Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  Gideon and Sebastian both looked up from the computer screen when she walked in. Despite her new plan, to enjoy it while it lasted, she flushed. That slight half-smile that she loved was on Gideon’s mouth and she took a deep breath. “My mom just called. She’s flying out now.” She told them the details and they looked at each other.

  “If there are no delays, that puts her landing around noon,” Sebastian said and Gideon nodded.

  “There was no feasible way for me to get her to wait. She’s my mom and she’s worried about me.” Eve said, feeling the tension coming off Gideon

  He looked at her, a wry smile curving his lips. “I know. I’m simply concerned for you.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll have Essie, right?”

  “Yes…” He looked back to Sebastian. “I hate this.”

  Sebastian gave a brief nod. “As do I. But we’ve done what we can.”

  Gideon came around the desk and took Eve’s hand. “The only thing I can figure out from all this is that it’s something from the Courts. You know nothing about that and were I to hazard a guess, this is why your mother was alarmed.”

  “Courts?”

  “I don’t know enough to tell you about it, so I won’t even try.” His grip on her hand tightened. “Please, Eve. If you feel anything out of place, tell Essie. Promise me that.”

  The concern in his eyes touched her. “Yes, Gideon. I promise.”

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to her skin. “Thank you.”

  Sebastian spoke. “It’s a four-hour drive to Missoula. Four hours back, maybe an hour in the airport. Traffic.” He glanced at Gideon. “We’ll be awake when they get back.” He looked back to Eve. “You’ll be getting up early.”

  “There is no way I can fall asleep now.” She laughed. While not totally on their schedule, she was getting there. “I’ve only been awake a few hours.”

  “I can help with that, if you like,” Alex’s voice came from behind her and she immediately turned red. Along with the flush of heat, the feeling came back. The kitchen wasn’t that long ago.

  “I… I think…” she trailed off as they all laughed.

  “He means he can send you to sleep, beautiful.” Gideon let go of her hand and went back behind the desk.

  She turned to Alex. “You can do it too?”

  He tilted his head. “We all can. It comes with the gig.”

  Her laughter was soft. “The gig.” This time, she held out her hand. “Okay, Alex. Send me to sleep.” She looked over her shoulder at the other two. The sight of them standing side by side was breathtaking. “Goodnight, gentlemen.”

  “Sleep well, Eve,” Sebastian said and there was a tone in his voice that slid over her skin like silk.

  “I’m sure I will.”

  He smiled before looking back at the computer.

  #

  Silence followed them as he led her through the house. Somehow, that was worse than the kiss in the kitchen. Anticipation built in her blood. But he was just going to tell her to sleep, right? Or more? Did he want her like she wanted him? Delayed gratification. He had a point. But how delayed? The unknown was going to drive her crazy. His fingers tightened around hers. Or was that her? Was she holding on to him like she was afraid he would just walk away again?

  He said something that she couldn’t hear over the blood rushing through her veins.

  She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of lust that weighed on her. One foot caught the other and she stumbled. But it didn’t matter. Alex opened a door, then they were inside, his lips on hers as her hands slid under his shirt, roaming his flesh.

  “Jesus, Eve.”

  This she did hear as her sweater was pulled over her head. The cold wall hit her back as his hands cupped her lace-covered breasts. She ached against him, groaning as his mouth moved over her collarbone.

  Her breath escaped her as his mouth moved lower, tongue tracing the edges of her bra. Her fingers wove through his hair as he tugged her leggings and panties down her hips.

  “Alex!” she gasped as he ran his teeth over the flimsy material covering her. The gasp turned into a moan as he slid a finger through the heart of her desire. Another stroke and her hips moved, searching for something to fill her. His breath was scorching as he chuckled against her skin.

  For a split second she was off her feet before standing bare in front of him. He came back to her, the feel of his clothes rough against her skin. She slid his shirt up his chest, running her tongue over the flesh she bared. His free hand gripped her head as her mouth learned him. She grazed his tight nipple with her teeth while fumbling with the button of his jeans. Fighting her body as Alex continued to slide his fingers through her folds was damn near impossible, but she finally had him in her hands, thick and oh so ready. On trembling legs, she slid her hand around his erection in time with his strokes.

  Her body shook with the need to find release. Her grip tightened around him as she came closer and closer to the peak. His teeth teased her skin as his thumb pressed against that bundle of nerves, finger sliding inside and hooking, stroking deep. She couldn’t stop the cries that broke from her as he shoved her over the edge. Her body froze, twitching and trembling as he continued his single-minded destruction of her sanity.

  “Alex.” His name was a broken sound as he drew out her orgasm until finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.

  He pulled away from her, watching her as she leaned back against the wall. The fire in her eyes grew with every piece of clothing he removed then he was a bare as she. Her gaze was something he could feel. Lifting her, she wrapped her legs around his waist and her nails dug into his flesh as he pushed into her wet heat.

  Her hiss stopped him.

  “Did I—.”

  “A little, but I like it.” He was wider than the other two, but, much like the spanking from Gideon, she realized she liked a little pain with her pleasure.

  “I’ll go—.”

  “Fast.” She cut him off again, tightening her legs, pulling him in deeper.

  He gave her a look made entirely of flames before he grinned. A grin that made her question the wisdom of her words. She quit breathing, quit thinking as he tightened his arm around her waist, keeping her still as he moved within her, faster and deeper with each thrust. Her eyes closed as her back arched, pushing her head against the wall. His lips closed around one pebbled nipple and she shuddered, crying out his name once more. Her hand moved, gripping his hair, keeping his mouth pressed against her skin. The pleasure was building too fast, too intense. She wasn’t going to survive.

  But that didn’t stop her body from helping with her destruction. Her hips rolled as she braced against the wall, the new angle allowing him to stroke that hidden bundle of nerves, over and over, with each thrust. Noises broke from her constricted throat as he plunged even deeper. Her head tossed from side to side as if denying what was happening while he sent her further into an ocean of pure bliss.

  Watching her shatter in his arms spurred him on to find his own release. Just a few more thrusts and he shouted his pleasure. His breath was as harsh as hers as the roaring in his head lessened. He pulled her away from the wall and she fell over his shoulder, hair trailing down to brush his skin.

  He carried her to the bed and slowly set her down. Her wide eyes met his and filled something in him. Some primal need that he didn’t know he had. A satisfaction that he made her look like that.

  Alex pulled the blankets down before coming back to her. Gently he lifted her and carried her to the side of the bed before laying her down. Moving to the other side, he turned off the lamp before climbing in beside her. Another place within him filled when she rolled and curled up against him.

  “Alex?” her voice was soft.

  “Hmm?” He found himself worried as to what she was going to say. Did he hurt her? He wasn’t exactly gentle. And she wanted fast. Did she regret it?

  “I don’t think you have to put me to sleep,” she yawned, her breath feathering
his skin.

  His smile wouldn’t be stopped. His head propped up on the pillows, he glanced down at her. Her eyes were closed as her hand lay over his chest. Right above his pounding heart. He covered that hand with his and closed his eyes, marveling at the warmth in his soul.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The beeping of her phone jolted her awake and Alex’s arm tightened around her waist.

  She smiled, the idea of him not wanting her to leave warming her. She dropped a kiss on the chest she was sprawled across and his arm loosened. As she sat up, lamplight flooded the room. The alarm went silent.

  Alex held out a robe and she winced as she stood. His eyes darkened as he realized that she hurt.

  “I’m so—.”

  She pressed her lips to his, stopping him from apologizing. If he could use his mouth to shut her up, she could do the same. “I’m not,” she said, and it was true. She wasn’t sorry at all. The ache in her body only reminded her of how satiated she was. And besides, he wasn’t totally to blame. It was her fault for having two of her men in the same night. A body could only take so much. Her men. She liked the sound of that entirely too much.

  She gave Alex a wink and he relaxed. Silently, she slid her arms into the cool silk. His arms opened for her and she stepped into them. His hand slid down the back of her head and through her hair and she sighed in contentment.

  “Thank you for last night,” she whispered.

  “I was going to say the same thing,” his voice was a rumble in her ears. “I know you promised Gideon, but please, Red, make me the same one. Stay safe out there.” He pulled his head back and looked at her. “Please.”

  “Why Alex, I do believe you care,” she grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

  She loved that they were concerned about her, but there was something even deeper in the nuances of what he said. Something she wasn’t going to explore for fear of what she might find.

  “You know I do.” His fingers ran over the skin of her cheek and she turned, nuzzling his hand. “And I have never felt so useless as I do right now.”

  “You’re not useless. Not to me, anyway. My hero.”

  He laughed before kissing the crown of her head. He stepped away as a soft knock cut through the air. “We’ll be waiting for you. Stay in touch. Your phone should have all our numbers. If trouble happens, call the house phone.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure all of this is for nothing, but yes. I’ll keep my guard up and let you know what’s going on. I swear it.”

  He tilted her head back and brushed her lips with his. “Hurry back,” he said, letting her go.

  Her fingers touched her mouth, the gentleness of his kiss stealing her breath. She nodded. “I will.” She finally managed to say. Grabbing her things, she opened the door to the hallway. She turned back to see Alex still standing where she left him, watching her. “Take a nap,” she said. “Time will go by quicker.”

  Finally, a smile replaced the torn look on his face. “I’ll dream of you.”

  She laughed and closed the door. Turning, she found Essie down the hallway by her door. After the woman heard the click of Alex’s door, she opened Eve’s. Early morning sunlight streamed into the hallway.

  “I have your coffee and breakfast ready, miss, but we need to be quick. There’s a storm coming and I can’t protect you from that.”

  “Thank you,” she told the kitsune.

  There was a mischievous look in the gleaming blue eyes. “Did they tell you about me?”

  Eve made her way to the table where Essie had her breakfast. She took a seat and a breath before answering. “A little.” She took a sip of the coffee that would wake her.

  “That’ll do for now.” Essie made herself busy straightening her already flawless bed. It should be flawless; she hadn’t slept in it in two nights. “So, what would ya like to wear today?”

  Eve glanced out the window at the gathering clouds. “Something warm,” she said with a laugh.

  “I know just the thing.” She walked to the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans. “These are lined. Perfect for the cold.” A heavy sweatshirt in dark brown and tan hiking boots completed the outfit. “Mind you, when you get back, you’ll want to change. It’ll be too warm for the house.”

  Eve laughed. “Probably.” She quickly finished her breakfast. “I’m going to take a quick shower then I’ll be ready.”

  Essie gave her a quick nod. “I’ll be right here. Gotta keep an eye on ya,” her voice changed; deepened. “There are some who want to hurt you. I won’t let them.”

  Her image did the blurry thing again and Eve shivered.

  “Don’t you worry about me, miss.” The lilt was back and Eve let out a shaky laugh.

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  She rushed through her morning ritual and the shower helped with the soreness from her… exertions… from the night before. Shoving limbs into clothing, she was dressed. To hell with her hair, it could dry on its own.

  A little trepidation set in as she left the bathroom. This was the first time she had been in a car since that night. The first time she had stepped foot outside. And she would be riding with something… not normal. Something that would protect her from a faceless enemy, of course. But… She took a deep breath and straightened her spine. She met Essie’s eyes and the… woman smiled.

  “I told them you were strong.” The deeper voice returned. So deep, it was almost masculine, very not Essie.

  “Is it time?” Eve asked before she could prove Essie wrong and run back to Alex.

  “Let’s go.”

  #

  While she knew they owned a lot of land, it wasn’t until they were out driving through it that she realized exactly how much. But then, it kept away nosy neighbors. Privacy would be somewhat important to the beings living in that house.

  Finally, they hit a highway. Eve thought her breath would come easier once they hit something more than gravel, but no.

  “Music?” Essie asked, glancing at her in the mirror.

  “No, thank you.” Her eyes dropped to her palm. The blue wasn’t as bright as she feared. But was it because it was fading, or she was controlling herself? She couldn’t answer that.

  “I’m fine,” she said to herself, willing it to be so. She spoke louder. “So, I didn’t know you chauffeured as well.” Small talk could be a distraction, right?

  “There is a lot you don’t know about me, miss.” Essie glanced back at her with a smile.

  “True.” She leaned her head back. “So…” What to talk about?

  “Eve?” Essie’s voice sounded almost childlike this time. Maybe it was because of the curiosity in it. “What do I look like to you?”

  Eve’s head snapped up. “You mean you don’t know?”

  “No, because I look different to everyone.”

  It hurt her head to think about that. To not have an identity. To be whoever someone needed it to be.

  “You have the most beautiful fluffy white hair, blue eyes that dance with laughter and a face lined from past and present smiles.” Her eyes met Essie’s in the mirror.

  “Who was this person to you?” Essie asked.

  “My grandmother.”

  Essie was silent and looked at the road.

  Eve hoped she didn’t offend the kitsune as the silence lengthened.

  “Most people, when they come across one of my kind, see something that can do something for them. Such as kill an enemy, pleasure them… protect them.” A quick glance. “You didn’t.”

  “Is that bad?” Eve asked.

  “No.” Essie sounded uncertain. “It’s rare. All you wanted was comfort,” her voice changed again. Becoming that deeper thing. “However, you might want to try to imagine me as something else if things happen.”

  Eve was confused. “How would I do that? Why would I?”

  “Have you ever seen your grandmother kill?”

  Eve clenched her hand into a fist, not needing to look down see the glow. She could feel it. Trying
her hardest to not see blood splattered across the older woman, she squeezed her eyes shut. But she couldn’t get the image out of her brain. No, she didn’t want to ever see that.

  “Miss?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, keeping her eyes sealed. “I’m fine.”

  “Perhaps I could have said that differently.” The voice was perfectly masculine now.

  “No, you have a point.” Where was the oxygen? Why couldn’t she breathe?

  “Should I pull over?” There was concern in those deep words.

  She shook her head before remembering Essie was driving. She… He? They might not be looking. Speak, Eve. “No, I’m fine.”

  Cold wind hit her face, returning some semblance of control. They put down the window for her.

  Her phone rang.

  Micah.

  She forgot. Even though she could feel the mark, she forgot he could as well. But even through his sleep? That was impressive.

  Swiping her screen, she spoke, “I’m okay.” She really needed to stop saying that. “Everything is fine.”

  His chuckle wrapped around her. “Something tells me otherwise.”

  “Essie and I were just having a chat.”

  There was silence on the line before he spoke again. “That explains it.”

  “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s not a big deal, Eve. I promise. I’m glad you’re okay.”

  Her laughter sounded only slightly hysterical to her ears, but the glow was starting to dim.

  “Micah?”

  “Yes, love?”

  She knew he didn’t mean it, but the term of endearment brought a smile to her face. “When will things stop sending me into a panic?”

  She didn’t know if he could or would answer when he did. “I can’t answer that. On one hand, I don’t ever want weird shit to stop bothering you, because that would mean that you were safe. Safe and away from the craziness of our world,” he paused for a long moment. “And I think it’s best if I don’t talk about the other hand.”

  “Come on, you can’t do that to me.”

  He laughed again.

  She glanced at her hand. The mark was gone. “Micah, it’s lights out. Time for you to go back to sleep.”