Destiny Unchained Read online

  Shakily, she rose to her feet. A large round object soared through the air and landed by her side. A head. She let out a relieved breath when the eyes that stared back at her were both dark brown.

  She opened her mouth to call for Cristian. But something that felt like a bus rammed into her, toppling her to the ground. For the second time, the air rushed out of her lungs and she struggled to breathe. The beast was heavy on top of her, but took care not to crush her. His powerful arms thrust hers over head, pinning her to the ground. Even with five-inch-long nails, he was careful not to hurt her. His chest heaved, blood dripped from a bite mark on his neck. With every ragged breath, a snarl escaped his throat and blew the hair from her face. When she struggled, he growled quietly in warning.

  His gaze roved her over rapidly. Her eyes, her lips, her neck, down to her breasts, back to her eyes again.

  She could have killed him. Probably. Maybe. But she didn’t want to kill him, she wanted to calm him. In an ultimate act of trust, she yielded. Her body sagged underneath him, her pride stinging a bit. And, in the wolf way, she turned her head and bared her throat. Male satisfaction burned in his eyes before he leaned into her neck with his nose and inhaled.

  His savage moan tickled her skin. Then his body contorted. It melted on top of hers, fur disappearing, and half its mass. In only seconds, a human took its place. A naked human.

  She tried to pull her arms down but he gripped them harder. “Be still, Talia,” he said, his voice husky like gravel. “Don’t move.” His face warmed the crook of her neck. “I could hear your pain from miles away. Do you know what that does to a man?” She couldn’t speak, only lay there under his heaving body. “My Natalia, hurt and afraid.”

  She opened her mouth to deny that last part, but he bit her chin.

  Lifting his head, he stared down at her. Calmer, more human now, but still on edge. “Don’t argue, Talia, for once. Please. I have to taste you. Do not deny me this.”

  It was a command, but his eyes asked for permission. She nodded.

  He pressed her wrists into the snow. “Leave them there.” In a flurry of movement she could barely process, he had her stripped from the waist down. Her lips parted and she exhaled a gasp. Bared in the middle of the snowy mountains and she stilled burned for him. His hands, one of each of her thighs, pressed down, holding them open for his gaze. His groan of approval was so animalistic she shivered all over.

  She watched him through half-lidded eyes as he leaned down and blew on her clit. Her hips arched off the ground. He threw both her legs over his shoulders and held her off the snow with her ass in his hands. Her arms, obediently placed over her head, and her shoulders were the only thing touching the snow. Then he feasted on her. Nipping and sucking, licking and teasing.

  Her gasps turned into cries for mercy. Her squirms turned into flails. But he held her tight and steadily went on, bringing her to the edge then slowing, over and over.

  When her clit burned and throbbed and she couldn’t take anymore, she pleaded, “Cristian, please!”

  One more long decadent lick then he flipped her to her hands and knees, nudging her thighs apart with his. He entered her too slowly and she pushed back into him. His soft chuckle vibrated through her body. His hand snaked forward and grabbed her breast. As he thrust in and out, he pinched and tortured her nipples, and she moaned in delight. His thrusts grew harder and his hand moved down to her swollen clit.

  “Ahhh…yes!” she cried. He teased her clit lightly and her pleasure grew to an intensity she’d never experienced.

  “Oh, God, Natalia. You’re perfect,” he panted, driving into her over and over. Just when she was about to climax, he leaned over her and bit into her shoulder, pinning her while he finished inside her. “Mine.”

  Yours. The sharp pain of the bite shot straight to her clit and she screamed. She was immobile, helpless under his stronger body. It was so carnal, so erotic. And fucking hot as hell.

  “Yes!” The world fell apart and the only thing that existed was Cristian. He sent her soaring in pleasure then tumbling and spinning back down to earth. She cried out in ecstasy as he growled and spilled inside her.

  They didn’t move – couldn’t move – for a minute though the cold snow seeped through what little clothing she had on, reminding her where she was. His heavy breaths warmed her back as her heart slowed to a steady beat. When they finally rose from the ground, Natalia winced from her bruised ribs and punctured leg.

  Cristian’s nostrils flared as he looked her over. “Bastard died too easily.”

  “I’m all right.” She barely got the words out before Cristian scooped her into his arms and carried her to the chalet, grabbing up her pants on the way. She sighed and acquiesced though he was the one with a giant gouge in his neck.

  With a well-placed kick, the door burst open, splintering the frame.

  “Was that really necessary? I could’ve –”

  “Hush.” He set her gently on the sofa facing a hearth then slammed the door shut. When he turned to face her, his expression hardened, utter determination written all over it. He stood over her, shoulders squared, lips pursed. “You’re going to drink my blood, Natalia,” he said quietly, but more authoritative than she’d ever heard him. “And you are not going to argue –”

  When she opened her mouth to do just that, he bared his teeth and she clamped it shut again.

  “I said you are not going to argue or, by all that is holy, you will not like the consequence.”

  Consequence? She shuddered.

  He dropped down to his knees in front of her and narrowed his eyes. “You are going to take my blood because I offer it freely. As your man it’s my right to heal you. Are we in agreement?”

  Stunned, she gave in with a nod. He scooted her over then took the seat next to her and motioned her forward.

  “Will you at least put a towel on the bite on your neck? I don’t want my mouth near the Slayer’s stench.” It was a good excuse to get him to put pressure on the wound at least.

  Reluctantly, he walked to the bathroom and came back with a towel pressed onto the bloody bite marks. He threw her a second towel and she wiped her neck where he’d bled on her.

  When they both cleaned up a bit, he sat back down on the couch. “I’ve waited long enough.” He grabbed her arm and tugged her to him. “Drink.”

  His pulse pounded under his skin and her mouth watered. She tried to ignore the towel draped over one side of his neck and concentrated on the other side. Drinking from an injured man just seemed wrong. But apparently, the alpha was putting his furry paw down. So she leaned in and bit into his flesh.

  Cristian groaned and lay back on the couch, pulling her on top of him. While she drank, he rubbed his hand up and down her back, then over her ass. She sighed as her body repaired the damaged muscles, knit together broken skin. Feeding had always been about fulfilling a need. But, by gods, she could get addicted to his blood – to him. The way her body conformed to his, the taste, his seductive scent, his heartbeat pounding under hers, it just felt right. Like he was made for her. Shocked at the revelation, she withdrew her fangs and backed away.

  She stared at him while he wiped the dripping blood with the towel, a satisfied smile on his face. Then he looked her over, the smile fading to a frown. “You’re cold,” he said when she shivered.

  Before she could answer, he gathered her into his arms and carried her toward one of the bedrooms.

  “Put me down,” she ordered. “I’m healed. You’re the one who’s hurt, dummy. Let –”

  He cut her off with a punishing kiss. “We have to do something about that mouth,” he said when he pulled away. “It’s not nice to call your alpha names, draga mea.”

  She glowered at him. “My alpha my ass.”

  He tossed her onto one of the beds then knelt in front of her and lifted the hem of her shirt.

  “What are you doing?” she snapped. “It’s freezing.”

  “The shirt’s wet from the snow.” He pulle
d it off of her then ripped the bra off as well. “Get under the covers. I’ll have a fire going in no time.”

  She obeyed, huddling under the blankets as Cristian built a fire with wood and matches from the kitchen. Broad shoulders and a corded muscular back handled the logs with ease. Smooth skin, tanned from work in the summer sun, glistened with sweat. He was a vision of masculinity. She’d have never guessed such strength would excite her. She was a badass vampire assassin, yes, but Cristian had a way of making her feel feminine, while still respecting who she was.

  “Come under the covers,” she said once the fire crackled steadily. Still naked and bleeding, she worried he’d pass out.

  He smirked. “I’m glad to hear you’re concerned about me, but I’m hardier than you think.” He sauntered to the one window and shut the drapes firmly then tossed a first aid kit on the bed.

  She opened it. “Sit down. Let me patch your shoulder.”

  He plopped down on the edge of the bed and it dipped under his weight.

  Natalia rose up on her knees and studied the wound. “He got you good.”

  Cristian chuckled. “Did you see the rolling head? Who got who good?”

  Her lips twitched as she pressed a piece of gauze onto each set of punctures. “Yes, the mighty alpha triumphs over the evil villain. Should I bat my lashes and swoon?”

  He winced when she dabbed antiseptic cream on each wound. “As a matter of fact, you should. It’s about time you show some appreciation for my saving your ass all the time.”

  “Once,” she snapped. “Only once. And I didn’t need saving this time, you dense Neanderthal.”

  His teeth gently clamped onto her nipple, which she just realized had been dangling in his face. She froze, trying to ignore the thrill that raced down her spine.

  He held it between his teeth for a few seconds then released it and kissed the small sting away. “What did I tell you about name calling?”

  When she got control of her shallow breaths, she looked him over for more injuries. Just a few minor scrapes and bruises. His hand slid up her thigh and she slapped it away. “Be a good patient and stop distracting me. You’re bleeding all over the place and there’s no shower. I’m not sleeping in crusty, bloody sheets.” She reached back for a few large bandages. “Unless you want to take this bed and I’ll sleep in a different one.”

  “Like hell, woman.” His lips curled into a sexy grin. “I’ve caught you now and I’m not letting you go.”

  She stilled. Not letting her go? Her heart thudded in her chest, a sinking feeling growing in her belly. Not letting her go was exactly what she was afraid of. She squeezed her eyes shut and imagined what life with him would be like. The faces from his pack, crumpled in pure hatred tore through her mind. And it wasn’t just the hatred of his pack. The witches would take her gift away – bending metal, immunity to silver – if she didn’t hunt rogues for them. And Cristian would never let her hunt down his kind. His pack would resent her even more and he’d lose their respect. A frustrated growl left her throat. All these years she’d thought herself independent. Free. But was she really? No, she was owned. By two people with opposite goals. Both were tugging her in different directions. Her chest tightened. It was suddenly hard to breathe.

  Countless times, she’d been caught, locked in silver cages, beaten with silver weapons. Shot through the heart, the spine, the brain. Stabbed. Poked. Carved up like a turkey. She’d have been dead a thousand times over without her gift. But she’d gotten revenge on each and every one of her captors. The thought of losing her gift, being vulnerable again, it made her heart race. She’d vowed to herself she’d never be a victim again. No, she couldn’t give it up. Not even for a man she might grow to love.

  Cristian twisted and pulled her onto his lap. Tension eased as soon as she felt his arms around her. “Get some rest, baby,” he said between kisses. “We have a lot to talk about tomorrow.”

  She sighed and closed her eyes. A lot to talk about, indeed. She’d let down her guard. Twice! Rolling around in the snow, laughing like a giddy child, feeling…things she had no right to feel. And then she’d actually submitted to him. She’d bared her throat and made herself vulnerable to a werewolf. What the fuck was she thinking?

  Cristian had managed to drag her, momentarily, into Pretty Fluffy La-La Land where everything worked out just because he said so. Well, reality was a cold-hearted bitch. And people who believed in idealistic delusions deserved to be shot for screwing with the rest of the world. Especially Cristian, who made her…feel things she could never act on. Her eyes stung with the unshed tears she pushed back. He made her believe in things she could never have.

  Steeling herself for his reaction, she stood up from his lap then stated calmly, “Cristian, you know I can’t go with you. This was fun but…it has to end.”

  An amused sparkle lit up his eyes. “No.”

  “No?”

  He arched a brow. “You heard me. Now get your ass back in bed.”

  This was going to be more difficult than she thought.

  ***

  Cristian smirked as he watched a dozen emotions flicker over her face. At last she ended on a stubborn determination. Well, it was time for her to learn just how stubborn he could be too.

  “Natalia, I’m in no mood for your hot and cold routine. I’m tired. You’re not going anywhere. Don’t make me pin you to the bed to prove it.”

  He might as well have been talking to the wall. She spun around and pulled on her pants and shirt. He ground his teeth in frustration. “Natalia. Look at me.”

  When she turned back around, her eyes had glazed over with an iciness that made him want to weep. His heart pounded in his chest where panic welled up so full it almost hurt. The soft woman who made love in the shower and laughed in the snow was gone. The Ice Queen was back.

  “You…affected me,” she said. “I won’t lie. But I have a purpose and it doesn’t match up with yours. Let me go without a fight, Cristian. Please.”

  Never. “Sit down.”

  “No.”

  His jaw clenched. “If you’re going to pitch me some lame ass excuse, at least have the decency to let me respond to it.”

  Indecision weighed on her face, but she nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, as far away from him as she could.

  “If my pack is your only obstacle, we can deal with that. No one said you had to give up hunting dangerous rogues. I only ask for a fair trial before you murder them. And my pack will accept you because they’ll have no choice.”

  “So I’ll always be the giant elephant in the room? How tempting.”

  “They’ll get to know you. They’ll see all the things I love about you.”

  She snorted and stared at her hands. “You’re delusional.”

  He’d pretty much just told her he loved her and she snorted derisively. He wanted to shake her.

  “Besides, that’s only one reason it won’t work,” she continued. “I’ll also lose my gift. The witches will never let me keep it knowing I’m sleeping with the enemy.”

  “You don’t need the gift.”

  She cast him a sideways glance. “You don’t know how many times I’d have died without it. No. I won’t give it up.”

  “You’re safe with me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Safety is an illusion people cling to so they can sleep at night. I’m safe with no one.”

  He exhaled a patient breath. “You hold onto your gift like a child holds onto a favorite blanket. Do you really think you won’t survive without it? After everything we’ve been through, you don’t trust that I can keep you safe?”

  She rose from the bed with a burst. “This isn’t about trust, don’t you understand that? It’s who I am.”

  He shook his head. “No, it’s not. The witches have you by the balls with this so-called ‘gift’. They keep you bound to them. It’s not healthy. Take off your chains and be who you’re meant to be.”

  “You sound like a bad motivational poster for depressed teen
agers.” She tapped a foot and crossed her arms. “Okay, let’s go ahead and visit Cristian’s Land of Delusions and pretend I do ditch the witches and live with your pack. What then? You command your pack to love me and I become an object of resentment, living ostracized on the fringes? Do your delusions include me getting pregnant with your werewolf offspring? ‘Cause guess what? I’m a vampire. I can’t get pregnant. Did you even think of that in your ridiculous fantasies? No heir. No family. No –”

  He jumped from the bed and grabbed her shoulders in a bruising grip. “Forget all the obstacles. Forget about the witches and the pack and everything else. Pretend we’re just a man and a woman, nothing more. Do you want me?”

  “The question is irrelev –”

  He shook her. “Do you want me?”

  “Yes.” The answer appeared to slip from her mouth because she winced.

  He clasped her to him, holding her tight when she made a half-hearted attempt to get loose. “Then we’ll get through the rest.”

  “That’s stupid and idealistic,” she mumbled against his chest.

  He kissed the top of her head. The flowery smell of her hair made him smile. “It’s love, baby. Love conquers all.”

  She gave him a dry look. “You eat far too much Chinese food.”

  Hope replaced panic as he grinned down at her. She wanted him. Nothing else mattered.

  “We both lost our mates,” she said. “What makes you think this will work?”

  “We have to choose love. Humans do it all the time.”

  Her eyes widened and she shoved his chest. He let her go. “The human divorce rate is fifty percent!”

  “I’m not saying it will be easy. Feelings are fickle. They change faster than the weather. Have a bad day, piss me off, I might get angry. But when it comes down to it, I’ll always choose love. I may never be able to fix the ache Eli left in your heart. But I might be able to dull it. Maybe, by choosing love, we can make each other happy.”