Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  “Gideon,” she whispered, eyes closing at the surge of lust in her blood.

  “I’m sorry, beautiful. I wanted to go slow.”

  Words filled her ears, but she didn’t know what any of it meant. Slow? She wanted him as desperate as she was. Hooking her fingers in his shirt, she yanked, buttons popping. His growl only added to the flames as she ran her nails down his flesh. Her flesh. She opened her eyes, meeting the burning ones above her. “Mine,” she said, lifting up and running her tongue across his skin. His hiss made her smile and she rocked her hips against him, shuddering at the promise of heaven.

  She didn’t know when it happened, but she was suddenly on her stomach as he yanked down her leggings. Cool air hit her bottom a second before he shoved into her, filling her in one smooth stroke that left her gasping.

  She reached out, gripping the far side of the desk as he pulled back, the slowness making her shudder, knuckles whitening as her fingers tightened on the wood.

  A cry broke from her as he surged forward, stroking everything, including her heart.

  There was a smack on her bottom as he withdrew, and she couldn’t fight the tensing of her body at that tiny sting of pain. He took that moment the push back in, his body forcing its way through the tighter walls.

  “Eve,” he growled, lips on her spine as she fought the pleasure. “My Eve.”

  He brought his hand down on the other cheek, feeling her clench around his cock, the red of his hand print beautiful against the pale skin. He ran his hand over the building warmth, easing the bite of pain. His name was a groan and he grinned. Pulling back slowly, he spanked the other side, the red intensifying. As she tensed, he filled her again. He could feel the shudder as it ran down her spine and through the walls holding him so tight.

  The other side again and her sounds broke him. Gripping her hips, he pushed into the warm wet body of the woman that stole his heart. The woman he almost lost. A trace of the anger was back, speeding his thrusts. He just found her. He would be damned if he lost her.

  She lifted on her elbows, flinging her hair over her back as she turned, meeting his eyes. The hunger, desire and yes, love, in them driving his faster, deeper.

  “Mine,” he growled, pulling her back onto him.

  The sound of her gasps was like a whip across his back. “Gideon!” she cried out, closing her eyes against the exquisite bliss filling her.

  He stopped and she let out a sob.

  “Eve, I mean it. You are mine. You are ours. You belong to us now.”

  She forced her eyes open. “I’m yours,” her voice was husky and sent chills across his skin. “Now, fuck me.”

  “Anything you say, beautiful.” He could see her eyes widen and wondered briefly what his smile looked like.

  He pulled her back until her toes touched the carpet. Lifting a foot, he pulled the wool and lace from it. Shoving her leg on his desk, he ran his fingers up through her folds. “God, I love you like this. On fire for me and dripping wet.” He couldn’t tell what she liked more. His touch or words. But she wanted to be fucked. Never let it be said he failed at that.

  Gripping himself, he ran the head of his cock around the opening to heaven. Her hips twitched and he grinned. So eager. Without warning, he rammed into her, cursing at the warmth surrounding him. Letting go of his control, her plunged deeper and faster into the smaller body laid out before him.

  He could feel her first orgasm build, her body tensing against him. But he was stronger than her. Adjusting her slightly, he trailed a hand around her hips and flicked his fingers over that knot of flesh that would see her break.

  Eve’s breaths grew faster as she pushed back against him, a long moan breaking from her. He could see her tremble as he continued moving, fighting off the feeling of clenching muscles, ignoring the sight of her head thrown back, hair trailing down her back.

  His name broke as it left her lips and her fingers curved into the wood, nails leaving deep scratches he would never sand out. Fingers flicking faster, he kept his punishing pace, even as a sheen of sweat covered her exposed skin.

  Noises he couldn’t describe broke from her as he brought her again.

  His other hand left her hip and ran gently down the cleft between the cheeks of her ass. She froze and he had to admit, the fact that he didn’t know if she was nervous or eager turned him on even more. He ran the tips of his finger over the puckered skin and she shuddered. A deep breath made him groan. The air was filled with the scent of sex, want, and need. No fear.

  Later.

  He brought her to orgasm once more and this time he followed her over that edge.

  #

  Falling back into his chair, he pulled her with him, never leaving her body.

  Wrapping his arms around the one who owned him completely, he breathed deep, pulling in the scent of her as she leaned against him. Her head lay against his shoulder and he watched her pulse beating frantically against her skin. Hand shaking, he ran his thumb over it, before he turned her panting lips to him. Brushing light kisses against them, he knew he would never get closer to the pearly gates as he was now.

  “I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he finally said after her breathing evened out.

  Her eyes shimmered in the light of the room. “I’m glad it did.”

  She closed her eyes and swallowed as his body left hers and he couldn’t stop the smile.

  “Promise me, Eve. Promise me you’ll be more careful.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers. “I know why you did it. You love him. You love us. But you need to understand that that emotion has the power to destroy as easily as lift one up.”

  She twisted in his lap after he adjusted himself, sitting across his legs. His belt buckle bit into her and it was only then she realized he was still mostly dressed, and she ruined another shirt.

  “I’ll promise to try, Gideon. That is the best I can do, because yes. I understand. But that is exactly why I healed Micah.” She reached up and cupped a face she loved. “I’m only one person. But I love five.”

  There was a knock on the door and Eve looked down. Gideon laughed outright at her look of horror. He didn’t want to let her out of his arms, especially since it was Sebastian on the other side. He knew what fantasy she had hidden away but he had probably traumatized her enough for one night. Dropping a kiss on the side of her neck, he straightened himself before helping her struggling figure get presentable.

  Eve took a deep breath when he finally said, “Come in.” Glancing down, she groaned at the sight of all the things from his desk scattered about the carpet.

  Sebastian stepped inside before closing the door behind him. “The others were getting worried,” he said, glancing at Eve.

  She gave him the best smile she could, but her nerves were still frazzled by how close he came to… interrupting… things. Clearing her throat, she tried to speak. “We’re fine.”

  He looked from Gideon’s open shirt to the contents of the desk, scattered to the four corners of the room before looking back at her. His lifted brow mocked her. “So I see.”

  “Oh, God, just stop.” Shaking hands went over her blazing face.

  “No, I won’t,” he said, pulling her hands away from her face. “Just think about it, Gideon. How is she going to act when we—.”

  Eve gave a squeak before spinning on her heel and dashing from the room. Gideon’s laughter followed her and despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t stop her answering smile. Warm fingers surrounded hers and she glanced up at Sebastian. “You do realize that that will never happen, right?”

  She could see the smile as she looked at his profile.

  “You would deny us?” he asked.

  “It was just a dream, Sebastian. A really explicit dream, but that was all it was. It’s not something that I would ever ask you to do.” She frowned a second before her feet stopped. “Deny you? You mean you want to do… that…?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.” He looked back at her.

&nbs
p; Her fame flamed. “Well, thanks for that image,” she said and yes, this time she knew it was jealousy that ran hot through her bloodstream, as hot as the look in his eyes.

  “Eve, Gideon and I have been friends for longer than this country has existed. We’ve done a lot of things together.”

  “But…” What could she say? “I didn’t need to know that.”

  His chuckle was sin. “We won’t force you, Eve. But you’ll come around.”

  “How are you so certain?” she said, lifting her head at the challenge in his voice. “Stay out of my head.”

  “Sweetheart, the way you respond to us, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that we will have you at the same time. And it won’t be us controlling you either.”

  The heat was gone from his eyes, but the unspoken promise burned her more than the flames. Swallowing took all her effort. His words played havoc with her thoughts and she pushed her hair back with a trembling hand.

  He was suddenly in front of her and she took a step back, back meeting the wall. His hands were beside her face as he leaned over her, body crowding her, close enough she could feel his heat. “You can see it, can’t you? That’s why I can hear your heart racing, your breathing ragged. You can feel us.” His hand stoked her face, sliding down to her throat, tilting her head back. “All you have to do is say it.” His tongue traced her lips before he groaned, stepping away from her. “I love that scent on you,” he said, watching her as she tried to pull her life back together.

  “How do you do it?” she asked, running her palms down the fabric of her leggings.

  “Do what?” he asked with a grin that told her he knew exactly what she meant.

  “Completely wreck me with just a few words. I mean, after what Gideon…” Her eyes slammed shut as the words trailed off. He didn’t need to know that she was just with his friend in the biblical sense. Well, he did know that. It was evident to anyone with eyes exactly what happened in that office. But he didn’t need to hear her say the words.

  A soft hand brushed her cheek. “Eve, we need to have a serious talk.”

  She gave a louder burst of laughter. “I don’t know that I can handle another one of those.” Although Sebastian never spanked her, her bottom still stung from Gideon’s hand. Oh, yeah, and not to mention she needed a shower.

  “I mean words, not actions, sweetheart.”

  Her eyes opened at his laugh. He investigated the next room before pulling her through the door.

  This was where it happened. Where Micah almost lost his life. But it was fixed. The window was replaced, and she could smell the new carpet. But they weren’t stopping in that room, much to her relief. He kept pulling her until they reached the lounge. He set her up on the stool and gave a small grin at her wince.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, turning away from her to pull whiskey from the line of bottles running in front of a mirror. He set it on the bar in front of her and looked at her curiously.

  Fighting the blush, not even pretending to play dumb, she nodded, and his lips curved. “That’s good to know,” he said, giving her a wink before turning away. Silently, she watched as he got three glasses. Putting ice in one, he took a bottle of water from the small fridge and poured it over the ice. He slid this to her, and she remembered how thirsty she was when she woke.

  It was odd, but she felt completely fine now. But she still sipped on it, touched by his thoughtfulness.

  In the other two, he poured whiskey. He pushed one to her and he raised his glass in a small toast. She lifted hers and smiled when he said, “To new friends.” But he didn’t stop with those words. “And then, there is ‘to us’ because we’ve moved past that, haven’t we?”

  His glass touched hers and they both took a sip.

  “Yes, Sebastian. We’ve moved way past that.” The slight burn gave her courage, much like the night she first drank with him. “So, about this serious talk. But first, why are we here if the others were worried?”

  He gave a brief chuckle. “I’m sure they’ll find us. But as for the talk, let’s get the embarrassing stuff out of the way before they do.” He took another swallow and she caught herself watching the way the muscles of his throat worked.

  She shook herself. “Okay, yes, embarrassing. Because I love to talk about that stuff.” She took another sip of her own drink, wondering what in the hell could be more humiliating than discussing having sex with him and Gideon at the same time.

  “Are you ready?” he asked, leaning toward her over the gleaming wood.

  “Not at all.” She grinned at his laughter.

  “Too bad.” His eyes took in a slightly wicked look. “We all know what it is that you feel.”

  “Please, no.” The words were out before she could stop them. But, evidently, her mind went somewhere other than where his was.

  “Eve, we’ve already talked about it. You know we know.”

  “Oh! Oh, yeah, right. Yeah.”

  His look was now one of confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh no. No. Let’s talk about the other first. Then we can come back to this,” She prayed that he would forget. Even though she had already confessed her feelings once, she wasn’t in a hurry to do it again. Especially with someone so closed off that she couldn’t ever tell how he was feeling.

  She could see his thoughts ticking behind his eyes, but she kept silent.

  “Okay. That’s two things we are going to talk about after this conversation.”

  She frowned. “What is the other?”

  “Vampires don’t forget, Eve.” He winked at her. “We remember everything down to the last detail. So, when Fallon said, ‘It’s going to bite her one day’ and you blushed so lovely, I asked you what it was about. I was promised later. It’s later.”

  She had completely forgotten that and her sound, somewhere between a sigh and a groan, made Sebastian laugh.

  “Anyway, embarrassing stuff before others show up, yes?” she asked.

  “Yes. Before I was interrupted, I said we know what it is you feel. We all know about your… attraction… to us. And you know that we feel the same. I know that you were with Gideon tonight. I could see it when I walked in the room and I’m sure, had I taken a breath, the scent of you two would have filled the air. I am going say this, one last time. It’s okay. I’m confident in myself. I know I make you happy. I can hear it in those sexy little noises you make for me. I can feel it in the way your body goes tight around mine. I’m not worried, sweetheart. Don’t be afraid of saying something. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around it. I accept this.”

  Well, yes, that was embarrassing stuff. Could her face get any hotter without exploding into flames? How was it they could so easily talk about things that reduced her to ashes? A large gulp of the whiskey helped her words break free.

  “I’m not used to it, Sebastian. I may be Fae, though I’m still not entirely sure what that means, but I was raised in a human world. Being… open… about sexual things is new to me. I’m trying to not let it overwhelm me, but sometimes, I can’t help but wonder how it’s totally alright for you guys, for none of you to be jealous. But then, there also isn’t the relationship factor in it. Is that it?”

  He refilled both of their glasses, thought twice, and added more.

  “Liquid courage,” he said to the look in her eyes. “I can’t get drunk, but sometimes I can pretend. And I need every ounce of this to help me say what I haven’t said in centuries.” He lifted his glass to hers again. “To fear.”

  She held hers up and followed his actions, draining the glass before setting it back down. He didn’t so much as make a face while she blew hot air through a burning throat.

  “Talk to me, Sebastian,” she said when she could speak again.

  “Be careful what you wish for, Eve.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “You can’t frighten me,” Eve said.

  “Mmm, I’m going to. It’s not my intention, but it will.” Sebastian filled his glass again and
swallowed. He spoke. “I was born in Byzantine. What modern times call Greece. For the time, I lived well. My family was noble and I was a selfish little bastard. I didn’t have to work. I never went hungry and everything I ever wanted was handed to me on the proverbial silver platter. Even my wife.”

  Married.

  Of course he was married. Why wouldn’t he be?

  “Then came the Latins. They invaded Constantinople while we were visiting. That was where I lost my human life. Bleeding out on the street after someone stuck a blade in my stomach. And I deserved it.”

  “I’m sorry, Sebastian.” She reached over and took his hand.

  “Don’t be. This isn’t Fallon’s story. That one is truly heartbreaking. Mine is… evil.” His fingers squeezed hers before letting go.

  He leaned back on the counter, away from any comfort she could offer him.

  “My wife was mine because I won her, Eve. Won her in a game of cards. I felt nothing for her except the release she could bring me in bed.”

  “Oh.” Was all she could manage.

  “That’s about right. So, save your soft touches for those that deserve it.” His smile took the sting from the words. “So, there I was, having just done my husbandly duty and was going to have a drink at the equivalent of one of today’s men’s clubs, when I felt the cold stick of metal in my gut. I was a pig and was going to die like one. Only I didn’t.

  “I don’t know how long I lay in the street, my blood painting the dirty road. Long enough to be almost gone. So close. There was no more pain. No more feeling at all. I was numb. Then, there was this thing, monster, vampire, whatever you want to call it, holding its bleeding arm over my face. I couldn’t lift my arms to push it away and after a couple of seconds, I didn’t want to. You know the details about the change from Fallon?” he asked, and she blinked, transfixed by his story. That wasn’t the Sebastian that she knew and loved.

  “Yes, well, enough to know I don’t want to know more.”

  He gave her a tight smile before continuing. “After a couple of nights spent in the ground, I came back to the place where I died. I hunted down the man that paraded around in my coat and used him to quench my thirst. Only it didn’t. Of course, I had no way of knowing that it would take a lifetime to gain control of that. But it did sate me enough to seek out my lovely wife, the one who hired the man to end my life. And I found her. By God, I found her. Found her strapped down to a filthy table while a ‘doctor’ shoved pointed objects into her body. Something else I didn’t know at the time was that she was pregnant. And there she was, killing my child.”