Page 109 of Bound by Vengeance
“Are you sure? You might be able to get themall back if you change your mind. If you marry Simone—”
He hugged her so fiercely to him that he cutoff the rest of her words.
“I don’t want any of that!” he snarled. “Iwant you andonlyyou.”
The stubble lining his jaw pricked her palmwhen she rested it against his cheek, but she relished the feel ofhim. She studied his azure eyes as her heart swelled with love forhim. “It will be excruciating for you and might take longer thannormal. Kadence might have been a complete anomaly, but if shewasn’t—”
“I’ve spoken with Kadence about what toexpect.”
Her heart hammered in anticipation, yet sheheld back.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I’llbe the one who will hurtyou.”
Clasping her cheeks, he drew her close tokiss her. “And look at the pain I’m inflicting on you.”
“No, you’re not. I’m fine.”
“I feel you pulling away, and I sense yourfear you’ll hurt me every time we’re together.” He ran a thumb overthe shadows circling her eyes. “You’re not sleeping, you’re notfeeding well, and it’s because of me. When I’m with you, I knowwe’re missing something, and when we’re apart, my chest feels likesomeone is shredding it. I need this too, Victoria.”
She snuggled closer, and her hand slid downto grip his rising shaft. Nathan drew her closer and kissed herbefore rolling her over and pinning her to the mattress. She spreadher legs as he settled between her thighs and ran his hand down tostroke her sex.
Vicky’s hips rose to meet his hand. “Do youever wish you could go back and change this?”
“I never thought this is the way my lifewould go,” he said honestly, “but I wouldn’t change one thing aboutit. I would give upeverythingfor you.”
“In many ways, you have given upeverything.”
“Things have changed, but I’ve gained farmore than I lost.” He slid his hand away from her, and clasping hiscock, guided it to her entrance.
“Home,” he murmured when he slid inside herand buried himself to the hilt. Clasping her wrists, he pinned themabove her head as he remained unmoving within her. “Mine.”
“Yours,” she agreed, and her smile revealedher lengthening fangs. “And you aremine.”
“Yes.”
When she lifted her head and sank her fangsinto his throat, he felt no alarm as she consumed more than sheever had before while their bodies moved in a smooth rhythm thatbuilt steadily toward release. When she cried out against histhroat, he grew lightheaded as he thrust forward and came insideher.
Nathan didn’t resist when she turned himonto his back and offered him her wrist. He cracked his eyes open,his vision blurring before he focused on her.
Love swelled within Vicky as she held himprotectively against her and felt the weakness seeping steadilythrough his body. She stroked his forehead while she fed him, andwhen her bite started to close, she pulled her wrist away, bit deepagain, and fed him more.
“I love you,” she whispered over and over asterror threatened to consume her. He would survive this, but shehated how vulnerable she’d made him.
Weak now, so much stronger afterward.Still, Vicky choked on a sob as she lifted Nathan’s head to cradleit in her lap. She bent over him, kissing his face as she continuedto feed him her blood.
Nathan tried to lift his hand to wipe awaythe tears spilling from her eyes, but he couldn’t control hislimbs. The weightlessness of them, the defenselessness of hiscondition should have frightened him, but in her arms, he had nofear. His vision blurred again before unconsciousness claimedhim.
CHAPTER 47
Vicky dressed herself and Nathan beforecalling Abby for blood. She had to gorge herself to feed Nathanwhen he woke, but her stomach twisted at the idea of leaving himfor even a second. No, she would stay by his side until this wasdone.
He’d been as still as stone for the past fewhours. Kadence said her change took longer and was more painfulthan normal, but Vicky hadn’t expected this stillness. It was likehewasdead and not transitioning. The ashen hue of hisbronzed skin and his colorless lips didn’t help with her image ofhim as a corpse. She kept herself attuned to the beat of his heartas his breathing shallowed to the point where she couldn’t see therise and fall of his chest.
When a knock sounded on the door, Vickyopened it to reveal Abby. Her sister’s eyes widened at her. It hadbeen over a week since they’d seen each other, and Vicky knew shelooked awful. Fighting to keep herself restrained from completingthe bond with Nathan these past weeks had taken a toll on her;changing him had almost leveled her.
When Abby’s gaze went beyond her to the bed,Vicky’s hand tightened on the doorframe. Abby would never harmNathan, but he was vulnerable in this state, and Vicky would tearthe throat out of anyone who tried to touch him.
