Page 39 of Bound by Vengeance
“You know about that?”
“Yes. Did you plan to keep it hidden fromme?”
“No.” He didn’t know what he’d planned to dowith the knowledge of his marriage looming like a guillotine overhis head. He never expected this to happen between them, so itnever crossed his mind to tell her. When the blade fell, he wouldhave to break this off. He may not desire Simone the way he didVicky, but he would never be unfaithful to his fiancée or wife.
“Will you tell me when it happens?” sheasked.
“Yes. Is that why sex is off the table?”
“With those other men, I knew therelationship would never lead anywhere, and I didn’t want it to. Iknow this can never lead anywhere either, but I’m not the same girlwho once made bad decisions and didn’t care about theconsequences.”
“I see.”
And suddenly, he did. This wasn’t becauseshe didn’t desire him, it was clear she did, but she was afraid ofgetting hurt, and he might be the one to do it. He wanted to tellher he would never hurt her, but he couldn’t lie to her. She wasright; this could never go anywhere between them.
They should stop this now, but he didn’thave the strength to end it. He didn’t have much time left beforethe elders announced his bride; in her bed, or out of it, heanticipated spending every spare second he had with Vicky.
“I have no choice on becoming engaged,” hetold her. “I’m their leader; my family has always been thestrongest hunter line and always been expected to lead. I’ve madetoo many changes already to change the way our marriage is donetoo. One day, yes, I will make sure it’s different, but I can’tnow.”
This isn’t something he wants!Vickyrealized with a start. She’d assumed it was something he eitherapproved of or didn’t think much about, but he didn’t want this.However, he would sacrifice himself to keep his people happy. Crap,that only made her care for him more.
“I didn’t ask you to change anything,” shesaid. “I’ll never ask that of you. I understand your people comefirst.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but he had noidea what to say, and he didn’t know why he’d revealed so much toher.
“I should shower, and you should be on yourmerry little hunter way,” she said with false brightness.
She leapt out of bed. Lifting her arms, sheraised them above her head and stretched her back. She smiled whenhis gaze latched onto her breasts, and a glazed look entered hiseyes. Gripping the edge of her thong, she pulled it down her legsin a sashaying dance before tossing it onto the floor.
She stood unabashedly before him. “You’llhave a picture-perfect memory of me for when you’re alonelater.”
The sight of her completely bared unraveledsomething primitive within him. He felt on the edge of losingcontrol, something he never did, as he stalked toward her.
Unable to stop herself, Vicky stepped backuntil her heels came up against the wall. Stopping before her,Nathan rested his hand on the wall next to her head. Hissky-colored eyes darkened to the color of a storm-tossed sea. Heplaced his other hand against the wall beside her head and loweredhimself until his eyes were level with hers. A lethal aura emanatedfrom him, one she hadn’t expected to come from a mortal, hunter ornot.
“This,” he said and lowered one hand to slipit between her legs. “Is a scent and sensation I will never forget.This body”—his gaze raked over her as he slid a finger insideher—“is mine. If I find you with another man, I’ll kill him.”
Vicky rested her hand on hisstubble-roughened cheek, looking to soothe him as her hips foundthe motion of his finger within her. “The same goes for you,” shemurmured. “And if you don’t tell me when you become engaged, I’llkill you. I’m many things, I’ve donemanythings, but Idon’t screw around with men who are taken.”
“Do you think you’re strong enough andtrained enough to take me, Victoria?” he murmured as he bent hishead to nibble on her bottom lip.
“We’ll find out if you keep your engagementfrom me.”
Her hands slipped through his hair as hedeepened the kiss and his hand did wondrous things to her. She camewith a loud cry that he muffled with his mouth. Barely able tostand, she released his hair and slumped against him when he pulledhis hand away.
“Later, when you’re alone, remember whomakes you scream like that,” he whispered in her ear.
Before she could reply, he kissed the tip ofher nose. Unsettled, Vicky suddenly felt compelled to shieldherself from him, which was ridiculous as he’d already seen it all.She’dproudlydisplayed it to him, but suddenly she feltexposed and vulnerable in a way she never had before. She alwaysran things,alwayscalled the shots, but Nathan had takencontrol, and where she’d planned to leavehimcraving more,he’d turned the tables on her.
“Vicky.” He gripped her rounded chin withhis thumb and forefinger and lifted it so she had to look at him.“I’ll call you later.”
He kissed her forehead before releasing herchin.
“Be careful tonight,” she said.
“Always,” he replied.
Watching him walk away, she smiled at hisawkward gait. She’d left him wanting more at least. Then, he turnedto look back at her.
