Bound by Dreams (Cauld Ane Series, #5)

by Piper Davenport

  “We have never, and I mean never, fought like that before.” Charlotte blinked back tears. “I was so mad at her, Nye. For no reason. Like I wanted to slap her, mad.”

  “I know, love.” He stood and pulled her up and into his arms. “I think you were able to make her emotional as well.”

  She dropped her head onto his chest. “I need to apologize.”

  “Give her some time, eh? We need to find out what’s going on with you. You lowered the temperature in the room.”

  She looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you literally changed the temperature in the room. You did it in the car a couple of times back in the States as well. We need to figure out how you’re doing it so we can work to control it.”

  A knock at the door brought Grace, still in tears, with an irritated Max following. “I’m so sorry, Charlie.”

  Charlotte pulled away from Niall. “No, I’m sorry. I was being defensive when all you wanted to do was make sure I was safe.”

  Grace wrapped her arms around her. “I shouldn’t have pushed you. It’s your life.”

  “Yes, you should. It’s part of your job description.”

  As the girls went about apologizing, Niall pulled Max aside. “Stow the anger, big brother. It’s not all Charlotte’s fault.”

  Max raised an eyebrow.

  “It’s no’,” Niall pressed. “Did you notice the temperature in the room drop?”

  “Aye. I did, actually.”

  “Her gift has something to do with ice, brother. If we don’t figure out what it is, Charlotte will never know how to control it.”

  Max pinched the bridge of his nose. “If Pepper’s her sister—”

  “You guessed that as well?”

  “Aye, brother. And if Pepper has the fire gift, then with Charlotte having the ice gift—”

  “There has to be a third,” Niall finished

  “What?” Charlotte asked.

  “There’s always a third. Fire, ice, and control of the earth.” Max tapped his finger against his lips in thought. “But I always thought the gifts were given to descendants of the same parents, so I must be wrong, since Charlotte and Pepper have different mothers.”

  “I thought that was folklore,” Niall said.

  Max crossed his arms. “It was. But I’d say we’ve moved from folklore to reality. This man claims to be Ari Baldursson, the second son of the oldest family in Iceland, right? If that is true, then Kade isn’t the rightful king. Whoever the Baldursson heir happens to be is.”

  “Kade’s still king here.”

  “Unless the Baldursson family wants to contest his reign.”

  “Shite,” Niall said.

  “Exactly.”

  Niall rubbed his chin. “So, this is why Connall’s worried.”

  “Aye.”

  “What does Kade say?”

  “Nothing to me,” Max admitted.

  “But I’d imagine Connall’s taking the load.”

  “Aye, I’d imagine so.”

  “What the hell does this man want?”

  Max shook his head. “Time will tell, because he’s sure as hell no’ sharing. I don’t want Grace anywhere near him.”

  “I understand. I wish Charlotte wouldn’t go anywhere near him,” Niall said. “As far as I’m concerned, both of you can stay out of it completely.”

  “Uh, no we can’t,” Grace countered. “I won’t go ‘anywhere near him’ unless you’re there, Max, but I have to be allowed to support Charlotte.”

  “Grace,” Max said.

  “No, Max, you don’t get to bully me here, buddy.”

  “It’s fine, Grace,” Charlotte countered. “It would probably be a good idea that you not get on his radar anyway. Maybe you can meet him when we know what he wants.”

  “Like hell I will. We’re sisters, Charlie. Sisters stand by each other even when it’s dangerous.”

  “Bloody hell, Grace,” Max snapped.

  “What? You’re not the boss of me.”

  Max raised an eyebrow. “We’ll discuss this privately.”

  “Oh, we will?” she asked, crossing her arms. “What makes you think ‘discussing’ it privately is going to make me change my mind?”

  “If you’ll excuse us.” Max grabbed Grace’s hand, forcing her arms down, and walked her out of the room.

  Niall locked the door behind them and leaned against it. “I don’t like this, Charlotte.”

  “I know you don’t, but what other choice do we have?”

  “Tell him you don’t want to see him.”

  “It sounds like that didn’t work out so well for Pepper, babe.” She ran her hands up his chest and slipped the top button. “And I kind of like the idea of seeing if I have another sister.” She slipped the next button. “Aren’t you even the teensiest bit curious?”

  “Not particularly, no.”

  She slipped another button, leaning forward to kiss the skin she’d bared. “Really? Not at all?” She slipped the final button and then slid her hands under the waistband of his jeans.

  Niall hissed through clenched teeth. Her hands were freezing, and it felt better than anything he’d ever experienced.

  Sliding his zipper down, she knelt in front of him, tugging his jeans down his legs and leaving them to pool at his ankles as she ran her hand up and down the length of his cock, squeezing gently as it hardened.

  Niall leaned heavily against the door to keep himself upright as Charlotte ran her tongue up the underside of him, then sucked the head into her mouth, adding pressure with her tongue as she took him deeper down her throat.

  “Fuck, baby.”

  She pulled back, spitting a little, then taking him in again, before wrapping her hand around his shaft and tugging down. As she fucked him with her mouth, one hand cupped his balls as the other ran up and down, up and down, and she took him deep enough to make her eyes water. He gripped her head and thrust harder into her.

  I’m going to come, love.

  Come baby.

  He exploded into her and felt himself harden again as she milked him dry, then swallowed with a Cheshire grin. Pulling her up, he kicked off his jeans, lifted her off her feet, and took her to bed.

  “Do you know what I wish we had?” she asked, as he tore off her clothes.

  “What, love?”

  “Nipple clamps.”

  He was so shocked by her confession, he laughed. “Seriously?”

  “Is that weird?”

  “No, it’s fuckin’ sexy as hell. Just was surprised you’d go there.”

  She bit her lip. “I have a small obsession with romance novels and those parts always turn me on.”

  “Hold that thought,” he said, and walked into the bathroom.

  “Um, what are you doing?” she asked, as he returned and climbed onto the bed with her.

  He’d grabbed two of her hair clips that clamped, and grinned. “I’m improvising.”

  Leaning down, he sucked a nipple into his mouth, then clamped it, repeating the action with the other.

  Charlotte mewed, her body arching as he kissed her. “Too much?”

  “Oh my god, no. This feels amazing.”

  “I can see that,” he whispered, cupping her mound before pressing two fingers inside of her. “You’re soaked.”

  She licked her lips, pressing against his hand and nodding.

  “Mouth or dick, baby.”

  “Dick. Definitely your dick,” she rasped, and he knelt between her legs and slid into her.

  And she came.

  Brilliantly and abundantly before he’d even gotten the chance to move.

  She whimpered as he pressed his thumb to her clit, burying himself deeper and being rewarded by her body cooling. It was like his dick was wrapped in a frozen condom and he nearly came himself. “Fuck, baby.”

  She moaned, sliding her hands to her tits and squeezing as he continued to thumb her clit, hovering over her and watching her body shake with desire.

  “Move,
Nye,” she growled, and he didn’t need to be asked twice, bracing his hands on each side of her and slamming into her.

  He continued to bury himself inside of her until she cried out his name and her walls contracted around him, bringing him to climax with a brand-new rush of cold that made his body react faster than he could have ever imagined.

  Gently releasing her nipples from their clamps, he pulled her over his body and held her close as they tried to catch their breath.

  Charlotte grinned, leaning down to kiss him deeply. “I can’t wait to do that again.”

  He chuckled. “Give me a second. I need to recover.”

  “Ohmigod, those little clip thingies were awesome.”

  “Aye, they were. I’m going to buy you some proper clamps, though...maybe something pretty that I can dial in tighter.”

  She shivered, licking her lips and kissing him again. “Yes, please,” she whispered.

  He pushed her onto her back again and started the whole glorious process over again, but an hour later, Charlotte kissed him quickly and slid from the mattress. “Time to get ready to go.”

  Niall ran his hands through his hair. “We’re really doing this?”

  “Yep,” she said, and headed to the bathroom.

  He sat in bed for several minutes, contemplating how he could possibly stop this meeting from happening.

  “You can’t,” Charlotte called. “Now come and join me.”

  Niall did as he was told, managing to delay the meeting with Ari, even if it was briefly. Once they were dressed, they headed downstairs and discovered Max pacing the foyer.

  Niall cocked his head. “You okay, brother?”

  “Where’s Grace?” Charlotte asked.

  “She’s coming. She just had to grab something for Pepper.” Max crossed his arms.

  “So, you’re coming with us then,” Niall observed.

  Max nodded with a frown. “Ground rules.”

  “Aye,” Niall said.

  “Even the glimmer of trouble and she’s out.”

  “They both are,” Niall agreed.

  “If he does anything I don’t like, she’s out of there.”

  “Aye, brother. As is Charlotte.”

  “What’s going on?” Grace asked as she descended the stairs.

  “Our husbands are making decisions for us,” Charlotte said.

  “Oh, how nice of them,” Grace droned.

  “Right?” Charlotte laid her hands on her chest. “I feel so much better knowing that they take the thought and guesswork out of my daily life. Can you imagine how difficult it would be if I had to think for myself?”

  “Charlotte,” Niall said in irritation.

  “It’d be unbearable, I’d say,” Grace agreed, ignoring her brother-in-law. “We are just girls after all.”

  “And you know my opinion on women.”

  “I sure do, Charlie,” Grace said, as if in a really bad commercial.

  “All right, Grace, that’s enough,” Max said.

  “Oh, is it?” Grace asked. “Are you sure, my liege? Because I can keep going. But only if it entertains and pleases you.”

  “I can make you stay home, love,” Max threatened.

  “You can try to make me.”

  “Okay,” Charlotte cut in. “Let’s just see where this goes. I don’t want you guys to fight over something to do with me.”

  Max raised an eyebrow at Grace and she mirrored his expression. “I’m driving,” Max said, and pulled open the front door.

  Niall grasped Charlotte’s hand but she pulled away. He took a deep breath and followed her out to the car. Her hands were freezing, and he made the choice not to irritate her further.

  Hey, I love you.

  That’s debatable, she grumbled.

  I want you safe, love. If I’m being an overbearing sod, then I apologize, but you know that it’s motivated from a place of protection, right?

  She shrugged, but relaxed against him. He linked his fingers with hers, noting they were no longer ice cold.

  CHARLOTTE COULDN’T HIDE her feeling of awe as they pulled up in front of the Gunnachs’. The white Arts and Crafts home had a thatched roof and looked quintessentially English. Charlotte fell in love.

  Max parked the car in front of the house, and Niall slid from the backseat first and waited for Charlotte. She stepped out and hung back until Grace slipped her arm through her own. “Ready?” Grace asked.

  “No clue,” Charlotte admitted.

  “Welcome.” The couples were greeted by an older gentleman and ushered into a giant foyer.

  “Good afternoon, Dick. How are you and Helen?” Max asked.

  “Very good, sir. Thank you for asking.”

  Charlotte took in the space as the men spoke with the butler. Staircases flanked the walls and created a balcony above them. She forced herself not to ooh and aah at the grandness of the mansion.

  “Hi, everyone,” Pepper said, as she walked into the foyer. She hugged Max, Niall, and Grace and then turned to Charlotte. “You must be Charlotte.”

  Charlotte smiled. “Guilty as charged.”

  “Wow,” Pepper exclaimed.

  “I know, right?” Charlotte stared at her. They looked quite a bit alike, especially in their coloring.

  “Well, we’ll have plenty of time to catch up.” Pepper waved her hand beyond the foyer. “Come into the great room. It’s a little more comfortable.”

  Charlotte followed with everyone else and sighed quietly as she entered the great room. The décor was far more Montana lodge than what she’d imagined a Scottish home would look like. The room was vaulted and dark wooden beams were exposed in the ceiling, with a large picture window that revealed a view of trees that seemed to go for miles, despite the gray day.

  Large, overstuffed furniture was positioned in front of a fireplace that was as tall as she was, and a flat-screen television was hung above the mantle.

  “This is gorgeous.”

  “Thanks,” Pepper said. “I practically live in this room. It’s my favorite.”

  A blond man, taller than Niall, rose to his feet and greeted everyone. Niall laid his hand possessively on Charlotte’s lower back and smiled. “Sweetheart, this is Connall.”

  Connall surprised her by pulling her in for a brotherly hug. “It’s lovely to meet you, lass.”

  “You too,” she said, heat creeping up her neck.

  Connall greeted the rest of the group and then indicated for them to sit and relax.

  “Where’s everyone else?” Grace asked.

  “They’ll be here in a while. I wanted to give Charlotte some time to adjust to all of this before the masses descend upon her,” Pepper said as she sat beside Connall. “I’ve had a bit more time to process, so I asked that everyone come a little later.”

  “Thank you,” Charlotte said.

  Niall pulled her down beside him, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her against his side.

  “What do you know?” Max asked.

  “Not much more than we’ve already told you,” Connall admitted.

  “So, no results on the DNA yet?” Niall asked.

  Connall shook his head and checked his watch. “Not yet, but Payton and Brodie will be arriving in an hour or so, and they promised they’d bring them if they were ready.”

  “The testing is being done at Gunnach Pharmaceutical Labs,” Niall explained to Charlotte. “They’re in Edinburgh, not far from us.”

  Charlotte nodded, shifting closer to him for comfort.

  Are you okay, love?

  I’m a little overwhelmed.

  He kissed her temple. I’ve got you.

  “Your highness?”

  Charlotte turned to see the older gentleman who’d let them in standing in the doorway. A maid stood beside him.

  Connall turned to him. “Did you need something, Dick?”

  “His majesty’s on the house phone.”

  Connall frowned as he stood. “Excuse me, please.”

  “Can I get anyone
anything?” Pepper asked. “Dinner won’t be served for a couple of hours, so I have a few nibbles if anyone’s interested.”

  “I’ll take a beer,” Max said.

  “Water for me,” Grace added.

  “Me as well,” Charlotte said.

  “Nye?” Pepper prompted.

  “Water as well, lass, please.”

  She nodded toward the maid, who left them, and conversation returned to the issue at hand. Within just a few minutes, Pepper frowned and rose to her feet. “I’m sorry, excuse me.”

  Charlotte’s heart raced and she squeezed her eyes shut.

  Niall grasped her hand. You okay?

  “Charlie?” Grace asked. “You okay?”

  “Yep,” she rasped. “Give me a second.”

  She took several deep breaths, relaxing against Niall as her heart calmed.

  “What happened, love?” he asked.

  “Just a moment of panic,” Charlotte whispered. “I’m okay now.”

  Connall and Pepper walked back into the room, hand-in-hand, as if to present a united front. “We have news,” Pepper said.

  Niall shifted and Charlotte felt his trepidation.

  “The DNA results are back,” Connall said as he sat in one of the chairs facing the sofa that Niall and Charlotte sat on.

  “Okay,” Charlotte said. “Are you his daughter, Pepper?”

  “I am.” Pepper took a deep breath. “So are you.”

  Charlotte frowned. “I don’t understand. We don’t know that yet.” Charlotte felt Niall slip his arm away from her waist, and she stared at him over her shoulder. “What did you do?”

  “I provided them with your DNA.”

  Charlotte stood with a scowl. “How could you do that without asking me first?”

  “I figured you’d want answers.”

  “There’s more, Charlotte,” Pepper said, interrupting their argument.

  “Like?”

  Pepper glanced at Connall and then back to Charlotte. “We are full sisters. We aren’t half-sisters.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You and I have the same father and mother.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  “I don’t know,” Pepper said. “But I left a message for my mom to get some answers.”

  “Excuse me.” She rushed out of the room and out the front door, and ran. To nowhere in particular. She just ran.