The prince in me wants to intervene, but I’ve decided to let Avery handle the humans for now.
She’s definitely more used to them.
Avery looks gorgeous tonight in a red sweater that rides low on her shoulders and skims her generous curves. Her dark skin glows against the scarlet, and her tight jeans show off strong legs and a beautiful ass.
The bond between us is stronger, practically glowing as our soul streams intertwine. They’ve always been reaching toward each other, teasing, winding around.
But right now, they are finally merging, swirling, pulling me to her as surely as if we were magnets.
The woman Avery pushed looks up at me, giving me an odd little smile. Then she runs off into the crowd, disappearing before Avery can mess with her.
“Gross,” Avery says. “Can’t believe she would just do that here, in front of everyone.” She puts her hands on her hips as she turns to me, and her eyes narrow, glittering dangerously. “You.”
I just stare at her, wondering what she’s angry at me for.
She walks closer, grabs me by the collar, and stares into my eyes. She looks down over my body as if checking to see that nothing is amiss.
As one of the strongest beings in this or any world, it’s a little odd to see her concern for me.
But my bond pulses, growing stronger when she’s close.
“For all this talk about only wanting your soul bond, you let her get pretty close,” Avery says, taking another step in.
I bite my lip, looking around for Tanner.
The two of us waited as long as we could before entering the club because both of us dreaded it. But when I saw through a window that Avery was on the dance floor, I couldn’t hold back any longer.
In the middle of the crowd, she’d be too vulnerable to a chaos fae.
She moves a hand to my collar, gently pulling at the button before running a finger down my chest.
My body is on fire, and vaguely, in the distance, I see Tanner sitting at the bar.
He raises his hands in a thumbs-up, and my neck burns red.
I send him a glare over Avery’s shoulder that promises I’ll turn him to slush if he doesn’t look away now.
The bond is not for him to watch.
I glance at my wrist, feeling a bit guilty about not wearing more suppressors. Avery’s eyes go there too, and she grabs my hand, lifting it up.
Despite her strength, her fingers are delicate and small compared to mine.
I want to protect her. Whether she needs it or not, the urge is so strong.
She drops my hand, moving to stand between my legs, wrapping her arms around my neck.
She’s still glaring at me, but there’s a blush on her cheeks and heat in her eyes, though she’s trying to hide it.
She leans in a little closer, and I can smell the floral scent of her perfume, sensual and alluring. “If you aren’t going to defend yourself, then I’m just going to have to stake my claim.”
I can feel the fae in her awake. Strong.
Her lips move over mine, and for once, it’s an aggressive female I don’t mind accepting as my hand winds up into her hair and pulls her close. I stand up out of the chair, wrapping my other hand around her waist and kissing her back just as aggressively.
It’s a battle of wills as we push out onto the dance floor, tongues entwining, the warm feel of our bond surrounding us, lifting us above the dim lights and the music and the bodies bouncing on all sides.
I don’t care who’s watching. I can see my whole life with her.
Children, a future, fighting by each other’s side. It doesn’t even matter what world we’re in as long as we’re together.
We really are the perfect match.
Her hands bury themselves in my hair hungrily, and her mouth opens wider, allowing me to swipe deep, claiming every inch, exploring everywhere she likes best while my hands run over her body, feeling where she’s most sensitive by the little moans and jerks she makes in my arms.
But no matter how much it feels like she’s melting, she can’t seem to pull back, only pushing herself closer, winding her hands tighter in my hair, my shirt.
I think of fae as civilized creatures, but right now, we’re like animals, so hungry for each other, to consummate the potential between us, that civilization is the last thing on our minds.
I just want to take her right here on the dance floor. Construct an ice structure so no one can see us.
Panting, I can’t wait any longer. And I don’t think Avery would let go of me if I tried.
And my heart, my body, none of me would want to.
Only a hard smack to the back of my head snaps me out of it, and I wince, keeping one arm around Avery’s waist protectively as I turn to face whoever just attacked.
I look up to see Tanner, red-faced and furious. He looks from me to the room, where some humans are still dancing, but others have stopped to watch curiously.
Tanner leans in to hiss in my ear. “Are you going to take her here so that when her wings come out, we can be outed to the whole world?”
I suck in a breath, cursing myself for my stupidity even as the bond pulses painfully and my body begs for relief.
Of course, Avery isn’t awakened, and who knows what will happen during our first time?
She’s still breathing hard, looking up at me expectantly, but when she notices Tanner, she blinks and then steps back, pulling out of my arms.
I can tell by her wide stare that she regrets what we’ve just done, and it kills me.
But I can also tell from her dilated pupils, slightly parted mouth, and heaving chest, plus the way her eyes run over me that we aren’t done yet.
She may not like her hunger for me, but she also can’t deny it.
I’m not alone in this agony any longer.
“Come on,” Tanner says, grabbing my hand while I grab Avery’s. He pulls us both out of the club, shoving us toward the SUV we drove in.
“I have to text my friends. They’ll be worried,” Avery says as we’re headed back to the apartments. She’s sitting across from me in the back, a seat between us. She glances at me like she’s afraid I’ll sear her if we touch.
Maybe I will.
“Sorry we had to remove you so abruptly,” Tanner says, palming the wheel as he takes a turn. “We were supposed to interfere with your life minimally, but since you aren’t aware of what happens when you bond with Brett—”
“Bond?” She scoffs but doesn’t look convincing as she leans against the car door with folded arms. “I was just making out with him.”
I snort. “Without my suppressor on, you wouldn’t last a second.” I’m irritated now, too, because after what we just felt together, I can’t believe she would deny me.
“If you took it off, I’d have to fight half the city,” she spits back at me, chest heaving.
We stare at each other for a moment, and the bond pulses and my eyes dip to her lips and hers to mine and—
“For the love of all that is magic, the two of you will wait until you are home!” Tanner shouts at us.
We’re pouting like little kids now, facing away from each other, embarrassed by the way we both lost control.
But we’re made to be pulled together. And it’s not just the bond. It’s her feistiness to my iciness. Her strong will to do what’s right no matter what against my stupid adherence to too many rules.
We help each other out of our own stupid habits.
Save the other when they can’t save themselves.
And right now, all my body wants to do is validate that connection, show her how much I want her to be mine.
I’m surprised my wings aren’t bursting out of my back right now, suppressor or not.
She lets out a sigh. “Sorry, Tanner.” She leans against the door, but I can see her squirming slightly. Trying to fight the bond. “Me and this…miscreant clearly lost track of things.”
“Miscreant?” I gape at her. “Just for that, I have a mind to make you
wait for it.”
She glares at me, dark eyes sparking. “You let her touch you.”
I open my mouth to tell her how ironic it is that she even cares but stop when I realize… she’s jealous.
I sit back in shock from the force of it and am uncharacteristically quiet all the way home.
I’ve had a lot of women come on to me. As a prince, I had many suitors who wanted me to defend their kingdom and pleasure them sexually.
Provide them with the strongest offspring.
But this is the first time anyone has been jealous. And it means she feels our bond. Truly acknowledges that I am hers in some way.
And I feel my hair flow over my shoulders, my ears lengthening.
“Dammit, Boreas,” Tanner says. And he whips off one of his suppressors and throws it back at me. “Put that on. Don’t pull your wings out in my car.”
I sigh as I shove it on because I didn’t want to transform anyway. My hair and my ears retreat.
“Um, so… does wings mean horny?” Avery asks, confused.
“No,” Tanner says. “But Brett can explain it later. I’m dropping you two off before something bad happens in my car.”
“As if a soul bond could be something bad,” I say stubbornly.
Tanner glares at me in the rearview mirror. “You do anything in my backseat, and the only soul bond you’ll be making is with eternal darkness.”
I snap my mouth shut because, from Tanner, that isn’t an empty threat.
He doesn’t often lose his temper, but when he does—
“It’s fine,” Avery says. “We’re almost home.” She slants me a glare. “Me and this miscreant can work it out later.”
I just grin because this miscreant doesn’t care as long as we’re together.
17
Avery
I’m furious.
I’m furious about how my body feels, how it hasn’t calmed down even after Tanner dropped us off and we’re both in my apartment.
I’m furious about how possessive I still feel every time I think about that woman getting close.
Any woman getting close.
I glare at Brett where he’s sitting at the counter, drinking a glass of juice casually as if he isn’t aware of what he’s doing to me.
So tall. So gorgeous. Muscular and strong, caring for women and children or even other men who might need his help.
He does dishes. He comes when I need him. He saved me from danger. He’s patient.
He discourages me from going out in the darkness, and he joins me there when he can.
I just don’t know how to resist him any longer, and I don’t know if I want to.
He glances at me, then turns back to his juice, broad shoulders relaxed over the counter.
They taper to trim hips, a slim waist, long, elegant legs.
He’s beautiful, but that’s not all there is to him.
He makes me laugh. He’s from another world but forces me to be present in this one. He’s the only person I’ve told about my past, and he doesn’t look at me differently.
Like that girl from that awful murder in the paper.
Even though he’s a fae, there’s a part of me, when I look at him, that thinks I could have a normal life for once.
Not just constantly avoiding connection with others and stalking the streets for predators.
I’ve always felt subhuman. But he makes me feel like so much more.
Finally, he turns on the stool to face me, setting down one leg, resting one arm on the counter behind him, giving me a full view of his body.
Mistake.
I’m off the couch before I can think, something pulling me toward him like a rushing river where one current brings me to him and one brings him to me, but when we meet in the middle, we don’t even care anymore.
His arms wrap around me, and I reach up into his hair again, kissing him, biting his lower lip, and sucking it into my mouth as he lets out a groan. He moves to nibble my ear, reaching under my thighs to lift me into his arms, carrying me over to the couch as I shove my tongue between his lips to kiss him voraciously.
I thrust my hips against him, lost to the sheer need, the heat pulsing through me, the ache deep inside that only he can sate.
He kisses me, his tongue thrusting against mine in a way that is slightly gentler than my wild entreaties. I moan as he strokes deep, lighting me up, making me even wetter, and I’m already wetter than I’ve ever been.
As if my body has been waiting for this moment. Waiting to recognize him as my only true partner.
I want to feel him everywhere, running my hands over his strong shoulders, feeling those hard pecs I’ve looked at with desire so many times.
Feeling all the things I’ve tried to deny.
But then he leans over the couch, depositing me on it, and puts one hand on my shoulder to hold me down while he steps back.
“Wait, Avery. I have to know if—” He puts out a hand, but I bypass it, jumping off the couch to kiss him again. He lets out a muffled, confused, but pleased sound as he kisses me for a few moments again. His hands are warm and strong, and this kiss only makes me wetter, more eager.
Damn, I feel like an animal right now.
“Avery,” he says, gently moving me back with both shoulders so we both can catch our breath. “Let me put on my other suppressor. I don’t want you to feel pressured by—”
“By my own feelings?” I ask, barely able to breathe when I’m not touching him. The hunger in me is deep, unbearable. “It’s not the suppressors, or lack thereof, making me want you right now. I just can’t hold back anymore. I think I’m finally about to get what I want.”
“But what about us?” He folds his arms, stepping back again, though I can see from the flush in his cheeks and the perspiration on his forehead (not to mention the bulge in his jeans) that he is just as into this as I am.
“What do you want from this?”
I give him a leering look. “Are you really asking that?”
“I mean, we will be furthering our bond in this. Don’t continue unless you want to explore that with me. If you’re just caught up in the need to bond—”
“If you’re asking if I know the future, no, I don’t,” I say impatiently, running a hand through my hair. “I just know that I have to touch you or I’m going to die, you stubborn fairy.”
His eyes widen. Then he covers his mouth with a hand as if to hide a smile, and his expression goes soft. “Well, as long as you insist…”
I run into his arms and attack him again, but he just laughs and scoops me up, carrying me down the hall as I struggle to get out of his arms so I can kiss him again.
He drops me on the bed, then puts his knee on the bed to get on, but by then, I’m already pushing onto my knees, grabbing him by the shoulders, pulling him with me onto the mattress.
He lands over me, propping himself up on his forearms, leaving his gorgeous face close to mine. Those perfect lips. Those inquisitive, frosty-blue eyes that are almost purple at the deep-blue part near the pupil then icy in the center, a vivid blue ring around the edge.
I’ve never seen them so close, and they’re breathtaking.
I stroke his hair back, taking a moment for my heart rate to calm even as my body is still heating. “Your eyes are beautiful. Have I ever told you that?”
He shakes his head. “You’re not exactly prone to giving me compliments.”
“Well, I’m a jerk for that,” I say. “Because you’re brave and strong and unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.” I blink, feeling my heart race. I’m almost afraid of the strong feelings I have. But I also know, no matter what, that Brett will make this good for me.
More than good. Amazing.
He flushes, and I run a hand down his nose, trailing the perfectly straight line and over the pointed tip. “And you’re gorgeous.”
He looks down at me. “You’re the most beautiful being I’ve ever met, inside and out. Every time I see you, I crave you. I’d die to protect you
, Avery. Our bond—”
“This is new to me,” I say, cutting him off as I brush his hair back. “This bonding stuff, it scares me. I can’t deal with all the fae stuff sometimes. Or magic. And I’ve never… never done anything like this.”
His eyes widen, and he looks down over me. “So you’re—”
I flush, looking to the side. “Yeah. A virgin.”
He bites his lower lip in concern, pushing it against his teeth, driving me crazy with a view of his perfect, muscular chest where his shirt dips in this position. “Perhaps we should—”
I reach up and grab him by the collar. “You can’t leave me now.”
He nods, his expression warm and patient.
I feel like I’m about to explode, so I’m glad one of us has our head on straight.
“I’d never leave you, precious one.” He leans down to kiss my forehead, and I squirm slightly because it feels wonderful. But it isn’t what I want.
But then he pushes up to rest on one hand while the other slides down over my shirt, brushing between my breasts, teasing me with the proximity of his touch.
He gently grazes the edge of my sweater where it meets my jeans, and I suck in a gasp, desperate for his touch.
“We will do this to ease your hunger,” he says. “And we will discuss the rest later.”
I look up, but despite the logical tone of his voice, his eyes are hot. Hungry. And as his hand slowly unbuttons my jeans, he lets out a ragged breath.
“Tell me you are sure you want this,” he says, lowering his head as his hand pauses just above my panty line.
“I want this. I’m sure. I want everything.” It feels like I’m starving and a buffet has been laid out. I need to have everything I want. I need to be sated.
“Then your wish is my command, soul bond,” he says, and the sound of his voice is sensual music as his perfect fingers slip into my underwear, grazing down my skin to my wet, aching sex.
I moan as he leans down to kiss my neck, and little sparks shoot through me, running all the way down to my toes.
Found by Frost: Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 1 Page 11