Page 50 of Bound

I take a deep breath and rejoin my family.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Meg

I come awake to the sound of raucous music. It’scheery and a little bawdy. I don’t understand the lyrics, but I know bawdymusic when I hear it. My mouth feels dry, and I wonder if I went on a benderthe night before. I had the strangest dream.

“Head hurt, lover?”

I force my eyes open, and, sure enough, my strange dream isstaring me in the face. He sits back in an armchair, one ankle propped on hisknee. He looks like I expect a pasha would look reclining in his palace. Hisface is exactly like Beck’s, but this man is different. Beck Finn radiatesauthority and responsibility.

This man radiates sex.

“Cian?” Could that man sitting there looking at me like he’sgoing to eat me up really be Cian? There’s no cloudiness in his gray eyes now.They’re filled with a sharp intelligence.

“In the flesh,” he says with a crazy, sexy smile. His voiceis deep, but there’s a hint of humor in it. He’s dressed in neatly pressedwhite pants, dark boots, and a tunic he hasn’t bothered to tie. It leaves hisperfect chest exposed. “And in my right mind, thanks to you.”

I sit up and put a hand to my head. It doesn’t hurt,exactly. It feels slightly foggy. “It worked?”

Of course it worked. The evidence is sitting right in frontof me like a piece of perfectly tempting chocolate cake I want to devour in onelong bite. Memories of his life flood me. I groan as my head pulses.

He’s on the bed behind me in an instant. He pulls me betweenhis long legs and cradles me back against his chest. His hands sink into myhair, strong fingers massaging my scalp. “Careful, Meggie mine. You took awhole lot of me. I’m sure you still feel the effects.”

His hands feel good. So good. I relax into his warmth.“You’re better now?”

“I am damn near perfect.” Cian’s voice is a slow seductionin my ear. He leans close, and I feel his lips moving against my skin. “I don’tknow how to thank a woman for saving me. Can you think of any way I couldplease you?”

Even with my head throbbing, I can think of a way. Yep, Ihave a type, and I know exactly where that path will lead me. I shake his handsoff. I have to come to my senses. I’m not about to get my heart broken by asecond Finn brother.

“You don’t have to thank me.” I scramble off the bed,gathering my dignity around me like a shield. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

His eyes darken, but he relaxes after a moment. He leansback against the pillows, not hiding his raging erection at all. It tents hispants admirably. He spares me not a single, delectable inch of his gloriousbody as he stretches out. “I am more than fine, wife. I’m perfectly healthy andprepared to serve you in any fashion you can think of.”

I have to force myself to swallow because I’m not having aproblem with dry mouth now. This is what got my heart in trouble in the firstplace, my inability to turn a Finn brother down when it comes to sex. Cian ismerely trying to show his gratitude. Besides, it’s been a long time for him. Hehasn’t had sex since his illness took over. I haven’t forgotten our bonding.Cian is a carnal creature. He will want that pleasure as soon as possible. Sowe needed to get a few things straight.

“Please don’t call me wife,” I explain in a firm voice.Cian’s brow arches quizzically, but he allows me to continue. “I’m not fromthis plane.”

“No,” Cian interjects. “You’re from the human plane. Youwere born in a place called Texas and lived in a city called Fort Worth. Theyhave one of those on the Vampire plane, too. We’ll go someday and you can tellme how different it is. I would find that fascinating. You lived in a smallapartment, and you hated it. There was no beauty to it. The walls were beige.The carpet was beige. It wasn’t a home. It was like purgatory, a place to wait.Explain this purgatory to me.”

He sits up and crosses his legs. He switches from hot andbothered potential lover to curious student. I’m struck dumb by how accuratelyhe has described my postage stamp apartment. It has nothing of me in it. It’s aplace to eat and sleep. It’s not a home. “How did you know?”

His expression remains serene. It’s disconcerting howquickly he can change. “We’re bonded. I saw your soul, and you saw mine. It’sthe deepest bond two beings can form. You can try running from me, Meggie, butit won’t work. I know you deep down. I know what you need.”

I feel my whole body flush with embarrassment. I rememberthings from Cian’s life like they’re my own memories. What had he pulled out ofmy head? I’m so vulnerable in this moment, even more vulnerable than I was withBeck. The bonding with Cian was so different.

“Because Beck didn’t offer you the full bond,” Cian says asthough he read my mind. He chuckles as I flash a startled look his way. “It wasa good bet that was what you were thinking, nothing more. I can’t read yourmind. I can see images at times, but I can’t hear your thoughts. When we makelove, though, I will be able to feel your pleasure and to give you mine.”

I ignore the last bit. It’s best not to even go there. “SoBeck and I aren’t bonded?”

“Not fully, from what I can tell,” Cian states asacademically as possible. “Many choose not to form a full bond with theirbondmates. You can help Beck bridge with me without seeing his soul. I,personally, think it’s a cowardly thing to do. You’re my wife, whether youaccept it or not. I am your husband. I want you to know me, the good and thebad. I don’t want to live my life without really knowing my wife. I want toknow what she likes and doesn’t like. I want to know what makes her laugh. Iwant to know that she feels like everyone will abandon her in the end becausethat’s all anyone has ever done.”

I turn away because he has seen way too much. My hands stillshake from the physical process of bonding.

He’s suddenly behind me, winding his arms around me. Hishair is loose, and I can feel it on my skin, caressing me. “I won’t ever leaveyou, wife. I know Beckett can be hard to understand, but he is loyal. He won’tabandon you. We’re here for you. We’re bound together forever. You’re safe withus.”

I don’t believe it for a second. The door to the bedroomopens, and I’m glad for the distraction. A small brown woman walks in. Woman?She obviously isn’t human, so that likely isn’t the word I should use. Ciangives my shoulders a squeeze before shifting to stand at my side. He keeps anarm around me, and I can feel his affection for the strange-looking female.

“Meggie mine, this is Flanna,” Cian says. “She’s a brownieand a very valuable member of our court.”