Bound by Fate (Cauld Ane Series Book 10)

by Piper Davenport

  “What?” I breathed out.

  He grinned. “Nothing, you’re just predictable.”

  I leaned up on my arms. “And that’s a problem, because…?”

  “It’s not a problem for me. I just want to make sure you’re enjoying yourself.”

  “I am enjoying myself.” I flopped back down. “Now, please continue.”

  He laughed, crawling over me, and settling his hands on each side of my waist, leaning down to press his nose to mine before kissing me. “You want this, Isla?” he taunted, pressing the tip of his cock to my entrance.

  I wrapped my legs around his hips and tried to get closer.

  “No,” he growled. “Tell me.”

  I bit my lip. As bold as he made me, I was still a little shy when it came to voicing my desires.

  “I want…” I pressed my head to the mattress and groaned.

  “What, baby?” he encouraged, sliding the tip of his cock just slightly inside of me.

  I want your cock.

  “Out loud, Isla.”

  “Grrr.” I scowled at him.

  “You can do it, baby.” He rocked forward again, and I let out a frustrated grunt.

  “I want your cock.”

  “You do?”

  “Aye.”

  “How do you want it, baby?” he teased, pressing into me but only slightly. “Hard? Fast?” he rocked again. “Slow?”

  I arched into him and gripped his arms. “I want you to fuck me six ways to Sunday.”

  He buried himself deep. “Your wish is my command.”

  I cried out as he finally began to move, faster and faster, kissing me as he twisted a nipple and buried himself deeper and deeper.

  “More,” I demanded, and he did not disappoint, slamming into me so hard, I came apart, crying out his name as an orgasm rocked me.

  I started to drop my legs from around his waist when I realized there was nothing below me. I let out a quiet squeak and wrapped my body around him. “Are we floating?”

  His head whipped up and he let out a quiet hiss. “What the fuck?”

  His tattoos began to glow, signaling to me that I would need to be the one to deescalate the situation. “Close your eyes, love,” I whispered.

  “Why the fuck are we in the air?”

  “Arric,” I crooned. “Close your eyes. Please.”

  He did and I slid into his mind using everything I had to calm him. Once his heartrate returned to normal, I felt the mattress at my back and let out a deep sigh.

  Arric knifed off the bed and dragged his hands through his hair as he paced our bedroom. “What the fuck is going on?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted, sitting up. “I can only assume it has something to do with your oracle abilities.”

  “It needs to fuckin’ stop.”

  “Why?” I countered.

  “Because I might hurt you.”

  I slid off the bed and wrapped my arms around his waist, kissing his chest. “You would never let anything hurt me, especially yourself.” I smiled up at him. “And I, for one, thought that was kind of hot.”

  “What if I’d dropped you?”

  “I would have fallen all of half a meter onto a soft surface.” I cupped his face. “Nothing happened, love.”

  “Something happened, Isla. Something I couldn’t control.”

  “We figured it out, Arric. Together,” I pointed out. “Like we always do. It’s you and me, forever, love. We’re a team, so you have nothing to freak out about.”

  He slid his hand to my neck and stroked my pulse. “If anything ever happened to you…”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to me, Arric.”

  He dropped his forehead to mine. “I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”

  “Same,” I admitted. “But I trust you to protect me, and you bet your arse, I’m going to protect you right back.”

  Arric grinned. “I’m figuring that out.”

  “Good.” I patted his chest. “Now… do you trust me to protect you while attending a family dinner?”

  “When?”

  “Tonight.” I bit my lip and tried not to frown. “Six o’clock.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I see how it is.”

  “How what is?”

  “The sexy lingerie. You were buttering me up to deliver the dildo of dinner.”

  I snorted. “Dildo of dinner?”

  “Right up my ass,” he ground out, turning and walking into the bathroom.

  “Wait.” I followed him. “Are you serious?”

  “No.” He sighed. “Sorry, baby. Just had a shit day.” He pulled me close again and kissed me. “Who’s gonna be at dinner?”

  “Just us,” I said.

  “Us, meaning…?” he asked, his body locked.

  “Just the seven of us.”

  He relaxed. “I can handle that.”

  “I’m aware.” I squeezed his chin. “What’s really going on?”

  “You don’t already know?” he challenged.

  “Of course I do, but I still want you to tell me how you feel about it.”

  “I honestly don’t know if I can put into words the feelings,” he said. “I can’t seem to grasp what I’m being told until long after I’m out of the presence of this so-called oracle.”

  “That’s not a bad thing, love,” I assured. “You have the right to take as much time as you need to understand what’s happening to you. Ultimately, you are the one who has to live with that information, right? I’m here to listen. I hope you know that.”

  He leaned down and kissed me. “I do know that, baby. I couldn’t do any of this without you.”

  I grinned. “Oh, I’m aware.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you too, honey,” I said. “Want to soap me up in the shower?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  I laughed and led him to our huge steam shower where we got dirty several times before he soaped me up.

  * * *

  Arric opened the car door for me, holding his hand out so I could take it and slide out. He pulled me close and kissed me gently, stroking my cheek and smiling. “You look beautiful.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, love. You do too. You okay?”

  He sighed. “Gettin’ there.”

  “According to Chelsea, Callum brought a case of beer from the company he just invested in. He said he’s willing to share the love.”

  “Your brother already owns most of the beer in Scotland, what more does he want?”

  I patted his chest. “He’s moving on to Ireland.”

  Arric grinned. “Irish beer I can get behind.”

  “Turncoat.” I leaned up and kissed him quickly. “I’m ready for Mum’s turkey. Let’s go eat.”

  “Explain this non-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner again,” he requested.

  I chuckled. “It’s simply an excuse for Mum to make turkey a month before Thanksgiving. Just go with it.”

  “Well, I haven’t had a proper non-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner in… ah… ever.”

  “Prepare to roll yourself home.”

  “Can’t wait,” he said, and we walked inside.

  “We’re here!” I called out.

  “You’re late,” my father growled as he walked into the foyer and pulled me in for a hug.

  I laughed. “We’re five minutes early.”

  Dad smiled. “Missed you, lass.”

  “Missed you too, Da.”

  Dad shook Arric’s hand, then led us through the house to the kitchen.

  “Isla!” Mum squeaked, rushing for me, and pulling me in for a hug. “Hi, honey. Good lord, I’ve missed you.”

  “We were only gone for a week,” I pointed out.

  “A week too long,” she retorted, releasing me, and moving onto Arric. “Hi, honey.”

  Arric hugged her. “Hey, Pepper.”

  “Can I help?” I asked.

  “We’ve got it, honey,” Mum said.

  My mother had a team of six in the kitchen with her
, plus my father, so I knew she’d deny my help, but she still raised me to be polite, and that meant I offered. Every time.

  “You go join everyone by the fire,” she continued. “Chelsea grabbed a couple bottles of wine earlier, so get some before it’s gone.”

  “Don’t have to tell me twice,” I said, and Arric and I headed into the great room.

  My brother stood and met us halfway, handing Arric a bottle of beer. “Figured you’d rather have this than wine.”

  Arric chuckled. “It’s like you read my mind.”

  Callum leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Welcome home.”

  “Thanks.”

  We moved further into the room where my sister and Henry greeted us, then we gathered around the unlit fireplace and Chelsea poured me a glass of wine.

  “How was Paris?” Chelsea asked.

  “It was amazing,” I breathed out. “I wish we’d had more time.”

  We’d only had one day which was part of the cruise, but we made a plan to go back as soon as we could.

  “We’ll go back,” Arric promised, squeezing my hand.

  I smiled and leaned against him.

  “When are you heading to Iceland?” Henry asked.

  “Three weeks,” I said.

  “What’s in Iceland?” Chelsea asked.

  “We’re hoping more answers,” Arric said.

  “Haddi believes that in order for us to get to the truth, we must go back to the beginning,” I said as my phone pinged. I grabbed it and glanced at the screen. “Oh my god.”

  “What’s wrong?” Arric asked.

  “Hershey’s out of his stall again,” I ground out. “Dad?” I called.

  “Aye, love?”

  I craned my head so I could see him in the kitchen. “Hershey’s out again.”

  “Bloody hell,” he growled, and dried his hands on a towel before pulling out his phone. “Jesus. He’s here.”

  “What do you mean, here?” I asked.

  While Arric and I had been on our honeymoon, my father had chipped Hershey with a tracker.

  “Here,” Dad said, and made his way to the front door.

  I rushed to follow, stepping out onto the porch to find my horse trotting toward us, whinnying like he was having a good old time.

  “What the heck?”

  Hershey threw his head up and headed straight for me, stopping within inches of me and shoving his nose into my hand. “What are you doing?”

  He whinnied like he understood me, and I laughed, kissing his muzzle. Arric walked out a few seconds behind me and Hershey seemed to amp up even more.

  “What the hell is going on with your horse?” Dad mused, running his hand down his neck.

  Hershey shook Dad off, and Arric shook his head, placing his palm on Hershey’s forehead. “Settle, beast.”

  Hershey lowered his head and my father chuckled. “You might not be a fan of horses, Arric, but he’s apparently a fan of yours.”

  “I’m warmin’ to him,” Arric admitted, stroking his muzzle, and I wrapped my arm around my mate.

  “My two favorite men.”

  “Oy,” Dad growled.

  “I mean, my two favorite men and equine.”

  “Better,” he said, kissing my temple. “Do you want to take him back?”

  Arric dropped his forehead to Hershey’s. “Go back to your stall and quit freakin’ everyone out.”

  Hershey let out a quiet grunt, turned, and trotted away. We all laughed and then Dad confirmed he’d made his way back to the barn. Once we were back inside, I installed the tracking app on both mine and Arric’s phones, ensuring we’d know where my horse was at all times.

  Arric

  “YOU’RE GOING TO wear a hole in that rug,” Isla said, drawing me back to reality.

  “What?”

  We’d been home for about a week, and I was having a hard time ‘relaxing.’

  She pointed to the floor. “If you keep pacing back and forth like that, you’re gonna wear a hole in that incredibly old, irreplaceable, rug.”

  I looked down to see the rug in question. “If it’s so old, why have it on the floor?” I asked.

  “Probably because it’s in a room that’s hardly ever used,” she replied.

  “Why’s that?”

  She shrugged. “Because it’s at the far end of the house, away from everyone else.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Then why did you choose it for us?”

  “Beeeecause it’s at the far end of the house, away from everyone else,” she grinned devilishly.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Good,” she said with a smile before licking her lips. “So, is there something I can do to help you to stop grinding your gears over there?”

  “I need a workout.”

  “Oh, good,” she said excitedly before whipping off her t-shirt and throwing it at me.

  “Hold on,” I said, handing it back to her. “I’m so sorry babe, but I think I’d tear you apart if we had sex right now.”

  “I fail to hear a problem,” she said, causing my cock to go rock hard.

  “Shit, Isla,” I groaned. “I’m already in enough pain.”

  “Oh, my god, love, are you really in pain? I’m sorry, I thought you were joking.” Isla’s tone shifting from sexy to concerned, then confused. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you already work out today? Is that why you’re sore?”

  “Twice,” I confirmed. “I got up at five this morning and did a full work out, and then lifted again after breakfast.”

  “Did you overexert yourself?”

  “No, and that’s the problem!” I bellowed.

  “I’m lost,” she said, patiently.

  “Imagine being hungry, but no matter how much you ate, never feeling full.”

  “That would be horrible.”

  “That’s how I feel when I work out right now. No matter how hard I push myself, it’s not enough. My body craves more. I’m afraid if I got physical with you right now, I might not be able to find my off switch. I can’t even trust my own body right now,” I said, my tattoos glowing red. This time signifying my anger at the enemy within.

  Isla stood and placed both of her hands on my chest, immediately turning the red glow to amber. “Look at me,” she said, drawing my gaze to hers before bending us into a private moment.

  Typically, Isla’s touch would calm me immediately and stop me from glowing. This time, however, we remained bathed in light, frozen in time. I could feel her attempts to soothe me, but my body resisted. Rejecting any substitute for the only thing it truly craved.

  Battle.

  Isla broke our embrace and I finally stopped glowing… sort of. My tattoos were more of a yellow, less amber, but still brighter than I’d like.

  “I have an idea,” Isla said excitedly before taking my hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re not going anywhere. You are going to stay in this room, and I am going to find my dad and uncles,” she said, donning her shirt again before opening the door.

  “Why?”

  “Because we’re gonna need them for what I have in mind. Plus, I don’t think they’d want to miss out on all the fun.”

  * * *

  An hour and a half later, Isla came back to find me climbing the walls.

  “Where have you been?” I demanded.

  “Come with me,” she said, ignoring my question, taking my hand, and guiding me out of the room.

  “What’s going on? Where are we going?”

  “Not far, just out to the back lawn,” she replied with a mischievous smile.

  “Why? What’s so special about the back lawn?”

  “Nothing, in particular. But, I have something special planned for you.”

  “For me? What is it?”

  “If I told you, that would spoil the surprise. And no trying to read my thoughts, either,” she bossed. “That would be cheating, and cheating is rude.”

  “I promise not to be rude,” I said, unable to contain my smile. I
had no idea when the last time someone had done something nice for me was, but I was deeply touched that Isla had done so. Whatever it was.

  As we neared the top the hill which led to the back lawn, Isla slowed our steps.

  “Before we get there, I want to warn you that some of my family will be joining us.”

  “Oh, okay,” I replied. “Who?”

  Isla said nothing, but as we crested the hill my question was answered. As far as I could tell, every one of the Gunnach family were present on the field. The men were dressed in their kilts and the clan tartan was proudly on display. A section of portable bleachers had been set up along with three competition stations, including a hammer throw, an over the bar weight, and of course a caber toss. In the bleachers were Isla’s mother, Pepper, sitting beside Queen Samantha, as well as a few of Isla’s cousins, and various other female family members. On the field, the men were warming up and joking loudly with one another.

  “What is this?” I asked, amazed at what I was seeing.

  “Welcome to the first annual Mann Invitational Tournament,” Isla said, proudly displaying her handywork. “I figure if you needed a proper Cauld Ane workout, the other boys were probably long overdue.”

  “But…how…how did you put all of this together so quickly?”

  “It’s amazing what a girl can accomplish with a couple dozen Cauld Ane and Winston at her disposal.”

  “That’s it. It’s official. You’re planning all of our kids’ birthday parties,” I said, leaning down for a kiss, but pausing when I saw tears sliding down her face. “What’s the matter, babe? Did I say something wrong?”

  “No,” she said, smiling up at me. “That’s just the first time you’ve mentioned us having children together and it…it just came out so…naturally. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

  “Wasn’t expecting it, and it made you happy?” I asked.

  “Aye,” she said.

  I pulled her close and kissed her as deeply as our physical bonds would allow.

  “I still can’t believe you did all this for me,” I said, holding her close.

  “You said you needed to exert yourself, and I felt bad that you came all this way for the games and never got to compete.”

  “No,” I corrected. “I came all this way to meet you.”

  “Good answer,” she said, before kissing me again. “Now, go and have your fun with the big smelly men,” Isla said before smacking me on the bum and shoving me towards the field.