Wayward Bond by Kate Rudolph

Author:Kate Rudolph
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kate Rudolph

14

ZYRUS

The bed was soft beneath me, a warm comfort on aching muscles and an even stronger aching head. I hadn’t thought of my own comfort waking any morning for years.

And I wasn’t in my own bed.

Astrid was perched above me, face frantic and a little … angry? It was difficult to read her expression, but not nearly as difficult as it should have been.

Denya.

The recognition bloomed once more, an old friend I’d been desperate to recognize for so long, and now I did. The certainty lay heavy in my chest, and I had no idea how I’d ever forgotten.

“What the hell is going on, Zyrus? Are you dying?” She clutched my shoulder as if she was afraid to let go. “Why do you keep passing out?” She looked down at her own hand and released me like I was burning her. Or perhaps the other way around.

“Denya.” I had spent so long keeping the thought to myself that there was no way I could keep it from escaping now. It burst out of me, a vicious animal eager to pounce or a flower ready to bloom. I sat up, head spinning just a little. I tasted the tang of blood in my mouth.

All of it was inconsequential next to the woman beside me.

“What are you⁠—”

I cut her off with a kiss, pain dissolving into pleasure with the brush of her tongue. Our bodies were still naked, and mine was ready for more, desperate after so long without. But Astrid pulled back, her chest heaving.

I stared, unable to tear my gaze away. I'd known she was beautiful. Gorgeous. Mine. But now that knowledge was visceral, a primal urge burning low in my gut that had my eyes roaming hungrily over her body. I traced the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts, places I hadn't dared to consider in far too long. My mouth went dry as I drank her in, committing every detail to memory.

"My face is up here, buddy," Astrid said, her tone sharp but with an undercurrent I couldn't quite place. Amusement? Desire?

I snapped my gaze to hers. Did I blush? I felt no shame in appreciating my mate. But I felt. So much. Everything. And I wanted more.

“I thought I remembered, but it’s so much more.” I reached for her, my hand covering her side, sliding around her waist, her skin so soft and delicate. And mine. After so long, she was finally mine. “You changed my life the first time I saw you.”

Under my hand, she stiffened and pulled away, ever so slightly. Her face was shrouded in something it was still too difficult to read. Anger? Fear? Confusion?

Guilt?

If anyone should feel guilty, it was me.

"I should have said something weeks ago. But I … There's so much to say." I hadn't been nervous like this in so long that I barely knew how to deal with it. My heart raced, and my palms felt clammy. Words I'd held back for years threatened to spill out all at once, but I struggled to organize my thoughts.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.