Unwilling to tip his hand, he raised his shoulders in a negligent shrug as if he couldn’t less give a shit, and said, “Whatever. You can pretend she’s not bonded to me all you want, but you and I both know you can’t lie—not even to yourself. I will leave Olivia when I’m damn good and ready, and if you think you can hasten my departure by taking her from me, you’re going to be in for a fucking rude awakening, my friend. There’s nowhere you can go, nowhere you can hide, that I can’t feel her. When I leave Olivia—if I leave Olivia—it will be on my terms, not yours, and not a fucking minute sooner. Are we clear?”
Liam never looked more furious—his eyes glowed amethyst and he seemed to grow in size as his muscles strained against flesh with barely controlled rage. Haden had very little doubt the only reason this angel didn’t bury his dagger in his gut right now was the off chance that Olivia would wake and bear witness to the act—that and it’d leave one hell of a stain on their floor. That’d be a tough one to explain.
“If you ever touch her again, those terms you speak of are going to be your death. Are you fucking clear?” he snarled.
“Crystal,” Haden growled as he turned and walked out, stepping into a hurricane that felt like a mid-afternoon shower compared to the storm raging inside him.
Olivia woke to a hand slipping around her side and cupping her bare breast—in her bed—and with a warm male body pressed up against her backside—unclothed. Her eyes flew open and her breath froze in her lungs. Dammit, Haden! She knew she shouldn’t have trusted him, but this was going too far, even for him, and that was saying a lot.
What should she do? Pretend to be asleep and hope he left her alone, or perhaps she should give him a well-placed elbow in the ribs? When his arm tightened around her waist and sucked her up against him, his erection ground against the crease of her ass and the air that had stalled in her chest exploded from her lungs in an outraged gasp. No longer could she feign sleep. The time to act was now, before things got any more out of hand. But then his hand slipped between her thighs and boldly stroked the soft petals of her cleft. His brazen touch felt surprisingly…familiar.
Olivia’s body began to weep like a wanton whore, begging to be touched. Shame filled her, her heart slammed inside her chest as she forced the words past the lump in her tear-clogged throat, her plea a pitiful protest.
“Please stop…” And he did. He grew eerily rigid against her, and not in a good way. “How can you do this to me? I trusted you!” she cried. “How many times do I have to tell you, I love Liam.”
“How many times have you had to say it?” the indignant voice growled behind her.
Wait…what? Her pulse spiked at that familiar voice and hope flooded her veins. “Liam?” Was he truly back? Oh please, Lord, let him be behind her, she prayed. Olivia lifted her head to look back, but the body rolled on top of her, forcing her onto her stomach and pinning her to the mattress. A thrill of dark excitement warred with panic. What if it wasn’t him? What if it was wishful thinking and she was wrong? Perhaps her body wasn’t such a filthy traitor, after all. It knew Liam’s touch, even when her mind wasn’t sure.
When he didn’t answer right away, she began to get nervous. Perhaps she’d imagined that rich, husky voice. But then a hand swept her hair out of her face, and his breath skated down her neck as his husky words whispered against her ear, “I missed you, love…”
Relief flooded her veins, along with something much more carnal and urgent. She was beyond-words, thrilled to have Liam home, and it was a good thing she was rendered speechless, because right now he didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk. No doubt he’d been angry to come home and find her sleeping on the couch with Haden, and they would more than likely be having words over it—later. He must have known she’d awaken and think him Haden. Had he been testing her? The thought that he might have stung a bit, but her joy at having him home overshadowed any ire his trick might have stirred.
She could sense his restless energy thrumming beneath his skin. He definitely wasn’t playing now—he was hungry—for her. There was a raw, primal urgency in the way he touched her, possessiveness in the way his body moved over hers with just the right amount of dominance and erotic play as his hard length teased the cleft of her ass and his hand slipped between her parted thighs, stroking, playing but not committing. Her body ached to be filled by him. She craved their connection with such ardent longing, all she could do was shift her hips in the minimal space he allowed her to move, coaching his touch deeper.
When he failed to comply, a tortured moan escaped her parted lips. “Please…” But her plea went unanswered. Her blood heated to boiling as Liam’s body courted hers to submit to him. Yes! Take me! I’m yours, she begged, unable to put thought to voice. She had all she could do to draw breath.
“I missed the way you smell…” he whispered, pressing his lips to the hollow of her throat and inhaling deeply. “I missed seeing your beautiful face…” Light as butterflies’ wings, his fingertips brushed across her cheek. “I missed the way you taste…” His mouth captured hers and their tongues clashed as he kissed her breath away. With a ferocious growl of failing restraint, his knee wedged her legs farther apart and he shifted above her, poising his iron shaft against her empty core. As he broke their kiss, he growled, “And I missed the way you feel…” With one swift thrust, he filled her to overflowing. Olivia cried out with a mixture of surprise and pleasure. Trapped beneath his rock-hard body, she was helplessly at his mercy—unable to move, unable to seek her own release—unable to touch him—to see him…
But he was touching her. His hand slipped around her waist, lifting her up and anchoring her to the rhythmic cadence of his thrusts. How had he known this was exactly the way she wanted him, how she needed him. After a week of being away, she wasn’t looking for controlled and patient, gentle and teasing. She needed him hot and untethered—explosive and ardent. And by the way he was handling her, he needed it, too.
Swiftly he drove her to the brink of release, and when she shattered, he joined her sharp cry with a harsh masculine bark of completion. It was perfect, he was perfect… When he rolled to the side and pulled her against him, she could feel his heartbeat slamming against her back. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she whispered, snuggling deeper into the protective shelter of his embrace. “It’s been a difficult week.”
“I know,” his low-throaty voice rumbled behind her. “But it’s going to be all right. I’m here now.” He pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head and inhaled her scent deep into his lungs. Exhaling a possessive sounding growl, he tightened his hold on her and vowed, “I’m never leaving you again, Olivia. I promise to keep you safe—always.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The following weeks flew by in a whirlwind of planning, preparation and packing. Olivia could hardly believe that tomorrow she would be married. In the days that passed since Liam’s return, she’d seen very little of Haden. Oh, he’d been around, mostly meeting with Liam during the late midnight hours. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was avoiding her. It was probably for the best, considering, but the unfinished business between them continued to eat at her, eroding her peace of mind. Then again, perhaps she would always feel that way when it came to Haden.
She’d done a lot of thinking and soul-searching over the last two weeks in preparation to walk away from her life here in Evercrest, and step wholly into Liam’s world. She’d be lying if she said part of her wasn’t scared to death, not that she’d ever admit it to Liam. He felt bad enough about taking her away from her family.
Her job, eh…she could take it or leave it. Her friends, now that stung a bit more. But saying goodbye to her parents…just the thought of it made her heart ache with unbearable grief. For once, Olivia was thankful Liam couldn’t feel her emotions. It was bad enough she was hurting, she couldn’t stand the thought of him suffering with her, which brought her thoughts back around full-circle to Haden. She wished he didn’t have to bear the burden of her emo
tional pendulum. If only there were some way, she could spare him this pain—some way, she could release him from their bond…
She’d yet to tell Haden she was leaving with Liam and wouldn’t be coming back. It wasn’t a conversation she relished having, but it was one she could no longer put off. For the last week, she’d waited for the opportunity to speak with him—alone—an opportunity that never arose, whether Liam’s doing or Haden’s avoidance of her, she couldn’t be certain.
But now finally the time she’d waited for was upon her. Liam had left to go pick up his tux. Perhaps it was the opportunity Haden had been waiting for, as well because as she sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of tea while trying to rally her nerve to go find him, she heard a soft tapping on the back door. Olivia turned to see Haden standing there and her heart stuttered before kicking into a full-on gallop. As she started to rise, he let himself in and strolled into the kitchen.
“Haden,” she greeted, anxiety making her voice waver. “I was just about to come find you. You’ve been hard to get a hold of these past two weeks.” As usual, his face held no emotion so she could only guess what he was thinking or why he was here.
“I’ve been busy,” he replied vaguely. “Is Liam here?”
Was he asking because he’d come to see Liam or her? “Not right now. He’s picking up his tux.”
He nodded, seeming satisfied enough and dropped into the kitchen chair, fixing her with his sea-green stare. “This has been a tough week for you. Are you having second thoughts?”
When she didn’t answer, he reached across the table and took her hand in his. The contact of his war-calloused hand engulfing hers sent a rush of tingling awareness racing up her arm. Instinctively, she tensed to pull it back and then thinking better of it, stopped. What she had to say wasn’t going to be easy, perhaps she needed his strength to rally her courage.
But before she could speak, he continued, “You don’t have to do this if you’re having doubts, Olivia. And before you deny it, remember that I can feel your emotions. If this isn’t what you want, all you have to do is say the word and I’ll take you away from here. I will keep you safe. I can protect you.”
Oh God, he was asking her to choose him! He thought her doubts were over marrying Liam. Of course, he would. He didn’t know she was leaving for Landaketa tomorrow and grieving the impending loss of her family.
When tears filled her eyes, he muttered a curse under his breath, ripe with frustration and self-loathing. “I didn’t come here to make you cry. I’m not trying to hurt you, Olivia.”
“I know,” she snuffed and dried her tears with the back of her hand. “Haden, there’s something I haven’t told you. And I meant to, but, well…I haven’t seen you.” He tensed. His grip on her hand tightened almost imperceptibly. “I’m going away with Liam—and I won’t be coming back. After tomorrow, I won’t see you again.”
His eyes searched hers, looking for something she hoped he wouldn’t find. It would only make this harder—on both of them. “Does that bother you?”
It shouldn’t, but it did. Unable to force the lie past her lips, she opted not to answer him.
“Your silence says more than you realize. I know he plans to leave with you, Olivia. And as much as I’m sure he wishes it otherwise, he can’t keep you from me. I’m your guardian. Where you go, I go—we’re a package deal. He may not like it, but until our bond is broken, that’s the way it’s going to be.”
“This isn’t fair to you, Haden. You can’t want this.”
“It’s never mattered what I wanted, Olivia. It is what it is. I didn’t come here to talk you out of it, I just wanted you to know, that you have other options. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
But she did. If she wanted to be with Liam, this was the only way. “I’m not having second thoughts about marrying Liam. What you’ve been feeling is the struggle I’m dealing with over leaving my parents behind. After I’m married tomorrow and we leave for Landaketa, I won’t see them again, not in this lifetime anyway, and I’m having a hard time with that.”
Feeling more than a little uncomfortable that this conversation was heading in a direction she’d rather not go with him—not again—Olivia stood and carried her mug to the sink. “I appreciate you coming by, but I should go finish packing. In case you need to know, I’m spending the night with my parents. We’re having supper together and watching old spaghetti westerns.” Wow, she must really be nervous because now she was babbling. “I hope you don’t mind if I bring Kyro.”
“He’s your dog. I don’t care what you do with him.”
Okay… “I guess…” Shit… “I just wanted to tell you in case I didn’t get a chance to tomorrow, thank you—.”
He scowled. “For what?”
“For…everything. And I really am sorry. I know this hasn’t been easy for you, and that you didn’t want to love me—.”
He didn’t deny it and that stung more than she wanted to admit. “I won’t see you tomorrow, Olivia. I’m not coming to your wedding.”
Ouch again. Of course, he wouldn’t… It wasn’t like they were friends, a fact he made a point to tell her countless times. She felt foolish for assuming he would want to be there for her, and wondered why the idea that he wouldn’t, bothered her so much.
A question Haden himself put to words to when he asked, “Why do you look so surprised? Did you honestly think I would want to attend your wedding?”
Again, she was surprised and embarrassed to discover her answer to that.
“Trust me, Olivia, you don’t want me there.” His warning tone promised he spoke true. Something briefly flickered across his face, but before she could name the emotion he quickly shut it down. Haden stood to leave, apparently no more comfortable having this conversation than she was.
As he walked to the door, she found herself whispering, “I’m sorry.” And she truly was.
Olivia couldn’t sleep. Her nerves were wound too tight. As she lay in her childhood bed, in her childhood room, staring at the slow swirling blades of her primary-colored childhood ceiling fan, all she could think of was that this was the last time—the last night she’d sleep in this room, the last supper she’d have with her family, the last time they’d all snuggle together on the couch, watching her dad’s annoying spaghetti western’s.
She’d deliberated over telling her parents the truth, but in the end decided to take this last night with them in the familiar, comfortable silence of the way things used to be. They’d had a great supper—Manicotti—her favorite, and then they spent the night watching The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It was the perfect night, just like old times. Her parents chalked her occasional tears up to pre-wedding jitters, and they too shed a few of their own, reminiscing over how much their little girl had grown up.
This was going to be harder than she’d thought. Back when she’d whole-heartedly pledged to follow Liam to Landaketa she hadn’t understood his initial reluctance to allow her to make such a sacrifice. But now…now she got it, and this was truly awful. On the night when she should be over the moon excited about marrying the guy of her dreams, she was grieving the impending loss of her family.
Olivia regretted declining his offer to stay with her. After all, wasn’t it bad luck for the bride to see the groom the night before the wedding? Olivia wasn’t superstitious, nor was she willing to take any chances, so at this point, she figured she needed all the luck she could get.
But now that the clock of her childhood glowed one thirty-four, she wished she hadn’t been so adamant that Liam stayed home. She needed him to comfort her—she needed his reassurance that everything was going to be all right. Maybe she should call him. It wasn’t like she needed to worry about waking him up. Kyro groaned as she climbed out of bed to grab her cell.
“Oh, shush, you big baby.”
Olivia glanced out the bedroom window as she grabbed the phone off her desk. The moon was full, lighting the night in an ethereal glow of tranquility. She stood there
a moment, taking in the view. It was one she’d seen countless times, but never really stopped to appreciate before now. Her old swing still hung on tattered ropes from the oak in the front yard, its rider-less seat gently swinging back and forth in the crisp evening breeze. Her mother’s perennials lined the edge of the driveway; the scent of night-blooming jasmine wafted in through her cracked window.
When her gaze fell on the loveseat near the corner of the yard, Olivia’s pulse quickened. A knowing smile tugged at her lips. Was she really surprised to see Liam out there? At the sight of her angelic warrior sitting vigil over her, all thought of luck, good or bad, leapt out the window. Pulling on her robe, she called Kyro to follow her and raced out of the room. Obediently, albeit less than enthusiastically, the hell-hound leapt from her bed and trotted after her as she hurried down the stairs.
Olivia winced as she typed the security code into the keypad beside the door, certain the shrill chirp would wake her parents. Once the alarm deactivated, she snuck outside, careful not to make any more noise as she closed the door behind her and crept across the lawn. If she thought to sneak up on him, she was sorely disappointed. Though neither she nor Kyro made any noise as they crossed the yard, he turned to look at them as they approached.
“Hey,” he welcomed, reaching out to take her hand. Liam pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug she couldn’t resist snuggling into. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“Not a wink. I thought you said you were going home.”
“No, you said I should go home. I never said I was going to do it.”
“You could have come in, you know. I certainly wouldn’t leave you out here all night.”
He shrugged and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t mind. It’s not the first night I’ve spent out here on your front lawn.”
The Redemption Series Page 127