Bound by Tears (Cauld Ane Series, #6)

by Piper Davenport

  He smiled and ran his thumb across her lower lip. “Because I know.”

  Jesska rolled her eyes. “Cocky man.”

  “Confident,” he corrected.

  “Confident, cocky, kind of the same thing.”

  “You’ve forgotten something big, however.”

  “Have I?” She raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

  “I never break my promises.”

  Kaspar tilted her chin and covered her mouth with his. She sighed as he cupped the back of her head and held her tighter. Guilt crept in and she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her retreat. “Let it come, baby. We’ll deal with it together.”

  “I haven’t dealt with it in ten years. What makes you think we can deal with it together?”

  “Because it’s done, Jesska. There is nothing you can do to change it. But you can love me and let me love you, and remember your friend fondly.”

  She blinked. “He was far more than my friend.”

  “Perhaps I can’t wrap my mind around that just yet.”

  “I feel like I’m forgetting him.”

  “You’ll never forget him,” Kaspar said. “He made an indelible mark.”

  “True.” Jesska nodded and sighed. “But, honestly, I really wasn’t expecting you.”

  He chuckled. “I wasn’t expecting you either, but I’m very glad I found you.”

  “Me too,” she admitted. “I never thought I’d feel again.”

  “What do you mean? You feel deeply. I can sense it.”

  “I loved Seth, but I love you very differently.”

  He swept her hair from her forehead, slipping it behind her ear. “Do you? How?”

  “Deeper, I guess.” She shook her head. “I’m not making sense.”

  “You’re doing fine, sweetheart.”

  “When I lost Seth, I thought I’d never feel the same way about anyone the way I felt about him. He was my first...everything. But what I feel for you has surpassed him.” She bit her lip. “I feel like I’m disrespecting his memory by saying it, but what I felt for him wasn’t even close to what I feel for you.”

  “It’s our way, elskan.”

  “I’m beginning to see that.”

  He grinned and stroked her cheek again. “Are you ready?”

  “Do you know what to do?”

  Kaspar raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  She stroked his chest. “You said that your people had never bound a human before. How do you know what’s going to happen? How did Ari?”

  “Ah.” He smiled. “I called Kade Gunnach.”

  “Why does that name sound familiar? I think Megan talked to him, right?”

  “Yes. He’s the one who gave the order to release Ari, but it was because his mate, Samantha convinced him to do so. She’s a doctor and used to be human. I called him, and she was kind enough to get on the phone and fill me in on a few things. She was also able to assist Ari tonight.”

  “I wondered who he was on the phone with.”

  He kissed her temple. “Are you ready, baby?”

  She nodded.

  “I will say the words first and then you will say them, já?”

  She nodded again.

  “And then together. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  He leaned close. “One more kiss and we’ll begin.”

  She kissed him, and he took her hands. “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.)

  “Now me?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I’ll help you if you get stuck.”

  “Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem... um...”

  “You’re doing great. Ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið. Ég er þinn að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta. Ást mín er alger.”

  She nodded. “Ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið. Ég er þín að eilífu. Eining okkar mun aldrei bresta. Ást mín er alger.”

  “Well done, baby,” he said. “Now together.”

  “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,” they said.

  Jesska felt her legs give way beneath her, but Kaspar caught her and settled her on the bed.

  Kaspar knelt between her thighs, guiding her legs over his shoulders and lowering his mouth to her center. Jesska sighed, sliding her hands into his hair as he tortured her with his tongue. She dug her heels into his back, lifting her hips to get more of him, relishing the feeling of his tongue on her clit. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples pebbled with desire, but when he slid a finger inside of her, then two, she came apart.

  “Já, elskan. Come for me.”

  Jesska gripped his shoulders as an orgasm ripped through her.

  He removed his hand and she groaned in frustration, but he didn’t leave her hanging for long. He kissed his way up her body. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby. I’m going to go slow.”

  “I don’t like to bring this up right now, Kaz, but I’m not a virgin.”

  “I understand sweetheart, but it has been a long time. You will be tight.”

  She felt heat flood her face. “Why are we talking about this?” she complained.

  “Look at me, Jess.”

  She met his eyes and he smiled. “Don’t be embarrassed. We are in this together, yes?”

  Jesska nodded.

  “In a second, you will be hot for another reason, but I need you to know that I love you. I can feel your shame, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “But I didn’t wait for you.”

  “And I didn’t wait for you, sweetheart. It’s the same. But it’s in the past and we are moving forward.”

  She stroked his cheeks. “I love you.”

  He smiled. “You trust me?”

  She nodded and Kaspar slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue sweeping into her mouth. His fingers worked her nipple to a tight bead and then he focused on the other one. By the time he slid his hand between her legs again, she thought she might go mad with wanting. “Kaspar,” she breathed out.

  He shifted his hips between her legs, sliding himself inside of her.

  “Oh, god, yes,” she rasped, raising her knees so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

  “Are you all right?”

  She lifted her hips. “Yes.”

  Kaspar moved slowly at first, driving her insane, but also working her body into a frenzy. He slipped his hand between them and she thought she’d come apart right then and there, but then Kaspar buried himself deeper inside of her, moving his fingers back to her clit and applying more and more pressure as he slammed into her over and over.

  Kissing her again, he hitched one of her legs up further, holding her secure at the knee while balancing himself with his other arm and surging into her.

  When Jesska’s orgasm built to the point of no return, she couldn’t hold herself back and called his name as she climaxed around him.

  Kaspar gave a few more thrusts before she felt him pulse inside of her and he collapsed, rolling her to her side, but staying connected. “Elskan,” he breathed out, his voice gentle.

  “That was...so...”

  “Ja, baby, I know.”

  As he held her, she couldn’t stop a quiet sob as peace and all-encompassing love covered her. She’d never been loved like this.

  “Shhh, elskan. Did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head, her tears leaking down her temples.

  “Hvers vegna ertu að gráta, elskan?” (Why are you crying, baby?)

  “I’m crying because—wait, how can I understand you?” she asked.

  He wiped her tears. “Við erum bundin, elskan. Þú skilur... og munt brátt vera fær um að tala íslensku... reiprennandi.” (We are bound, sweetheart. Y
ou can understand... and will soon be able to speak Icelandic... fluently.)

  “Wow. I mean, I remember you saying that, but I didn’t realize it would be so fast.”

  “Each person is different.” He kissed her quickly. “Now, why are you crying?”

  “Because I’m so happy.”

  “You’re crying because you’re happy?”

  She nodded, slipping her fingers through his hair. “I didn’t really think I’d ever be happy again.”

  Kaspar chuckled. “I love you, silly girl.”

  “Yeah, yeah, keep talking like that, buddy and I’ll show you just how unhappy you’ll be.”

  Kaspar laughed as he kissed her neck. “I apologize... little one.”

  Jesska couldn’t stop a giggle, even though she tried to scowl... unsuccessfully. Within seconds, pain shot through her abdomen and she gripped Kaspar’s arms as she groaned.

  “Allt í lagi, elskan, ég hef þig.” (Okay, baby, I’ve got you.)

  He reached over to where he’d put his phone, fired off a quick text to Camilla, and then pulled Jesska’s back to his chest, sliding the sheet up to cover their lower bodies. He heard Camilla moving around in the other room and he prayed a quick prayer of thanks for his efficient and caring assistant.

  KASPAR HELD JESSKA close, despite the fact she tried to push him away. He felt the heat and knew her skin burned, but he had no choice. “If I don’t keep contact, baby, it will hurt more.”

  She hissed as she tried to scoot away again. He moved with her. It took a few minutes for him to calm her, but she finally stopped trying to fight him. “Good, baby. Breathe.”

  “Thirsty,” she rasped.

  “I know. Camilla will be here in a minute with water and ice.”

  As if on cue, his assistant knocked quietly on the door. “Yðar hátign?” (Your Majesty?)

  “Come,” he called.

  Camilla pushed open the door. She had the ice sheets he’d asked her to retrieve from the plane. She laid them over the couple, averting her eyes as she did so.

  Jesska whimpered as the sheets touched her, but she quieted quickly.

  “Jesska’s thirsty,” Kaspar said, and Camilla nodded, holding up a bottled water.

  She walked to Jesska’s side of the bed, and Kaspar helped Jesska sit up to drink, keeping the sheet around her for modesty. Camilla placed a bowl on the side table next to Jesska and then walked back to the door. “I’ll be right outside, Sire.”

  “Thank you,” he said, and wrapped the ice sheet tighter around Jesska, relieved her body was starting to relax.

  “When does this stop?”

  “Soon, baby,” he promised.

  “That’s not really an answer, Kaz,” she complained.

  He sighed. “I know.”

  Kaspar had no way of knowing exactly how any of this would go or how long it would last. He knew there were books on the subject of humans being converted to Kalt Einn, but he’d had no reason to read them up until now. He and his brothers—their entire clan—had been raised to believe it was impossible for a Kalt Einn to mate with a human, and it was one of the reasons Kade Gunnach’s father had been exiled to Scotland. Or so he’d believed. Ari had said he’d discovered a few things Kaspar didn’t know, and he would explain once he’d reunited Megan with their daughters. They would regroup in Scotland.

  Jesska groaned, dragging Kaspar from his thoughts. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  He grabbed the bowl Camilla had left and held it under Jesska’s chin. When her stomach calmed, he gave her more water. She rolled over to face him, burrowing into his chest.

  “I’ve got you, baby.”

  “My skin feels weird,” she said, and glanced down, gasping. “The scars...”

  Kaspar looked at her legs. Her scars were disappearing in front of them.

  “They’re going in order.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  She pointed to where one of the scars used to be on her arm. “This is where I made my first cut.” Then she pointed to the scar on the inside of her thigh, already fading. “That was the cut that got me admitted to the psych ward.” She blinked up at him. “They’re all going away. Like whatever you did to heal my soul, is working to heal my body.”

  “I don’t know that I had much to do with it.”

  “Just take the credit, Kaz.” Jesska wrapped her arms around his waist and stroked his back. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  Another wave of pain hit her, but Kaspar wouldn’t let her retreat from the shelter of his body. He pulled her closer and waited it out. The pain didn’t last as long this time and within an hour, it seemed the worst was over.

  “Can I sleep now?” she whispered.

  “If you’re tired, baby, sleep.”

  She nodded against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Kaspar held her for as long as it took for her breathing to even out and her body to completely relax, before sliding from the bed and pulling on clothing. He snuck out of the room and Camilla rose to her feet from her seat.

  “Sire,” she said. “How is she?”

  “She’s sleeping.”

  “Is she comfortable?”

  “Já. Thank you for all your help.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Your Majesty.”

  Kaspar glanced at the clock on the wall. “The plane will not be back until tomorrow afternoon and will need time to refuel, so we won’t be able to leave until tomorrow evening.”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  “I think you should take the day tomorrow to explore.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Take Jóvin, if that is acceptable to you, and see Portland. You don’t need to be back until five tomorrow afternoon to supervise packing.”

  “I... I don’t really know what to say,” she said.

  “Would you rather not?”

  “No,” she rushed to say. “I’d love to. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  “I will make sure Jóvin has everything you need. For now, please take the rest of the night off. I can take care of Jesska.”

  Camilla’s eyes widened and then she nodded and lowered her head. He didn’t miss her smile as she left the room, giving Kaspar much desired privacy.

  Kaz?

  He heard her voice in his head and turned to find Jesska standing in the bedroom doorway, the sheet draped around her and her hair a mess. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Did I wake you?

  She gasped. “How did I hear you?”

  We can speak telepathically now, baby.

  That is so cool.

  He smiled. “Was I too loud?”

  She shook her head, tears sliding down her face.

  He closed the distance between them. “What, baby? What’s wrong?”

  Jesska wrapped her arms around him. “You can just be so incredibly sweet sometimes.”

  “What did you hear?”

  “All of it.”

  “Damn, my reputation is ruined,” he complained.

  Jesska giggled. “Well, if you gave Austri and Jens the day off too, then I’d be more concerned.”

  “I can’t, baby.”

  She kissed his chest. “Why not? I plan to keep you busy all day tomorrow anyway, and that does not include Austri or Jens, so why do they even need to be here?”

  “It’s not done.”

  “Oooh, it’s not done,” she retorted, and smiled up at him. “Aren’t you like supreme ruler of all the land?”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay, maybe you just act like you’re supreme ruler of all the land.”

  Kaspar chuckled. “What’s your point, elskan?”

  “My point is, that if you want them to take a day off, then you have all the power to make them take one, right?”

  He sighed. “I suppose that’s true.”

  She let the towel drop to the floor. “Then make it so.”

  Kaspar drew in a quick breath, the sight of his bonded mate irresistible. “I will make it so,”
he promised, picking her up and carrying her to the bed.

  She pushed him onto his back and straddled him. “I want to play.”

  “Oh?”

  “Grab the headboard,” she directed, leaning down to kiss his chest. “And don’t let go.”

  “What if I want to touch you?”

  She grinned. “Too bad.”

  Jesska kissed her way down his chest, sliding her legs between his, and kneeling in front of his already hard cock. She licked her lips and slid her hand around the shaft, guiding it into her mouth where she took it as deep as she could without gagging.

  “Baby,” he rasped, reaching for her hair.

  She lifted her head with a frown. “No touching, Your Majesty, or I will be forced to handcuff you to the bed.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You have handcuffs, elskan?”

  “Do you want to find out?”

  He raised his hands, slowly like he was apologizing, and gripped the headboard again, and Jessica grinned, taking his cock back in her mouth.

  She cupped his balls with one hand, running her other up and down his length as she took him deeper and deeper into her mouth. God, he tasted incredible and she couldn’t get enough. She knew he liked it just as much when his knees came up and he began thrusting into her mouth, fucking her gently, but enough to make her body begin to respond. She could feel her clit thrumb with desire as her nipples hardened and her pussy contracted with need.

  I’m going to come, elskan.

  Come.

  And he did. Spectacularly. She continued to suck until his cock stopped pulsing and then she swallowed and found herself pulled up the length of his body, pushed onto her back, and filled with his girth.

  Oh, God, Kaz. Yes.

  “You are amazing,” he breathed out, kissing her.

  He spent the next hour showing her just how amazing she was. He was pretty sure he’d promised to buy her a rocket ship at one point, but he wasn’t sure and didn’t care. He’d give her anything she wanted and do it with a smile on his face.

  * * *

  Charlotte MacMillan checked her appearance in the hallway mirror... again. Her biological mother was set to arrive in less than an hour, and she was beyond nervous. She ran her fingers through her long blonde hair and pinched her cheeks in an effort to give them a little more color.

  Her husband grinned as he rounded the corner and slipped his arms around her from behind, laying his hands over her expanding middle. She still couldn’t believe the direction her life was taking. Niall MacMillan was gorgeous and loved her more than she would ever deserve. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall, and the most incredible man she’d ever met.