“You have a bathroom right through that door.” Samantha pointed to the door beside the bed. “And your closet has another bureau. Please make yourselves at home. We aren’t formal here... well, we aren’t right now.” She giggled. “The party will be a little different.”
“It’s going to be great,” Thane said.
“I think so, too.” Samantha smiled. “Dinner’s at six and we won’t dress up. Just come as you are. I have to feed the baby, but come downstairs when you’re settled and we’ll have some wine before dinner.”
“Thanks for everything,” Sydney said.
Samantha squeezed her hand. “You’re so welcome, Sydney. Don’t worry about tomorrow night. I promise, it’s going to be great.”
Sydney nodded as she leaned against Thane.
“I’ll see you in a few.”
Sam left and Sydney wrapped her arms around Thane. “This room is unreal.”
He smiled. “Aye, lass, ’tis.”
“And this is where it’ll happen?”
Thane gave her a gentle squeeze. “If you feel comfortable, aye. If not, we can go somewhere else.”
“I feel great, honey. I wish we could do this tonight.”
“We can at midnight if you want to.”
“Oh, I don’t want to put anyone out,” Sydney said.
“We won’t be putting anyone out,” he said, and kissed her forehead.
She leaned back. “Honey, this isn’t our home, you can’t just wave your movie star card and demand they do what you say.”
Thane grinned. “What’s this nonsense you’re saying, milady? All must kowtow to me.”
Sydney giggled. “Hm-mm, you feel free to believe that. Quietly. In your mind, so only I hear it.”
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “All right, love, we’ll wait.”
“Thank you.”
“Shall we unpack and then head downstairs?”
Sydney nodded. “Perfect.”
As they were unpacking, Sydney’s phone rang and she smiled as she answered it. “Hey, Luce.”
“Hey. How’s the trip going?”
“So far, so good. Miss me?”
Lucy giggled. “So, so bad. Especially because you’re missing all the drama.”
“Uh-oh, what drama?”
“Zach’s just being a dick. He’s sending threatening texts and leaving dead flowers on my car and stuff.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I have no idea, but Dad’s team is on it, so I’m not worried. It’s just that now security’s tightened, which means, no fun for Lucy.”
Sydney hummed sympathetically. “I’m sorry, cuz. Next time, you’ll just have to come with us. You’d love it up here.”
“You’re on. For now, though, Mum’s calling, so I better go. Send me some photos, would you?”
“Of course.”
“Love you, Syd.”
“Love you too, Luce.” Sydney hung up and went back to her unpacking.
* * *
Sydney followed Thane downstairs and into the great hall. Pepper pushed herself out of her seat, holding baby Chelsea close to her breast, and pulled Sydney in for a hug. “Welcome.”
“Hi,” Sydney said, and hugged her.
“Careful, love,” Connall ordered.
“Bite me, honey,” Pepper retorted, and her mate chuckled, but still watched her closely. “He’s extra protective of this little one. Dating’s going to be a nightmare.”
“We don’t date, love. Remember that.”
Pepper smiled. “Her bonding night’s going to be a nightmare.”
“Och, Pepper, no bonding in regards to our daughter,” Connall demanded.
“See?”
Sydney giggled and kissed the baby’s head. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Sydney and Thane greeted the rest of the family and she found herself a little intimidated by Kade. It might have been because she knew he was a king, but it was also his countenance. He was regal and hovered over his wife like any overprotective man would.
Thane kissed her temple. We all hover, love. Don’t let it scare you.
She gave him a barely perceptible nod.
“Do you want some wine, Sydney?” Samantha asked.
“I would love some,” she said as she sat beside Thane on one of the love seats.
“Red or white?”
“Red, please.”
A glass of red appeared before her on a tray held by a young woman in uniform.
“Thank you,” Sydney said, smiling at her.
“So,” Samantha said. “We were wondering how you might feel about bonding at midnight.”
Sydney glanced at Thane and he raised his hands in surrender. “I said nothing, love.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Seriously. I’ve been with you all day. When would I have?”
Samantha giggled. “I take it this subject came up?”
“Aye,” Thane said. “Sydney didn’t want to put anyone out.”
“Oh, it’s fine, Sydney,” Samantha assured her. “We don’t go to sleep early when we’re here, so if you want to bond as soon as your birthday’s official, please feel free to.”
“We’ll talk about it,” Thane said. “Okay, love?”
Sydney nodded, forcing her nerves down.
It’ll be fine, sweetheart.
She nodded again. “We’ll talk about it,” she parroted.
“You let me know what you want to do and we’ll organize the staff.”
“Thank you, Samantha,” Sydney said.
“No problem.”
“We’ll all be here,” Pepper added. “So, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Aye, Sydney,” Payton said. “We’re here for you.”
“I appreciate it.”
Thane linked his fingers with hers and lifted her hand to his lips.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur of sorts. Sydney couldn’t really focus on much, as her mind was preoccupied by the fact that in a few short hours, she would be permanently bound to the man who stayed glued to her the entire night. She wasn’t nervous, although, she wondered if she should be. Everything was happening very quickly.
AT ELEVEN FORTY-FIVE, Thane pulled her aside and gave her a sweet kiss. “Do you want to go up and I’ll join you shortly?”
Sydney nodded.
“Are you all right, love?” he asked, and stroked her cheek. “We can wait.”
“I don’t want to wait, Thane.” She smiled. “I’m excited. It’s just a little overwhelming.”
“I know.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
Sydney walked up to their room and found the lingerie she’d packed for their special night. After changing, she stepped into the bathroom to brush out her hair and clean her teeth. She heard the bedroom door click shut and walked out of the bathroom to find Thane pulling off his shirt.
Sydney leaned against the doorframe and watched him.
He caught sight of her and his eyes swept her body. “Shite, love.”
She giggled. “Do you approve?”
“Aye. You’re stunning.”
“So are you.” She moved further into the room. She licked her lips. She wanted to run her tongue over every ridge of his twelve-pack abs…and other places. “Now what?”
Thane smiled. “First, I’m going to kiss you, because I have to.”
She snapped her fingers. “Well, hustle on over here, then.”
He closed the distance between them and covered her mouth with his. She couldn’t help herself from sliding her hand up his chest, breaking the kiss and sighing. “You’re ridiculously gorgeous, Thane Allen.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
The little clock on the fireplace mantel chimed twelve times and he cupped her cheek. “Do you want wine first or do you want to start?”
“I want to start.”
“Me too,” he said. “Okay, repeat after me. “Ég gef �
�ér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.”
“Oh, that’s easy,” she droned sarcastically.
“I’ll think it as we go, so pull the words from my mind,” he suggested. “Ready?”
Sydney nodded.
“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.”
“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.” Sydney felt her knees buckle and she grabbed for Thane.
He wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“Okay.” Sydney raised her arms and linked her fingers behind his neck.
“Ég er þinn að eilífu. Skuldabréf okkar mun aldrei vera brotinn.”
“Ég er þinn að eilífu. Skuldabréf okkar mun aldrei vera brotinn.” Sydney held onto his neck a little harder.
“I won’t let you fall, love,” Thane promised. “It’s part of the bonding. Ready?” At her nod, he continued, “Ást mín er alger.”
“Ást mín er alger.”
Thane lifted her before she could fall, and carried her to the bed. After he removed the rest of his clothing, he climbed onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I give you everything I am, all I want to be, and all I can be. I’m yours forever. Our bond will never be broken. My love is absolute.”
Thane grinned and kissed his way down her body, stopping at her panties, and running his tongue over the barely-there lace covering her mound. Sliding her panties to the side, he licked her bare pussy and gently sucked her clit, before tugging the material at her hips and tearing them off of her. Moving back up her body, he drew a nipple into his mouth and bit gently as he tore her lingerie from her body.
That was brand new.
I’ll buy you another, he promised.
Sydney arched into him, sliding her hands into his hair as he gently bit down again on one nipple, then the other. Kissing his way back down her body, he knelt between her legs, and ran his tongue over her already slick folds. “Fucking honey, love,” Thane breathed out, covering her core with his mouth again. She shuddered as he continued his assault on her clit, then he slid a finger inside of her and she came apart.
“Perfect, baby, come for me.”
As she shook with an orgasm, he focused back on her pussy, and she tugged gently on his hair as she ground her core against his mouth. “Thane,” she rasped. Unable to wait, he sat up, sliding his cock against her wetness, before slipping inside of her, stopping at her barrier. Sydney mewed, pressing harder against him, drawing him further inside of her.
“It’s going to hurt a bit, love,” he warned.
“I’m ready,” she said, and he surged into her, catching her cry with his mouth as he kissed her.
He rolled her nipple between his fingers and waited for her body to get used to his size, then when her hips began to move, he took the cue and buried himself inside of her over and over again. As her nipples tightened and her body took him deeper, her arousal swamped him, and his burning hunger needed assuagement.
Even when her walls contracted around him, he continued to bury himself unable to stop. He wanted more…needed more.
Sydney cried out his name as she came, at the same time, she wrapped her legs around his waist and took him even deeper, dragging her nails down his back as another climax built. They came together and Thane rolled them onto their sides, keeping their connection.
Sydney stroked his face. “Wow.”
“Aye, love,” he said as he pulled the covers around them and settled her firmly over his body.
She kissed his chest then grinned up at him. “I want that every day.”
“No problem.”
He smiled, kissing her gently. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed his chest. “What happens now?”
Thane chuckled. “We wait.”
“I don’t like to wait.”
“What?” he asked in mock surprise. “I had no idea.”
She laughed and smacked his chest gently. “I just want all this over with.”
“I get it, love.”
“Sorry, that’s not very romantical is it?”
“Romantical?”
Sydney grinned. “Something my mom always said.”
“I love it.”
“She hated anything to do with schmultz. It was about the only thing we disagreed on. Anytime I wanted to watch a movie, she’d say, “It’s not one of those romantical ones, is it?” It just kind of stuck.” Sydney smiled, realizing her pain wasn’t quite as heavy as she talked about her mom.
“I’m glad, love.”
“You can still read my mind, I see.”
Thane chuckled. “You were hoping for a different result?”
Before she could respond, hot fire shot through her legs and she cried out in agony.
“All right, love, it’s starting. It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
The pain shifted to her feet and she whimpered, but she never got the chance to get used to the pain, because it moved to her left breast. This time she screamed. “I can’t do this,” she panted. “I can’t.”
Thane kept hold of her hand as he slid from the bed. “You can, sweetheart, I promise.”
The fire licked at her stomach and then headed straight for her skull. Sydney groaned, trying to grab for her head, but Thane wouldn’t let her. “Thane!”
“I have to stay connected to you,” he said, and reached for his phone. “It’s the only way I can alleviate any of your pain.” With one hand, he grabbed a pair of sweats and tugged them on, then called Samantha.
Sydney couldn’t focus on anything Thane was doing as the pain raged on in her body. Everything was on fire. “Thane,” she rasped.
He squeezed her hand. “I know, sweetheart. Sam’s on her way. It won’t be long.”
“I’m so hot.”
“Okay, love. We’re going to help.”
* * *
A knock came at the door and Samantha walked in quietly, followed by Bearnas. The maid headed straight to the bathroom and Thane heard the water in the tub start. Another maid arrived with a bucket and also headed into the bathroom. Kade and Samantha had ice machines installed in each of the bathrooms, which helped with convenience, particularly in a situation like this. The Cauld Ane rarely got sick, but if they did, ice always helped to heal what ailed them.
“Pepper’s coming with ice sheets,” Samantha whispered, and made her way to Sydney’s side. “I’m going to take your pulse, Sydney. You’ll feel my fingers on your wrist, okay?”
Okay.
Thane smiled at Samantha. “She’s ready.”
Samantha grasped Sydney’s wrist and Sydney let out a hiss of pain. “Take it from her, Thane,” Samantha directed. “You’re not focusing.”
Thane nodded and concentrated on Sydney. She relaxed in stages as he kissed her palm.
“Good, Thane,” Sam said. “Her pulse is slowing.”
“The bath is ready, majesty,” Bearnas said.
Samantha smiled at Sydney. “Thane’s going to carry you into the bathroom, Sydney. It might hurt a bit, but the ice will help.”
Sydney licked her lips. “I don’t like the cold.”
“You will now.” Samantha squeezed her hand. “I promise.”
At Samantha’s nod, Thane lifted Sydney off the bed, trying to ignore her whimper as he carried her into the bathroom and lowered her into the ice water. Sydney let out a sigh and then opened her eyes. “Better. Thank you.”
“Good, love.”
“Can I please have some water?”
“I’ll get it,” Samantha said, and grabbed a glass, filling it from the tub and handing it to her.
Sydney gulped it down, choking a little as she drank.
“Slow down, love,” Thane ordered.
“I’m so thirsty.”
“That’s normal, Sydney,” Samantha said. “As soon as the worst is over, I’ll set up a drip to rehydrate you.”
; “Can I have some more water, please?” she pleaded.
“Yes, of course.” Samantha filled the glass again. This time Sydney sipped a little slower.
Thane’s heart raced as he watched Sydney’s body burn red. She cried out again as the glass slipped from her fingers, but he caught it before it shattered against the porcelain tub. “Shite! What’s happening to her?”
“Her body’s expelling her human elements. It’s okay, Thane. We just need to cool the water. Don’t lose touch.” Samantha reached in and pulled the stopper, letting a little water escape while Bearnas began to dump buckets of ice into the water. Samantha secured the tub again and then took the glass from Thane and refilled it.
Thane knelt on the floor and kissed Sydney’s hand gently. “I’m here, love. I won’t let go.”
She smiled and turned her head toward him, but didn’t open her eyes. “I’m okay, honey. It’s better now.”
Thane frowned up at Samantha. “Can you give her something, Sam?”
“No, not yet. I’m sorry, Thane. I know this sucks, but her body just needs to do its thing.” She squeezed his shoulder. “It’s harder on you guys than it is on us, trust me.”
“Speak for yourself,” Sydney retorted, her eyes still closed, but her body back to its normal color and temperature.
Samantha smiled. “See? The snark’s a good sign.”
Thane settled his free hand on Sydney’s forehead. “Are you in pain, love?”
Sydney finally opened her eyes and squeezed his hand. “No, not pain. It’s kind of like... I don’t know?”
“Something tickling your skin?” Samantha asked.
“Yes, exactly! I’m on the verge of itchy, but not like I need to scratch.”
“Good,” Samantha said. “We’ll get the bed ready. You’ll sleep in ice sheets for a few hours and then you’ll be a little groggy tomorrow, but you’ve actually come through this faster than most of us.”
“I have?”
Samantha smiled. “You have.”
“That’s because she’s a star,” Thane said.
“Takes one to know one,” Samantha said, and left the bathroom.
Sydney giggled. It was the best thing Thane had heard all day. Her laugh settled in his soul and drove away the gut wrenching fear he’d been feeling for the last hour.
Bound by Light (Cauld Ane Series Book 7) Page 14