Bound by Sight (Cauld Ane Series, #9)
Page 11
“Have you ever tried to find your birth parents?” Dalton asked.
I shook my head. “If I’d tried when I was a kid, I’d have been in a world of trouble. Then once I moved in with Aspen’s family, I just wanted to move on with my life.”
“I think it would be a good idea to speak with Kaspar about this. And when you visit, you’ll want to wear gloves, because you’ll probably see things anytime you touch someone.”
“I don’t see things when I touch Dalton. Actually, I’ve never seen anything after touching someone... well, before tonight,” I pointed out. “Why doesn’t that happen?”
“He’s human,” Kade said.
“Oh, that clears that up, thank you,” I retorted, sarcastically.
“Where do we go from here?” Dalton asked.
“I’m going to call Kaspar and then we’ll get Fiona on it.”
“Who’s Fiona?”
“My sister,” Kade provided. “She’s taken on the job of researching our lineage and has been working closely with the Kalt Einn to fill in some blanks.”
I had no idea what any of that meant, but I was overloaded on information for the evening, so I decided I’d wait and ask Dalton anything that might come up... once my brain was able to accept the new information of course.
“I’m going to leave you,” Kade said, and rose to his feet. “Once I have more information, we’ll sit down, lass, okay?”
I nodded.
“Stay put, sugar,” Dalton said. “I’ll walk him out.”
I nodded and picked up my wine glass again.
Dalton returned, and I shivered when he slid his hand to my neck, leaning down to kiss my nape. “You okay?”
I shook my head and took a sip of wine.
He slid onto the stool beside me and turned me to face him. “Break it down.”
“Do you really need me to do that?”
“Not for me, sugar. For you. Break it down.”
“Samantha’s now immortal... well, kind of immortal.”
“Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“Outside of the fact she’ll live for several hundred or maybe even thousands of years, she can heal anyone related to her.”
“Ohmigod, she healed your dad!” I deduced.
“Yes.”
“No wonder he came through recovery so fast,” I said. “Asshole doctor number one seemed to think it was because of him.”
“Asshole doctor number one?”
“We’ve numbered them from bad to worse. He’s the worst, so...”
“Quit.”
I scoffed. “I can’t quit. I need the money.”
“We’ll come back to that,” he said. “Keep going.”
“Oracle.”
“Yes, Oracle.”
“I don’t know what that means in relation to me. I know nothing about Vikings or their history.”
“That’s where Fiona will come in. Or Kaspar.”
“I can’t afford to go to Scotland or Iceland, Dalton. Even if I could afford the flights, I couldn’t afford to take that much time off work.”
“Kade owns his own plane, sugar.”
“Of course he does.” I took another sip of wine then gasped. “Sugar.”
“Come again?”
I rolled my eyes. “I kept having this weird dream about sugar. I think you’re the sugar.”
He grinned. “Well, that’s an indication we’re meant to be together, don’t you think?”
“Sure, we’ll go with that,” I droned. “Since flights are apparently free, I should just quit my job and let you take care of me for the rest of my life.”
“Now, there’s an idea,” Dalton said, stroking my neck.
“So, back to reality... what happens now?”
“Now we wait until Kade gets information.” He smiled. “Until then, it’s business as usual.”
“Because I’m going to be able to focus when I’m treating patients totally freaked that I might see something I don’t want to if I touch them,” I droned, sarcasm lacing my tone.
“Do you have sick time?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I never take time off, so I probably have a couple of weeks.”
“Then take it.”
I folded my arms on the island and dropped my head onto them with a groan. I rolled my forehead and then sat up again. “I can’t leave the other nurses in the lurch.”
“Do they ever leave you in the lurch?” Dalton challenged.
“That’s not really the point.”
He sighed. “No, I don’t suppose it is.”
“I’m off tomorrow and I could call in for Tuesday.”
Dalton stroked my neck. “That’s a start.”
“I’m going to ask you something and you can’t take it the wrong way.”
“Well, that sounds ominous.”
“Will you stay? No monkey business, but I just don’t want you to go.”
He smiled. “As much as I’d like some monkey business, yeah, I’m happy to stay.”
I nodded. “Thanks, honey.”
“Why don’t you go change into something more comfortable and I’ll find something to watch.”
I nodded and headed upstairs, changing quickly and then snuggling up on the sofa with Dalton, no clue in the end which movie we were watching, mostly because I closed my eyes and drifted off as he held me.
Andi
I AWAKENED TO sun pouring in through my window. I rolled to get away from the brightness and came face-to-chest with nothing but hard muscle.
“Do you wake up like this every morning?” Dalton complained, and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me further against his chest. “I might need to wear padding in the future.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were here.”
“You begged me to be here.”
I kissed his chest. “I didn’t say I wasn’t happy about it... just that I forgot.”
He chuckled.
I licked my lips and squeezed my eyes shut. “Are you naked?”
“No, sugar. I had a pair of sweats in the bag Samantha brought me.”
“Damn,” I whispered, and Dalton laughed.
“I can remove them if you wish.”
“No, you better not,” I grumbled. “I’m trying really hard not to be that kind of girl and you’re making it ridiculously impossible.”
He patted my hip and kissed my forehead. “Should you change your mind, don’t be shy.”
“How about I make breakfast?”
“No, it’s my turn to cook for you,” I countered.
“I’ll take a shower, then.”
I groaned. “Wait until I’m downstairs and can’t hear the water. I might be tempted to join you.”
Dalton rolled me onto my back and kissed me. “Anytime, Andi. Just say the word.”
I squeezed my eyes shut again. “You’re an evil, evil man.”
“Wearin’ you down, sugar.” He kissed my nose and released me.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
I forced myself out of bed and headed downstairs, pulling my hair up into a scrunchy as I walked.
Dalton arrived just as I scooped hash browns on his plate and slid it to him. “This looks great, sugar. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
“Kade called.”
“And?” I poured coffee for both of us and then sat beside him.
“Kaspar has answers.”
“Which are?” I pressed.
“Kade wouldn’t tell me,” Dalton said, and took a swig of coffee.
“What the hell?” I set my fork down. “Why not?”
“Because we need to go to Iceland.”
“I can’t go to Iceland, Dalton.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No. I. Can’t.”
He sipped his coffee again.
“Dalton.”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I can’t go to Iceland.”
“Give me one good reason.”
“I can’t
take the time off work,” I said.
“You really gonna lie to me, Andi? Not a good start to this relationship.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I can’t leave them in the lurch.”
“You’re not leaving them in the lurch. You can give them a week’s notice and we’ll go then.”
“What about Aspen? She’s in danger too.”
“And Doom will stay on her.” He took another bite of food. “She’s covered, sugar.”
“I don’t know any of these people.”
“You know me,” he said, his voice annoyingly calm. “You know Samantha.”
“What about money, Dalton? I don’t have the funds to just up and head to Iceland.”
He nodded to my plate. “Eat, sugar.”
“I can’t eat. I’m too stressed.”
“About what?”
I let out a frustrated squeak.
“Exactly,” he said.
“You. Are. Infuriating,” I ground out.
“I. Am. Right.”
I took a deep breath, then another. “Dalton.”
“Andi.”
I took yet another deep breath. “You’re not hearing me.”
“I’m hearing you.”
“You’re acting like a bully.”
He faced me with a frown. “How so?”
I laid my hand on my chest. “I have legitimate concerns here and you’re dismissing them.”
He sighed. “Andi, I don’t want you to think I’m dismissing your concerns. It’s just the concerns you’re verbalizing are ones that are fixable.”
“By you saying they’re fixable means you take all of my power away,” I admitted. “I won’t be powerless again... ever.”
“Is that really how you feel?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “To be clear, though, you don’t make me feel like Jeremy did.”
“Well, thank fuck for that,” he retorted.
“But I do need to have some semblance of control.”
“How about this? I will take care of the finances you can’t swing.”
I dropped my head back and stared at the ceiling. “Lord, please give me the strength not to kill this gorgeous man in his sleep.”
Dalton chuckled. “That’s a yes, then.”
I met his eyes again and bit my lip. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“I need you not to fix things. I need you to let me figure them out myself.”
“Are we really having the quintessential male/female argument right now?” he asked.
“Yes, obviously. So?”
“That means we’re in a real relationship... I’ve totally worn you down.”
I grabbed his face with my hands and shook my head. “You are the most irritating man on earth.”
He grinned. “Maybe so, but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“No, you’re not wrong.”
He grabbed my wrists then turned his face to kiss one of my palms, then the other before linking his fingers with mine. “Andi, I know you have a hard time trusting people, but know this. I will never hurt you. I might piss you off, but I won’t ever intentionally hurt you. Anything I do is because I care about you and I want you to succeed.”
“I do know that, Dalton.”
“Hallelujah,” he retorted. “Glad to know that.”
I smiled. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“You’re doing great, sugar. And we’re figuring it out together. I’ve got your back.”
“I know that too.”
“Good.” He kissed me gently. “You gonna call into work?”
I nodded. “After breakfast.”
“Which is really good, by the way,” he said, and took a bite of bacon.
“Glad you like it.”
“I’m looking forward to whatever you have planned for dinner.”
“I have to cook for you for dinner too?” I complained.
“You bet.”
“Fine. I’ll figure something out.”
“I don’t like broccoli.”
“Broccoli casserole it is,” I said, and took a bite of eggs.
Dalton laughed, and we finished our food.
* * *
Two weeks later...
Iceland. I couldn’t believe I was actually, physically... literally in Iceland. We’d flown into Reykjavik three hours ago and Dalton and I were on our way to the hotel. We’d be traveling to Bíldudalur the day after tomorrow to meet with Kasper Baldursson. He lived with his wife and family in a tiny little fishing town which was apparently quite remote.
Today and tomorrow, however, Dalton and I planned to do a little sightseeing... and try to deal with the jet lag before flying out again. Since Samantha had stayed back in Savannah with her kids, Kade said he was going to get some work done, so Dalton and I were on our own. This worked for me perfectly since Kade still intimidated the crap out of me.
Dalton had booked us adjoining rooms at a boutique hotel in the middle of the city and I kind of wanted to stay here forever. It was gorgeous. Large picture windows provided sweeping views of the entire city, so Dalton organized to have dinner in my room in an effort to stay awake for a few more hours.
By the time Dalton knocked and walked into my room, I could barely keep my eyes open. I’d almost fallen asleep in the shower and had to turn the water to cold in order to wake myself up again.
“So...” He pulled me close with a chuckle. “It’s about four a.m. our time. You dyin’?”
“A lotta bit.”
“We’ll eat and then we can sleep.”
I nodded sleepily into his chest. “Okay.”
“Want me to order?”
“Yeah, honey, that would be great.”
He pulled away and headed for the phone. “Don’t sit down and for God’s sake, don’t lie down.”
I groaned. “Bossy much?”
He chuckled and called down for room service.
The food arrived relatively quickly, and the staff set everything up on the table facing one of the windows. As I bit into one of the best burgers I’d ever eaten, blues and greens appeared in the sky and I gasped. “Northern Lights.”
“Yeah,” Dalton breathed out.
“Amazing.”
“Yeah,” he said again.
We were transfixed long enough for our food to grow cold, but I didn’t care. It was magnificent.
“Glad you came?” Dalton asked, breaking the moment.
“I am.” I smiled. “At least, so far.”
“You look wrecked, sugar.”
“I am pretty tired.”
He rose to his feet. “Leave the dishes, I’ll set them outside. You go get ready for bed.”
“Thanks, honey,” I said, and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
By the time I walked back in the room, the dishes were gone and the blinds were drawn. Dalton wasn’t in the room, but the adjoining doors were open.
“Night, Dalt,” I called.
He appeared in the doorway and smiled. “You really gonna climb into bed without kissin’ me goodnight?”
“Me?” I retorted. “I would never.”
He chuckled and closed the distance between us, kissing me gently. “Good night, beautiful.”
“Night, honey.”
He kissed me again and I climbed under the covers and let sleep take me.
* * *
Dalton kissed his way down my chest, pushing my T-shirt up and over my breasts. He grinned up at me as he folded the T-shirt over my eyes. “Arms up, sugar. No moving.”
I licked my lips and nodded as he used my shirt as a blindfold. I could feel my heart slamming against my rib cage, then warmth flooded my core. The sensation of my panties being slid down my thighs almost broke me, and I had to force myself to breathe. “Dalton,” I rasped.
“You okay, sugar?”
I squeezed my eyes shut behind the blindfold, doing my best to stop myself from letting out a frustrated growl. “I am if you don’t stop.”
“No moving,” he ordered.
I huffed, but set my butt back down on the mattress.
“Good girl,” he said, and went back to his task.
He slid one finger inside of me, then two as he continued his assault on my clit. I panted out, “Oh, God, baby, I’m—”
A popping sound drew my focus, then I lost Dalton’s mouth. I could smell something burning, but it wasn’t fire... at least, I didn’t think it was. “Dalton?”
He didn’t respond.
“Dalt?”
Shoving my T-shirt away from my eyes, I couldn’t process what I was seeing. Dalton was face down on the bed (still between my legs), blood pouring out from his head. The smell was weird... not the normal scent of blood and death that I was used to. It was almost sweet, like sugar and roses.
I shook my head. That didn’t make sense.
Dalton raised his bloody head and stared at me. “What are you gonna do, sugar?”
“What? What do you mean?”
Before he could say anything, I found myself suddenly on the ledge of a very tall building. I hated heights. More than most, considering I wouldn’t even get up on a stepstool.
“Andi?”
“Why do you keep talking to me?” I screamed.
“Andi!” Dalton called, and his hands cupped my face.
I blinked my eyes open and stared up at him. There was no blood, no weird smell, just him, shirtless and delicious, staring down at me. I sat up, threw my arms around his neck, and held on for dear life.
“Hey, baby, I’ve got you,” he whispered, sliding his hand to my neck. “That must have been some dream.”
I nodded, then filled him in on everything.
“No wonder you were screaming.”
“I’m so sorry, Dalt,” I said, still holding him close.
“Don’t apologize, sugar. It’s okay.”
“Did I wake you?”
“Not even close,” he said. “I was checking email and following up on a few things.”
I let out a breath of relief. “You can’t die.”
“I’m not gonna die.”
“How do you know?”
“Because my sister can heal me.”
I leaned back to meet his eyes. “Really? She can heal a gunshot wound to the head?”
He shrugged. “Don’t intend to find out.”
“You better not.”
“How about I shut everything down and sleep in here with you?”