Burning (14 page)

"Do you want to order room service?"  She shook her head.  "Want to watch some
TV?" Again, she shook her head.  I noticed her chest heaving, and her pupils dilated.  She wanted me, but I needed her. 

I studied her mouth.  H
er upper lip was slightly bigger than her lower one.  But the lower lip had a crease in the middle that created a heart with the upper one.  I moved in closer to her and sucked her lip into my mouth.  The taste was warm and exotic.  I licked her bottom lip and bit it gently, trying to get more of her taste into my mouth.  She moaned and my primitive side, the animal in me, demanded to claim my mate.  To hell with finding a distraction.  She was mine, I loved her and she loved me, and our first time would be perfect if for no other reason than it was us. 

"Anita," I
groaned.  It was a plea, a demand, and a promise of forever. 

"Dean, now," she pleaded. 

I grabbed her hair and brought her mouth back to mine.  She fisted my shirt and pressed her body tightly against mine.

My brain vaguely registered the ripping sounds of our clothes and the scraps of fabric we shredded off each other.
  Thank God she had changed out of her wedding dress, because I couldn't be bothered to be careful with anything that came in between us at this moment. 

I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. 
I knew she had started taking the pill a few months ago when she’d increased her efforts to break my resolve.  I was glad she had at this moment because I wouldn't have been able to pause another second. 

I stumbled forward and
laid her down on the bed as gently as possible. 

She giggled.  "Dean, you know I am far from fragile." 

I ran my hand down her cheek and neck, and I smiled when she broke out in chills.  "I know, baby, but there is nothing in this world more precious to me than you, so put up with me if I treat you with extra care." 

"Later," she said breathlessly.
  She wrapped her hand around my neck and connected my mouth to hers.

Her hands roamed my back, her fingers tracing the valley of my spine and the ridge of my muscles. 
One of my hands fisted her hair while the other slowly descended her body.  I traced the hollow of her throat, the swell of her breast, and the curve of her knee.  I grabbed her leg and guided it around my waist, lining us up instinctually.

I tried to go slow as I joined us together, but she had other ideas. 
She clawed my back, and when she reached my ass, she pulled me to her in one quick thrust.  The tempo between us sped up, and our touching became frantic.  Every moan and gasp from her made me repeat the touch that had caused that reaction.  She screamed my name, and I went wild.  My vision went black, and I was shouting her name in return.

I collapsed on top of her, and she lovingly stroked my back.  "I think I went blind," I groaned. 

She chuckled.  "No, honey, you have your eyes closed."  I grunted in reply.  "Cat got your tongue?" she teased. 

"No
, it's got yours," I answered and attacked her mouth again. 

"Already?" she asked
, surprised. 

"Mmmhmm
. I don't think I'll ever have enough of you," I promised.

An hour
later, we finally managed to pull ourselves away from each other.  I grasped blindly for the phone. 

"What are you doing?" she asked, still breathing hard. 

"Food.  We need food before we shrivel up and die," I complained.

"Did you grab the bags?" Anita
said, searching our room wrapped in a sheet. 

"And risk you putting on clothes?"

I ordered steaks, fries, and salads and hung up the phone.  Suddenly
, the fact that I had left our bags in the car was a huge problem.  No way in hell was I going to allow a waiter into my room with my naked wife.  I picked the phone up again and dialed the front desk.

"Can you put me through to Finn Christiansen's room please?" I asked. 

"One moment, sir," the operator replied. 

Two beeps later
, Finn picked up the phone.  "Up for air already?" 

"Did you grab our bags?" I asked, ignoring his barb. 

"Yeah. Unlike you, I wasn't racing off to enjoy my wedding night," he grumbled. 

"Great
. I ordered food, but Anita needs her things before room service gets here."

He laughed.  "I'll be right over." 

"Just knock and I'll meet you at the door," I growled. 

"
I'd give you crap about this, but I wouldn't want anyone to see Chloë without clothes either," he agreed. 

"
It gets worse, man.  Like, if you come in here, I might rip your head off," I grumbled.

"Did you just threaten your best friend?" Anita asked. 

"If he comes in here while you are wearing a sheet, I'll hurt him.  It wasn't a threat—more like a warning," I said, stalking her around the room. 

She squealed, "Dean, we have to eat.  I'm seriously drained, and if you come near me
, I might bite you." 

"Kinky," I said
, continuing to pursue her. 

Finn pounded on the door, and I let her sneak off to the bathroom.

"Having a good time, I see," Finn said, looking at all of the shredded clothes. 

"Don't think I won't give you a bad time when it's your honeymoon," I snapped. 

"I'm not bringing you with me.  Try not to destroy everything in these bags.  I really don't want to ride back home with you naked." 

"Any word on wh
en we are heading back?" I asked. 

"Yeah, Carlos called.  Whoever Grey saw earlier tonight
apparently hasn't found us.  Our places were clean, and another coven put up some wards on both houses.  We are going to head out tomorrow afternoon.  Try and get out and see the falls.  Anita should get some pictures of her honeymoon.  At least some she can show her mother." 

"Goodbye
, Finn!" Anita shouted from the bathroom. 

"See ya tomorrow
! Try not to kill my friend!" he shouted back.

Anita came out of the bathroom wearing something lacy and very, very small. 

"Where did that come from?" I asked in a hoarse voice. 

She pulled her wand out from behind her back.  "Chloë has helped me work on a few spells.  Do you like it?" she asked and twirled around. 

"I don't think you are going to get that steak." 

Her eyes flashed defiantly, and I lunged for her.  Thankfully, our room had a microwave, because our dinner got cold.

Chapter Eight

Lessons Learned

Grey

I rang the doorbell of Chloë's new house and tried not to appear disappointed when Finn opened the door.  He stepped back from the doorway and gestured for me to enter. 

"Are you ready to start classes tomorrow?" I asked, trying to make small talk.  Finn and I had reached a
sort of truce, but our interactions were always awkward at best.

Finn shrugged.  "I'm not really sure how it is going to work.  Carlos never gave Chloë and
me the amulets that would let us spend some time apart.  I think he forgot about all of that with the wedding and all.  I can't believe that was two weeks ago." 

"I can't believe
you all agreed to let them stay in Oregon," I replied, still baffled. 

"We were hoping they would get some of the newlywed stuff out of their system.  You remember what it was like
trying to ride back with them."  Finn shook his head. 

I remembered.  It was like watch
ing your little sister make out.  While watching them, I really wanted to hit Dean even though I was happy for them.  It was a very confusing emotion. 

"
When I suggested that we turn around and leave them at the resort, I thought we would stay another night.  And I wasn't going to ride back with them."

"Cooper went to pick them up at the airport in Yakima.  Maybe they will be able to tear themselves apart long enough to make it to class tomorrow,"
Finn joked.  His energy seemed to slip away in front of me, and Finn started rubbing his temple. 

My brow furrowed
. Supernaturals didn't get sick.  "Are you feeling okay?"

"Go get Chloë," Finn ordered in a
weak-sounding voice. 

A crash
sounded upstairs, and I ran. I found Chloë leaning against the wall with one hand on her head.  "What happened?" 

"I got dizzy and stumbled into the hall table," she answered quietly. 

"You guys can't even be apart for a few minutes now, can you?" I asked. 

She shook her head weakly. 
I scooped her up and made my way back downstairs.  Finn had slid down to the floor and was leaning against the couch.  I set her down on the couch and gave Finn a hand to join her. 

"I'm going to call Carlos."  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hit his number from my favorites.

"Grey, now isn't a good time.  The
Council
is having a bit of a crisis." 

"We are too," I spit out
, frustrated. 

"Nik Athenos either ran away or was abducted.  Is there any
way your crisis can wait?" Carlos grumbled. 

"Finn and Chloë are having dizzy spells when they are apart for a few minutes, but by all means
, continue looking for that punk wizard," I replied sarcastically.

"
I'm assuming you're calling about the amulets?  Look, I should have called, but I got distracted.  The fact is there aren't any that will work for them," Carlos said abruptly.

"What do you mean there aren't any that will work?" I demanded.
 

"
If they were both elves, I could have made an amulet, but my research couldn't turn up a way to make one work for two different races.  Amulets and charms like this have to be calibrated to the individual, but they also have to be a matched pair.  I can't figure out how to do that for a witch and an elf.  I even called Chloë's dad, Eli.  He believes this is an evolution of magic and can't be halted with a charm."

"We have to do something
.  They are both getting headaches, dizzy spells, and Chloë has fainted a few times.  If you can't craft an amulet, what are they supposed to do?" I questioned. 

"
They need to make a decision—either they perform the bonding ceremony or they have to have the ceremony to end the bond," Carlos said.

"By bonding ceremony, y
ou mean get married, right?" I clarified. 

"No
. Marriage is typically part of it, but it isn't required.  It's a formality, really.  Once a couple is bound, they are together permanently," Carlos explained. 

"Who can perform the bonding ceremony?" 

"Only another elf can perform the rites for Finn and Chloë.  It's elf magic that created the bond, and only their magic can close the circle," Carlos explained. 

"I am lost here.  I thought they only had to, uh, you know
, be intimate," I fumbled out. 

"
That's part of it.  The bonding process begins when an attraction forms between two people.  Their magical essence reaches out to the other person and creates the first tie.  The ceremony can be performed before or after a couple has, as you said, been intimate." 

Carlos continued
. "The sexual act commits their bodies to one another, while the ceremony bonds their souls.  If both the intimacy and ceremony do not occur, the circle remains open and their magical essence continues to try and bind to their mate."

I pressed my head against the wall.  "Basically their
life-force is draining out of them.  Is that what you are saying?" 

"Do they feel better when they are together?" he
redirected. 

"Yes.  When they are together, actually touching in some way, they are almost as they were before.  But if they are apart for a few minutes
, both seem to decline very quickly," I answered. 

I heard Carlos release a frustrated sigh.  "
The longer they wait, the sicker they are going to get." 

"Why is Chloë getting weaker than Finn?" I asked
, concerned. 

"She's a witch.  Her biology isn't supposed to bond at all.  I think it's the reason most people assumed it was impossible
.  Your coven, however, is changing what most of us have believed for thousands of years.  I'm not even sure their bond could be broken if that was what they wanted," Carlos stated.

"What
?" I demanded.  I was pretty sure they didn't want to end their relationship, but I needed to bring them all the information. 

"The fact that a bond
formed between them at all indicates it may be too strong to be broken," Carlos answered. 

"Yeah, I
figured.  I'll talk to them and get back to you." 

He was right
. Their bond was strong. I had sensed it when Chloë and I were together.  It was how I’d known they were meant for each other.  There are some things in life you can't fight, and fighting for a girl destined to be with someone else is definitely a losing battle.

I turned to go back into the room but was stopped by a small hand grabbing my elbow. 
I glanced back and fell into the large doe eyes of Leah Broken Feather. 

"It's still hard for you to see them together
, isn't it?" she inquired. 

I looked back at Chloë
, who was snuggled into Finn's side.  He had both arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on top of her head.  They were obviously in love, and it did hurt to see them, but less and less each day.

"I think I'm starting to move on.  It
isn't that I didn't love her, but..." I trailed off. 

"Maybe you weren't as in love with her as you thought?" Leah asked hopefully. 

Hopefully?  Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part.  I shook my head to clear my errant thoughts.  "No, I knew how I felt.  It's more like our relationship had a time and a place, and those are in the past now."

"Did you speak to Carlos?" Finn called out from the living room. 

I walked into the living room and sat on the loveseat.  "I did.  The news isn't great.  Apparently because you are both different supernatural races, an amulet cannot be created.  There are only two remaining options.  Either you can have the bonding ceremony, or there is a ceremony to break the bond."

"I don't want to end it," Finn stated vehemently. 

"Neither do I," Chloë agreed. 

"What are you going to do?  Sorry
, I don't mean to intrude," Leah asked and took a seat next to me. 

"How much time do we have to make a decision?" Finn asked. 

"I don't know.  Not much.  The two of you can't spend any time apart until a decision is made.  I don't know what you have to think about.  If you don't want to break the bond, there is only one alternative," I told them. 

"Do you want to change your classes or shall I?" Chloë asked Finn
, ignoring my last statement. 

"We'll compromise," Finn replied.

"The two of you look like hell.  Go get some rest," I ordered. 

"Go on
, Chloë.  I have to ask Grey a question."  Finn kissed her on the top of her head, and she slowly went up the stairs ahead of him.  "Why is she worse than I am?" he asked when she was out of hearing distance.

"Her biology was not meant to bond, let alone surv
ive a partial bond indefinitely," I answered. 

He nodded repeatedly as he considered what I
’d said.  "I hate this.  I don't want her to commit herself to me before she's ready.  Too many choices have been taken away from her.  I won't let marrying me be another one."

"
She is already committed to you.  You don't have to get married now, only go through the bonding ceremony.  While you wait, the life is literally draining out of both of you.  I admire the way you worry about her.  You've grown up.  I believe you are now man enough to deserve her.  Talk to her, ask her what she wants, and give it to her, but do it quickly.  That is the only advice I can give you," I said and patted him quickly on the back. 

"Thanks
, Grey.  I never thought I would say this, but you're not so bad.  I actually kind of like you," Finn grudgingly admitted. 

"Same here," I said succinctly. 

Finn's eyes narrowed slightly, and he paused at the base of the stairs.  I could tell he wanted to tell me something.  I tipped my head to give him permission. 

"It seems like Leah h
as a thing for you."

"I picked up on that,
" I said with a smirk.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'm not sure yet," I answered honestly. 

"I know Chloë wants you to be happy.  Leah seems like a reall
y nice girl," he said. 

"She's pretty too," I supplied. 

Finn's eyebrows curved up and he nodded.  Then he turned and hurried up the stairs, while I returned to the living room to say goodbye to Leah. Staying near the feisty shifter was messing with my head.  At least that was my intention—until I was in the same room with her.

"I'm so bored!" she exclaimed. 

"Where is your sister?" I asked.

"With C
ooper, picking up the lovebirds," she said and rolled her eyes. 

"Why don't you see what Bridgett is doing?" I asked. 

"Are you kidding me?  She's awful."  Leah shuddered. 

I gave her a half smile.  I agreed
with her—Bridgett was a nightmare.

I took a moment to really look at
Leah.  I hadn't let myself see any women since I’d left Chloë; none of them had held any appeal for me.  I had thought Leah was pretty, but that was inaccurate.  She was stunning, but in a more subtle way than Chloë. 

They both had distinct Native American features
, although Chloë, with her French and Native American ancestry, had an exotic look that could be mistaken for Egyptian, Mexican, or Italian.  Leah, on the other hand, had the sharp bone structure and copper skin of her tribe.  Her hair was stick-straight, thick, and a deep blue-black.  It fell to her shoulders, and the blunt end curved toward her neck.

Leah's eyes were large and slightly
almond-shaped.  They were so dark they appeared almost black.  Her lips were full and naturally pouty.  She was short.  Sure, she was taller than Anita, but maybe only by one inch, which made her about five two or three. 

After studying her for several moments
I felt a shiver run down my back, and I heard Leah gasp.  I had an overwhelming urge to toss her over my shoulder and fight every man who looked at her, let alone came near her.  Without thinking about it, I found myself lightly stroking her cheek. 

"What was that?" I whispered. 

She turned her face into my hand.  "I'm not sure.  I've never felt anything like it.  I've heard stories about the moment you recognize your mate, and that is what that felt like to me, but isn't it impossible?" 

Her large eyes stared up at me
, trusting me to have the answers.  I suppose after a thousand-plus years, I should have the answers, but I had never felt anything like that before.  The love I’d felt for Chloë seemed like a distant memory, something vague and incomplete. 

"I think you and I should go out to dinner and get to know each other better."  I let my hand trail from her cheek, slowly down her neck,
brushing lightly down her arm until I laced our fingers together.  Leah smiled at me and my heart started pounding—slowly, but I felt it.