Dark (15 page)

“I can feel your worry,” he said, kissing her jaw.
“Your fear.
The way you’re breathing too fast is making me
feel like I can’t get enough air.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, flushing.

“Don’t be sorry.” He nosed under her ear. “I don’t want apologies.”
He put his hands on her breasts, flicking his thumbs over her nipples until she
writhed. It hurt just a little.
Just enough to make her want
more.

“What do you want?” she panted, tilting her hips up. His cock
brushed the inside of her thigh, heavy and wet at the tip.

“I want you laid bare,” he rasped, nipping at her shoulder.

Eva shuddered. “I don’t know how to do that.”

“It’s not up to you.” Greyson sat back on his heels and looked at
her. “You don’t have to do anything, except submit.”

Eva stared up at him, fear sliding through her. Why was he
stopping?

“Hush. It’s okay,” he said surprisingly, holding his erection. Her
eyes flicked down, suddenly mesmerized by the way his strong hand slid up his
cock. He jacked himself several times,
then
teased at
the slit.

Her pussy grew heavy and hot as she watched him pleasure himself.
She wished he would hurry up. She wanted him inside her. She didn’t want to
wait.
Was it only last night that I lost my virginity to this man?
she
mused, biting on her lip. He ran his palm over his balls
and she wondered what it felt like.

“You like what you see?” he asked her, his voice rough.

She nodded, watching his fingers move back up his shaft. Muscles
in his chest flexed.
God, he’s beautiful,
she thought. She nudged his
ankle with her foot, trying to get him to come closer. Instead, he leaned back
to grab something. Eva couldn’t tear her eyes away from his prick. It bobbed as
he moved. She wrapped her thighs around his hips, trying to draw him in, but he
took her right ankle in his hand and looped leather around it.

“Trust me,” he said again, tying her foot to the bottom rung of
the bed.

When he touched her other ankle, she resisted. He smiled at her
and lifted her foot up to kiss her calf. “Don’t fight me, Eva. You’ll lose.”

She frowned at him. “I don’t understand you.” She squirmed, trying
to get away, but he wouldn’t let her. She lay spread open for him, completely
exposed. She wasn’t sure she liked it, but what other choice did she have? She
wanted to live. And Greyson wouldn’t hurt her.
Get control of yourself.

He bound her left ankle to the bed. “You will.” He touched her
pussy, gently smoothing his finger up to her clit. He flicked it, hard, and she
gasped. He did it again and Eva curled her fingers tightly around the leather
straps.
Why does that feel so good?

“Do you remember, all those years ago, when I told you to go home
and not come back? That my woods were dangerous?” he asked as he switched
tactics and rubbed her clit with the heel of his hand. No more flicking, just
relentless motion. Just like that, Eva was on the edge of orgasm. She couldn’t
think straight as she arched her spine, needing the release only he could give
her.

“Do you?” He slid two fingers into her pussy then stopped, waiting
for her reply.

She moaned, but he didn’t move.

“Do you remember?”

“Yes,” she finally managed to say, slurring the word. She tried to
jerk her hips, but he had his other hand on her stomach, keeping her still. “Why?”
she asked.

“It’s too late to run, Eva. You’re mine.” His eyes glittered as he
knelt up, then took his cock and slid it into her body with one, smooth thrust.

****

Greyson looked down at his woman, struggling to control himself.
He could sense her fear and her arousal.
Her need.
Her
desire called to him, made him want to throw caution to the winds, but he had
to be careful.
Had to take care of her.
He thrust
again, then again, watching her eyes flutter as she gritted her teeth.

“Breathe, Eva,” he said, grabbing her hips.

She shook her head.

He stopped,
then
flicked her clit again.
He let his empathy go wide open and the pleasure-pain of her emotions zipped
through him. Eva gasped and he thrust again. She licked her lips, breathing
hard. “I can feel everything you need, Eva,” he said.
“Everything.”

She swallowed, hands twisting into the leather bindings, and he
put his hand on her throat.
Gently.
Just a light
little touch, but a spark of fear still shot through him until she settled
herself down. Calm seeped into him from her and he almost lost it right then
and there. She was incredible. Her strength of will moved him in ways he never
expected. The endless years’ difference in their ages didn’t matter. The fact
that he’d first met her when she was barely out of childhood didn’t matter. He
moved his hand to her cheek and ran a thumb over her lips. “You’re so damn
beautiful.”

She shook her head, dislodging his fingers. “Please. Don’t
patronize me.”

He laughed and rolled his hips into her cunt. She was so wet he
could feel her moisture sliding down between them. Her clit throbbed against
his groin. “I’m not. You’ll understand soon enough, when you see yourself through
me.” Greyson took a deep breath and initiated his healing ability, then added
energy to his empathic sense at the same time. Her eyes widened as the first
tickle of power touched her mind. It would take all of his empathy and all of
his energy to truly pair with her. He let his senses calm while still hovering
on the edge of climax. Slowly, her emotions strengthened, washing through him
in ever-deepening waves. He stared into her eyes, watching as their clear green
began to brighten,
then
crackle, as his emotions began
to cross the energy he held between them and into her body. He waited for the
moment her psyche would realize what was happening.
And please, God, don’t let her hate me for this
, he prayed.

Abruptly, she strained against her bonds, almost as if her body
were no longer under her control. “Oh my God, Greyson, what’s happening?”

That was what he’d been waiting for. He thrust into her again as
her fear added heat to their connection. “Don’t fight it, Eva.” He dropped down
onto her, trembling, as her orgasm began. He grunted
,
hips jerking as the pleasure rushed through him.

“Oh God,” she said, pulling at the leather. “Greyson—”

“
Shh
, I’m here,” he groaned. She was
still afraid, but the pleasure carried her past it. He sensed her mind, like a bright
star, just beyond his reach. “Let me in, Eva,” he begged, as his climax
continued, long beyond any normal orgasm.

She keened, head tipping back. Greyson grabbed her face and forced
her to look at him. “Eva!”

Her eyes snapped open. Silver sparks flashed in the green, like
shards of ice swimming up out of deep oceans, and then she stopped breathing as
their empathic connection abruptly clamped into place. A torrent of memories
assaulted him and he shuddered, living and reliving her life. He felt her father’s
death and her anger over his suicide. He experienced her mother’s abandonment
and Eva’s determination to live, despite everything. He swallowed it all down,
gladly taking in every part of her that he could. He wanted to know her from
the inside out. When she cried out, he pressed closer, using his body to let
her know she was no longer alone.

The contact opened the connection wider. He sensed her shock as
his long life flooded into her brain all at once, and he sent her a mental
apology. She absorbed his father’s crazed madness and his mother’s death, the
long years of boredom and loneliness. She accepted it all, every last terrible
part of him, and then passed the energy back to him, their minds dancing around
each other as their bodies climaxed again and again. Just when he felt darkness
sliding around the edge of his consciousness, the onslaught eased and he fell
down over her, cock still hard.

“Fuck,” he said, hips moving more slowly. Another climax built
from the base of his spine. He ripped at the leather on her wrists, pulling it
apart. The moment her hands were free, she fisted his hair tightly, holding him
close.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered brokenly. “God, Greyson, don’t stop.”

“I’m not,” he choked out, pushing into her so slowly he thought
his head was going to explode. Why he ever believed he understood who she truly
was before this moment was a mystery to him. Now that they were paired, he
sensed her from the inside out. More strangely, he could feel her sensing
him.

Is that what it feels like when I use my empathy on others?
he
wondered, then Eva kissed him and he lost his train of thought. She tasted
sweet, and then spicy, and he climaxed unexpectedly, cock jerking into her one
last time. His orgasm pushed her over the edge and she sighed as her pussy
tightened, ripples of pleasure stuttering through them both.

Several long minutes later
her
rolled to
the side, not wanting to crush her. He tucked his face against her shoulder,
unwilling to move any further away.

“I can feel how tired you are,” she said, her fingers tiptoeing
down his arm until she reached his palm.

He clasped her palm, smiling against her skin.
“Just
as I can feel your exhaustion, Eva.”
He made himself sit up and untie her
feet. “I guess we didn’t really need those after all.”

She laughed. “I liked them.”

He pulled up the sheet and tucked it around them both. “I know,”
he said, sleepily.

She huffed against his skin. “Shut up.”

He chuckled,
then
snagged his cell phone
from the nightstand.

“You aren’t seriously going to call your brother now, are you?”
Eva asked, propping herself on her elbow.

He shrugged, already dialing. “You’re innocent. Best he
know
as soon as possible.” He glanced at her, not surprised
to see her newly silvered green eyes looking at him skeptically. Truthfully, he
felt angry with Bruno. Angry that he’d had to force Eva through this.
Angry at his father for teaching him to fear pairing.
Angry with himself, for being such a bastard.
Now that the
bonding was complete, the gentle hum of Eva’s emotions soothed him, like waves
on a beach. He knew she understood his frustration, just as he sensed her
patience with him. Together, they were so much stronger, and he couldn’t
remember why he’d fought so hard against her when she’d first ventured into his
territory.
Because you were afraid,
his psyche told him.
Afraid of a little slip of a girl.

“Yeah,” Bruno barked into his ear. “What?”

“It’s done,” Greyson replied, not giving an inch. Irritation
flared through him. His brother made him crazy.

“And?”

Greyson sighed. “She’s innocent, as I told you before.” He
listened to his brother take a breath, not willing to offer any more
information.

“Good. So you’re paired now?”

“Yes.” Greyson rubbed his forehead. “Goodbye, Bruno.”

“I want you to set up a trap for her stepfather,” Bruno said
before he could hang up.

“Who died and made you king?”
Greyson asked, annoyed.

Bruno snorted. “You voted me in. You and Isaac and Solomon,
remember?”

Greyson startled when a small hand ran down his back.
Eva, trying to soothe him.
He took a deep breath and let it
out.
“Fine.
When? I need to get a few hours of sleep.”

“We’ll do it later today. Have her call him from her place. When
he shows up, we’ll move in,” Bruno said.

“How do we know he hasn’t already gone there, taken her computer,
and left again?”

“Because I bugged her house and so far it’s been quiet,” Bruno
replied. “Seven p.m. That should give you some time to sleep.”

Greyson cursed when the line went dead.

“It’s fine. I was going to suggest it anyway,” Eva said, taking
the phone away from him and tossing it onto the floor.

“He makes me insane,” Greyson growled.

Eva chuckled. “I know. But it’s only because he loves you.” She
drew him down and snuggled in next to him. “Sleep, Greyson.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, pulling her into his arms. He waited
until her breathing slowed, and then, just as he sensed her dropping off into
dreamland, he said the words he knew she’d already felt in his heart. “I love
you, Eva.”

Chapter Eleven

Eva yawned and tightened her fingers around Greyson’s belt. This
time, she’d tucked her hair into a ponytail in an effort to keep the wind from
tangling it hopelessly, but it didn’t work. The speed of the motorcycle worked
the strands loose despite her best intentions. She sent a pulse of happiness to
him, knowing his empathy would pick it up. They were paired and their empathic
powers formed a continuous feedback loop, which they could use to wordlessly
communicate. She felt his answering pulse of affection and smiled into his
shoulder.