by Mina Carter
She licked her lips and met his eyes. “You are gorgeous.”
He shook his head as he closed the distance between them. “Not even close to you, sweetheart. That color on you does things to me.”
Connall slid his hands over her hips and Pepper shivered.
“Cold?”
“No.” She bit her lip. “Horny.”
He laughed and cupped her face. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She grinned and slipped her hands under his shirt, confirming the tightness of his stomach. “Can we stop talking now?”
He leaned down to kiss her and without breaking the kiss, lifted her so that she could wrap her legs around his waist.
“What is on your lips?” he asked. “It’s delicious.”
Pepper giggled and ran her hands through his hair. “Cotton-candy-flavored lip gloss.”
He kissed her again. “I think wearing that needs to be part of your daily routine.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Connall carried her into the bedroom, set her on her feet, and kissed her again. He broke the kiss and set about pouring champagne. Pepper wrinkled her nose.
“You don’t want champagne?” he asked.
“Later. Right now, I want to get naked.”
He chuckled and handed her a glass. “So impatient.”
“Yes. I am.” She set the glass down and reached for his. “Why aren’t you a little more eager?”
He shook his head. “I am eager.”
She took his glass from his hand and set it next to hers. “Con?” When he didn’t answer immediately, she reached for his hand and linked her fingers with his. “Hey. I’m going to be okay.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“Do you?”
“Aye,” he said. “I do. I just want to spare you the pain.”
“I appreciate that. But you can’t and I’m okay with that.”
“I could bind you but use protection,” he suggested.
“And how would that shelter me from the pain?”
“You wouldn’t go through the change.”
“But then we wouldn’t be truly bound, right?”
“It would be similar to a wedding ceremony. We’d be married, but physically unconsummated.”
“Which just postpones the pain.” Pepper pulled her hand from his and crossed her arms. “Don’t you want me to go through the change?”
He waved his hand as though to dismiss her comment. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I do.”
“I’m ridiculous?” She smacked his chest with her palm. “Really?”
“Pepper.”
“It’s fine, Con. We can wait.” She raised her hands in surrender. “Or not do it at all. Either way.” She stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
* * *
Connall shook his head. He was mucking everything up and he couldn’t explain to her why he was pushing the one person he loved more than life away. The thought of her in pain undid him. He couldn’t bring himself to watch her go through it.
He didn’t have long to dwell on his thoughts.
Pepper returned, slamming the door again on her way back in. She jabbed a finger at him and took a deep breath. “You do not get to do this. You don’t get to stand there and freak out because you have to watch me in pain. I’m the one that will be feeling it! I love you. You’ve given me everything! It’s my turn to reciprocate. I think it’s a fair trade.”
He rushed her. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her with a desperation he’d never felt before. She was the best part of him. He would give her anything.
“I’m sorry,” he said and kissed her again. “I love you so much.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Forgiven. I love you too. Even if you’re more of a woman than me.”
He laughed. “You’re going to kill me.”
“I will if you don’t get on with the binding.”
“So romantic, sweetheart.”
She smiled. “I just talked you down off the ledge. I’m distracting you so you don’t climb back up.”
He kissed her again. “Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.”
She sighed. “That’s what I’m supposed to say, huh?”
He nodded. “I’m going to say it again. You’re going to repeat it and then we’ll say it together. Ready?”
“More than ready.”
“Ég gef þér allt ég, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég er að verða,” he whispered.
“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið,” Pepper said, stumbling over the words. He helped her by thinking the words again for her.
As she finished the last word, he felt her falter. She giggled and gripped his shoulders. “That’s a little different.”
“Yes, it is,” he agreed, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist.
“Sam said I’d feel a little faint… I thought she was teasing.”
He smiled. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta.”
“Ég er þín að eilífu Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta,” Pepper repeated. “I think we should sit down for the rest.”
“One more line to repeat, love, and then I’ll take you to bed.” He stroked her cheek. “Ást mín er alger.”
“Ást mín er alger.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is that it?”
He shook his head. “We have to say it together, but I think we should do that in bed.”
He lifted her and carried her to the mattress. He laid her down and stretched out beside her. She pulled at his shirt with a groan. “I want this off.”
He chuckled and pulled it over his head and nodded toward her top. “Ditto.”
She grinned and handed him the ribbon holding her lingerie closed. “Have at it, baby.”
He held the tie and gave her an evil grin. “Together,” he instructed.
She nodded.
“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta. Ást mín er alger.”
As they said the last word, Connall tugged the ribbon, unwrapping the best gift he’d ever been given. “You are magnificent.”
“So are you.” Pepper stroked his cheek. “I give you everything I am, all I want to be, and all I can be. I’m yours forever. Our bond will never be broken. My love is absolute.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Make love to me.”
Connall hesitated, the fear of her imminent pain fighting against his desire to love the half-naked woman in his arms.
“Con,” Pepper admonished.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I’m working it out, love.”
Pepper slipped her hand under the waistband of his pj’s. “Work it out faster.”
His resolve crumbled, earning a triumphant chuckle from Pepper. He tried to take it slow, but once he had her under him, he was lost.
* * *
When she thought she would die on the spot, Pepper fell over Connall’s body and tried to catch her breath. “Wow.”
Connall pulled the top sheet over them. “I’m sorry that was quick, love.”
She giggled. “Did I give the impression I was complaining?”
He shook his head. “I had intended on blowing—”
“You did.” She laid her hand over his mouth, cutting off the rest of his sentence. “Man, you need constant reassurance, don’t you?”
He nibbled her fingers. “I promise it will get better.”
She frowned. “Are you being serious right now?”
He grinned. “No?”
“Good answer.” She sat up.
He slipped an arm behind his head and watched her. “What are you doing?”
She studied her hip. “I’m looking for the mark.”
Connall had a birthmark located between his belly button and right hip, sha
ped a bit like Tennessee. Sam had told her the first physical sign the change was coming would be the appearance of the same birthmark on her body, but on her left hip. The mirror image of his.
“Let’s not rush it,” he said.
She smiled and stretched out beside him. “What are you going to be like when we have kids?”
He pulled her close and ran his fingers over her side. “You’ll have a lot of drugs.”
Pepper shook her head. “No way, buddy. I want all natural.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Damn.”
She giggled, but stalled when something that felt like a hot poker stabbed at her stomach. She was so unprepared for the sudden pain, she let out a frightened whimper and then quickly berated herself. So much for her plan to keep the pain from him.
“Pepper?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m fine.”
Connall sat up and gently rolled her onto her back. “The mark.”
She glanced down at her body. She had the identical mark to his, and it was brown. “Wow. That was fast.”
He climbed off the bed and pulled on his pj pants and shirt. “It’s not red. We have some time.”
Another stab shot through her belly and she bit her lip to keep from groaning.
Pepper, he admonished. If you need to scream, scream.
I’m okay.
“I’m okay,” she said again, this time out loud. She gripped her stomach and rolled into a fetal position. Connall grabbed his phone and Pepper heard his voice, but the pain was so severe, she couldn’t comprehend the words. She managed to stay quiet until the pain in her legs began. As the pain shot into her calves, she whimpered.
Connall rushed to her side and laid his hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up, love. Time to get you in the tub.”
Pepper’s skin was on fire. She felt like everything was burning. She bit her lip again, pain slicing through her body from head to toe. Connall lifted her and carried her into his bathroom, where someone had filled the tub with ice. Her pain eased somewhat as he slid her into the frozen water, and Pepper couldn’t stop the sigh of relief. For the first time in her life, she was glad she was somewhere cold.
“Och, love, yer bleedin’.” Connall pulled her lip gently from her teeth and laid a washcloth over it. “You’ve bit through your lip, sweetheart.”
“I’m okay, Con. It’s just a little blood,” she rasped as she pressed the cloth against her mouth.
“Connall?” Sam called through the door. “Let me know when you want me.”
“I’m going to have her check your heart, love,” Connall said.
Pepper nodded.
Connall laid a towel length-wise over Pepper for modesty and pulled the door open.
Sam smiled at him. “How’s her pain?”
He frowned. “Much worse than she will admit.”
“Sounds like her. Have you been able to give her any relief?”
Connall looked over at Pepper and then focused back on Sam. “I’ve tried, but I’m not sure I’m making a difference.”
Sam made her way to the tub and knelt down beside it. Pepper forced a smile and glanced at Connall. “Can I have some water please, baby? Some with ice? Not from the faucet.”
He hesitated but then gave her a curt nod and left the room.
Pepper grabbed Sam’s arm. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can. I promise. In a few hours, you’ll sleep, and in a day or two, you’ll feel better than you ever have.” Sam wrapped her hand around Pepper’s wrist.
Pepper whimpered. “It hurts. Don’t touch me.”
Sam’s voice was gentle. “I know it does. But I need to check your pulse. When Con comes back, he’ll be able to ease the pain.”
“I don’t want him to know how much pain I’m in, Sam.” Pepper squeezed her eyes shut and let Sam take her pulse despite the pain crawling up her arms. “He’s so scared.”
“I know. But he can help if you let him.”
Tears streamed down Pepper’s face. “I don’t want him to regret this.”
Sam frowned. “Honey, he won’t!”
“Won’t what?” Connall asked as he returned with a glass of water.
“Nothing,” Pepper said as she took the glass and drank greedily.
“Let me check your heart,” Sam said.
Pepper handed the glass back to Connall and Sam laid the stethoscope diaphragm on Pepper’s chest. Connall knelt beside the tub and stroked Pepper’s cheek. “She’s too warm.”
Pepper pressed her lips together in an effort to not cry out at his touch. Although, when he kept his hand against her face, she felt the pain ease somewhat.
“She’ll be okay, Con, I promise,” Sam said, and then focused on Pepper. “Your heart’s racing, which is to be expected.” She felt the water and glanced at Connall. “The water’s warming, so we should get her out of the tub.”
“What do you mean the water’s warming?” Pepper asked. “It’s full of ice!”
“Your body’s heating the water, which means it’s getting ready to make the conversion.” Sam laid a palm over Pepper’s forehead. “Stay connected to Connall, Pepper. He’ll be able to ease your pain.”
I won’t subject him to my pain, she thought to herself.
Connall scowled. “Yes, you will.”
Pepper gasped. “You heard that?”
“I did. And now that I’ve figured out how you’ve been blocking me, love, you won’t be able to do it anymore.” He stood and grabbed a dry towel.
“She can block you?” Sam asked.
He nodded.
“How?”
Connall frowned. “I don’t know. I follow her thoughts and will have a moment of clarity, but then it will be gone.”
“Strange. I’ll have Fiona look into that and then organize the staff and join you in a little while. The sheets should already be on the bed.” Sam rose to her feet then turned to Pepper. “Don’t be a hero.”
Pepper squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. She opened them again and grabbed for Connall. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” He knelt beside the tub again and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Pepper. But I need you to be honest with me.”
“Everything burns.”
He laid his palm against hers and closed his eyes. Pepper felt the pain dissipate and she sighed in relief.
“Better?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Without breaking contact, Connall pulled the plug and then removed the wet towel from Pepper’s body and dropped it into the sink.
“I’m going to lift you, Pepper. Stay connected to me.”
She looped her arm around his neck and did her best to hold on as he lifted her. Wrapping the dry towel around her, Connall carried her back into the bedroom. He settled her back onto the large bed and Pepper sighed. “What are these? They’re so soft.”
“They’re specially made ice sheets, love. They will cool your body.”
Connall pulled the top sheet over her and she ran her tongue over her lip. “My lip doesn’t hurt anymore.”
He smiled. “I know, love. It’s healed.”
She laid her fingers over her mouth. “That fast?”
“Aye.”
“That’s so cool.”
He smoothed her hair from her forehead. “How’s your pain?”
“No more pain,” she said. “Just sleepy.”
“Let me look at your mark.” Connall pulled the sheet back and frowned. Red, but not blood-red, yet.
“Is it bad?” she asked.
“No. Not yet.”
“Will you lay here with me?” Pepper asked.
“Gladly.”
He slid in beside her and Pepper smiled as she snuggled against him. “I never thought I’d like this, let alone love it.”
“What?”
“Touch,” she said.
“Oh, I did. I’m irresistible.” He wrapped his arm around her
waist and settled her head on his shoulder.
She giggled, but her laugh was cut short by a yawn.
“Sleep, love.”
She yawned again and scooted her body higher so she could kiss him. “Only if you don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m going to change, but I promise I’ll join you right after.”
“Even if I’m asleep,” she demanded.
“Even if you’re asleep. I promise.”
She ran a finger down his chest. “Because I’ll know.”
“Will you now?”
“I will.” She tapped her temple. “E.S.P.”
He chuckled. “Really?”
She smiled as her eyes drooped closed. “It’s one of my new abilities.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he whispered, knowing she didn’t hear him. She was already asleep.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CONNALL SLIPPED FROM the bed, trying his best not to disturb Pepper, and took a quick shower. Once dressed, he texted Sam and let her know that she could return anytime and then climbed back into bed with Pepper. He settled her across his chest and she sighed, snuggling closer to him. He smiled and kissed the top of her head.
A quiet knock brought Samantha and two of Kade’s housemaids. Bearnas and Iona were mother and daughter and had been with his family since their arrival from Iceland. The women had been caught in the middle of a bloody clan war at the time and both of their husbands had been killed. Connall’s father offered them refuge and they’d stayed with the family, assisting with their acclimation to the Highlands.
The maids went about quietly preparing the herbs and tea Pepper would need during the conversion, while Sam stepped over to the bed and gently took Pepper’s wrist to check her pulse. She smiled. “She looks calm.”
“Aye,” Connall whispered.
“Her pulse is normal.” Sam felt her forehead. “How’s her mark?”
He lifted the sheet and glanced at her stomach. “Still red.”
“Not long now,” Sam said, and squeezed Connall’s arm.
She made a notation in her iPad and Connall assumed it was Pepper’s vitals. Ever the researcher, Sam wanted to document every moment of the conversion process. She had taken both Connall and Pepper’s blood before the binding and would take it after in order to compare her findings.
