Ouch, I thought.
Shut it, Jareth responded as he bent over holding his jaw and trying to catch his breath. Damn, I think she broke it.
After several minutes, he straightened and moved his jaw around, his accelerated healing having already mended the bone. His gaze landed on the spot where his fated consort had been standing, and when he saw it empty, he turned and swept his eyes all around.
“Looking for your consort?” I drawled with a sly grin. “She went that way.” I jerked my chin in the direction of the alley. While he’d been nursing his jaw, I’d heard a car door slam, the engine turn over, and the wheels burn rubber as the vehicle took off.
“Fucking hell.” Jareth would have killed me with his eyes if it were possible, but I just smiled as he jogged in the direction I’d indicated.
“Good luck, brother. I hope she leads you on a merry chase.”
7
Amaia
I’d been lucky in the years since Kieran, Athan, and Stephan had first rescued me from vampires. The council had prepared me for the worst-case scenario of being attacked by them again when there wasn’t a daywalker around to save me, but I’d never needed to use the holy water they’d given me until now. There had only been one close call where Marshall had to save me, and the nightwalker hadn’t even had the chance to get close before my brother-in-law turned him to ashes.
Holy water could only do so much, though, and I’d been woefully unprepared to face off against an entire nest of the evil leeches. If Liam and his relatives hadn’t appeared when they had, Narkissa and I would’ve been dead. The past ten minutes had been the scariest of my life, and coupled with the emotional upheaval that had sent me running in the first place, I was wrecked both physically and mentally. But once the adrenaline rush drained away, I realized I was clinging to Liam as though he was my lifeline. Although I had a deep-seated urge to stay right where I was—the bond between us was already strong—I stepped out of his embrace and put space between us.
“Thank you for saving me.” A tear slid down my cheek as I whispered, “Could you please reach out mentally to Marshall or Everleigh and ask them to come get me?”
I flinched when Liam raised his hand to wipe a tear away, and he looked devastated by my rejection. I hated the idea of hurting him, but I couldn’t destroy myself just to make him happy. And after what I’d gone through with my parents growing up, I knew that staying with a man who pined for another woman would wreck me. Even though I’d never be able to physically desire anybody else, I’d be better off alone than spending eternity coming in second place with the man who had already become the center of my world. The pain would be too much to bear.
“Amaia, please don’t cry,” he pleaded as he dropped his arm to his side, his hand curling into a fist. “There’s been a horrible misunderstanding.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, fighting against the urge to throw myself at him. “No, the misunderstanding happened last night when we touched. Now my eyes have been opened to the truth, and I realize how delusional I was for thinking that my happily ever after was guaranteed just because I finally found you.”
“If you’re delusional, then so am I. The past day has been the best in my life, and it kills me to know you’re not looking forward to spending an eternity with me the same way I am with you. But you need to know, you’ll get everything you’ve ever wanted out of this life if it’s the last thing I do,” he vowed, determination gleaming in his bright blue eyes. “When I told you that it was my privilege to dote on you, I wasn’t referring to only material things. I want to make all your dreams come true, Amaia.”
“But only because fate stuck you with me,” I cried, tears starting to cascade down my cheeks in earnest.
“It’s as I suspected. You overheard part of my conversation with Jareth.” I didn’t understand why, but he seemed thrilled by the fact that I’d found out about the woman he’d put on a pedestal so long ago. “But you missed the most important part.”
I quirked a brow and muttered, “I highly doubt I failed to hear anything that matters.”
“I beg to differ, my darling.” The arrogant man dared to flash a smug grin at me, and my palm itched to slap it right off his gorgeous face. “You never would have run if you heard me explain to my brother how it’s impossible to compare what I feel for you to—”
“Don’t you dare,” I hissed, cutting him off since the last thing I wanted was for him to try to explain to me how what he felt for me meant more to him because of the consort bond. “I heard enough to learn that you loved someone else before me. That I’m your second choice. To wonder if you pictured another woman while we had sex.”
“Never.” He took a step back as though my accusation had rocked him to his core. “I can’t even wrap my brain around the idea of fucking someone else, let alone fantasizing about another woman while I have you beneath me. You’re the only woman I’ve ever desired.”
“Well, whoop dee doo. I guess that’s one thing I can be grateful for,” I drawled, sarcasm thick in my tone. “I hope you can forgive me, but I refuse to be your consolation prize just because I can get your dick hard.”
“I grew up with Barbra and cared for her as a friend, but my feelings were entirely platonic. You already know that my body didn’t desire her and never would have, even if we’d touched.” He tapped his index finger against his temple. “But my brain never did either. She was my friend and nothing more.”
A kernel of hope sprung to life deep inside me, but none of what he was saying made any sense. “If she was just your friend, why did you think she was destined to be your consort?”
“I’m not sure I can explain this very well, but I'd do literally anything to get you to understand how much you mean to me.” Liam heaved a deep breath and scrubbed his palms down his face. “When I was a young boy, I grew close to Thaddeus, one of my great-great-uncles. I got my fascination with whiskey from him. He had a distillery set up in a shack on his property, and I’d spend hours on end watching him fiddle with his recipe. But when I was sixteen, Thaddeus decided that he couldn’t face another century without finding the other half of his soul.”
Although the story he was sharing with me dated back five hundred years, I gasped and pressed my fingers against my lips. I knew how this part was going to end even though it boggled my mind since killing a daywalker was nearly impossible.
Liam nodded and flashed me a sad smile, “As you already guessed, he killed himself. I’m not sure how he got his hands on one since they weren’t in use much back then, but during a long weekend while I was away on holiday with my parents, he installed a guillotine in his home. Then he set fire to the place and beheaded himself while the flames closed in on him. When I came to visit the next day, the shack with his distillery was the only thing left standing on his property. I was devastated and didn’t have anything else to remember him by, so my parents moved it to our home.”
After all the time that had passed, I could still hear the pain of loss in his tone. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” He shook his head, most likely trying to shake loose his sad memories. “But his death is a large part of why I was so fixated on the possibility of Barbra being my destined consort. She was human and unaware of vampires, so she thought my melancholy was strictly due to the loss of a beloved family member. As my friend, she tried to pull me out of the dark place I’d retreated to, but it wasn’t until almost a full year later when the daywalker who lived on the other side of her home found his consort that I shook off my grief.”
Transfixed by his story, I took a tentative step forward.
“All of the fated pairings I’d seen before had resulted in romantic love, but their connection was one of devoted and committed friends.” He closed the small gap that remained between us. “Terrified of the possibility that my fate would be the same as Thaddeus, I grabbed on to the idea of having the same kind of bond with Barbra and refused to let go. With the style of clothes women wore
back then, I’d never seen her neck but was convinced she must have the consort marking. Rumors swirled around about an inappropriate dalliance with a suitor when she was sixteen, but I ignored them. I refused to listen to reason and bided my time until she turned eighteen, certain that I would explain daywalkers to her, and then I’d be safely bonded. No need to worry about feeling as though my only option was to follow in Thaddeus’s footsteps except for making whiskey.”
Remembering what Jareth had said about her rejecting him, I asked, “But it didn’t turn out that way?”
“Not even close.” His chuckle held no humor. “Barbra ran screaming from me as though I was the very devil, and I was too shocked to chase after her. Nothing had gone as I expected, and when she died a dozen years later, I assumed that she took my chance at being safe from the darkness that plagued Thaddeus with her. But then you stumbled into my arms and blew all of my ill-conceived notions out of the water.”
I clutched his biceps, butterflies starting to swirl in my belly. “You really, truly never felt anything more than friendship for her?”
“I did not.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “And if you’d stuck around to eavesdrop a little longer, you would have heard me tell Jareth that she’s nothing more than a fond childhood memory. You have nothing to fear in regards to Barbra or any other woman. It took no time at all for me to realize that our bond would be much deeper than friendship. Consort or not, you’re the only one for me. I love you, Amaia.”
“I love you, too.” When I ran from his home, I’d been convinced that nothing he could say would fix the hole in my heart. “I’m so sorry I misunderstood the situation and didn’t stick around to talk to you about what I’d heard. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s not as though I have room to judge you for the blunder, my darling. I’ve stubbornly held on to my misconception for five hundred years, after all.” He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my body before teleporting us to his family room. “My brothers and cousins are going to taunt me over my bullheadedness for centuries to come, and it doesn’t bother me even a little bit. I’ve never been happier to be wrong about something.”
8
Liam
Amaia glanced around the family room, and her face lit up. She pulled out of my arms, and I reluctantly let her go because she was clearly excited about something.
“Your presents!” she exclaimed as she pointed at the packages wrapped in bright colors stacked on the sofa. Not wanting to put a damper on her mood or seem ungrateful, I mentally sighed at being forced to wait a little longer for what I really wanted for Christmas.
In the blink of an eye, our bodies—soaked from the heavily falling snow—were clean and dry. Our wet clothes disappeared and were replaced with fresh ones. Festive red silk pajama pants for me and—I grinned salaciously when Amaia looked down at her outfit—a short, matching silk robe for her. Underneath was one of the gifts I’d given her that morning. A pair of barely-there, cream lacy panties under a wide band of cream silk that circled her hips and tied in the back right above her sexy ass. The top was the same thing, a silk sash that barely contained her gorgeous breasts, except the bow was in the front.
I couldn’t wait to unwrap her. Best. Present. Ever.
Amaia rolled her eyes when she peeked inside the robe, but her lips curved a bit, and crimson spots loomed on her cheeks. “Come and open your gifts,” she said breathlessly. A wicked smile slid across my face, and Amaia’s adorable blush deepened. “These,” she giggled, gesturing to the stack again.
“Whatever you want, darling.” With a flick of my hand, a fire roared to life in the fireplace, and I sat on the couch, patting the spot next to me. She narrowed her eyes and perched on the other end. I couldn’t help grinning at her perceptiveness. If she’d come close enough, I would have pounced and made her forget about everything but hunger for the pleasure only I could give her.
After opening the first box, I found myself getting into the spirit. Jareth had probably helped her by answering questions about my likes and dislikes, but with each present, it was obvious to me that Amaia had specifically picked it out. Her thoughtfulness made my heart swell with love for her.
When I’d opened the final gift on the couch, I held my hand out to my consort, urging her to come to me. She did so without hesitation, and I practically beamed at her. Lacing our fingers together, I tugged her down into my lap. I gave her a deep kiss, showing my gratitude, but also pouring all of my love into her. How the fuck did I ever get so lucky?
“I saved the best for last,” I murmured against her lips before we parted. “Am I going to get what I want most when I unwrap you, darling?”
Her eyes shined, and she giggled. “If you’re hoping your final present is to complete our claiming, then you must have been a very good boy this year.”
Before Amaia even knew what was happening, I stood with her in my arms and teleported us to our bedroom. I gently dropped her feet to the floor, and Amaia gasped as she looked around.
When I’d changed our clothes, I’d done a little redecorating in preparation for the claiming ceremony. The room was lit by dozens of white candles scattered about, barely illuminating the dark blue walls. I’d switched out the bed for an antique canopy—it fit our home, which looked more like a castle, so I decided to keep it. Besides, every time we saw the bed, it would be a reminder that we belonged solely to one another, forever.
The top of the bed was draped with dark blue silk that fell to the ground, creating a curtain on every side. The coverlet matched the canopy, but the sheets were a pristine white, and though she couldn’t see them yet, soft blue ties were attached to the headboard.
“It’s beautiful.” Her voice was filled with wonder, and I turned her toward me before cupping her face. I kissed her tenderly, even as I fought the desire to rip off her panties and bury myself deep inside her tight pussy until she was screaming my name.
Patience, Liam. You’ve waited almost five and a half centuries. You can last a little longer, draw this out, savor every moment. The mental lecture helped a little.
I let Amaia up for air after a minute, then guided her by the hand to the chair tucked under a dressing table. “We need to talk about what’s going to happen next,” I told her softly as I sat and brought her down onto my lap.
My sweet consort blushed bright red and looked up at me through her lashes. “Um...Everleigh already explained it.”
If I didn’t know that Marshall would burn my limbs off, I would have sent Amaia’s sister flowers and diamonds for preparing my gorgeous mate. “You know what to say?”
Amaia nodded shyly. “Good. I’m not sure I would have had the strength to go through it all with you without stripping you right here and fucking you on the carpet.” I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling slowly, trying to bolster my control again.
“We’ll save that to try some other time,” she teased, making me laugh. “Right now, I want you to make me yours for eternity.”
“I will always give you anything you ask for that is within my power to do,” I vowed as I brought my head up and stared into her violet eyes.
“Then what are you waiting for, Liam?” Amaia climbed off my lap and stood between my legs, facing me. With a sultry smile, she pulled the tie to her robe deliberately, and maddeningly, slow. “Unwrap your present.”
The knot holding the sides together dissolved, and as it fell, her robe parted. My breath caught in my throat as I ogled the sliver of skin and cream silk peeking from the opening. Then she shrugged the wrap off her shoulders, and it fell to the ground, leaving her in the mouth-watering lingerie.
I wrapped my hands around her torso, my thumbs resting just below the roundness of her breasts that spilled out the bottom of the sash. It only partially covered the mounds, leaving a lot of skin exposed above and below. I teased the sensitive flesh with my thumbs, licking my lips when her nipples hardened and poked into the tightly bound fabric. Leaning forward, I sucked over one peak, le
aving a wet spot on her top, and one in my pants when she moaned and shuddered.
My cock was so hard it hurt, but I didn’t rush. I gave the other side the same treatment, but my patience was nearly at its end. So when she whimpered and thrust her chest forward, I shot to my feet, sweeping her into my arms. Then I stalked to the bed and laid her in the very center, taking a few seconds just to admire the sight.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” I whispered in awe as I climbed on the bed. Moving over her and bending down onto all fours, I caged her in with my fists pressed into the mattress. “All in silky white, like a virgin bride on her wedding night. If I hadn’t already popped your cherry, I would have been tempted to hang the sheet out the window like they did in my early days. Proof that the wife now belonged to her husband.”
“Wife?” Amaia squeaked.
I laughed at her shocked but hopeful expression. “Did you think that ring was only symbolic of our vampiric bond?” She shrugged, her cheeks once again sprinkled with pink. “I’m going to bind you to me in every way possible, my darling. Claiming you, marking you, marrying you, and putting cute little Amaias in this sexy stomach.”
“What if I want little Liams?” she asked with a cheeky smile.
“I’ll keep trying until we have plenty of both,” I told her with a wink. “Starting tonight, I’m going to fill you with my come every chance I get until you’re breeding.”
“Okay,” she breathed. Her eyes glistened, and I frowned at the gathering moisture.
“Is something wrong with that plan? Because—”
“No!” Amaia cupped my cheeks and smiled tenderly. “They’re happy tears. I-I had no idea I could ever be this happy.”
I sighed with relief and matched her expression. “Neither did I, my love. But it’s about to get even better.”
A Touch of Moonlight Page 5