Unbreakable Bonds (30 page)

“Our bond is unbreakable,” he whispered.

“Exactly.”

Levi was right. It had started in the eighteen hundreds with a woman name Calliope whose love was so strong she’d made sure the soul of the man didn’t die, never to be reborn. Instead, she’d brought the man of that time to the present and in path of his soul mate. Ta-Mara was grateful for her past life—Calliope. They had gone through so much to get to this point. Ta-Mara didn’t have knowledge of any of her past lives, but between eighteen hundreds and present day, there had been many lives—she felt sorry for those who hadn’t found their soul mate. She also was glad that from this point, and far in the future, her soul would seek Levi’s and find his. Like the title of the book, their connection was indeed an unbreakable bond.

Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

Kemet Uncovered: Talios

Taige Crenshaw and Aliyah Burke

Excerpt

Chapter One

Candace Jermaine sat up with a sigh. She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose before taking the time to actually set the offending things down on the pearl-grey Formica countertop.

Her glasses lay in the newly clean spot. When she’d sat down earlier, there had been a huge stack of papers sitting there that she had needed to review and double-check. Rolling her head on her neck, she groaned when she saw the time.

“I’ve been sitting here for five hours?”

Candace used her foot to push her chair across the cool floor to where her drink was, picked it up and took a healthy swallow. Lukewarm, but still refreshing. She shifted in her chair and closed her eyes against the brilliance of the fluorescent bulbs that filled the otherwise silent room with their incessant buzzing.

Candace knew she didn’t have to do all the work in the lab on her own, but she was overly picky.

“But damn if it isn’t hard and time-consuming to double-check the spelling on each taxonomic classification.”

Candace Jermaine worked at New Mexico’s Palaeontology Centre in Taos. She loved her job, regardless of how tedious logging data on extinct animals could be, making sure they were all spelt correctly and updating new information that came in.

She was good at her job and found extinct animals fascinating. When they had lived. Where they had lived. How and when they had died out. Looking at samples under a high- powered microscope to see the curve of the hair, the exact shape of the tooth—any number of things.

“Okay. I’m done. I need food and air.” Opening her eyes, she heaved a sigh as she climbed out of her comfortable chair. “Ohh.” She moaned as her lower body tingled and she felt blood flow freely as the circulation returned to her veins. “Well, that hurt.” Candace shook her head at her actions. Like she could spring up after sitting near-motionless for five hours.

It didn’t take long before everything was stored in the proper place and the lab was spotless. Candace picked up her car keys and grabbed her purse, then hit the switch that stopped the hum of the lights. She walked out of the door, pulling it shut behind her.

The dry desert air that greeted her was stagnant. Still, the view before her eyes was amazing. There was nothing like looking out at the mountains—they were so beautiful. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains could engage all of her time if she let them.

She felt the cry more than she heard it. If not for the feelings it evoked within her, she would have claimed it was nothing but her overactive imagination and hunger feeding a delusion. No air moved, but she could see the flocks of birds taking to the sky like the hounds of hell were after them.

Within her own body she could still feel the powerful rumble that seemed more like a roar than a cry. It moved through her system, touching all her synapses like she was standing out on the tarmac while an MD-11 airliner landed next to her.

No matter how astounding the effect was, it lasted maybe a millisecond. But it was long enough to awaken something deep within her. Something that, until that moment, Candace had never known she possessed.

A desperate craving began to build within her. What the yearning was for, she hadn’t a clue.

Taking a second to shake off the feeling, Candace headed to her vehicle and frowned when she realised she had forgotten her glasses again. She reached into her purse to pull out one of her back-up pairs, and put them on. After climbing into her car, she leaned over and checked her glove compartment to make sure her other back-ups were there.

She shut the door of the car, locked it and glanced back into the distance, where the cry seemed to have come from.

“Food. I just need food.”

Her fingers were clumsy as she put her keys in the ignition. She forced herself to drive in the opposite direction and stopped to grab kerbside service for her dinner. Backing her car out of the lot, Candace made a left instead of the right that would take her home.

“What are you doing? You’re not going to find the source of the sound. Go home, eat and relax for the night.”

Despite her words, she kept driving towards the mountains. Her curiosity was aroused and she had to go and see. An instinct was driving her on. As she drove up the winding road of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the sun was setting, casting the area in a surreal glow. Candace was again drawn in by the beauty of the prestigious mountains. Over an hour later, she pulled on to a familiar, rocky road. It was an area she enjoyed visiting whenever she came up into the mountains. The abandoned, decrepit property there sported an adobe-style house with all the typical New Mexico flavour.

Her mouth dropped open in amazement when she turned the corner and the house came into view. Pulling up by the wall, she parked. She got out of the car and stood taking in the restored house. Lights all around the property showcased the new, stucco-covered house and the low walls surrounding it. She strode between the pillars on either side of the walkway. A rock garden with pea gravel and small shrubs created a feeling of comfort and serenity.

Candace was in awe. When she had come by here a month ago it hadn’t been this way. All the times she had come here she had imagined what it would look like restored to its former glory. What she was seeing surpassed anything she could have expected.

You shouldn’t be here. It’s obviously someone’s home now.

Unable to help herself, she went around the side of the house to the back. It was as nicely done as the front. She found herself drawn to the lake at the back of the property. Forest surrounded it on each side and at the back, giving it the feel of an oasis. Since New Mexico was such a dry place, the water attracted her. Standing in the shade of one of the trees close to the lake, she marvelled at the crystal-clear water.

She turned to leave but stopped as a sound reached her ears. Candace looked back and her eyes widened.

The man rose from the lake like some mythical god. Water cascaded from his naked, sculptured body. He raised a strong-looking hand and ran blunt fingers through his shoulder-length, black hair. With confidence, he came out of the water. When he reached the shore, he didn’t break stride coming to her. A sudden feeling of being hunted came over her and she backed up, hitting a tree.

He stopped a little distance away from her. At five foot eleven, she didn’t usually feel short, but next to him she did. He was very tall—he had at least eight inches over her.

She studied him. His curly black hair framed an onyx-coloured face that was all planes and angles—broad forehead, high cheeks, full nose, firm chin and full lips. He was extremely handsome…but it was his presence that captivated her. There was a sense of strength yet gentleness about him.

She lowered her gaze. A golden chain hung at his neck, with an oblong pendant covered in symbols. Candace licked her lips at the sight of his broad chest and shoulders. The man made a slight rumbling sound. It snapped her out of her daze.

“Oh, sorry.” Candace turned around.

“It’s okay. You can look now.” His voice was husky and deep.

She faced him. She noted he now had a towel around his waist. Coal-black eyes assessed her. His scrutiny made her shift.

“Sorry, I’m trespassing. I’ll go.”

“That’s okay. Stay. Have some iced tea.” He gestured to a table on the other side of the tree that she hadn’t noticed before.

Candace took a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ve been coming by this place for a while. When I saw the house was fixed up I couldn’t resist coming to look,” she finished in a rush.

Way to go, Candace—making yourself sound nosy.

“You’re not interrupting. Sit and have some tea.” The gentleness in his voice stilled her steps.

He took her hand and led her to the table. The tabletop was made of various stone pieces, creating a mosaic. He seated her and poured some tea for them both, then sat next to her. He raised his glass and took a drink of the tea. Candace watched his throat move. He lowered the glass to the table, then ran a finger down its side. She shivered, imagining how it would feel against her body. Taking a breath, Candace tried to control her uncharacteristic reaction.

“You’ve been here before, Miss…?” He trailed off.

“Candace Jermaine. And yes, I have. It’s very lovely here.”

“It is. There is something about this place that draws you. Don’t you agree, Miss Jermaine?” His voice was hypnotic.

“It’s Candace. And yes, there is. I was surprised to see it looking like this. I was here a month ago, Mr…?” she said pointedly.

“Talios Ellis. Just Talios is fine.” A small smile curled his lips.

“The property needed lots of work. How did you get it in shape so fast?” Candace asked. She knew the question was rude, but her curiosity had won out.

Talios’ smile widened and he leaned on the high-backed, plush, dark gold chair.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you are determined.” He ran his finger over the rim of his glass.

Candace frowned at the non-answer.

“And it was all worth it.”

Candace agreed. From the exterior of the house, she could only imagine how nice the inside probably was.

“I was lucky to find this place. New Mexico is a beautiful country. What do you do, Candace?”

“I work in the Palaeontology Centre.”

“Do you enjoy your job?”

She nodded.

“Tell me about it.”

“It’s fascinating, finding out about extinct animals. Everything about them. For example…”

Candace talked about her work and he asked questions. They talked about all sorts of random things.

“…and it was because he hadn’t labelled the slide correctly! He was flipping out that he’d discovered some cross-species. He was so embarrassed once we figured it out.” Candace laughed.

Talios’s warm laughter joined hers. It was almost like a physical touch. Turning her head, startled, Candace realised how late it had got. Reluctance to leave filled her. He was so comfortable to be with. It was as if they had been talking for years. She pursed her lips. They had talked all about her, yet Talios hadn’t really revealed much about himself, except that he was new to the area.

“Where do you work?”

“I’m a professor at Klein University, in their Egyptology department. I’ll be starting there on Monday,” Talios replied.

Candace was impressed. The university was known for its prestige in Egyptology, sciences and mathematics. Their palaeontology was top-notch. The centre hired a few interns from the university.

“Egyptology must be fascinating.”

“It is. I love everything about Egypt. It is something I am very familiar with,” Talios replied.

There was a note in his voice she couldn’t define.

“I’ve seen some of the exhibits they have at the university. They are very intriguing.”

“Yes, they are. I’ve collected a few things over the years on my travels. Want to see my collection?” Talios offered.

Candace glanced towards the house. The area was so well lit that she could see everything clearly. She stood.

“Another time, maybe. I’ve gotta go. It’s late. Thanks for putting up with me.” She put out her hand.

“You are welcome to visit any time, Candace.” Talios took her hand and shook it.

At his touch, a shaft of need coursed through her. Candace locked her knees. She pulled away from him.

“Night,” she said, walking rapidly away.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see my collection?” Talios called after her.

Turning, she walked backwards. She couldn’t resist. “Is that similar to seeing your etchings?”

“If you want it to be,” Talios answered, without hesitation, in a deepened tone.

Candace stopped and stared at him. Talios leaned lazily against the tree they had been sitting under.

“You’re trouble, aren’t you?” Candace asked.

“Maybe. It’s according to what kind of trouble you mean.” He shrugged, a lazy movement of his massive shoulders.

At his confident tone, Candace smiled. “Have a nice evening, Talios.”

“I’ll be seeing you soon, Candace Jermaine.”

It sounded like a promise. Candace didn’t correct him, but she wasn’t going to be seeing him again. She didn’t need the complication of a man in her life. She lowered her gaze, taking in his muscular chest and sexy body. She regretted not looking at his lower body when she’d had the chance earlier. She wished the towel would drop so she could get a look at his cock.

Stop it, Candace. No need to tempt yourself with something you can’t have.
With a wave, she turned and walked rapidly to the side of the house and back the way she had come, to her car. When she was inside, she looked at the house again. The structure made her think of effortless strength and comfort. It aptly suited Talios.

Candace got on her way, pushing thoughts of the dark, regal man from her mind.

Talios watched as the ebony-skinned enchantress left. He had felt her as soon as she had driven up. In moments, he had known she was the reason he had settled here instead of continuing with his nomadic ways. For a second he had debated coming out of the water and dressing before she came around to the back of the house, but he had decided against it. Since he was hers, she had every right to see all of him. Before he had even laid eyes on her, his animal side had recognised her as his mate. The man had connected with the woman.