Broken (The Captive #5.5)(55)

The sensation of her flesh against his eased some of the clamoring desire within him as he kissed her and touched her and lost himself to the feel of her slender body. A small cry escaped her, her fingers dug into his back when their bodies finally joined. Being back in her presence these past few days had helped to ease the madness that had been festering within him, but finally being physically united with her made him feel utterly complete. In those moments it felt as though an inexplicable, yet completely unbreakable, bond wrapped around them both, tying one to the other. It was such an intense feeling that he was certain he could see a steel link wrapping around them.

The pressure of her fangs against his shoulder caused his to lengthen in eager response. As her teeth pierced his flesh his own sank into her neck. In that instant he understood what it was to become one with someone, to share an eternal bond. This experience with her was something he'd never known could exist but it was by far the greatest experience of his life.

His heart swelled with love as he lost himself to her. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her, nothing he wouldn't give up. She belonged to him and she would know only love and happiness from now on.

He pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he fell back on the bed and tried to process the emotions still flowing through him. Her fingers curled into his chest, she snuggled against him. "Did I hurt you badly?" he asked in a ragged voice.

"Never," she whispered. "Is it supposed to be like that? It almost felt like this link connected me and you, like it joined us somehow. Is that normal?"

"No." He kissed her forehead and brushed the hair back from her face. "I felt the same thing and I have never experienced anything like it before. I can't ever let you go, Genny."

She rested her chin on his chest and smiled at him. "I don't ever want you to and I will never let you go. You're my heart, Atticus."

He pulled her down for another kiss. "You're my soul," he told her as he nibbled on her bottom lip.





CHAPTER 19


Atticus strode into his father's manor the next day and glanced around the massive front room. "Where is my father?" he demanded of one of the passing servants.

"I think he is in his private solar milord," the man gushed out before scurrying away.

Atticus hurried across the rush covered floor to the stairs. He climbed them swiftly and briskly walked down the hall of the second floor. Raising his hand, he knocked on the door to his father's solar and entered when he heard the gruff, 'come in,' issued from the other side. Opening the door, he stepped into the dim candlelit room. His father sat at the head of the table with a golden goblet beside him and some parchments spread on the table before him. Atticus glanced around the room for some of his father's servants, or his uncle, but they were alone.

"New details of the truce and The Council," his father said and gestured absently toward the parchments. "I see you've finally decided to return."

Atticus ignored his father's disapproving tone. "There is something we must discuss."

His father lifted his goblet and took a sip of it. The potent scent of blood drifted up from it as he studied Atticus over the rim. "Such as?"

From years of experience he knew it was best not to hedge at things around his father. There had never been a time he'd openly disobeyed his father before. However, there was far more on the line here than what country they would be in or what his schooling and training would be. There would be no falling in line this time, not when it had to do with Genny.

"I'd like to discuss my betrothal to Anna."

"What of it?" his father inquired.

"It is to be called off."

His father quirked an eyebrow as he leaned forward and poured himself some more blood from the tankard at his elbow. "I see that the woman you've decided to play house with is far more skilled at the art of seduction than I had given her credit for."

Atticus's hands fisted at his sides. "Don't talk about her like that," he grated from between clenched teeth.

His father snorted with laughter. He took another drink and leaned back in his chair to survey Atticus with a twist of his upper lip. "One would think she was your first with the way that you're acting, but we both know that's far from true."

"How do you even know about her?"

"I'm not a fool nor am I blind. With the way you've been behaving these past few weeks I knew something was amiss. I have my ways of finding things out."

Arturo or Merle wouldn't have told his father anything, of that much he was certain. That left only one way for his father to know about Genny, he was spying on him. Atticus placed his hands on the table and leaned toward his father. "You tell your men to stay away from me and especially her."

His father dropped his goblet on the table. "You will not speak to me like that again. You may have your mother's blood in your veins but I am stronger than you, boy. I own you, and I will do as I please with you and my men. You are not free in this world."

Frustration swelled through Atticus as he glared at the man across from him. His father was stronger than he was, he would not be able to overtake him, not now while he was still so young. "I am not marrying Anna," he said bluntly. "Merle has offered to marry her in my place…"