Bound by Light (11 page)

She pulled open the door and threw herself
into his arms. “I’m sorry.”

He kissed her temple. “Och, lass, it’s
alright.”

“Jealousy isn’t really in my nature.”

“Jealousy’s in everyone’s nature, love.”

Sydney shuddered.

“What?”

“Something’s wrong.” She pulled away from
him and rushed to the window. “He’s there again.”

Thane grabbed the phone and dialed Wallace’s
number. The man answered on the first ring. “Sir?”

“Check the grounds.”

“Aye, sir. What am I looking for?”

“Sydney saw someone over by the cottage.”
Thane watched as Sydney stared out the window. “Text me when you
find anything.”

“Aye, sir.” Wallace hung up and Thane set
the phone back on the cradle.

“He’s gone again,” Sydney said, turning from
the window and running her hands up her arms.

Thane could feel her fear, so he pulled her
into his arms again and she sagged against him. “You’re safe,
sweetheart.”

“I just don’t understand why I don’t
feel
safe. There’s no reason for it.”

“Come on.” He took her hand and led her back
to his room, locking the door behind them and leading her to the
sofa. “You’re staying in here tonight.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Pulling her up against his chest, he wrapped
the blanket around her and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got you,
love.”

“Okay,” she whispered again, and settled her
cheek against his chest.

He felt her relax in stages. “Better?”

She didn’t answer him because she was
asleep. Thane smiled and turned the volume on super low, holding
her close. His phone buzzed on the table next to him and he reached
for it. Wallace didn’t find anyone, but he did find cigarette
butts, which didn’t sit well with Thane.

Shite.

“What?” Sydney mumbled.

“Nothing, love. Go back to sleep.”

“Tell me.”

“Wallace found cigarette butts, but whoever
was out there is now gone.”

She sat up and frowned. “Crap.”

“Aye.”

“Should we leave?”

“There’s really no safer place, love. We’re
locked in and the alarm’s set.” He gave her a gentle squeeze.
“Plus, the men have been alerted, so my team is ready.”

“Okay.”

“Want to watch the movie or go to bed?”

“Bed, I think.”

He turned everything off and pulled her from
the couch. “You’re going to sleep tonight.”

“We’ll see.”

He cupped her cheeks. “Do you want me to
make you sleep?”

“Can you do that?”

“I’ve done it before.”

“What?”

Thane smiled. “Think of the last few times I
told you to sleep.”

She gasped. “I
did
sleep.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“Don’t go getting all superior on me, mister
movie star. But I will admit, it was unusual for me to sleep six
hours.”

He chuckled. “Well, tonight we’ll try for
eight.”

“If you can do that, I’ll marry you
tomorrow.” She looped her arms around his neck. “After I wake up,
of course.”

Thane kissed her and guided her to the bed,
where he pulled her into his arms and wrapped the covers around
her. “I love you, sweetheart.”

She kissed him and smiled against his lips.
“I love you, too.”

“Sleep now.”

It didn’t take long for her to succumb to
his words and as soon as he felt her relax, he followed her into
slumber.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“W
HO IS THIS? Why
do you keep calling?” Sydney’s mother demanded into the phone. “If
you don’t stop, I’ll call the police.”

“
Mom?” Sydney pushed open the office door
and her mother set her phone on the desk. “Everything
okay?”

“
Fine, honeybun, just a prank
caller.”

“
How many times does this prank caller
call?”

“
I think this is the second time.” She
slid the phone into her jeans pocket and her hand shook.

Sydney knew she was lying.

“
Let’s get lunch.”

Sydney nodded and forced a smile. “Sounds
good.”

* * *

Sydney sat straight up with a scream. Thane
had felt her fear before she’d awakened, so he was quick to wrap
his arms around her and calm her. “I’m here, love. You’re okay. It
was a dream.”

“I keep having this recurring nightmare.”
She burrowed into his chest. “I think Mom was in trouble.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “I just can’t figure it out. Why
would I think that?”

Thane pulled her down on the pillows with
him. “I’ll talk to your uncle. Maybe he knows something.”

“I don’t think he’ll tell you anything. He’s
annoyingly tight-lipped right now.”

“He’ll tell me, love.”

Sydney sat up again.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

She patted his chest. “I’m not going to be
able to sleep, honey. I’ll go read.”

He smiled and tugged her back down. “Sleep,
baby.”

She did.

* * *

Sydney heard water running and forced her
eyes open. She didn’t want to wake up. She was warm and cozy tucked
in the soft sheets of Thane’s bed, so she closed her eyes again and
snuggled deeper into the mattress.

“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Thane
said.

“How did you know I was awake?” she asked,
not looking at him.

“Because I did.”

Sydney smiled and opened her eyes again,
biting her lip at the sight of Thane wearing only jeans, one arm
raised, using the towel to dry his hair as he grinned at her. He
looped the towel around his neck and leaned down to kiss her
gently. “Ten hours.”

“Hmm?”

“You slept for ten hours.”

“Shut up!” She glanced at the clock on the
nightstand. “Holy crap, I
did
sleep for ten hours.”

Thane chuckled. “How do you feel?”

“Amazing. I’m hard pressed to get out of
this bed.”

“Then don’t.”

“Since I know you’re going to help me sleep
again tonight, I want to know what it feels like to go through a
day feeling normal.” She stretched as he moved around the room and
she couldn’t help but watch him. He was so graceful, not to mention
sexy.

“The storm’s passed,” he said, and pulled a
T-shirt over his head. “We can ride the property or walk, whatever
you like.”

She propped up on her elbows. “Is it
safe?”

“Aye, lass. Wallace has seen nothing out of
the ordinary.”

She grinned. “I’d love to ride, then.”

“Perfect.” He kissed her quickly and then
stepped into the bathroom. “My family has requested we join them
for dinner tonight if that works for you.”

“Sounds great.” Sydney threw the covers off
and sat up. “I’ll change quickly and meet you back here, okay?”

He leaned out of the bathroom and smiled.
“That works. We’ll eat then go.”

Sydney nodded and headed to her bedroom,
grabbing a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt from the bureau
on her way to the bathroom. She was glad Lucy forced her to bring a
pair of boots with a low heel. They’d be perfect for riding.

After washing her face and brushing her
teeth, she met Thane back at his bedroom and they headed to the
kitchen for breakfast. Sydney’s excitement couldn’t be contained as
they walked out to the barn, especially when she met the horse she
would ride. A big black Friesian gelding by the name of Julius.
They bonded pretty quickly and Sydney instantly fell in love.

“I think I’m stealing him,” she said, and
Thane laughed.

“You don’t have to steal him, love. If you’d
like him, he’s yours.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Thane patted Julius’s neck. “I
knew you two would get along.”

“Can we just stay here forever?” She hugged
him. “I’m okay with never going back to London.”

“Whatever you want to do, love, I’ll make it
happen.” Thane stroked her cheek. “But I do think I need to speak
with your uncle first and sort out what he knows about your
parents.”

“Then can we escape from the world for a
little while?”

“Of course we can, sweetheart.” He frowned.
“Why so blue?”

“I just feel like the other shoe’s going to
drop.”

Thane smiled. “I’ve got you, baby. It’s all
going to be okay.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

She nodded and kissed him. Julius nuzzled
Sydney and she giggled. “You’re going to make it all okay, too,
aren’t you, boy?” He swung his head up and down and Sydney shook
her head. “I’m officially in love.”

“I think he is too,” Thane said. “I don’t
blame him.”

“Charmer.”

He kissed her quickly again and then reached
for his horse. “Let’s ride.”

The stable hand helped Sydney mount and she
gathered the reins and followed Thane away from the barn. He took
her to the cottage first, helping her down and tying off the horses
before leading her inside.

“Thane, it’s lovely.”

The little cottage was older than the main
house, but had also been recently updated. The two-bedroom,
two-bathroom home had a great room, kitchen, plus a den, and Sydney
loved it.

Thane led her back out to the horses and
they spent another hour exploring the grounds, forced to return to
the barn due to another downpour. By the time they arrived back,
they were soaked and Sydney was freezing. A couple of the stable
hands took the horses and Thane whisked Sydney back to the house.
She discovered he’d called ahead and had one of the staff draw a
bath for her. She sank into pure bliss, sighing as the warm water
covered her body.

I love you so much right now, you have no
idea.

Thane chuckled.
I think I have an
inkling.

Thank you for doing this.

My pleasure, love.

Sydney added hot water to the tub and stared
out the window that Thane assured her was of the one-way variety,
so she could see out, but no one could see in.
What should I
wear tonight?

Whatever you like.

Typical man.

He chuckled again.

I brought a little black dress with me...or
is that too dressed up?

That sounds perfect, love.

What are you doing?

Wishing I was in the tub with you.

She bit her lip.
Join me, then.

One month, love, and I will.

You’re really going to make us wait?

It would be dangerous if I didn’t.

Sydney frowned.
How so?

Because I know it would be impossible to
make love to you and not bind you, and binding cannot happen before
you’re twenty-five.

I’d like to go on record to say that I think
that’s lame.

I don’t disagree, but think of the
positives.

Being horny all the time is not a positive,
Thane.

No, that’s true, but getting to know one
another without distraction most definitely is.

Sydney rolled her eyes.
Still
sucks.

I know, baby. I have to speak with
Wallace.

Is something wrong?

I don’t think so. Enjoy your bath.

And he was gone.

Sydney sighed and sank lower in the water.
She didn’t want to leave the gigantic claw-foot tub and it sounded
as though she didn’t have to anytime soon. She was both excited and
nervous to meet Thane’s family, but mostly nervous. She wondered
what the family of an immortal superstar was like. She couldn’t
begin to imagine. She was still trying to figure out how she’d
become inseparable from the biggest movie star on the planet.

Your thoughts are adorable, lass.

Sydney rolled her eyes.
Get out of my
brain.

He chuckled. We leave in two hours.

I’ll be ready.

Don’t be nervous. My family will love
you.

She sighed.
I hope so
.

* * *

Sydney gripped Thane’s hand as Wallace drove
them over a drawbridge (yes, a real freakin’ drawbridge) and into
the courtyard of the tiniest castle Sydney had ever seen. Granted,
she wasn’t an expert on castles, and tiny was somewhat relative,
but this one looked to be a bit smaller than Thane’s home, which
was just under twelve-thousand square feet. She’d always expected
castles to be monstrous in size, able to house entire villages.

Thane chuckled. “Not quite, sweetheart.”

She rolled her eyes. “Brain. Out. Now.”

“This has been our home since we arrived
from Iceland. We all have part of the land and we’ve all stayed
close. My house is at the far south end of the property.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Sydney breathed.

“It’s my home away from home, so to speak.”
Thane squeezed her hand and then got out of the car. She waited for
him to open her door and hold his hand out to her before climbing
out herself.

He wrapped his arm tightly around her waist
and walked her to the front door, but before they could walk in,
Sydney was pulled away and into a surprisingly strong hug,
considering the girl was tiny. “You’re here,” the girl
exclaimed.

“Sydney, this is my very little, very
dramatic, sister, Ainsley.”

“I’m not dramatic; I’m just excited to meet
your mate.”

Sydney giggled. “I’m excited to meet you as
well, Ainsley.”

“Everyone’s in the salon.” Ainsley grinned.
“Mum didn’t want to overwhelm you with all of us descending upon
you.”

“That was very kind of her,” Sydney said.
She sounds thirty, not twelve.

Thane grinned.
You have no idea
.

His hand settled on her lower back again and
they followed Ainsley into the formal room where close to ten
people, not including children, milled around, sipping drinks and
talking. Sydney reached for Thane’s hand and gripped it hard,
hoping for a little burst of confidence.

“Thane!” A stunning redheaded woman who
appeared to be in her early thirties rushed them, pulling Thane in
for a long hug. “Och, my son, I’ve missed you.”