Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  She started to argue with him as she pushed against his back.

  While he didn’t run, it was quicker carrying her than trying to drag her. “You can talk all you want, but if you don’t stop wiggling, I promise, I will take you back and throw you in the pool.”

  His fingers tightened on her thighs as her hands slipped against his back, sliding down his t-shirt, leaving a trail of heat over his skin. She wasn’t the only one that was affected by touch, they all were. But he wasn’t going to give in. Couldn’t give in.

  “If you don’t put me down, I’m gonna —”

  “Gonna what, princess? You may have a bit of my strength, but all it will do is get you in trouble.”

  “Brute.”

  “You’ve met me, right?”

  She skidded against him again and her nails curved into his skin. There was nothing he could do about the growl that broke loose from him but on the upside, she grew still.

  “I wish I could make you pay for that,” his voice was deep with hidden meaning and she held her breath.

  She knew he didn’t want her. Not like she wanted him. Every time he kissed her, he pulled away like she was the sun and he was going to burn. But that didn’t stop him from setting her on fire.

  “Yeah, about that…” He started to say and trailed off. But it was enough to tell her he was in her head.

  “Fallon.”

  “We’re almost there, baby. Then I’m going to tell you all the things you don’t want to hear.”

  “I can’t wait,” she said, and he laughed, a rumble she could feel against his back.

  They stopped for a moment and she looked up. There was the hallway of doors. From the straight on view she had, the hall dead ended at his room. Not that she needed that information. Her being there now was only by necessity.

  He moved again and when he turned, she closed her eyes at the room spinning. A second later and she landed on her bottom, bouncing on the mattress.

  “I would say make yourself at home, but please, don’t. As soon as they are done playing detectives, you will be reunited with them,” he said.

  “Like I would feel at home anywhere you are,” she said, glaring at him. But as soon as she said the words, she knew he knew the truth.

  “I must be the king of empty promises,” His tone was relaxed and matched his smile. “Because I said that I would punish you for lying to me. And yet, here I stand, unable to make good on it.”

  “Is this what you were going to say that I don’t want to hear?” she asked, shifting, turning away from him. It was more proof that he didn’t want her. Not like she wanted him. And she refused to let that hurt her.

  “Some of it.”

  “Well, if you stayed out of my head, you wouldn’t be making empty threats, now would you?” Despite her determination to not look, she found herself facing him. As much as she wanted to run her hands through the black stands of his hair, as much as it ached within her that he didn’t return the feeling, she still preferred to see him. And damn her if she didn’t enjoy their banter.

  He laughed before sitting in the overstuffed chair by the bed. “I don’t need to be in your head for that, honey. I can smell the lie. But no, I’m not going to stay away from your thoughts, because I would miss all the fun stuff. Those wicked, sinful thoughts of yours. Although, to be totally honest, that one is a double edge sword. See, I like knowing you want me. I like knowing how much you want me. But the things that knowledge does to my body… that sucks.”

  She watched, transfixed, as he gripped himself, adjusting the growing bulge in his jeans. “That’s easily fixed, Fallon.”

  “You would think, but masturbation only worked the first couple of times.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, forgot what it was, blushed, then closed it again. Why was she surprised at his bluntness? Why was she surprised at anything he said?

  His smirk irritated her. So did his at-ease posture. If she had to be tense around him, why should he get to be comfortable? He leaned back in the chair, legs stretched out in front of him. Her irritation grew.

  “Does nothing embarrass you?” she finally asked.

  “Not when it comes to something I want.”

  “So, you want to masturbate?”

  His laughter took her by surprise, loud and honest.

  “Witch.” His smile was wicked as the laugher trailed off. “Masturbation is only a poor substitute for what I want, but I can’t have that, so, it’ll have to do. Well… it did do, till it quit doing.”

  “What is it you want?” Her question was soft. She knew he was going to say his wife, but that was fine. She could learn more about him and steer the conversation away from sex. Sex talk with Fallon would be dangerous. At least for her.

  “Once upon a time, I was weak,” he said, cocking his head to the side, studying her. “But I have never, in my long life, been a coward. Until I met you.” His leg bounced and she could feel his agitation. “It would be so easy to say yes, I want her. And I did. I wanted the her I have in my memories.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “She was sweet, innocent. So kind it took my breath sometimes. I didn’t deserve her and I knew it. She would look at me, all big eyes and trust, and would do anything I said, because I was her husband and I knew best. But I didn’t know best and they died because of it.”

  Eve could feel her eyes start to water at the wistfulness of his voice, the ache for days long gone. She blinked back the tears and realized she had scooted to the edge of the bed. His words, the pain in them, called to her and she wanted to comfort him. Only, she didn’t think he would let her.

  He lifted his head, a slight rueful curve to his lips. “Then came this red-haired witch, bowling her way through the crazy that I wrapped myself in. Passionate, fiery, determined, demanding, protective… A complete opposite from the only woman I had ever loved. She had me fighting everything I thought I wanted.”

  Eve had to remind herself to breathe.

  “This woman even cried for me. Can you believe that? Shed tears for a monster.”

  “You’re not a monster.” She had to force her voice to be heard.

  “Oh yeah. She’s argumentative as fuck. Doesn’t act the way she is supposed to, risks herself for those she cares about and damn the consequences. Bright as hell and has me so knotted up inside, a boy scout could earn a badge trying to untie me.”

  He stopped for a moment and Eve brushed tears off her face.

  Leaning forward, his eyes pinned hers and she couldn’t look away. “I want you, Eve. With every cell in my body, I want you. But I can’t have you and that hurts in places I didn’t think I could hurt anymore.”

  “Why can’t you have me?” she asked, needing his answer more than her next breath.

  He said nothing, simply looked deep into her eyes. So deep, she knew he could see her soul. Her heart.

  “Even now, I can’t talk about it.” He leaned back, a sardonic smile on his face. “Even after all the mushy stuff, I can’t… Crazy, right?”

  “I can see you, Fallon. Don’t forget that. I can see what’s in your eyes. You are no more crazy than I am.”

  “You are willingly living in a house with six blood drinkers, five of which now know, in exquisite detail, what your blood smells like. You’re concerned because Gideon might send two of them away, because it will keep you safe. What about that sounds sane to you?”

  “Point,” she grudgingly admitted.

  Fallon was staring at her through half closed lids and she could feel herself becoming self-conscious. Heat rose in her face.

  “So, what else were you going to tell me that I didn’t want to hear.?” Self-preservation. Because if he kept looking at her like that, she was either going to attack him or go up in flames.

  “Take a deep breath, princess,” he said as he stood, leaning over her, looming, his body forcing hers back onto her elbows. “If you put yourself in danger again, I will kill you myself.”

  #

  “Can you p
lease, for once, act the way you are supposed to?” he asked as she broke into laughter and despite the fact it was him she was laughing at, he had to smile.

  “Too much,” She gasped before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

  “Ah, I see. Trying too hard to be foreboding. Lesson learned.” He watched her as she closed her eyes against the hysterical tears, body shaking with the laughs that continued the break from her.

  This woman had somehow made her his new reason for living. This expression on her, this mirth that flowed freely, this was just as spellbinding as everything else she had shown him. He knew most of her secrets, only those involving her heart remaining hidden. But he knew she cared for them and she told him that she couldn’t lose them, including him. Could he do what he knew he had to? Could he take that last step? Could he…

  “What’s with the angst, Fallon?”

  “I’m the brooding hero, I’m supposed to be full of angst.”

  “So full of it, it’s oozing onto me.” Her smile was soft and beautiful and damn him, he would try.

  “Shove over,” he said, lifting her legs and pushing her closer to the center of the bed.

  “Bossy.” She stuck her tongue out at him and had he ever done this? Just had fun with someone. Well, other than with his chained-up best friend.

  “You just now figured that out?”

  She laughed, throwing a soft punch at his stomach. “I’ll have you know, I don’t take orders well.”

  “I’ll teach you.” He gave her a wink and the laughter was back. But the funny thing was, he was serious. She finally lay still and watched him with those beautiful eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, hand reaching up to touch his face.

  “For what? Dragging you out in the open to tempt the guy and almost getting you and Micah killed in the process?”

  “Idiot. He was going to try for me anyway.” She bopped her fingers on his lips. “No, for realizing something was wrong with your friend.”

  As he started to say something mean, her eyes grew wide. “Speaking of Gabe, he’s awake.” She could feel the drain on her and jeeze, what a drain.

  She held up her hand and they both looked at the glowing mark.

  “Eve—.”

  “I’ll tell you if it gets to be too much.” She gave him a quick smile. “But with… that thing you did earlier… I don’t think it should be an issue.”

  “I’ll kill him if I have to.”

  “Please tell me you don’t treat him like this all the time. Poor guy.”

  “Princess, he tried to end you.”

  “No, sweetie. It wasn’t him. It was my bad guy. Gabe’s just been caught up in it.” She bit her lip, already knowing what she was going to say was going to piss him off, but she had to. It wasn’t fair to his friend to be treated like this.

  “Eve…” He could smell her nervousness and knew what was coming was going to be bad.

  “Stop, Fallon. I know. It’s a horrible idea. But if we don’t do this, I’ll never be able to live with myself.”

  His eyes closed as he fell on his back. She was going to kill him. Did she have no value for her life? “You want to go see him.”

  Her hand was like a butterfly as it grazed his chest. Gripping it, he pressed it over his heart.

  “How can you not? He was here long before me and since he came back, he’s had threats thrown at him, I marked him, almost killed him, twice, and he was taken over by a bad Fae.”

  “He could still be under control of that guy and can have developed something that I can’t protect you from. What about that?”

  “I think we both go and I stay outside until you tell me it’s safe.” That sounded lame to her ears.

  “That’s not protection.” He cracked an eyelid, the dark brown looking defeated.

  “That’s all I’ve got.”

  “I’ll take you on two conditions. No, three. Wait, four”

  “Okay,” she said, sitting up.

  “You haven’t heard them yet.” He had to laugh at her eagerness.

  “What are they?” She turned back to him, her hair falling over her shoulder to tickle his skin.

  “One, we get Sebastian or Gideon, or both, to go with us.”

  “Done.”

  “Two, do not freak out about where we are going.”

  “Done.”

  “Three, I want you to sleep with me tonight. No sex. Just sleep.” He watched as her eyes grew larger.

  “What happened to ‘don’t make myself at home’?”

  “I’m an asshole. Forget I said that.”

  “Done,” she said softly. “For both requests.”

  “Four, kiss me.”

  Her smile was teasing as she lowered her head. “That’s going to make number three hard to do.” Her breath was soft against his lips and he breathed it in.

  “You’re strong,” he whispered as she pressed her mouth to his, her tongue touching his lips before he opened them.

  She moved soft and sweet through his mouth and his body burned. They could both be strong, he thought to himself as he cupped her head, pulling her closer before taking control of the kiss that started so gentle. He probed the depths of her warmth, her tiny moan killing him, but this time he didn’t let that stop him. His fingers wove through the silken strands of her hair before he gripped it, moving her head to a better angel for him to explore. A deeper groan came from her, one that had him nipping at the softness of her lips, before trailing hot kisses along her skin.

  “Fallon.” Her whisper sent a shudder through him.

  This was his fuck-up.

  “Eve,” he breathed into her ear and he could see the chills spread across her skin. His free hand cupped her cheek, holding her face away from his hungry mouth, thumb moving across her parted lips. Her teeth grazed his flesh and he bit off a curse. “Yeah, number three’s going to be a bitch,” he muttered at the look of desire in her eyes. How could he had forgotten he gave her his blood. She already wanted him. He knew that. But what he did to her could easily push them both over the edge.

  “You’re strong.” She grinned down at him, tossing his words back at him, tapping her nail against his lips

  He thought he was, but now he wasn’t so sure.

  He parted his lips while lifting his head, capturing her finger with his teeth. Softly, he swirled his tongue around the tip of it. She breathed out his name as her eyes closed. Knowing full well he was playing with fire, he lifted her as he sat up, before sitting her in his lap, facing him, her legs wrapped around his back.

  Fallon let go of her finger as her eyes opened, need tearing at him. This time, when her lips met his, there was nothing gentle about her. She was raw in his arms, lust driving her. He could feel it in the way her fingers gripped his hair, pulling him closer. The way her legs tightened around him, pulling her closer.

  His hands ran down her back, pressing her against him, and she groaned against his mouth.

  “Fallon.” This time, his name was a growl and damn if it didn’t almost break him.

  He gripped the swell of her ass with one hand, keeping her warmth against his aching cock. The other grabbed her hair, pulling her head back, exposing her long neck, skin he was quick to taste. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as her hips rocked against him again and again.

  “You twitch those hips again, baby, I’m going to come in my jeans.” His grip tightened as she shuddered at his words. Damning himself for speaking, she grew still, her harsh breaths setting his skin on fire. “You didn’t have to stop.” he said, and she laughed. “Just trying to let you know.”

  She gave him a shy look. How could she do that? After what she just did to him? Groaning, he let her go, gently setting her on her knees beside him. Thanking whatever higher being for her not being able to see inside his head, he adjusted himself again before standing.

  “Evidently, I’m more into pain than I thought, because this hurts.” He glanced down at the unrelenting bulge in his p
ants.

  She couldn’t agree more. Had she ever been so close to bliss and denied? She couldn’t move, still kneeling on the bed, her palms running over the fabric of her leggings. It was shocking how close to begging she was, but she knew he would deny her, and that would hurt worse.

  “You okay, princess?” There was a soft concern in his voice that got her head to lift.

  “No. Not at all.” She curled her fingers into the soft fabric, the slight pain of her nails digging into her skin helping push away the overwhelming need for him.

  “What did I do to you?” The softly spoken question made her laugh.

  “Pretty sure you broke me,” she admitted.

  “Well, I guess that’s fair, since you did the same to me.” He pulled one of her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss on her knuckles. Her fingers clenched around his and he smiled. “Welcome to my world.”

  #

  Unfortunately, she gave him no reason to carry her over his shoulder as they walked silently down the hallway. Staying right beside him, he figured she must have been returning to normal, because she didn’t stop to look at anything.

  “Feeling more like yourself?” he asked, breaking the silence.

  “If by that you mean that a single touch will drive me to the brink of orgasm, then yep. Just like myself.”

  He burst out laughing and had to shake his head at the images.

  “My poor baby.” He gave her a grin. “That’s only every day of my existence since I met you.” Her side-look at him made him wonder what she was going to say. She always managed to surprise him.

  “Only after masturbation started failing you. Maybe you broke you, as well.”

  He laughed again. He needed to stop. It was starting to feel normal. “No maybes about it. We totally broke him. We abused the hell out of the poor guy.”

  “We? You can’t say we. I had nothing to do with what you did.”