Oblivious to Sebastian's concerns Erica continued talking. “At first I thought I wasn’t allowed to wear it in the infirmary, but then I got out and I still didn’t have a ring, so I just thought I should ask you about it.”
How the hell she can remember human traditions like engagement rings and forget that she’s a wolf I don’t understand, he grumbled as he prepared another lie. “The honest truth is that you never had a ring.”
“Really? Never?”
“Well I didn’t properly plan out the proposal. I just sort of blurted the question out one day,” he mumbled embarrassed at the very idea of a spur of the moment proposal, the human tradition left a male very open for rejection. Then again, it’s not as though the wolf way worked out any better for me, he chuckled in cynical amusement. “I just couldn’t stop myself from asking and then you said yes. I had planned to take you with me to buy a ring but the accident happened not long after that and I just became too worried about you to think about the ring. I’m sorry sweetheart. Now that you’re feeling better we can go and buy the ring whenever you feel like it. I doubt there’s a jeweller in this town, it’s very small but if there isn’t one here we can take a trip to the nearby city in the next few days and solve that problem.”
“The ring isn’t important Sebastian. I’m lucky to be alive and even luckier that I still have you. You don’t need to buy me a ring to prove you care, you’re doing that just by staying with me despite the fact that I’ve forgotten everything about you.”
“You’re lucky to be alive Erica and that’s why I should spoil you. I want to buy the ring for you, will you accept it?”
She looked at him for a moment trying to gauge the appropriate response. “Yes.” She smiled, reaching over to embrace him.
Another lie, Sebastian sighed, easily returning her embrace.
We have to do what’s best for her, his wolf counselled. If that means lying to her then so be it.
I know that, but it doesn’t make it any more pleasurable to do. “I should get back to unpacking.” He grinned, releasing his grip on her.
“Is there anything more I can do?”
“No, just stay there and relax,” he said, walking away from her and moving into one of the bedrooms.
What the hell is wrong with you! A strange voice shouted within her mind startling Erica and causing her to jump off the sofa in shock. Her eyes immediately began scanning the room trying to find where the voice was coming from but she was alone. I asked you a question, answer me, the voice repeated.
You’re hearing things. Erica laughed trying to shrug off the strange voice. Moving in to the kitchen she began to inspect the cupboards and fridge to see what they contained, they were all empty, not surprising seeing as they had just moved in.
The voice spoke again demanding that she acknowledge its presence and Erica stumbled backwards, landing hard against the stove, she bit her lip to prevent a loud gasp escaping her lips, which would undoubtedly bring Sebastian running to her. He acted as though a small bruise was the end of the world and though she found his concern endearing she didn’t want him to learn of this new problem. Amnesia is one thing but insanity is something I definitely don’t want him finding out about. That might push even him away.
Erica, the voice growled, why are you ignoring me? You know I don’t like it.
I’m hearing things.
Yes, you’re hearing me and I want you to listen.
I’m crazy aren’t I?
Though the question wasn’t addressed to the wolf, it chose to answer. You aren’t crazy. What the hell is the matter?
I don’t want to hear you. Please go away.
I can’t do that Erica. I’m part of you, there is no me without you and vice versa.
Listen whoever you are; I’m now going to ignore you. Do you hear me? I’m going to pretend you don’t exist. I’ve got too much to worry about without adding possible insanity into the picture. Returning to her seat on the sofa, Erica closed her eyes and began making a hard effort to ignore the voice within her mind. The voice faded the further away from consciousness Erica drifted. The trip had been a long one and emotional though she couldn’t understand why. She couldn’t remember the people or the home she was leaving behind and she had Sebastian to help her. Despite these facts she drifted further and further away glad that the voice had finally quieted before she fell asleep.
She was jolted awake when she realised that her body was moving. It took her mind a moment to comprehend that she was being carried and as she inhaled deeply, Sebastian's calming scent enveloped her.
“Sebastian?”
“You know if you were really that tired, you could have said something,” he laughed amused. She had made a rather cute picture when he had found her. Her face had been peaceful and unworried as she slept, though the position in which she had fallen asleep didn’t look comfortable so he had decided to move her.
Remembering the reason she had fallen asleep she chose not to respond to his comment praying that she wouldn’t hear the voice that heralded her insanity again.
“It isn’t as though I would have kept you out of the bedrooms.”
“Is that where you’re taking me?”
“Yes, you obviously need to sleep.”
“But there’s no food in the house, we should go and get some.”
“I doubt the store is open now sweetheart, it is a small town after all, but we can go tomorrow.” He nudged open a bedroom door with his foot, walking in and laying her down on the bed. “Goodnight Erica.” He pressed a light kiss against her lips before turning to leave. He needed to get away from her quickly, even the fleeting meeting of their lips was stirring desires in him that he shouldn’t even be considering because of their circumstances. His wolf wasn’t helping matters, demanding that he return to her and kiss her in a way that would satisfy both of them before progressing onto more intense, pleasurable activities.
“Aren’t you going to sleep Sebastian?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then where are you going?” she pressed confused by his actions.
Yes, where exactly are you going? The wolf asked confused by Sebastian's willingness to walk away from his mate.
Be quiet, he snapped in response. “Erica, you can’t remember anything, which means you don’t remember me. At the moment I’m almost a stranger to you. I couldn’t ask you to just let me sleep in here with you.”
“But we’re engaged aren’t we?”
“Yes, and at the moment you only know that because someone else told you. I want you to be comfortable around me before we share a bed. I’m just trying to do what’s best for you.”
“And what if I said I was comfortable around you.”
Which you are. The mysterious voice returned and Erica froze, her mind reeling.
I asked you to leave me alone.
But how can I when that delicious Sebastian is so intent on leaving. Persuade him to come back. Persuade him to come back and then touch him, tease him until he does what’s only natural. Come one Erica, you know you want to.
Unaware of Erica's inner turmoil, Sebastian continued, smiling widely at the idea that she was comfortable in his presence. “Well if you really are comfortable around me then I’d say that my bedroom is just across the hall and you’re welcome to join me. The door will always be open for you sweetheart.”
I can’t now, Erica groaned disheartened. I don’t know what the hell this voice is or what it wants from Sebastian. If I really am crazy I don’t need to bring Sebastian into this, I might try to hurt him. “You’re right,” she sighed. “It’s probably better that we don’t spend the night together just yet. Thank you for being so considerate of me Sebastian.”
“How could I do anything different?”
“I think you might be right though. I should probably sleep by myself for tonight.” Or until the voice of madness leaves me alone.
Which will be never. It’s not as though we can separate Erica. I’ll be with you f
orever.
I told you that I’m ignoring you, she repeated trying to smile so that Sebastian wouldn’t become aware of what was going on in her mind.
“Goodnight sweetheart, I’ll see you in the morning and remember what I said, my bedroom door is always open for you.” She looks so beautiful when she’s confused. He groaned in dismay because he knew that realisation would be followed by an action he would probably regret later. He crossed the small distance that separated them and bent to press a brief but searing kiss on her lips. His blood heated spontaneously, quickly pooling between his legs. When his wolf began to growl in contentment he pulled away, stepping back and hoping to regain his composure. If possible, she looked even more kissable now. He groaned but refused to allow his mind to wander down that path of thought, nothing good would come of it.
“Night Sebastian,” she called, as he left the room, closing the door slightly behind himself.
Please just leave me alone, she whispered the voice in her mind, fervently hoping that it wouldn’t respond.
As was becoming the norm in this newly discovered strange relationship, the voice answered. I’ll let you sleep Erica, but don’t think that this is the end of this discussion. You and I are going to have a serious talk soon.
Chapter Twenty-One
Her body felt as though it were floating, drifting aimlessly through space. The sensation was odd but not unpleasant and so she all allowed herself to continue her journey, unsure of the destination but she couldn’t bring herself to care. She couldn’t shake the feeling that should she open her eyes something bad would happen and so she kept them firmly sealed. Temptation however, soon got the better of her and she cracked open an eyelid. The decision to do so wasn’t a wise one.
The languid floating that had carried Erica along the unknown space stopped abruptly and she found herself being dropped carelessly to what she presumed was the ground. The urge to scream was strong but the sound refused to leave her lips, she closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable crash. Her painful collision with the ground never came; instead she found her body being positioned into what she presumed was a chair. Her arms, legs and neck were bound, strapped down to prevent her from freeing herself. She instinctively began to struggle against the restraints but her efforts were only rewarded with pain as the flesh on her wrists and ankles began to burn. Now that her eyes were open she found that she could see no better than when they had been firmly closed, surrounded as she was by an impenetrable darkness. Though she strained to see what was around her, turning her head despite the burning that it caused, she could see nothing.
“Are you ready to talk?” A deep voice floated to her ears from somewhere within the darkness, the sound of the man’s voice made her body tremble with fear though she couldn’t remember why she should be so afraid. The voice itself wasn’t particularly threatening, though the harsh tone in which he had asked the question had her on edge.
I have no idea what he’s talking about? she thought, unwilling to answer his question.
Her thoughts were apparently not private in this place as the man continued speaking as if she had voiced her concerns aloud. “We’ve been at this for days now, you know what I want. Just give it to me, otherwise things won’t go well for you.”
“I honestly have no idea what you’re going on about. If you just let me out of this thing them maybe we can talk reasonably and try to come to an understanding.”
“There can be no understanding between us, I would have thought that even you would have been able to grasp that. Are you sure that you’re still not willing to cooperate?”
The man’s voice was now deceptively calm and Erica began to sweat with fear in response. She couldn’t understand why his gently delivered question was more frightening to her that his harsh demand that she give him what he wanted, but it was. Her entire body began to shake, nervous anticipation thrumming through her though she was sure that she didn’t want to know what her body was awaiting. “I’ve told you,” she wheezed, panic constricting her vocal cords, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, maybe if you were just a little bit more specific in what you wanted then I could help you. But I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Still unwilling to talk?” the voice mused. “I guess I haven’t broken you enough then. Don’t worry, I’ll fix that soon enough.”
Her body began to lean backward into the chair, trying to escape whatever awaited her. The constraints that prevented her from simply fleeing meant that she couldn’t escape the faceless voice. A sharp pain flooded her shoulder, spreading quickly throughout her body and she screamed in agony. Her ability to do so having apparently returned, she screamed long and loud.
The sound of her screams penetrated the fog of sleep and Erica jolted awake, her body covered in a light film of sweat and her heart pounding wildly within her chest. Her breathing was erratic as she sought to calm herself. Relishing the simple ability to move her arms, she cautiously raised a hand to her shoulder, finding that the light touch didn’t cause any pain.
Just a dream, she wheezed, trying to relax.
Though she was now aware that the voice and its cruel actions were just a figment of her imagination, her body couldn’t seem to understand this as it trembled wildly despite the fact that she was safe and protected. The door was ajar and from her position on the bed, she could see a light shining from the room across the hall. Throwing the duvet aside, she slipped from the bed and padded across the corridor into what she presumed was Sebastian's bedroom. Her guess proved to be correct, now that she was in the room, she could see Sebastian sprawled across his bed. The duvet lay in a crumpled heap towards the bottom of the bed, covering his legs, having apparently been discarded while he slept. His chest was wonderfully bare and though she could see the well-defined bones of his hips, it was immediately apparent that he was wearing trousers of some sort.
His skin seemed to glow beneath the bedroom’s light and she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Her body had finally ceased shaking, though her hand was now trembling for an all-together different reason. Edging forward into the room, she covered the distance from the door to the bed, before her hand landed on his skin. His flesh was hot beneath her questing fingertips, much hotter than she had thought it would have been and as she began to lightly trace the muscles of his chest, Erica became aware of something strange. She could smell him. The heat of his skin seemed to waft from him in waves and the longer she touched him, the stronger his scent became. It was intoxicating and her free hand decided that it couldn’t miss out on the action, joining its partner. He groaned at the light sensation and she stopped her exploration afraid that she had woken him, but he continued to sleep and she felt increasingly brave. We’re engaged. It isn’t as though I’ve never done this before. I have, she reasoned, I just can’t remember it.
Her searching fingers wandered over the ridges on his stomach, marvelling at how his muscles moved as he breathed. She was immensely surprised when his hand shackled her wrist, pulling her down on to the bed with him.
“Erica,” he groaned, rolling them over so that she lay trapped beneath him.
Her eyes widened in astonishment at the surprising move, but as her eyes wandered over his face, she found that his were closed, his chocolate brown eyes not visible beneath the rapid movement of his closed eyelids. He was still asleep.
He lowered his head to the curve of her neck and breathed deeply. “Erica,” he sighed before placing a light kiss against the flesh. “My Erica.” The feel of his lips against her flesh was unexpected and she shivered lightly as pleasure began to radiate through her body from the simple contact. Heat speared through her, stunning her with its intensity and speed and she moaned quietly in response.
The gentleness in his light kiss didn’t prepare her for the abrupt change in his behaviour. She gasped at the sensation of his teeth nibbling against her flesh, the light nips gradually becoming harder until he had bitten her. Though his teeth didn’t break t
he skin, she was certain that there would be a mark later as a reminder of this encounter. Pleasure came with the unexpected savagery of his bite and the strangest impulse to bite him in return came upon her before being washed away by the gentle tenderness of his tongue. His tongue quickly soothed the pain he had caused, swirling around the skin until she was groaning with pleasure beneath him.
His hands spread her legs wider so that she could better hold him against her and she immediately became aware of his hardness pressing intimately against her. His hips rocked against hers, silently telling her of his need and she could feel herself growing increasingly damp within the bed shorts she wore in response. His lips moved against her more insistently urging her to respond in kind and she did so, unable to do anything else. Heat and pleasure mounted as they rocked together and Erica's breaths became increasingly short as she panted in arousal.
His head lifted from her neck and he stared at her with unseeing eyes before his lips met hers. The kiss was urgent and demanding despite his state of unconsciousness as though he feared she would disappear if he even spared a moment for her to breathe. His tongue easily slipped past her lips as she groaned in pleasure at his ministrations. As their tongues met she found herself responding to him, becoming an active participant in the kiss.
Her hands rose, delving into the strands of his hair to hold him in place as her body writhed beneath his. Sebastian's warm hands began to move, delving under the short-sleeved shirt she wore to reach her skin. His fingers against her flesh were searing hot and she felt as though he were branding her with his every touch. Arching into his touch, she moved her body to give him better access, her breath leaving her body on a shuddering sigh as his touch became surer.
Her body was reacting to his with an intensity that almost stunned her, her skin felt as though it were on fire everywhere he caressed but she couldn’t get enough of his touch. Her breasts felt heavy and her nipples were straining peaks aching for even the simplest contact with him. His lips left hers, giving her the opportunity to catch her breath, though she wasn’t struggling for air and was sorely tempted to force his glorious lips to return to her. The hands against her stomach began to rise, creeping upwards towards her chest and though she was enjoying his ministrations, her mind becoming foggy with desire, she knew that she couldn’t let this continue. When Sebastian inevitably woke and found out what had occurred between them while he was in the grips of sleep, he wouldn’t be happy.
A Wolf's Oath Page 14
