Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(50)

The building itself is made out of six-foot-thick concrete on all sides, with no windows or even a clearly defined door to get in. On the inside, it’s a maze of booby traps, sinkholes, holes, and security cameras that cover every inch of the cursed place. It’s the safest place on earth, because there’s no power in the Gifted or non-Gifted world that can force its way inside.

You have to be invited.

“So, what, it's like the rule of vampires or something?” my Bonded snarks out as she dresses in her Tac gear.

I'm glad her snarkiness has come back with a vengeance now that Sage has been let out of the cells and some of the shock of the last few days has worn off a bit. I'm fully aware that the sass is also a coping mechanism for her, a deflection from the way that she truly feels about things, but it still has felt as though we'd lost a piece of her.

“No, not even vampires could get into this place.”

She huffs and rolls her eyes at me, pulling her shirt over her head. “Of course not, vampires are notoriously shit at getting in anywhere. Learn your vampire lore, Shore, before you end up as someone’s walking blood bag.”

I quirk an eyebrow at her and pull my own shirt over my head, enjoying the way her eyes darken as she looks at the wide expanse of my chest. Every second of my time spent in training for my community is worth the effort with the way it makes her weak in the knees.

“And how do you know so much about vampire lore? When exactly did you squeeze in the study time?”

She scoffs. “Romance novels. I read a lot while I was traveling. I know everything there is to know about vampires… and vampire dick.”

I turn to face her fully and find her rolling the protective suit up her body to cover the lacy red bra she's wearing. I get distracted before I can tease her or get more details about these books of hers, and my eyes stay glued on her chest, craving the silky smooth skin and the taste of her that echoes in my mind every time I look at my fucking perfect Bonded.

When she realizes she has my full attention, she puts a little more effort into her shimmy. Joke’s on her; teasing me is just going to get her fucked against the wall here with everyone outside listening. I know that she gets shy about that sort of thing, but only after she’s come down from the highs I get her to.

For the record, I’d enjoy every second of it and there’d be nothing but smug satisfaction out of me.

She clears her throat and breaks me out of my fantasies. “I wasn't expecting to be heading out on a mission when I got dressed this morning. I would have found something a little more appropriate if I did.”

With all of the sass in the world, her lips quirk up in that way that only hers do, and my dick gets hard at the whole fucking package that is my Bonded.

I reach for her and grab her around the waist, pulling her into my chest and enjoying the feel of that racy, soft lace against my skin. I'm not enjoying it as much as I would enjoy her creamy skin or pert nipples, of course, but it does push the curves of her tits up invitingly until they’re begging me to sink my teeth in.

We’re leaving in three minutes, stop fucking around.

All I can think as his words ring in my head is how badly I want to murder North Draven.

I’m smart enough to keep it to myself. Oli’s bond has probably had enough of that sort of talk for one day, but the guy sure knows how to cockblock.

I’ll remember it too.

I press my forehead against hers and murmur to her, “You're going to be a distraction to me because every time I look at you, I'm going to think about this lying underneath, waiting for us to get home.”

She grins and shimmies again, this time in my arms so that really all she's doing is grinding against me. “Is it your turn? Or are you going to steal me away from someone else tonight? I've lost track.”

I reach down and grab a handful of her ass, hoisting her up into my arms until she squeals and wraps her legs around my waist. “I think we're past the taking turns portion of our bonding, don't you think?”

She makes a squeaking sort of giggle sound, burying her face in my neck and nipping at the skin there until I am having to talk myself out of the plan for the quick fuck against the wall.

My Bonded deserves better but, fuck, is it tempting.

Her voice is all breathy seduction as she says, “I did notice that you're all completely fine with the giant bed situation. Though, I'm not sure how I feel about more than two of you at once. I can’t even think about that without feeling… overwhelmed.”

I almost feel sorry for my Bonded, knowing that she has five Bonds to keep satisfied. But with one of them almost permanently out of commission, and the others far more than willing to figure out a system, I don't feel bad for long.

“If I drag you into your room by yourself and lock the door, you don't have to worry about sharing with anyone. Promise me that you’re mine tonight when we get home.”

She licks her lips as she looks up at me, her eyes flicking down to my own as she nods. ”I’ve missed you. You work too much. You work more than North does these days, and that just seems wildly unfair.”

I swoop down to kiss her, swiping my tongue over hers to taste her words, but I don't need my ability to know that she's telling the truth. I have had to take over all of Kieran's responsibilities with him locked up, and it's a relief that he has now been let out again, just so that he can help shoulder some of the burdens of our community’s safety once again.