Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  “How is ‘pieces’ not important, Fallon? What happened to them?”

  “What they wanted to happen. Let me tell this, then we’ll get back to that.” Not if he had his way. He was so used to her being in their world, he sometimes thought she knew more than she did.

  “Fine.” She leaned back into his warmth.

  “They pulled the vanishing act before I had everything connected, so, I had no way of knowing how they did it. Until now.” Fallon lowered his head, resting his chin on her shoulder. “And she can’t stay here.”

  Gideon knelt in front of her, taking her last hand. “No, she can’t.”

  She tried to get to her feet, but Fallon wouldn’t let her go. “Calm down, baby. We’re not talking about getting rid of you. Just a change in location.”

  She stopped her struggling.

  Gideon brought her hand to his lips. “Don’t you know you’re stuck with us?”

  Her fingertips brushed his mouth and she smiled. “I should but sometimes I think that I’m too much trouble for all of you and I’ll find myself standing outside, staring at the closed door.”

  “If that isn’t the most depressing vision I’ve had in my head in a while.” Fallon laughed, breath warm against her skin. He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “But no, that’ll never happen.” His lips moved against her skin as he spoke, teeth softly nipping at her, the brushing touch distracting her from her sad thoughts.

  Sebastian squeezed her hand and her eyes met his. Blood rushed to her face and his smiled. No. She was strong. Right?

  He gave a low laugh as he crossed to the closed door on the other side of the room.

  “What was that about?” Fallon asked.

  “What, you mean you can’t see?” She tried to make her voice strong, but the way Gideon looked up at her, she knew she failed.

  “Nah, you’re blocking me pretty good right now.” She could feel his chest rise against her back before he laughed. “But I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  Just when she didn’t think she could get any more red.

  Sebastian came back from what looked like a closet carrying a binder. Sitting on the sofa, he started flipping through the pages.

  Gideon rose to his feet, put his hands on the arms of the chair, and leaned over her, trapping her against Fallon. He dipped his head, searing her with a rough kiss and she shivered, part desire, part fear. She shifted and Fallon tightened his arms around her.

  Gideon stood, a purely wicked grin on his lips and his eyes promised her sin. Turning away, he sat with Sebastian, looking at whatever was in the binder like he didn’t just wreck her world.

  Trouble. She was in so much trouble. “I’m going to die,” she breathed out and Fallon rumbled a laugh behind her.

  “No, that’s me. All me. Every time you squirm…”

  “You’re the one that put me here.”

  “Yep, because I think I have hidden masochistic tendencies. And here I thought I was purely a sadist.” His hips rose, ever so slightly, and there was no way she could not feel what her squirming did to him.

  “Eve?” Her eyes flew to Sebastian and he laughed, dark and low. “Can we see you over here for a minute?” Her breath stopped as her heart skipped a couple of beats at his slow grin. “We have a list of properties and we need your help picking one out.”

  She blew out the breath she was holding.

  “Okay.” Her voice wasn’t hers as she tried to stand, once again, moving over Fallon.

  “I’m going to make you pay,” he whispered in her ear before almost pushing her out of his lap.

  “Not my fault.” She stood on shaky legs, glancing down at him. He leaned back in the chair, threw his head back, and closed his eyes. Her gaze drifted south, and she shook her head, turning, before she could see it. She didn’t want to see it. Nope, not gonna look.

  She moved over to the ones on the couch, intending to sit beside Gideon when she found herself sitting between them. Sebastian held the binder in front of her and with a trembling hand, she ran a finger down the list. “What part of the country do you not own?” she asked.

  “When you have nothing but time, it’s easy to acquire things, beautiful. Don’t let it bother you, please?” Gideon said.

  She kept looking at the cities. Most were unknown to her, just names and places. Some screamed at her. Paris. Madrid. Tokyo. Dublin. Cairo.

  “And here I am without a passport,” she laughed softly.

  “We’ll take care of that,” Gideon said.

  “Nothing in Iowa?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been there.”

  “You’re not missing much.” She laughed.

  “I missed you,” he said, and she looked up at the softness in his voice.

  “You have me now.”

  “That we do.”

  “You can’t pick one?” she asked, frowning at the list. She didn’t know anything about any of these places. There were reasons they bought these places, but they were nothing but names to her. “How about we do this together?”

  “How can you trust us?” Sebastian asked and she looked up at him. “We could have been lying to you the whole time. We could have let them in.”

  “I heard you,” she said, cupping his face in her hands. “When you realized what that thing did to me, with your hands, I heard you. And Sebastian, that kind of pain can’t be faked. Your anger towards me, when you talked to me that first night, that rage can’t be faked. And what I heard in your voice, when you told me you loved me, that can’t be faked either, idiot.”

  She was surrounded by his arms, held tight against him, as his lips covered hers.

  Pulling away, before things could go too far, she told him, “I just want to be where you all are. I don’t know anything about these places. The only thing I ask, choose a place where Alex can get to the water.’

  Sebastian looked at her for a moment before nodding.

  “While you figure out a safe house, I’m going to borrow her for a couple of nights,” Fallon said, standing in front of her, holding out his hand. “If she’ll come with me.”

  She couldn’t see what was going on in his eyes and for the first time ever, his emotions were blocked to her. But she never hesitated. “Of course I will.” She reached up and took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

  “We are leaving first thing tomorrow,” Fallon said, and she gave a quick nod.

  Turning, she wished her other men a goodnight before she found herself across Fallon’s shoulder again.

  Laughter followed her from the room.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “I can’t be more of an asshole,” Fallon said, tossing her, once again, on his bed. As she landed, he turned his back.

  “I don’t know that I can argue that,” she said, her teeth almost clipping her tongue at the bounce. “I mean, I am a person, not a sack of flour.”

  He glanced back at her, the corner of his mouth she could see turned up in a grin. “But I like the idea of knowing your luscious ass is right beside my teeth.”

  “And then, there is your brutal honesty.” She shoved her hair back over her shoulder.

  He said nothing to that, just crawled up on the bed beside her. His hands grabbed her, pulling her body up beside him. “Mmm.” His breath feathered her skin and she sighed with a smile.

  “Brute,” she said, trying to push out of his arms.

  His fingers dug into her waist and she stopped struggling. “Sleeping with me tonight,” he said, and she smiled.

  “Yes, I’m sleeping with you tonight. But I need a shower.”

  He froze and she pushed away, freeing herself. She laughed before bolting for the pitiful security of the bathroom. She just needed a moment to herself. A second to breathe.

  Turing the water on, she stripped before stepping into the heat. As the hot water streamed over her, she closed her eyes, the events of the day crashing into her. Could it have only been hours since Gideon’s and Sebastian’s words of love? Since some
thing tried to kill her? Since something tried to steal her?

  She was able to get the shampoo rinsed before her knees gave out and she knelt under the weight of it all. Her tears mixed with the water, flowing silently down the drain. She shifted, sitting on her bottom, pulled her legs up and silently wept against her knees.

  “I’m sorry, Eve.”

  She lifted her head, meeting his eyes as he stood on the other side of the shower doors. She shrugged. “It’s been a long night.” Her arms tightened around her legs. “I’ll live.” She took a breath. “Why are you in here?”

  “I heard you,” his words were soft. He heard her crying. So much for the silence she wanted.

  “I’m okay,” she said. “But you need to go back in there.” She waved her hand in the direction of the door.

  “Just this once,” his words were almost a threat and she laughed.

  She blinked and he was gone. Finishing the shower, she shut the water off, towel dried her hair then eased into his robe. She was too tired to care if he would mind. He wanted her to sleep with him. Well, this was her sleepwear.

  Her steps were soft as she walked back into his room and crept onto the bed. He was laying on the far side, back to her. He was probably tired as well. A lot had happened.

  She combed her hair out before easing down under the blankets. She switched off the lamp and lay still. Fallon didn’t have to breath, so she had no way of knowing if he was asleep or not.

  “Fallon?” her voice was barely a whisper, not wanting to wake him because she was selfish.

  “Eve?” he replied, and she couldn’t help the smile.

  “Can you…”

  “What did I tell you?”

  She took a breath. “Would you hold me?”

  He didn’t answer but he turned, facing her. His voice was soft when he spoke. “You’ll learn there is very little I won’t do for you, princess.”

  His hand brushed her cheek and she let the darkness take her sigh.

  “Turn over,” he said and she did. One arm wiggled under her waist, hand splayed against her stomach, keeping her tight against him. His other hand settled on the bare flesh of her hip before she felt his fingers twitch. “Baby, please tell me you are wearing more than just my robe.”

  “I can’t tell you that, Fallon. I don’t lie, often.”

  “Damn you.” She smiled at the curse as his fingers stroked her skin.

  “You’re only going to hurt yourself,” she said. “Number three. No sex. Just sleep.”

  He said nothing as he pressed his lips to the back of her neck. No, he was going to hurt her as well, she decided as his fingertips traced her skin, trailing over her hip, caressing the flesh of her bottom.

  “Why?” she asked with a shiver.

  His hand on her stomach moved lower as his body pushed against hers. His free hand trailed over her thigh as his lips moved down to the sensitive skin of her shoulder.

  “Foreplay.”

  The growled word eased into her thoughts as his hand roamed her flesh. She could do nothing about the shudder that ran through her nor the roll of her hips, pressing back onto him, the feel of his erection against her body. Her fingers gripped the sheet.

  “Fallon…” she whispered into the darkness, on fire for the man holding her so tight.

  “Eve.” Her name was a groan from a tortured throat. His grip tightened on her skin before he finally grew still.

  “You didn’t have to stop.” Eve’s laughter was shaky at best.

  “Yes. I did.” It was true. Only thin fabric kept him from where he wanted to be. But he couldn’t. Not yet.

  Warmth filled him as she covered his hand with hers.

  “Goodnight, Fallon.” She closed her eyes.

  “Sweet dreams, princess.”

  #

  “Coffee?”

  “You’re kidding me.” She cracked an eyelid at the sight of Fallon sitting beside her on the bed, a steaming mug in his hand.

  He looked at her, confusion etched on his face. “Duglas told me you like it.”

  She pushed up on her hands before reaching for the welcoming warmth. “I love it. It’s just that… well… I…”

  “Just say it,” he laughed.

  “Well, I was thinking the other night how nice it would to be woken with coffee instead of tickles and honestly, I didn’t think it would be you that brought it to me.”

  “Not a fan of tickling? And what do you mean, not be me? I have moments or normalcy.”

  She laughed. “I’m not anti-tickling, but every so often, this is way better.” She gave him a soft smile. “And yes, Fallon. You do. But you didn’t want me, so, why would I ever think that you would bring me coffee in bed?”

  She took a sip and closed her eyes at the taste.

  “Princess, I’ve never not wanted you,” his voice, soft and tender had her looking back at him.

  There was nothing she could say past the lump in her throat. So, she took another drink of the coffee.

  “This is going to be a long trip,” he said, sitting back and watching her enjoy something he brought her. “How do you feel about motorcycles?”

  “Cold.” She grinned at him. “I feel like it’s going to be a cold trip.”

  “When you get too cold, let me know and I’ll be happy to warm you up.”

  He glanced over her body and she remembered how simply his touch warmed her the night before.

  He laughed.

  “Stay out of my head,” she muttered, and he shook his. She ignored the heat in her face. Why did she bother getting embarrassed around him anymore? “Cold. Motorcycle. This sounds cliché, but, Fallon, I have nothing to wear.”

  “I’ll figure something out.” He gave her a look that told her that he already had something up his sleeve.

  She turned, setting the cup on the nightstand, before facing him once again. It was only then she realized her mistake. His robe was twisted around her, barely covering her nude form and as she watched, his eyes darkened with desire. The sleeping inferno inside her roared to life and she trembled with an answering desire. A need that he wouldn’t quench.

  “Fallon.” She had to break the silence. Had to regain some small amount of control around him. She licked her dry lips and found herself flat on her back with Fallon caging her with his body. Giving up any semblance of control, she deliberately thought about how he made her ache for him the night before. She knew he was in her head when he groaned.

  “I think I made a monumental mistake with you, princess.”

  “You all do.” She arched against him, pressing her hips to his and he groaned.

  “Witch.” The word was abrupt, and she grinned.

  “I feel like you mean that with a ‘b’.” She pulled on him, nipping at his lip.

  “A capital one.”

  She let go, falling back on the bed, laughing.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The way she teased him, the way she laughed at him. The warmth that always filled him when he was around her clenched tight around his heart. It was a natural feeling but unfamiliar at the same time.

  “Go, shower, before I show you how very wrong it is to be playing with me,” he said, pulling away from the warmth of her heart and body.

  Giggling, she sat up and swung her legs off the bed. “Fine, bossy.” She stood and he swatted at her bottom.

  At the contact, she stopped, and he could see the shiver that ran up her spine.

  “Run, little girl, before the devil comes after you,” he said, trying to warn her that her body was in danger.

  She turned her head, a single eye meeting his and her words had him curling his fingers into the mattress. “I wish he would.”

  He let her go. Every fiber in him screamed at him to show her who in the fuck she was messing with, but she knew. She knew and she didn’t care. She enjoyed it. She enjoyed him.

  Would wonders never cease.

  #

  Wrapped in a fluffy towel, she stuck her head out of the door of th
e bathroom and glanced around. She didn’t see Fallon, which was weird. She was hardly ever alone. In the past, she was always by herself. She preferred it that way. Even the guys she met, the guys she went home with, they didn’t know where she lived. She liked it like that. But now, she was so used to being with someone, it felt… odd.

  On the bed was a set of underwear, of course, the most provocative set that she had, and leather. A lot of leather. Was that a fetish? She checked the sizes. They would fit, though the jacket might be a bit over-sized. She frowned down at the clothing. When did he get them?

  To her surprise, the leather felt good. It was new and stiff and warm and it felt like if he wrecked, she would be protected. She checked her phone. No calls or texts from her mom and she had to admit, she was starting to get worried. Once she and Fallon got to where they were going, she would call her. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she decided she was a ready as she would ever be. Opening the door, she found him leaning against the jamb of the door.

  “You take forever,” he said before turning toward her and his low groan made her smile. “I’m… You… I can’t… Shit.” He looked away from her.

  “You did this, Fallon, not me,” she said with a laugh.

  He said nothing, just grabbed her hand and pulled her through the house. She didn’t know where they were going until she heard voices.

  “I get it.” Micah. Her sweet Micah.

  “Where can we find—.” Alex broke off and Eve knew he knew she was near.

  She went ahead of Fallon into the study and turned toward her blue-eyed lover. Those eyes widened at the sight of her and she slid her arms around him.

  “If you try to stay away from me, I will find you and I will make you pay,” she said, pressing kisses to his jaw.

  “Don’t worry,” he said with a laugh. “But if you show up looking like you do, I might want you to make me pay anyway.”

  “Be careful with her,” Fallon warned him. “She’ll make you eat those words.”

  Alex looked down at her and behind the bright blue eyes, she could see a trace of the shadows that that ass left on him.