Page 38 of Bound

He falls silent again, and I wonder what kind of trouble I’min now.

ChapterSixteen

Beck

I settle back in my chair after suppertime with asense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time. The fire blazes in front of me,filling the cottage with warmth. Meg rocks in the chair beside me.

Things feel right.

“I didn’t know about the hair thing,” she says quietly, hergaze on the fire. “I didn’t know it was an intimacy.”

I’m not handling this as well as I should. When I walked inearlier, I was struck by how sweet she looked with Cian sleeping, his head onher lap. I felt a deep sense of gratitude because I knew I was going to get mybrother back and I would have Meg to thank for it.

And then I realized that bastard got her to comb out hishair. I hadn’t been able to help the tiny flare of jealousy. I should havehidden it better. “I was being an ass about it. Don’t think we’re going totreat you like two dogs fighting over a bone.”

She turns her head slightly, and a curious smile curves upher lips. “You really think me combing your hair is erotic?”

She’s lovely in the firelight. She’s lovely at any time, butthere’s something intimate about sitting here with her. Everything is going tobe fine once she bonds with Cian. Once she bridges the parts of our soul,perhaps I won’t be so deviant. Perhaps I can be the man she needs me to be. “Ifind it highly erotic, and I’ll demand it of you, wife.”

Maybe I won’t need to use the word demand so often.

She sits back. “I think I can handle it, husband.”

I like hearing her use that word. I mean to be a good one toher. Better than that pathetic first husband she found on the Earth plane. “Ithink you can, too. You handled Cian well.”

She seemed perfectly content to sit in the living room whileCian slept. I cooked dinner while Dante entertained Meg with stories about howthe Vampire plane works. Her laughter had been music, playing through the brughand turning it into a home.

It’s everything I want. My family, content and happy.

“What’s wrong with him?” Meg asks.

“What’s wrong with Cian? The same thing that was wrong withme,” I reply quietly. “He’s out of balance. He needed to be bonded five yearsago. For me, it came out as rage. For Cian, he’s dissolving into chaos. It’sworse than I thought. He’s better when I’m around, you see. I had no idea hewas having episodes where he forgot years of our lives.”

Dante was the one to tell me that bit of news. Right afterdinner, he pulled me aside for a long discussion. He explained that Cian barelyremembered where he was when Dante spoke to him the night before. Cian wasconfused and slightly scared when Dante awakened him. The vampire had toexplain the situation to Ci every time he woke.

“The sooner you bond with him, the better. You need tonightto rest, but tomorrow it should be done,” I say.

After the events earlier in the day and the arduous travel,Meg needs to rest. The bonding can be intense. I know what Dante told me shouldmake me worried. Cian is pretty far gone and that could put Meg in danger, butthen I remember how lovingly Ci wrapped himself around her before heading offto bed. Cian might not remember where he is, but he knows how important Meg is.He won’t hurt her. He’ll shut it down if he can’t control himself.

And I’m all right with that outcome. If Ci is too far gone,we’ll sacrifice ourselves to save her. She is the important one.

I’m suddenly intensely aware that I’m alone with my wife.Cian is sleeping, and Dante left after our talk, explaining he had someone heneeded to see. It’s bullshit. Dante is going to the tavern. He won’t be backbefore morning, if then. It doesn’t matter. I have what I need from Dante. Iused his communication device to speak with Susan. She promised me a goodsalary to clear out the tunnels in Dellacorp’s latest mining project. They’refull of some form of monstrous bat. It’s amusing that the great and mightyvampires with all their tech are deathly afraid of flying rodents. Not thatI’ll complain. Their phobias mean gold in my pocket. Gold I can use to fix upthe place and make Meg more comfortable.

I haven’t mentioned my impending trip to my wife. I don’twant to disrupt the happy place we’ve found tonight. We need a few hours ofpeace.

Meg leaves her own seat and slips to her knees beside me.She lays her head on my lap, and I feel my cock respond. It lengthens topainful proportions. I’ll go slowly with her tonight. The need to make love toher rides me hard, but I force myself to relax. It feels like forever, but Itook her twice the day before. I need to show her I’m not an animal who willfall on her at every given opportunity, even if that’s what I feel like doing.I’m her husband. She’s been gracious and gentle with Cian, and I owe hernothing less.

I let my head fall back against the wood of the rockingchair. Such a long and rough day. Between the kelpie in the morning and thepainful conversation I had with Liadan this afternoon, I’m spent. I didn’t wantto hurt Lia, but I had to make it plain I can’t see her anymore. Liadan tookthe news of my marriage with tears, but she was a lady about it. She promisedto help Meg fit in.

“He seemed better at dinner,” Meg murmurs.

She practically purrs when I stroke her hair. She’s so sweetand responsive. I wonder if her pussy is purring yet. My cock tightens again.The simple fact that she’s so close makes me long to shove her down and thrustinto her soft, welcoming body.

“Your presence makes a huge difference.” I let my fingersplay with the nape of her neck. “I felt it the minute I met you. Even before webonded, I was calmer, more centered.”

She looks up, her pretty eyes wide. “I have to sleep withhim to form the bond?”

“No.” There’s a wealth of hesitation in her question, and itworries me. Growing up on the human plane probably hasn’t prepared her for thereality of taking on two husbands. “Cian can form the bond without intercourse.I could have, too. I just lost my head. I pushed you.”