Bishop

by Gabelman, Teresa

  The strength in Bishop’s body built. The veins in his neck and arms bulged as his eyes turned black as night. Bonnie immediately gave in to what was to come. She opened herself up completely because no way in hell was she going to miss out on this moment.

  As Bishop pumped into her, he threw his head back with his eyes slammed shut. She could see his fangs lengthen and wanted nothing more than for him to sink them into her skin. Okay, that shocked her a little, but she pushed it to the back of her mind as she watched his passion for her unleash. It was such a beautiful thing she took a mental snapshot. Never in her life did she want to forget this moment.

  “You are mine.” He roared as he thrust inside her one last time, his fingers working her into an ecstasy that blew her mind. Her body tightened like a bowstring, then released in such an explosion of pleasure she was sure she’d died. And if she was dead, what a way to fucking go.

  Hearing her name, she slowly opened her eyes and realized she hadn’t died but was staring up at Bishop, who seemed worried until a slow smile spread across his face.

  “What are you smiling at, witch hunter?” Her voice was low and raspy.

  “You, witch.” Bishop carefully picked her up and held her to him. “I’m smiling at you.”

  Chapter 19

  Never in his life had Bishop felt so fulfilled then he did right now. Holding Bonnie in his arms while watching the fire burn set him at ease. Not that he wasn’t alert for danger. That was embedded into him, but his mind was silent for the first time in such a long time. He knew he should get back to the compound, but he couldn’t make himself move. He had barely managed to force himself to get his jeans on, but his training had him dressing just in case of trouble. Fighting naked was not ideal in any situation. They were out in the middle of nowhere. Actually, he had no clue where in the fuck they were, and that puzzled him. Bishop always knew where he was, what was around, but this woman had definitely bewitched him. Now wasn’t the time for complacency, and he, better than anyone, knew that.

  “What are you thinking?” Bonnie snuggled closer as she turned her head to look at him.

  Bishop’s eyes roamed the area. “Right this second?” he asked. She nodded. “Where we are.”

  “Oh.” A look of disappointment crossed her face. “You’re back to Warrior mode.”

  “Bonnie, I’m always in Warrior mode. It’s who I am, and right now, especially because of your safety.” Bishop tugged her closer.

  She had put on his shirt, which looked more like a dress on her. Turning in his arms, she nodded. “I understand, but we’re safe here,” she said, still not saying exactly where they were. “Are you already regretting this?”

  Her blunt question took him by surprise to the point he had to think of what she just asked him. His hesitation wasn’t good, at least in her eyes. She went to push away from him, but he stayed her. “I will never regret what we have shared. Why would you even ask me that?”

  “I don’t know. You’ve just been so quiet. I figured—”

  “You figured wrong.” He didn’t even let her finish. “I guess I could ask you the same thing. Regrets?”

  “No, I don’t regret it. Absolutely not. It was definitely the best thing that has ever happened to me.” She didn’t hesitate in her answer.

  Male pride swarmed him as well as feeling honored that he was the best thing that ever happened to her. Damn, what man wouldn’t want to hear that from a beautiful woman? He went to speak, but she continued.

  “I guess you could say you were on my bucket list,” Bonnie added, then went to snuggle back against him, but he stopped her.

  “Wait, what?” Bishop frowned, hoping like hell he didn’t hear her right. “Your… bucket list?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Bonnie gave him a cheeky grin. “I added you to it after I saw you the first time. It’s a good thing, Bishop. I mean, I have a lot on my bucket list, and you moved right up to number one.”

  He seriously didn’t know what to think about this. He continued to stare at her to see if she was messing with him, and sure enough, a huge grin broke out on her face. He grabbed her, then gently laid her on her back in a move so swift she gasped. “So what else is on this bucket list? Any other men, perhaps?”

  “No.” She shook her head, then bit her lip. “You moved him right off the list.”

  “Who?” Bishop growled, and his eyes narrowed.

  “I’m kidding, Bishop.” Bonnie kissed his frown away. “No man other than you has made my bucket list.”

  The rage that consumed him didn’t really shock him. What did shock him was the total relief knowing there was no other man. “So what else is on your bucket list?” he asked again, trying to lighten the mood he had darkened with his stunt of jealousy. He realized he really didn’t know Bonnie that well, which bothered him. He wanted to know everything outside of Orjyll.

  Glancing up at the sky, she smiled, her features softening as a faraway look flashed across her face. “My bucket list is probably much different from the average Joe’s.” Her smile slipped slowly from her face. “To eat at a restaurant without having to watch my back. To laugh and keep that happy feeling before my reality sets in. To enjoy life and what it offers without fear of it ending prematurely.”

  Her emotions settled over him and he felt her sadness, but he also felt her need for normalcy. Once Orjyll was out of the way, and he damn sure would be wiped from the face of the earth, could Bishop give her what she so desperately sought? He was a Warrior. His life was full of danger. He had enemies of her kind and many of his.

  “Silly, huh?” she said, not realizing what turmoil her words brought to him.

  “No.” He forced a smile. “Not silly at all.”

  “Do you have a bucket list?” Bonnie grinned up at him, excitement lighting her eyes. “I bet you do.”

  He shook his head. “No. Not big on lists.” He glanced up at the sky. The sun was rising, making the snow glisten like glass. He wouldn’t change the night he’d spent with Bonnie for anything, but he knew reality came with the sun. It was time they headed back, but he wanted more than anything to stay right here in this moment.

  “Did I say something?” Bonnie frowned, still staring at him.

  Now wasn’t the time. He didn’t want to ruin what they had shared. Maybe he was thinking too much about her bucket list. “No, you didn’t say anything.” He worked a real smile to his mouth and then pulled her up. “But I am going to have to get back.”

  “Dammit, I did say something.” Bonnie sighed, then pushed her way up to her feet. “It never fails. My mouth always runs before my brain.”

  Bishop watched as she yanked his shirt off and tossed it to him. She was completely naked, her back turned toward him. She was beautiful. Rounded in all the right places. Not skinny, but womanly with curves that almost drove him to his knees. She bent over to get her clothes, and he almost did just that. He hadn’t wanted to take her again, because he knew she had to be sore after their first time.

  “I know better to open up because I always say the wrong thing.” She continued her little rant, and actually, it was cute the way she was bitching herself out. “I’ll never learn to just keep my mouth shut.”

  Reaching out, he grabbed her arm and turned her around. She looked adorable, standing there naked, holding her clothes and staring up at him. “You didn’t say anything wrong, Bonnie,” he said, then stopped her from looking away from him after she rolled her eyes. “You can say anything to me, and it won’t be wrong.”

  “I am usually always right.” Bonnie smirked with a cocked eyebrow. “Actually, I’m always right. No usually about it. But seriously, I don’t really have a bucket list. Just things I think about that would be nice in my life every once and a while.”

  “And you will have that. I promise you.” Bishop pulled her to him, then hissed as her naked body pressed against his. “Okay, you really need to get dressed. I’m having a real hard time controlling myself.”

  “Why are you having to control
yourself?” Bonnie asked as her hand went south, but he caught it right in time.

  “Because we need to take it slow. I wasn’t too gentle toward the end, and I know you’re sore.” Bishop kissed her hand, then the top of her head. “Plus I’m sure Sloan is ready to kick my ass off the team. We need to get back.”

  Bonnie nodded, looking disappointed as she started to dress. “I’ll transport you, but I’m not leaving.”

  “And I’m not leaving you here alone.” Bishop frowned at her after pulling on his shirt.

  “I won’t be alone,” Bonnie said absently, then turned to look up at him. “Kira should be here soon.”

  It didn’t take Bishop long to figure out exactly what that meant. “No.” He shook his head. “Not today.”

  “What do you mean, not today?” Bonnie ran her fingers through her hair. “The sooner, the better.”

  “I meant what I said, which is no and not today,” Bishop said with a growl, pulling on his boots. Not ever, if he had anything to do with it.

  “Bishop, you don’t have any say on whether this happens or not.” Bonnie dropped her hands from her hair to stare at him. “She is transferring my mother’s powers to me, here, today.”

  Her words hit him hard. It wasn’t in his makeup to just step back and say, ‘Sure, put your life in danger for the rest of us while I stand here and watch.’ Fuck! “I can’t let you do this.”

  “Then I will transport you now because I am going to do this.” Bonnie slapped her hands on her hips and glared at him, her face red with anger. “This is not new information. This is what I said was going to happen, and it is going to happen.”

  “But I didn’t agree to it,” Bishop roared, losing his shit, but couldn’t stop himself.

  Bonnie didn’t say anything at first. She simply stared at him and then slowly shook her head. Dammit, didn’t she care that doing this could take her life? Well, fuck that. He cared enough for both of them, obviously.

  “I don’t need your permission.” She cocked her head at him. “Though I would appreciate your support. This has to be done. I have to do this, Bishop.”

  “Why? Why you?” Bishop hated feeling helpless. Dammit.

  “Because I’m the only one who can.” Bonnie straightened her shoulders, the confidence in her voice and body language undeniable. “He has to be stopped.”

  Voices reached them, sending Bishop, who hadn’t been paying attention to what was going on around them, into protective mode, pulling her behind him. He turned, ready to face whatever danger presented itself, but his eyes only found Kira, Ronan, Mira, Steve, and Ryker. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

  “I asked him to be here,” Bonnie said, then stepped out from behind him.

  Okay, that fucked with him. She asked Ryker to be here, but never said a word to him about any of this until now. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her. “You never said a word to me about this, but you asked Ryker to be here. What if I hadn’t shown up last night?”

  Her silence was such a blow, making him want to tear something to pieces. His hands clenched, his jaw tightening painfully.

  “What about last night?” he growled down at her, not really knowing why he asked her that. No, that wasn’t true. He did know why he asked her, and he wanted her answer.

  Her head snapped back as if he had slapped her. “What about last night?” Bonnie shot back. Her eyes took on a haunted look. She sighed. “To me, last night was something I will never forget, Bishop. If today is my last day, that makes last night even more special to me. But last night does not give you any power over my decision to do this. To do anything for that matter.”

  “The fuck it doesn’t.” Bishop stopped himself short of shaking some sense into her. He let her go and ran his hands through his hair, so he didn’t shake her out of frustration. “You could die, goddammit.”

  “Then I die,” Bonnie whispered, then cleared her throat. “Long before I met you, my fate was set in motion. To be fair, Bishop, you weren’t supposed to be a part of my fate. But you are.”

  He wanted nothing more than to grab her and… what? What in the fuck was he supposed to do? Run off with her? That solved nothing, and she would end up hating him.

  “I can do this, Bishop.” Bonnie put her hand on his arm as if that would reassure him. It didn’t. “I have to do this.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me last night?” Bishop asked, staring down at her, searching her eyes for the truth.

  “Because I was afraid you’d leave,” she replied matter-of-factly. “And I needed you.”

  Her words of need hit him hard, sending every emotion known to man throughout his body. Son of a bitch. Never in his life had he been so conflicted about what to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but also realized that would be a mistake.

  “I understand if you need to leave. I’ll make sure you get back.” Bonnie wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight, then whispered, “But it would mean the world to me for you to stay. If this is my last day, I want you here above anyone else.”

  Tipping her head up to his, he kissed her hard. “I’m going nowhere,” he said against her lips, then pulled away slightly. “Don’t die on me today, Bonnie Grail.”

  Chapter 20

  Bonnie never cried, but it seemed that’s all she felt like doing around this man. Sad tears flowed as well as happy tears. So many mixed emotions spiraled through her. Her heart and soul had been torn from her so many times in her life. The things she had seen and had to do had hardened her to the point she felt as if she had only one emotion, and that was hatred. The numbness she felt for the situation was blossoming into tingles of feelings, and that reaction terrified her. Yet deep down, she wanted more of the numbness to fade. As she stared up into Bishop’s handsome face, fear that this was it for her hit her hard. Last night and this moment would be the last.

  Shaking her head and getting her thoughts back on track, there were no words. It was best she did what she came here to do, and whatever the Goddess saw fit to happen, would happen. And that, unfortunately, had always been the story of her life.

  “I just want to say…” Steve’s voice broke her attention away from Bishop, which she needed right now. “I’m not a fan of transporting.”

  “You’re fine, Steve.” Mira rolled her eyes as they walked closer.

  “Actually, I’m not sure. I think my stomach and balls are somewhere else at the moment.” Steve’s voice did sound a little shaky.

  “Transporting by magic isn’t my favorite either,” Bonnie agreed with a nod.

  “We interrupting something?” Steve asked, looking around with a sly grin.

  “If you’d been any earlier, then yes, you would have.” Bonnie didn’t have any problems being honest and she wasn’t embarrassed. She glanced at Bishop to see his reaction and wasn’t surprised to see him glaring at Steve.

  “My man.” Steve went in for a high five, but stopped at the growl coming from Bishop.

  “Nice place,” Kira said, looking around. “Yours?”

  “Yeah,” Bonnie said proudly, scanning the area. “Figured this would be as safe a spot as any. I don’t want Orjyll to have any idea what’s going on, and we’re far enough away from anyone to have the power transfer be exposed.” She didn’t add that if this totally went down the shitter and killed her, this would be the place she’d want to go.

  “What do you mean your place?” Ronan also looked around with a frown. “There isn’t even a house.”

  “Most witches have a special secret place that they go to in order to become one with nature. We’re elemental witches,” Kira replied, glancing at her mate. “I haven’t been to mine in quite some time.”

  “Neither have I.” Mira sighed.

  “So, what exactly do you guys do in a secret place?” Steve frowned.

  “Dance naked under the moon as we call upon the spells of our ancestors,” Bonnie said with a straight face, then turned to grin at Ryker, who had remained quiet. “Isn’t that right, Ryker?”<
br />
  “Seriously?” Steve looked at Mira. “You dance naked out in the open?”

  “Thanks, Bonnie.” Mira frowned at her.

  “I’m a warlock,” Ryker said, then grinned. “The only dancing I do naked is if I have a woman with me.”

  “Now that’s what I’m takin’ about,” Steve said, then got an elbow from Mira.

  Bonnie chuckled, and looked toward Bishop, who wasn’t smiling. He looked foreboding and angry. She guessed he wasn’t in the mood for a bit of teasing.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Kira picked up on Bishop’s attitude obviously. “I promise to try harder. I can do this.”

  “I’m sure.” Bonnie walked over to the blanket that she had spent the most glorious night on, and picked up her mother’s journal that lay beside it. “I have read my mother’s journal over and over again. This is my right. She even admits it but said she couldn’t bestow that fate onto me. But it is my fate. We all know this. By rights, her power should be mine. With her powers, she knew I would go after Orjyll, sealing my fate once and for all.”

  “What do you mean, once and for all?” Bishop finally broke his silence.

  “For a witch hunter, you sure don’t know much about our kind,” Ryker said with a cocked eyebrow. “Or was just killing us all you cared to learn?”

  “I learned real well, especially how to take out warlocks.” Bishop’s answer was hissed in anger.

  “You ever heard of the Rule of Three?” Ryker said, his eyebrow cocked and ignoring Bishop’s statement. “By the look on your face, you have.”

  “That’s beside the point.” Bonnie threw Ryker a death stare, but Ryker totally ignored her.

  “No, that is the damn point,” Ryker shot back, then glanced at the blanket before looking back at her. “He obviously deserves to know.”

  “What’s the Rule of Three?” Steve asked when everyone remained silent.

  “It means that whatever she does to her father, because she is of his blood, will come back to her threefold.” Bishop’s voice shook in rage as he glared down at her. “And you want to pay that price, Bonnie?”