Bridged by Love (7 page)

Eyes closed, he reached out to Riley with his mind. The shimmering light of her soul shone, calling him closer, a beacon in his stark existence. He stretched toward her, needing her warmth, needing her life, needing her love.

His wolf rammed its head into his sternum, breaking his connection to her, and growled. Its warning was clear, and the reality of his situation came crashing back. He couldn’t finish the bond without his animal’s permission. It was his wolf’s future too, and it didn’t want to waste it on Riley. She was worthless.

Weak.

Barren.

No. Goddammit, no! She’s everything.

His eyes burned, a lump formed in his throat. He eased back so only his lips covered her shoulder. Regret and anger threatened to overwhelm him. He shoved it back along with his wolf. He wanted nothing to do with the animal he’d been born with. Too damn bad he couldn’t rip the beast from his body. They were two halves of a whole who barely tolerated each other. He hated it. Hated himself.

“Nic.”

His whispered name held desire and frustration. She needed to come, and he’d stopped moving while he wrestled with his wolf. He shoved the damn animal away, knowing it would rise again if he took things too far, but the compulsion to pleasure Riley couldn’t be denied. He closed his eyes and ground his teeth into the mark, not biting but creating enough pressure to ignite her nerve endings.

“Oh God,” she moaned.

Her inner muscles tightened over his cock, harder than before. Waves rolled over his throbbing length in a milking squeeze he didn’t fight. He pushed deep and let go. Spasms jerked his dick. His seed rushed out, filling her up. She kept coming; so did he, longer and harder than he ever had.

Four years had passed, but one truth remained the same.

She was his.

If only for tonight.

Chapter Six

Riley blinked rapidly to bring the world back into focus. Nic had shattered her. Their joint orgasm had taken her to heights she’d never known. It’d been different from the last time they were together. Better. She didn’t understand why, nor did she want to think about it. Regret would choke her.

He hadn’t changed his mind about them, and what they shared wasn’t a reunion.

It was good-bye.

He licked her shoulder, the spot where his bite marred her skin. Tingles spread, scattering her thoughts. “That was amazing, baby.”

She turned her head and collided with his glowing blue eyes.
Gorgeous.
She’d always known he’d be beautiful with his primal side in full force. A lump lodged in her throat. She licked her lips and swallowed past the tears.

“It was.” A sense of vulnerability washed over her. The need to protect herself followed. She’d made a mistake allowing her lusts to rule. He’d rip her heart out and stomp on it again if she let him.

No! Not again.
She tried to push up. She had to get away.

He slid a hand under her and pressed against her lower belly, holding her in place, and drove his semi-erect cock deep. A roll of his hips, and sparks danced along the walls of her core. She grabbed on to the edge of the counter. The cock lodged in her body thickened, filling her up and teasing her sensitive nerves. Her womb quivered. Anticipation built. She fought it, but her body remembered Nic’s and wanted what he could give her.

“Nic, what—”

He kissed her neck. “Shh, angel. I’m not done with you yet. You’re mine to enjoy toni—”

He tightened his hold on her and whipped his head to the entryway leading into the living room. The only doors in her house led to the bedrooms and bathroom. Heart pounding hard, she followed the direction of his stare. The sound of the front door opening reached her ears. Nic growled. No more than a low rumble, the warning reverberated along her back. It zinged through her, tensing her body and filling her with fear.

Only a handful of people had keys to her house. She opened her mouth to yell out and see who’d entered. Nic clamped his big palm over it. He pressed his lips to her ear. “Stay here.”

He separated their bodies without waiting for a response. In one quick move, he bent, snatched his discarded sweats, and strode away, yanking his pants on as he went.

“Riley, I saw the lights on. You still up? We need to talk.”

Ben’s voice carried through the quiet house. She sucked in a rough breath. Nic growled and disappeared into the living room.

“What th—” Ben’s words cut off. A garbled groan preceded a loud thump.

“Nic, wait!” She snagged her shirt and shoved her arms through the holes. Holding the edges closed, she ran.

The sight that met her stopped her heart. Black fur covered Nic’s larger clawed hands. He held a wide-eyed Ben against the wall with talon-tipped fingers wrapped around his neck. Nic leaned into him, face inches from Ben’s, and snarled.

Fear rushed up. Nic wouldn’t recognize Ben as pack. He would smell like a Tanner wolf, but he hadn’t lived with them in a couple of years.

She rushed forward and placed a hand on Nic’s lower back. “Let him go.”

A growl answered her demand. Nic squeezed Ben’s throat. Ben gasped but didn’t fight back. As a beta, he would instinctually know better.

She moved to the side, needing to see Nic’s eyes. A feral look simmered in their glowing depths. She swallowed hard at the confirmation that the wolf was in charge, not the man. “This is Ben. He’s not a threat. He’s an honorary member of the pack.”

“Ben?” Nic whipped his head in her direction. Wild eyes focused on her. “The male who helps at the hospital?”

Thank goodness.
She nodded quickly, relief sweeping through her. “Yes. He’s Jenna’s cous—”

“You know him well?”

She tensed at the rough bite to his words. Instinct told her to tread carefully, but she couldn’t understand why. Ben wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Yes. He’s my friend.” She laid her hand against Ben’s thin bicep to prove she trusted him.

Nic’s canines extended on a guttural growl. She froze, gaze on Nic’s mouth. In a move she barely saw, he snatched her hand, yanking her into his side, and shoved Ben across the room. The younger shifter fell backward. He crashed into the coffee table. Wood splintered, the table snapping down the middle with the impact. Ben hopped to his feet and crouched in front of it.

Blood ran in steady rivulets down his neck from where Nic had grabbed him. The sight of Ben’s injury spurred her into action. She shoved away from Nic and ran toward Ben. A tug on her shirt jerked her to a stop. She stumbled, and the material slid down her arms. Nic grabbed her before she fell face-first onto the floor.

He spun her and yanked her against his chest. “You touch him, and I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

She leaned back. His attention focused behind her, but the expression displayed on his face stopped her heart. Rage tightened his features. The situation had spiraled out of control.

“Nic, look…” She stopped herself before she gave him another order in front of a lesser wolf. Her first command had made things worse. “He’s bleeding. Let me check on him, please. It’s my job.”

He shifted his gaze to her. The anger darkening his eyes faded. Some other emotion flared within their depths. She didn’t quite understand it, but it made her pulse race and lower belly warm. He ran his tongue along his lower lip, drawing attention to the wide fangs filling his mouth.

His gaze ensnared hers and kept her frozen in place. He slid one hand to her ass, the other to her back—a possessive move she recognized. She tensed, but he pulled her closer and buried his face against the crook of her neck. His heated breath loosened her muscles. She relaxed into his arms, letting him hold her weight.

He nuzzled against her throat and skimmed his fingertips across her back to her shoulder. Fur no longer covered his hands, but her skin burned under the caress.

My skin. Oh no!

She sucked in a rough breath finally comprehending their situation. Her shirt had slipped, revealing most of her upper body, including Nic’s bite.

Their secret was out.

And he was what? Staking his claim?
But he doesn’t want me.
Confusion settled over her.

Nic skimmed his open mouth up her neck to the spot right below her ear. “Is it your job, or your desire to check on your lover?”

Jealousy caused his reaction, not the need to keep her. It still warmed her and made her feel wanted. After the years apart from him, she’d take it. She ran her hands down his back to his ass. He pushed his cock into her belly. Long and thick, his desire for her couldn’t be denied.

“Ben isn’t my lover. He’s a friend. He’s also an honorary member of the pack who’s bleeding. I have to help him.”
Because unlike you, his cuts won’t heal easily.
She kept the truth to herself. Nic would understand once he wasn’t reacting on instinct.

He rested his cheek against her scarred shoulder. For a long moment, he didn’t move or speak. Finally, he eased back and righted her shirt, carefully buttoning it except for the top three. He gripped her arms and urged her to turn in his embrace. With one hand on her stomach, he held her against his chest.

“You’re her friend?” Nic asked.

Ben pushed to his feet. Blood still seeped from the puncture marks on his throat, but he didn’t swipe at the wetness soaking his shirt. He stood, hands loose at his sides, and gaze at the floor. “Yes. I’m sorry I disturbed you while you were with your mate. I didn’t know she was yours.”

“She’s not, nor will she ever be, my mate.”

She sucked in a rough breath at the finality in his tone. She tried to turn in his embrace, but he pressed her closer to his body, his heart pounding against her back.

“This”—Nic tugged her shirt down, exposing her scar—“was a mistake. I was young and got caught up in the moment. I pulled back before I mated her.”

His words stabbed her, and her throat thickened on tears. She swallowed hard. Ben looked at her. Sympathy softened his expression. After a moment, his image blurred. She squeezed her eyes closed before he saw the moisture pooling in them.

“It looks real,” Ben said.

Nic brushed his lips over the scar. Tingles radiated outward. Her body grew aroused despite her heart cracking in two. He pressed his fangs into the raised entry points, and her knees gave out. A nibble to her sensitive skin, and she moaned. She hadn’t meant for the sound to escape, but couldn’t stop it. One simple touch, and she was ready for sex.

He licked the spot on her shoulder once more and eased back. “I was two seconds away from soul-bonding with her. You understand what that means, don’t you?”

Ben cursed. “Yeah.”

“So you’ll keep this a secret.” Not a question. Nic’s words held certainty.

“Of course.”

She tipped her head to the side. “Well, I don’t. Explain it to me.” His chiding look hit her, reminding her of their company. At the moment, she didn’t care to play by the rules, but her anger didn’t overrule her common sense. Her stubborn lover wouldn’t respond if she ordered him in front of Ben. She ground her teeth. “Please, Nic. Explain to me why.”

He cupped her face between his hands. “If my future mate finds out about you, she’ll kill you.”

She covered his hands. “You already told me the unmated females would hurt me because I carried your mark. This is something more, isn’t it?”

He sighed. His hot breath washed over her face and filled her lungs with Nic’s scent. It didn’t comfort her as it normally would. Fear formed a lump in her belly.

“I own your body, Riley. Until you die, I will always be drawn to you. Desire you. Crave you. It’s why I left. I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from you.” He rubbed his thumb over the corner of her lip. “Even after I take a shifter mate, I’ll still feel the same drives to be with you. You’ll become a threat to her, and any dominant female, whether she loves me or not, will be obligated to eliminate you. It’ll become a social move. If she allows you to live, she’ll lose the respect of the pack.”

He dropped his forehead to hers and wrapped his arms around her middle. “You see why nobody can know? Unless I’m with you twenty-four-seven, you’ll die because I was foolish enough to fall in love with an angel.”

Chapter Seven

Nic tightened his hold on Riley, but it wouldn’t do any good. He couldn’t hold on to her, and it was damn clear he couldn’t keep her safe either. He’d royally fucked over the only person in his life that mattered.

“You weren’t planning on telling me, were you?”

Riley’s voice cracked with her question, and he choked on his regret.

He cleared his throat. “If you’d planned to stay, I would’ve, so we could take extra precautions.”

“Because you’d still be tempted to fuck me, even after you took a shifter mate, right?” He nodded, and she snorted. “So what? I’d be your mistress? Your damn whore? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Ice dripped from her words. He deserved it, but he couldn’t blindly accept it, not with an audience. He looked behind her. Ben, the young wolf Nic had attacked, stood next to the coffee table, his gaze on Riley, not him. “You will take the knowledge you learned tonight to the grave, Ben. If you share it with anyone, you and your wolf will meet an early death on the pyre altar. Do you understand?”

Ben sucked in a rough breath and nodded quickly, fear widening his eyes. The ceremonial death ensured neither man nor wolf would find the afterlife. It was a hideous punishment reserved for the cruelest of their kind. If the gaunt kid caused Riley’s death with his loose tongue, Nic wouldn’t think twice about condemning him to it.

“Good.” Nic nodded. “Now go to my old place and wait for me. You will give me your blood oath.”

“Of course.” Ben rushed to the door.

“One more thing.” Nic waited until Ben glanced over his shoulder. “Leave your key. You’re no longer welcome in Riley’s home.”

Ben dug the key out of his pocket, dropped it on the hall table and fled out the door.

Nic turned his attention to the woman in his arms. Riley glared at him, hatred in her eyes. He cupped the side of her face. She jerked her head to the side, breaking his hold. He dropped his hand. “No, I would’ve stayed away from you, as much as I could’ve, anyway. I’m not ruled by my lusts.”

She laughed. “Really, Nic? It seemed to me like you couldn’t wait to stick your dick in me a few minutes ago.”

He clamped his hand on her shoulder, right over his bite mark. “I missed you, Riley. Just like I said. And I wanted our last time together…”

“To what?” She narrowed her eyes. “Be special? Give you some good last memories of me? Or did you think giving me a few orgasms would make up for breaking my heart?”

He flinched, and she chuckled.

“Caught. So which one is it? Or did all those thoughts go through your head when you were fucking me?”

“Yeah, I wanted to make enough memories of you to last. Is that so damn wrong? I love you.”

“You don’t love me.” She stood on her tiptoes and grabbed on to his shoulders. “If you loved me, you would’ve mated me. Together, we would’ve figured out a way to get you the heir you so desperately want. Or you would’ve passed the spirit of the pack onto Hannah’s mate. She told me she wants to rule, that we only need to wait until she matures.” Venom dripped from her voice. She leaned closer and leveled a challenging glare on him. “So tell me again how much you love me, Nic, and I’ll tell you to fuck yourself because it’ll be a lie.”

He wrapped a hand around her throat, not to hurt her but to hold her still. “Sure, I could’ve done all those things, but I didn’t, because in the end it comes down to my wolf. He doesn’t want you. Not then, not now. In his eyes, you’re weak and not worthy of my love, let alone my eternal worship. It fought me four years ago when I tried to make you mine. And tonight?” He snorted, hating himself as much as he did his wolf. “As soon as I put my mouth on your shoulder, he made it clear he’d stop me again. I can’t mate you without his agreement.”

She mapped his face with her gaze, focusing on his chin, lips, nose, and finally meeting his eyes. Hope lingered in her blue depths. It hurt to see. “What about Hannah’s mate? Can’t you transfer it to him? Her kids will still carry Kagan blood. They can continue the bloodline. Once the fate of the pack is secured, you can convince your wolf to love me too. Right?”

He slid his hand from her neck to sift through the silky strands of her hair, cradling the back of her head. “Maybe if I wasn’t set to be alpha, but I am, and it knows what awaits us. It’s been salivating for years over what the position will give us.” A bitter laugh escaped. “Power, Riley. Not love. It doesn’t give a shit about love.”

He dropped his forehead to yours. “My only hope had been to stay away long enough that Hannah’s mate could’ve take control in my place. If I didn’t know about the transfer, neither would my wolf, but it won’t work any longer. I missed my chance.”

“What do you mean? We can leave tonight. Hannah said she wants it. Why can’t you—”

“Because Derek Tanner has forced me onto this path.” At her pinched brows, he sighed. “The infection my dad got that almost killed him?” He waited until she nodded. “It severed his tie to his wolf. He can’t shift.”

“Your dad’s heart.” She sucked in a rough breath. “I did CPR on him and restarted it.”

“And left him and the pack in limbo. Come the next full moon, the spirit wolf will seek out a new host. If I’m in the circle, it’ll naturally come to me as I carry Kagan blood, but if there are other dominants in there, we’ll have to fight for the right to house the wolf spirit. To the death, Riley. Once in the circle, only one shifter leaves it. I’ll have to kill my friends. My cousins. And I won’t care. I’ll be caught up in the fight. So will the other dominants.”

The very idea of what he might do churned his gut. He swallowed hard. “It’s brutal, but the spirit wolf will want the strongest shifter to act as its vessel. I can’t allow that to happen. I won’t be able to live with myself knowing my pack members died because I turned my back on the role I was born into.” He eased back and let her see the truth in his eyes. “Power is everything in my world. No matter how much I love you, it doesn’t change what I am.”

Moisture pooled in her eyes and collected on her lashes. She didn’t blink it away. “And what are you, Nic?”

“The alpha wolf.”

Riley stared at Nic while his features turned blurry. She wanted to scream, cry or maybe rant. None of those reactions would do any good. The truth stamped onto Nic’s beloved face wasn’t one she couldn’t deny.

He loved her.

His wolf did not.

Biology had fucked them all over—man, woman and beast.

She cleared her throat. “Answer me one question.”

“Anything. No more secrets between us. I should’ve been truthful with you years ago. I just…” He squeezed his eyes shut and licked his lips before focusing on her. “I didn’t want to admit my wolf considered you unworthy.” He cupped her face in his big palms. “In my eyes, you’re everything. My equal. My partner. My angel.”

Her tears spilled over. Dammit, she did not want to cry.

She couldn’t stop them.

Nic kissed her eyelids, licked away the twin paths from her cheeks, and held her close. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to make you cry.”

She tipped her head back. “No, you wanted me to hate you so I’d move on, didn’t you?”

A single dip of his chin answered her.

“I tried, Nic. I failed.” Her confession came out as a strained whisper.

He pressed an openmouthed kiss to her forehead. “Me too.”

“But you will, won’t you? Your wolf will need your agreement too, and you’ll give it.”

“Yes, I’ll take a mate”—he eased back and stared into her eyes—“but she won’t replace you, not in my heart, soul or life.”

“So what? You’ll just fuck her?”

“Dammit, Riley, I want nothing to do with her. Hell, I don’t even want to associate with her.”

“But you will, won’t you. You’ll make love to her just like you did to me.”

“Never! I won’t love her.” His chest rose and fell on his rough pants. “Once. I need to fuck her once. That’s it. Love has nothing to do with it.”

She opened her mouth but closed it without saying a word. What good would it do? No matter what Nic thought he wanted, when the day came for his kid to be born, things would change. His mate would be a part of his life, and the child they created would bind them together. He’d be protective and possessive of her.

Just like he was a few minutes ago with me.

She brushed her fingertips along his jaw. He closed his eyes on a sigh as if the simple caress meant the world to him.

“Does your wolf hate me, Nic? Or is it that he doesn’t want you to mate me?”

“He cares for you, baby.” He mimicked the caress along her cheek. “You’re pack.”

“Cares for me. I see.”
And how am I supposed to make an animal I can’t talk to love me? Especially when I’m not the same species and can’t be more than…what…a friend to it? A companion?
She didn’t have an answer.

He turned away from her and walked toward the hall table where Ben had dropped his key. Nic picked it up and curled his fingers around it, squeezing it tight. He glanced over his shoulder. “I need to go and deal with Ben. Make sure he’ll keep his word.”

With a blood oath.

She’d heard of the practice. Normally given between the pack protectors and the alpha, it ensured complete loyalty from the one giving the vow. Any order from their alpha would have to be followed, or they’d suffer physical pain and ultimately death.

She nodded, knowing Nic would never abuse the privilege.

“I’m sorry things turned out the way they did.” He opened the door, gaze straight ahead. “And just to be clear, we’re over. There will be no more repeats of tonight.”

He stepped out. She waited for the door to slam before making her way to the bathroom. She went through the motions, turning on the shower and washing the evidence of their loving away without allowing any thoughts to take hold. The few precious minutes of nothingness were necessary. She needed to think clearly, not react solely on her emotions because her decision was made. She was going to fight for what belonged to her.

Nic.

In light of everything he’d said to her, however, she wasn’t quite sure how she’d accomplish it. Human-shifter matings were rare. She knew of only three in the States. All the reasons Nic gave explained why. Even the beta wolves wanted to procreate. It was a drive they couldn’t ignore. Animalistic. Primal. All-consuming. The primitive need to continue the bloodline was something every animal species experienced, and love wasn’t necessary for breeding.

Shifter reproduction hadn’t been a topic that had been shared with her, but she knew the basics, including that only mates could procreate because there was a mystical side of conception that tied the baby to the pack, making it necessary the male shared a piece of his soul with his mate.

Humans could not conceive or impregnate a shifter even if they were soul-bonded to a shifter. Their eggs and sperm weren’t compatible, and not once had a half-breed ever been born.

She choked on a sob and slid down the tile wall of the shower stall.

She was screwed. All she had to offer Nic was love, and only half of him cared about the emotion. Or her.