Bound by Secrets (Cauld Ane Series)

by Tracey Jane Jackson

  His eyes grew dark with desire. “Aye, love. That would be fabulous.”

  “That will cut down on time, then.”

  “Aye, it will.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  Brodie left the room and Payton stepped into her closet and slipped out of her gown. As she hung up the precious garment, her phone buzzed. “Why do you always seem to call when I’m standing in my closet?”

  Fiona giggled. “Do I?”

  “You do.”

  “Well, I wanted to make sure you didn’t have any questions.”

  Payton bit her lip. “No, I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  Payton nodded. “Aye, I’m very sure.”

  “Okay, we can talk tomorrow, then? We’ll be there for the party.”

  “Brodie planned a party?”

  “Planned? No. Gave us instructions? Yes.”

  Payton laughed. “He’s good at giving orders.”

  “That he is.” Fiona giggled.

  “Just how many people, Fi?”

  “Don’t worry. He knows you, Payton. It won’t be overwhelming.”

  “For me or him?”

  Fiona chuckled. “He’s not the biggest social butterfly himself, Payton. Trust him.”

  Payton smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you go. Can’t wait for you to officially be my sister. Just wanted to say that.”

  “Thanks, Fi. Me too.”

  “Talk to you tomorrow. ’Bye.”

  “’Bye.”

  Payton headed back to the bedroom, passing the fireplace, and into the bathroom that could only be described as opulent. A giant claw-foot tub sat regally in the middle of the room, while the walk-in shower, built for two, took up one wall and double sinks took up another. A door led to the private room with the toilet and another housed fluffy towels, flannels, and Payton’s favorite beauty products. She didn’t think she’d ever have to shop again.

  The tub beckoned, but she knew if she climbed in, she’d spend more time than she wanted to in the water. She carefully removed the pins from her hair and ran a brush through the silky locks. She must ask Marie what she used to get her hair so soft.

  She wondered what Brodie was doing right now. One of the things she was looking forward to the most was being able to speak to him privately once they were bound. She smiled. If she knew her mate, he was probably waiting in the bed, naked and ready to go.

  A shiver stole up her spine. She applied the pineapple lip gloss she’d retrieved from her makeup bag and pulled her glasses off. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then made her way back to the bedroom. Peeking around the door, she discovered the lights were low and candles had been lit. Brodie was pouring champagne into glasses sitting on the table by the panoramic windows. She squinted in an effort to get a better look at him, but the room was quite dark, so it took effort.

  She was able to make out the lines of his body and knew he wore the silk, grey pajama bottoms she’d bought him. She could imagine them hanging from his hips and knew his chest was bare. Payton took a minute to stare at her mate. Even slightly out of focus, he was magnificent.

  “Are you coming out of there, love, or are you going to ogle me all night?” he asked.

  Payton bit her lip, the taste of pineapple dancing across her tongue. “I haven’t decided.”

  He faced her and let out a quiet whistle. “Wow.”

  She stepped further into the room and covered her chest with her arms, suddenly self-conscious.

  “Don’t do that, love,” Brodie said as he set the bottle down and approached her. “You are magnificent. Lord, I knew you would be, but this is better than I imagined.”

  “Oh. Are you sure?” she asked as she forced her arms to her sides.

  “Baby, yes.” He searched her face as he ran his fingers through her hair. “You’re the most beautiful woman on the planet.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “But not the universe?”

  He cocked his head. “I don’t know. I haven’t met all the women in the universe, and haven’t had the chance to meet any aliens, so therefore, I don’t know how beautiful they are.”

  “Touché.”

  “Do you want your glasses?”

  She shook her head. “If I get a headache, you can take it away for me.”

  He smiled. “True.”

  The clock above the fireplace started its countdown to midnight and Payton stared up at Brodie. “What if I don’t feel anything?”

  “Don’t say that, sweetheart.” He kissed her palm. “I don’t know what we’ll do. But we’ll figure it out.”

  She nodded and kept her focus on him. As the countdown ended with the twelfth chime, she closed her eyes, the charge crawling through her body almost too much to handle. She gripped his arms for stability and took several deep breaths.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Aye. I just get what you’ve been dealing with for ten years now.”

  Brodie grimaced. “I’m sorry, love.”

  The absolute, unwavering knowledge that Brodie was her mate filled her mind, body, and soul. The thought of not being with him caused panic and she dropped her head onto his chest and took several deep breaths in order to calm her fear. She felt as though her heart was literally reaching for his, her heartbeat slowing to match his. His arms wrapped around her, his assurance comforting, and she finally relaxed.

  She frowned up at him. “How did it not drive you mad?”

  He smiled. “You don’t think it didn’t?”

  “Did you feel like this the whole time?”

  “Whenever I was anywhere near you,” he admitted. “And moments when someone spoke your name, and whenever I saw your photo, and—”

  “Brodie,” she whispered. “That’s the real reason you left.”

  More of a statement than a question, but Brodie nodded. “Aye. I know it was selfish, love, but I was sure I’d scare you if I stayed. You weren’t ready for this.”

  “You’re right. I’m so sorry, Brodie. If I’d had any idea what this was like for you, I would have been much nicer to you.”

  “Just to be clear, love, yer sure I’m ye mate, then?” he asked, his accent heavier than normal. Payton found it endearing.

  “Aye,” she whispered. “Without a doubt.”

  “Because I’m going to bind you now, and after that, I’ll never let you go,” he said.

  “Quit yer yabberin’, and do it already.”

  He smiled. “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.” (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.)

  “Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið,” she repeated. “Ég er þín að eilífu Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta. Ást mín er alger.”

  “Together,” he instructed.

  “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.”

  Brodie caught her as her legs gave way, carrying her to the bed. As he made love to her, Payton felt as though she were somewhere else…but fully in the moment—emotions, sensations, and desire swamping her. She held her emotions in check until the very end. When the bonding was complete and she was wholly Brodie’s, she allowed herself to break.

  Brodie settled her against his chest and stroked her back. “Shh, baby. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

  “No. I just wasn’t expecting…so much…I don’t know how to describe it.”

  “I know, love. It’s okay. I feel it too.”

  She glanced up at him and widened her eyes.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I can see you.” She sat up, uncaring that she was naked. “I can see you perfectly.”

  He sat up as well. “You can?”<
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  She nodded and climbed off the bed, rushing into the bathroom. She found her glasses where she’d left them and slid them on. The room was a blur. She removed them again and set them on the counter, leaning forward to study her face. She looked different somehow. She felt beautiful.

  That’s because you are, he said.

  Payton stalled for a second, relishing the feeling of hearing Brodie in her mind. She closed her eyes with a sigh.

  Come back to bed, Payton.

  Now? she replied.

  Aye, love. Or I’ll come get you.

  She grinned. Come and get me.

  Payton couldn’t stop the quiet squeal when Brodie stormed into the bathroom and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground. “I’m going to love this new ability,” he said.

  “Me too.” She giggled. “You’ll be able to talk dirty to me and no one will be the wiser.”

  “Or you’ll be able to talk dirty to me,” he pointed out. “Of course, we’ll have to work on your blushing for it to work, love.”

  “What? I don’t blush.”

  He laughed. “Oh, really?”

  Want me to prove it? she asked.

  He raised an eyebrow. What are you wearing?

  Pineapple lip gloss and a smile.

  Brodie grinned. “You’re red, love.”

  “Buggar.” She cocked her head. “Why don’t I feel shy being naked in front of you, but can’t seem to stop myself from blushing when you say dirty things?”

  “The bonding is a huge part of that. The complete trust and comfort with me that is. You’re still you, Payton, so some of the things you were embarrassed by before will remain. Especially in public.”

  “Really?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Did your mother not explain?”

  “Not really. She explained the basics of sex, but didn’t go into the bonding. I assumed it was because she and my father aren’t bound.”

  “Does she think she’d be disrespecting him if she compared their marriage to her bonding experience?”

  Payton shrugged. “I suppose so. Honestly, I didn’t ask. I was too mortified by the sex talk. She made it sound positively horrid.”

  Brodie laughed. “And how do you feel about it now?”

  “I feel like I want to do it again…and, a lot.”

  He kissed her. “Well, let’s take care of that, then.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  PAYTON’S PHONE PEALED in the darkness of the room, forcing her from sleep. Brodie groaned beside her as she reached toward the nightstand. “Sorry, love. I forgot to silence it.” She didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Payton.”

  Shouting sounded in the background. A nightclub perhaps? She checked the clock. Two-thirty a.m..

  “Bronwen?” she asked. “Is that you?”

  “Aye. I’m at Slàinte. I thought your husband would be here. Doesn’t he own it?”

  For whatever reason, Payton felt a coldness roll up her spine. She hadn’t told Bronwen of her wedding plans, due to the fact she was unaware herself, and speaking of bonding to her human friend would have raised more questions than she was willing to answer.

  “Payton?” Brodie whispered, sitting up behind her.

  Payton grasped his arm. “Bronwen? What do you mean, ‘husband’?”

  “Didn’t you just get married?”

  How would she have known that?

  She felt, rather than heard, Brodie leave their bed.

  “Yesterday,” Payton said. “How did you know?”

  “Ah, Pay, I’m not at liberty—”

  “To say,” Payton finished. “I believe I’ve heard that before from you.”

  Bronwen chuckled. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. Are you okay?” Payton asked her friend.

  “Aye. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

  “You sound strange.”

  “Do I?” A second of silence.

  “Bron?” Payton pressed.

  “Sorry, was just taking a drink. They make the best cocktails here. Have you heard that before?”

  “Yes. I have,” Payton said. “Aren’t they closing?”

  “Aye. Just about, but I’m using the next half-hour to the fullest of my ability. Are you in Edinburgh at the moment?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, that’s good,” she said. “Well, I just wanted to say that I was thinking about you. I’ll talk to you soon. Cheers.”

  The line went dead. Payton silenced her phone and stared at it for a minute.

  “Cole’s on his way to the club,” Brodie said from the other side of the bed.

  Payton nodded. “She asked me if I was in Edinburgh and seemed relieved when I said ‘no.’ Weird, right?”

  “A bit, aye.”

  Payton rubbed her forehead. “She called me a few weeks ago, and that was strange as well. It’s as though she’s checking up on me.”

  “You mentioned you haven’t spoken in a while. Did you have a falling out?”

  “No. If Bronwen was upset with me, she’d tell me. I never have to worry about where I stand with her.” Payton set her phone on the nightstand. “She said she’s working for Scotland Yard and asked if I knew Molly Adams. She was a girl I went to school with.”

  He smiled. “One of the mean girls?”

  “No, not mean, just not genuine. She started to pay attention to me when she found out I was friends with Niall, but I never trusted her, so never let her get close.” Payton sighed. “Bronwen sounded off tonight, Brodie. Not like herself at all.”

  He climbed back in beside her and held his arm out. “Come here.”

  Payton settled herself against his chest and squeezed her eyes shut. “I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.”

  “Which is why I’m sending Cole to check it out.”

  She frowned. “He doesn’t mind?”

  “No, love. He doesn’t mind. This is all part of his job. Ali’s back guarding Kade and Sam, so Cole has been sent to find out what’s going on. She’s human. It’s better this way. He said he wanted to show Dalton the club, anyway, so that can be his ruse.”

  “Good idea. Is Cole still planning on hiring more people?”

  “As far as I know. Kade felt having a human security team was a good idea, especially with what happened at the Tin Ear in Savannah.”

  She slid her chin into her hand and raised an eyebrow. “Is there a plan to tell anyone outside of Cole and Dalton that we aren’t human?”

  Brodie sighed. “I don’t know. Kade wants to talk about it in a few weeks.”

  “Why wait so long?”

  “Are you forgetting a honeymoon?”

  “No, of course not.” She ran her finger over the sinew of his chest. “But I didn’t take three weeks off, love. I took one.”

  “Well…” His body went rigid and Payton stared at him.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Are you planning to keep working?”

  She sat up. “Are you?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Then so am I.” She searched his mind, trying to hear his thoughts, but he’d managed to shut her out. She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Were you assuming I wouldn’t?”

  He sat up and kissed her shoulder. “Stop staring daggers at me, love. I won’t stop you from working if you don’t want to.”

  “Oh, thank you, my liege,” she droned.

  “Payton.”

  “You don’t have the power to stop me from working, period, Brodie. I love my job and I don’t want to stop working.”

  “Then don’t,” he said.

  “You’re staying out of it, right?” He studied her for a few seconds and Payton’s irritation rose. “What did you do?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing, sweetheart. I simply let Kade know you’d be absent for a few weeks.”

  “Brodie!”

  He raised his hands in surrender. “Look at it as a surprise holiday.”

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nbsp; “I should have done that, Brodie. It’s my job.”

  “I wanted to surprise you, sweetheart. And I approached it as a request, not as a demand. I promise.”

  “Are you sure you even know the difference?”

  Brodie smiled. “If I haven’t figured it out, Kade is able to decipher me…most of the time.”

  “Was he really okay?” she asked.

  “He was really okay. He was worried you wanted to quit altogether.”

  She smiled. “He was?”

  “Very. He seems to think he can’t survive the office without you. Sam agreed.”

  “And what did you say?”

  Brodie pulled her back onto the mattress and up against his chest. “I told him that I would support whatever you wanted to do, even if it meant living in Edinburgh most of the year.”

  “You did?”

  “I did.” He kissed her temple. “I have this burning desire to make my mate happy for some reason.”

  Payton giggled. “Wow. I guess you do.”

  “So, am I out of the dog house now?”

  “You weren’t really in it, Brodie.”

  “Good to know.” He chuckled. “Once we’re back from our honeymoon, we’ll go house hunting in the city.”

  “Where are we going on our honeymoon?”

  “Where have you always wanted to go?” he asked.

  “Venice,” she said without hesitation.

  “Oh? Not Paris?”

  “We’re going to Paris?” she asked. “Paris will be nice. I haven’t been there, either.”

  “No, we’re going to Venice.”

  “You are horrible.” She punched his chest playfully. “Are we really going to Venice?”

  He laughed. “We’re really going to Venice. On Tuesday.”

  She sat up again, clapping her hands. “Ooh, the weather’s perfect for us right now. Can we ride in a gondola? Where are we staying? How long are we staying?”

  He sat up and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes, surprise, nine days.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “But you’ve already told me where we’re going. Why not just tell me where we’ll be staying?”

  “Because it’s a surprise.” He laid his fingers over her mouth when she opened it to argue. “I know you, love. I know your tastes. I recruited Kenna to help me with the planning and the booking.”