Rebel Obsession (28 page)
After unloading her bags from the limo, the chauffer went around to the back of the SUV and, with Malek’s help, packed her suitcases in to the rear compartment. Malek shut the hatch as the chauffer approached Micah’s window. “Do you have the key?”
Micah handed over a key attached to a bright yellow tag. “As agreed.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure the king gets this.”
Micah turned toward her. “Part of the agreement. Your father insisted on having a key to Io’s house. I think he’ll have someone conduct surprise inspections to ensure the arrangements in the house are
proper.
” He gave her a hard look to make sure she understood what that meant.
“I see,” she said.
Micah turned and looked in the back. “Jesus, woman. Did you bring enough shit?” He looked back at her with a snarky grin on his face, one brow arched.
“Leave me alone,” she said. “I’ll be staying with Io for a while.”
“You’re telling me,” Trace said.
She turned to see him slip a matchstick between his lips. He had a big-ass grin on his face. She met his gaze and smiled. He was right. If everything went well, she would be staying with Io a good, long time. As in, forever. So, yeah, she had packed a lot of extras.
She looked at the limousine as the chauffer got in and shut the door. Why had her father come with her today? She hadn’t expected that.
Micah glanced at her knowingly. His gaze was soft and compassionate, but he wasn’t talking. Whatever he knew, he wasn’t going to let her in on it. But she could tell he knew something. Was he feeling sorry for her? Had he picked up on her father’s animosity toward her and the situation?
Micah sighed then put the SUV in gear and followed the limousine out of the parking lot. The limousine turned left. The Suburban turned right.
And just like that, Miriam felt the oppressive ties between her and her father sever. Free at last.
Thank God.
Io nearly leaped out of his skin when he heard the Suburban pull into the driveway. He shot to the door and opened it just as Miriam was getting out of the passenger side.
Micah, Trace, and Sev piled out and went to the back as he rushed out to greet her.
He was about to hug her when Micah turned and shouted, “NO!”
Miriam and Io both stopped and looked at him.
“You two need to be careful. Someone could be watching.” Micah spoke quietly. “You need to act like a concerned caregiver,” he said to Io. “And you,” he looked at Miriam, “need to act like a patient with an attitude problem.”
Micah was right. Io couldn’t lose sight that this was the king’s daughter and at any moment, one of the king’s many employees could be watching.
“Welcome back,” he said to Miriam, trying to keep his voice unaffected as he gestured toward his open front door.
“Whatever.” She walked past him, brushing her arm against his.
His blood boiled and his cock instantly hardened from the small caress, as well as her scent. Damn, he needed the boys to hurry and get her things inside and leave, because he didn’t know how long he could hold himself off going into full I-need-you-now mode on Miriam. He had felt the signs of the
calling
scratching at his insides for the past several hours and knew shit could go critical any minute.
He hurried around to the back of the SUV and grabbed the last bag as if his ass was on fire.
“Calm down, stallion,” Micah said. “We’ll be gone soon enough. Keep your pecker in your pants.”
Trace chuckled and led them to the house.
Sev pulled up beside him. “By the way, Ari says hello.”
Io glanced over at him, eyes wide. “He does?” Why did he sound so surprised?
Sev rolled his eyes. “Don’t get too excited. He’s still pretty sore.”
“Well, tell him….” Io paused. “No, never mind. Just tell him I said hi, okay?” Io didn’t want Sev doing what he should do himself. “And save me a seat at the bar one night when all this is behind us. Can you do that for me?” He wanted to mend fences and make things right. He had to try.
Sev nodded and fought back a grin. “I can do that.”
Miriam waited inside for them and grabbed one of the bags out of Trace’s hand. The others set down the rest of her luggage, said goodbye, and turned to head out.
Micah paused in front of Io. “Did you get what I asked for?”
Io nodded. “Yep. Sent her a message a couple of hours ago. No response, yet.”
Micah glanced back at Miriam then to him. “Well, after you two say a proper hello to each other, make sure you keep me informed on your progress with our special project.”
Io grinned and looked at Miriam as she blushed and glanced down at the floor. A proper hello could take a while. He turned back toward Micah. “I’ll do that.”
“Okay,” Micah gave Io’s cheek a light, affectionate smack and chuckled. “Now get to your female.” He waved to Miriam. “Bye, Miri. Be good.” He paused and grinned. “Fuck that. Be naughty as hell.” He walked out and shut the door, making sure it was locked first.
As soon as the door closed, he and Miriam flung themselves toward one another, meeting halfway in a rush of fire. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and his wound around her waist, gripping her tightly. In a blaze of heat, their mouths fused together, their tongues dancing together in an erotic tasting that filled Io with relief, as well as lust.
She felt perfect against him. Her body fit his like it had been made expressly for him. And, hadn’t it? She was his mate. They had been destined to be together from the inception of time.
He brought his hand around and cupped it over one of her ample breasts, squeezing as his other arm tightened around the small of her back. She moaned and let her head fall back, displaying the elegant column of her neck.
“I need you,” he said before nipping the tender flesh that she had so readily revealed to him.
With every passing second, it became more and more clear that his
calling
would fully claim him within days if not sooner. He could feel its power building inside him, preparing his body to take hers in a fever of endless hunger that would leave them both spent and delirious for one another.
* * *
What Miriam felt for Io went far beyond need.
She leaned into him as he released her neck and pulled her up. With her forehead touching his, she closed her eyes and purred softly. Io’s arms tightened around her, and the most erotic moan vibrated through his throat. The sound encouraged her while chipping away any last remnants of logical thought and self-control.
“Take me to bed tonight?” Her whispered words lilted like a question as her lips brushed against his as she spoke.
She had never lain with a male, but the thought of going one more day without feeling Io inside her was intolerable. Miriam was ready to grow up and put her innocence behind her. She had made her choice, and it would be Io or no one.
A low purr resonated from deep within his chest. His entire body seemed to bend and mold more snugly against every curve of hers as his fingers curled over the mound of her breast.
“Are you sure?” He bent and licked her neck once more.
She nodded and trembled, nervous, yet certain that she was making the right decision.
“Yes.” She swallowed impulsively, shuddering as tiny crackles flamed her nerves. “I want you to.”
The pit of her stomach clenched with an ache that felt both agonizing and delicious, and somehow she knew that having Io inside her would soothe the tightening knot in her belly.
Until she met Io, she had merely been an empty vase sitting on a shelf, unfilled, with no purpose. But now Io was like water, filling her and flowing around her curves, giving her purpose, preparing her for a beautiful bouquet so she could become the glorious centerpiece she had always wanted to be.
Not that she was vain. That wasn’t it at all. But she had been pushed into the shadows by her father and held back from her full potential for so long that she had forgotten what it felt like to mean something to someone. She had forgotten how it felt to be wanted and acknowledged, and she had never felt beautiful. Not really. Not until Io had wrapped her up in his gaze and dared to tread on a minefield to be with her.
Io wanted her. She was important to him, and he showed her as much in the way he looked at her with pure adoration, in the way he touched her with reverence, and in the way he spoke to her with complete devotion. And all those things made her feel truly beautiful and important for the first time in her life.
As Io murmured loving words against her neck and caressed her back as if she were made of delicate crystal, Miriam’s emotions got the best of her and tears broke in her eyes.
Someone wanted her. Io hadn’t let royal titles and stupid laws scare him away. He treated her like she was simply a random female he had met in passing. The irony was that she had never felt more like a princess than she did when she was with him, and his lack of formality with her was the reason why. No one else had ever made her feel so exquisite and special, and it was by treating her like she was a commoner that Io had achieved what no one else had.
“Miri?” Io pulled back, sniffing the air as if he had scented her emotional upheaval. When he saw her tears he frowned. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and sniffled, swiping her fingers over her cheeks to brush away her fallen tears. “Yes. Never better.”
The crooked, confused grin he gave her endeared him to her.
“Then why are you crying?” he said, lifting his hand to her face and brushing the lingering moisture with the pad of his thumb.
“Because you’ve made me feel things I’ve never felt,” she said. “I’ve never felt more like a princess than I do right now, and it’s all because of you.”
She brushed the backs of her fingers down Io’s cheek.
He grinned. “And I’ve never felt more like a prince.”
“My prince?” She smiled and leaned in to meet his lips with hers.
“Mm-hm.” Io’s mouth played softly over hers. “I feel like a better male since I met you.”
They were good for one another. A perfect match. Impeccably paired. Both becoming better versions of themselves because of the other.
“Let me feel how much better I make you, Io.” Miriam trailed her hand down his chest and torso, tilting her face against his and brushing their cheeks together as her hand slid seductively over the bulge in his pants.
“Mmm, just as long as I can make you feel more that you’ve never felt before.” He reacted physically, reaching around and gripping her bottom tenderly.
“Oh, I think you’ve got that covered, baby.” She nipped his cheek, then flicked the tip of her tongue over his skin.
Without another word, he grabbed under the curves of her ass with both hands, hefting her up easily. She wrapped her legs around his waist and his gaze met hers.
“You’re mine.” His deep voice announced his claim.
He walked her to the stairs that led to his basement bedroom, and she hugged his shoulders tightly as she buried her face against the side of his neck.
“I’m yours.” Her voice was a reverent whisper.
Down they went, drawing nearer to her deflowering with each step.
If she was a goddess, Io was her god. He even felt like one—magnificent and larger than life, all sculpted muscle and power.
Funny how things worked out. If her father had actually behaved like a father, she never would have started using cobalt to get away from the miserable reality of her existence, which meant she never would have overdosed and met Io. But all the pieces had lined up perfectly, and she had finally found someone worthy to call her mate. Through the pain and hell of addiction, Miriam had found her prince.
How would he feel making love to her? Would he be hard and forceful, full of lust? Or would he be gentle and tender? Either way, she didn’t care. Both sounded wonderful, and she could see the appeal of both.
A small night-light plugged in a few feet away from the bed provided the only illumination in the large room, casting gentle shadows over the furniture.
When they reached the middle of the room, Io stopped. She unfolded her legs from around his waist and he set her down then stepped back.
She swallowed heavily. His gaze drifted down her body then back up to her face. Before, his scrutiny would have made her self-conscious, but not anymore. She wanted him to look at her, because the way his eyes glazed and he rubbed his lips together—slowly, thoughtfully…hungrily—lit butterflies in her stomach. Sexy, lusty, wanton butterflies.
“This is your first time.” His words carried portent, a promise hidden just under the surface that tonight would forever change them. As he breathed, his gaze dropped to his fingertips as they outlined the curve of her breast, caressing her like a feather. “It should be special.” His fingers skimmed down her stomach, his hands disappearing under her shirt after a moment’s hesitation. He inched the fabric up to reveal her skin.
She lifted her arms, moving just as slowly, and he tugged her shirt over her head before tossing it aside. It landed on the floor with a soft
thwump,
and his palms slid up and over her lace-covered breasts. His fingers played with the scalloped edges of her bra as she reached around and unfastened it. The material loosened, and his hands glided underneath and over her skin. She tossed the bra so it joined her shirt on the floor.
Io seemed fascinated with her breasts, his gaze following his hands as he massaged, squeezed, and caressed them.
“Are you okay?” she said.
Without lifting his gaze, he nodded. “Yes. I’ve just never seen more perfect breasts, and to think they’re mine…they—you—all of you…you belong to me, and I belong to you. I just never thought….” He trailed off.
“You never thought what, Io?” She placed one of her hands over one of his.
He smiled, and this time his eyes lifted to meet hers. “I never thought I would take a mate.”
“And…? How do you feel about that?” She smoothed her hand down his arm.
“I can’t imagine ever going back to the way I was. You’re perfect, Miri. Perfect for me, and perfect in every way.”
