Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(30)

I settle back into the seat and look out at the houses and buildings we pass, taking in just how big the Sanctuary actually is. North and his family have put in so much money and time here, completely altruistically. They could have just built themselves a bomb-proof bunker, but instead they’ve created something that really earns the name it was given.

The Sanctuary.

At the outskirts of the town, up a small incline and surrounded by piled-up building supplies, is a mansion. Gabe pulls up and parks the ATV in front of it, killing the engine and gesturing at the palace in front of us.

Okay, it’s probably classified as just a big house, but it’s at least four times bigger than the house we’re currently hunkering down together in.

“Welcome home, Bond,” Gabe murmurs, kissing the back of my hand.

My mouth drops open and I give him a shocked look, probably looking like a complete idiot. He grins back at me, sliding out and walking around to help me out, and slings an arm around my shoulders as we pick our way through the piles of supplies and walk up the steps together.

“This is ours? Well, North’s, I guess.”

Gabe shakes his head at me. “No, you were right the first time. It’s ours. North and Gryphon picked the spot together so that we’re somewhere a little further away from everyone else and easier to keep secure. I’ve built it, and Atlas has been helping since he’s learned how to put his strength to good use. Nox… has mostly made demands about how he wants his office and library done, but I guess that’s still input. North picked out most of the details. I told him he should get your opinion on it too, but… again, he’s a Draven. There’s only so much I can get out of him.”

I grin, because that’s true and something I now appreciate about him. There’s something really fucking hot about a man who takes control, leaving none of the weight of decision-making on me. Now that I have some autonomy back, I have more than enough decisions to make in a day. I really wouldn’t want to be arguing with anyone about paint chips or tile choices right now.

Gabe walks me right up to the front door, stopping there as I peek into the window. “Can we go in? Is there enough done to go in?”

He grins and takes my hand gently to lead me through the house, dodging the tools and piles of flooring that is still waiting to go down. It’s all in beautiful earthy tones; the colors go with the dusty, remote desert that we’re now living in. Although the house is, at most, a fifth of the size of the Draven mansion, it still feels huge compared to the little temporary house we’re currently holed up in.

It feels like home already.

“I’ve been camping out here. I spoke to North about making this place a priority for us. I was focusing on the housing for the other families because there’s so many that are sharing but… after everything that happened, it’s a security issue to get you into this place. Our other house isn’t as secure and… you’re always going to take priority.”

I open my mouth to answer him, though I’m not really sure what I’d say, when he stops and pushes open one of the doors, tugging me into a huge bedroom and closing the door firmly behind us.

It’s stunning.

The room is huge, bigger even than my room back at North’s mansion, and not only is it completely finished, it’s also furnished. There’s a giant bed, easily the size of two Cal Kings pushed together, with a TV on the wall and a desk in the corner with a laptop sitting on top. There are curtains and plush carpets on the floor and… it’s perfectly finished.

“How did you do this? How did you get it all done… just for me?”

He grins sheepishly. “I told you; I’ve been camping out here. North picked most of the colors and furniture. I’m just the one putting it all together. I wanted to get you out of that house.”

I scoff a little and roll my eyes, self-deprecatingly. “I don't think there’s anything ‘just’ about building a whole freaking house, Gabe. Thank you. I feel guilty as hell about this being a priority when there are people who need it more, especially when you see the damage in the town, but… I’ve been feeling burnt out. I needed this.”

He nods and tugs me into his chest again, kissing the top of my head as though I’m some deeply precious thing to him. I know that, of course, I am precious to him, his Central Bond, but it still feels like an honor.

“I wasn’t going to let you waste away in that house. Plus, some soundproofing will be nice too. If I had to keep hearing you coming, I might’ve gone insane.”

I blush and duck my head, ignoring him when he bursts into laughter at my embarrassment, because I don’t feel all that bad about it either. If I shut my eyes, I can still feel North’s hand closing around my neck and holding me down as his bond fucked me raw. I’ll never be able to feel bad about that.

“Look around, Bond, get yourself comfortable.”

I walk through to the ensuite bathroom to check it out, practically drooling over the huge bathtub and the shower with the built-in bench seat and four massaging shower heads. It’s like the upgraded version of North’s shower back at his mansion, and I’m eager to climb into it.

There’s a door at the other end of the ensuite. When I open it, I not only find my closet, I also find my bags sitting in there with all of my clothes and shoes packed up, everything I’d come here with.