Savage Bond (The Fallen) (17 page)

"You're going to take the pics." She didn't sound upset, but, now that the bond between them had snapped, he wasn't sure how she felt anymore. And he was going to do the right thing, he warned himself fiercely, and stay the hell out of her head. He wasn't coming in, not until or unless she invited him. God, he wished he didn't have that need to do the right thing burning at him, because he was desperate to know what she was feeling.

He looked down at his wrists. He'd done her favor and that superficial bond between them had snapped. The black ink of the bonding marks was retreating, disappearing, despite the other connection that was still there. He wondered if she felt it, too, or if was just him. He didn't know. Maybe, he'd ask his brothers. Maybe, that was too personal and just maybe every male took to the soul bond differently. He didn't. Hell, he didn't care—all he cared about was standing there on the carpet too far away, watching him. All these new emotions left him raw and open.

The black ink on her wrists faded, disappearing back into her skin. And he still didn't know what to say to her. Yeah, he needed to take those pictures back to his base, hand them over to Zer and the others to check out. Those pictures had the potential to be explosive and securing them was a priority. He should have said all that but, instead, here he was, just staring at that pale, bare expanse of skin and wondering if she missed the bonding marks. At all.

He should have got inside her head when he had the chance and maybe he would have learned how to please her, give her what she needed.

 "It's okay," she said, scrubbing at her face with her hand. Her feet stayed planted, though. She didn't move from that spot she'd picked out on the rug, but her eyes ran over his face. He wished he knew what she was looking for. "You need to take the pictures back to the rest of the Fallen, I get that. I'm not sure MVD would know what to do with them, anyhow. Probably some sort of knee jerk reaction like dropping a bomb on the Preserves."

"Wouldn't be such a bad thing," he finally volunteered, when the silence had stretched out too long between them. If, of course, the bombs actually did their thing and killed what they hit. If all that happened was that the wall came down, well, that was a road he didn't want to go down.

"Maybe." She shrugged. "But maybe there's someone else worth saving there. Or trapped." A shadow passed over her eyes. "Like Lieutenant Reece."

He didn't want to tell her that the good lieutenant was either dead or wishing she was. The next words out of his mouth surprised himself. "I'll go back," he said gruffly. "Look for her, if you want."

Her face just watched him, tear-filled and sad. "We should recon first." She wrapped her arms around her middle. "Send in a drone. Because if she's really dead, there's no point in risking anyone else, is there?"

She'd barely known the lieutenant, but she had the other woman's back. She had his. She didn't leave anyone behind and that was just one of the reasons he loved her. And, even if he hadn't had reasons, he suspected he would have loved Ria Morgan. There was something about her, some indefinable, inescapable quality that made her
her
—and conquering him heart and soul, the way she had the rest of him.

The empty space between them seemed like an impossible gulf, a carpet-covered emptiness he shouldn't cross. She might not be one hundred percent human, but he wasn't human at all. She deserved better than a used-up, too old angel who'd been evicted from the Heavens for all the right reasons.

On the other hand, he thought, as his booted foot took a step forward, fuck it. He'd already broken every rule there was, so why follow the rule book now?

"I love you," he said, then said the words again because those words felt right.

Not just because she was his soul mate, the woman fate had hand-picked for him, but because he'd loved her before he'd known what she was. She was his other half, his missing half. When he had her wrapped up in his arms, close to his heart, he knew better than to let go. Ever. What he felt for her, with her, was so much more than the fiery heat, the pleasure building between them. Touching her, tasting her, was more pleasure than he'd ever had in his life, but the connection he felt with her went so much deeper.

He was hers, body and soul.

He existed for her, to keep her safe, to make her dreams and her fantasies come true. And for the quiet moments, when he could hold her and she him and just breathe in the familiar scent of her. After millennia without emotion, love was an unfamiliar, fascinating, wonderful storm that had taken him by surprise but that he wouldn't give up. With or without his wings, he was all hers and he was holding on to the incredible woman he'd found.

Forever.

Ria's feet were moving before she could second-guess herself, eating up that empty piece of space between them.

She met him halfway, her arms coming up, sliding over his broad shoulders and pulling him close. No more space. Just the two of them, as close as they could get.

The bond was gone. Her wrists were bare and she was free. Common sense said she should send him away and count her blessings. She'd made a bargain with one of the Fallen and the price hadn't cost her soul. She knew others weren't so lucky.

She'd been warned.

But she still wanted this one Fallen angel. Vkhin was
hers
and she wasn't giving him up.

"Stay," she said and he nodded, his arms tightening around her.

"You want to give me a reason," he growled, "or am I flying blind here?"

She placed her hand over his heart, savoring the strong, steady beat.

"The bond's gone," she whispered. The marks were gone, true, but she still felt him. Her body craved his, yearned for his touch. She knew what it was to explore that big, hard body, to lose herself in the pleasure he offered.

And to find something,
someone
, in all that heat. Vkhin. What she felt for him hadn't disappeared with the bonding marks. She needed more than just a favor from him, wanted more than a bond mate's relationship with him.

"That's one," he agreed.

"I love you." She gave him back his words. She wanted to share this part of herself with him, tell him what she'd never told another male. He was hers and she loved him. Bond or no bond, they belonged together.

"And I love you," he promised, his head lowering to hers.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. The jumpsuit parted easily when he got a thumb on the zipper and tugged.  Revealing her inch by inch. That sure, deliberate touch sent pleasure spiking through her. He wanted her, saw only her. And she was wet and aching for his touch.

She wanted him to taste her.

All of her.

Wanted him to lay her down on the bed and taste every secret place, find the magic they'd shared in the Preserves and recreate it all again.

"You're staying with me," he growled and it was more satisfied statement than demand. "Now. Tomorrow.
Always
."

She leaned her head back against the arm holding her up, just watching. There were no favors here. No rules. She wanted to leave, he wouldn't stop her. If she wanted out from his arms, all she had to do was take one little step to her left and she'd be free and clear.

"Always," she agreed, sliding her hand up his arm. He looked like he wanted to say something more, but she didn't want to talk any more. All she wanted was to taste.

He threaded his fingers through her hair, and closed the last few inches of space between their mouths. The arm around her tightened, brought her impossibly close. Stroking a thumb over the small of his back, she stole a moment to savor the heat, the hardness of the male holding her, through the fabric.     

His lips against hers were a simple little tease, a gentle brush of his skin on hers. The kiss was a slow and sweet game, but sensation rocketed through her with that first touch of his mouth against her skin.

Mine
.

His head came up. "We've still got the soul bond, Ria." Her name was an intimate promise on his lips. "This time, it's forever. For as long as you want me."

She felt his mouth against her ear. "Vkhin," she gasped. "You think I can afford a soul bond?" Here with him, now, she felt alive and unafraid, as if she had wings herself and could use them.

"This one's free," he promised. "A gift from me to you. You want me, you have me."

 "Yes," she whispered, her fingers marching up his chest. "Forever."

That new bond pulled them close to each other. Something more. Something
right
. He was right there, waiting for her to recognize him. To let him in. His arms closed around her, pulling her close.

Finally back where she belonged.

And check out
His Dark Bond
, available now from Kensington Brava!

HE HUNGERS FOR HER BODY!

Zer is no angel—well, not anymore. He's explored every flavor of sin imaginable, drinking in the pleasures of humanity. But now he must find the woman who carries his salvation in her very blood! a woman like Nessa St. James.

AND HER SOUL

Nessa has considered the bargain the Fallen offer. Anything she wants in exchange for accepting Zer's bond? No way. Not her. Not when she finds out about the mind-blowing ritual involved, and the marks of surrender that will ink her skin. But with a serial killer to stop and centuries of experience on his side, this is one job Zer's going to nail.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR