me,” she licked her lips, “there would be no turning back for you with your pack, right?”

“You would be my mate for the rest of my life.” He nodded and ran his fingers along her cheek. “A part of me would exist in you till the end of our days. There are no divorces in my world, but it wouldn’t matter. I would never want another.”

“And for me?” She nibbled her bottom lip before continuing. “Would it change me?”

“I wasn’t sure how deeply the spiritual bond would affect you. But based on what you’ve said, you carried it with you as well. So I’m pretty sure you’d feel our connection strengthen.”

“To do this right here, right now, without any time to think it through is so unlike me. But I love you, Eion.” She cupped his face with both hands. “That will never die. So for me, there’s no decision to make. I’m already yours anyway, and I would be honored to be your mate.”

He squeezed his eyes shut. His chest hurt, her words stealing the air from his lungs.

She brushed her lips over his, the act kicking his diaphragm back into action. “But are you absolutely sure, my love, that doing this is worth the potential cost with your pack? Your alpha status? Will they take that away from you? I don’t want you to hate me one day if they won’t ever accept us.”

Eion opened his eyes. Sunlight sparkled off her shamrock gaze, melting him. Having to walk away from his pack was a very real threat. In fact, he wasn’t sure there was going to be any other way. The thought of giving up all he’d worked for his whole life, his family and his title was unsettling. It was difficult to wrap his mind around what he’d be without them. A wolf without a pack was like an existence without his right arm, but walking away from Liv…would be like cutting out his heart. One he could live without, the other would kill him.