Bound by Light (9 page)

“I’ve never been to Edinburgh.”

“You did that on purpose.” He chuckled.
“Making me think you were weighing the options.”

She grinned, her irritation quickly
forgotten. “Maybe.”

“I’ll work out the details with your uncle
and we’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.” Sydney flopped back onto her
pillows. “How will we get there?”

“I typically fly—”

“So you
are
a vampire, then?”

“Only on Sundays.”

Sydney giggled. “That’s an option?”

“If you twerking on a table is an option,
then why wouldn’t being a vampire on Sunday be one?”

“You have a point,” she conceded.

He chuckled. “If you don’t want me to don my
cape and fly you to Edinburgh, there is always the option to take
the train.”

“Oh,” she breathed out. “The train sounds
amazing.”

“I can have Pam look into it.”

She smiled. “Do you mind?”

“Why would I mind? The train’s a lovely way
to get there.”

“Are you always this agreeable?”

He chuckled again. “Absolutely.”

“Liar.”

“I’ll let you go back to sleep, sweetheart
and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

She yawned. “Okay.”

“Sleep, baby.”

She yawned again. “Okay.”

“’Bye,” he whispered.

“’Bye.” She hung up and stared at the
ceiling for longer than she would have liked before sleep took
her.

* * *

The next morning, Lucy burst into her room
and bounced up and down on the mattress. “You’re going to
Scotland.”

“Hmm?” Sydney mumbled.

“Get up.”

“Huh? Why are you waking me, evil one?”

“It’s almost six,” Lucy said.

“In the morning?” Sydney squeaked. She’d
slept for almost five hours, a record for her.

“Yep.” Lucy bounced again. “And Dad said
you’re going to Scotland with Thane. Ohmigod, Sid. Thane Allen is
whisking you away to his lair.”

Sydney pulled the covers over her head. “Go
away. I want more sleep.”

Lucy yanked the duvet from her face. “Wake
up, wake up, wake up. We have to pack.”

“Why do we have to pack now?”

“Because the train leaves at like eight.
Thane said he’ll be here to pick you up at seven.”

“Then you go with him,” she argued, and
rolled away from her cousin.

Lucy smacked her butt. “I’m going to pack
sexy undies and nothing else if you don’t get out of this bed.”

“Wait.” Sydney sat up, her hair falling in
front of her face. She found the scrunchy that fell out during the
night and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “Start again, Luce, and
talk really slowly.”

Lucy giggled. “Thane is taking you to
Edinburgh, and the train leaves at eight. He’ll be here at seven to
collect you.”

“But he said he’d call me today to talk
about it.”

“Well, he talked to Dad and is now on his
way.”

“Uncle Cary said that was okay?”

“Yep.” Lucy walked into Sydney’s closet,
returning with a suitcase. “Go shower and then we’ll pack.”

Sydney jumped from the bed with a squeal and
rushed into the bathroom, taking the fastest shower in history.
Dressing in dark jeans, black knee-high boots, and a cowl-necked
cream sweater, she left her hair in a ponytail, rather than washing
it. It would take too long to dry.

“You look gorgeous,” Lucy said.

Sydney giggled. “Thanks, cuz. Okay, let’s
figure out what I’m taking.”

“Shoes. You need shoes.”

“I need sneakers and flats, maybe
slippers.”

“No, you need one-, two-,
and
four-inch heels, plus sneakers, flats, and definitely
slippers...oh, and boots.”

“I’m going for the weekend,” Sydney argued.
“Not a month.”

“At least take your Jimmy Choos and a little
black dress. In case.”

“Fine.” Sydney rolled her eyes. “Just in
case.”

Lucy helped her pack the rest of her things,
which meant Lucy threw stuff into the bag while Sydney took half of
it back out. If she hadn’t, she’d have needed more than one bag and
they would have been packing for a week.

A knock at the door brought her aunt.
“Thane’s here, love.”

Sydney checked her watch. “He’s early.”

Aunt Clara chuckled. “He obviously wants to
get the romance started.”

“Oh, gross, Mum,” Lucy complained.

“Why is that gross?”

“Probably because you said it.”

Sydney grinned and pulled her bag off the
bed. “I’m ready. You two can bicker on your own time. Right now,
it’s romance time.”

Aunt Clara giggled and Lucy groaned.

“Just FYI, it’s gross when you say it too,
Sid,” Lucy retorted.

“At least I’m not saying lover.”

“Ohmigod, that’s disgusting.”

Sydney wrinkled her nose. “I’m going away
with my loverrrrr.”

“Okay, even I think that’s gross,” Aunt
Clara said.

“Which he’s not,” Sydney rushed to say.
“Just to be clear.”

“We know,” Aunt Clara said, and the three
dissolved into giggles as they walked downstairs.

Sydney set her bag in the foyer and smiled
when Thane and her uncle walked out of the parlor.

Thane leaned down to kiss her gently. “Good
morning. You look beautiful.”

“So do you,” she said.

He wore dark jeans with a periwinkle-blue
sweater that matched his eyes, and to say he looked gorgeous was an
understatement.

“Are you ready?”

Sydney nodded. “I tried to pack light.”

Thane chuckled. “You did well, love. I was
expecting triple.”

“I can go back upstairs and pack more if you
need me to,” she retorted.

He grinned. “Cheeky.”

Thane nodded to his “man” who stood inside
the door, and he took Sydney’s bag out to the car. Sydney took a
few minutes to hug her family and then Thane ushered her out to the
waiting SUV. The driver held the door open for her and she climbed
in while Thane walked to the other side. His phone pealed and he
took the call as the driver pulled away from the curb.

“Morning, Pam. Aye.” He took Sydney’s hand
and linked his fingers with hers. “Aye. You did? Well done. Aye.
See you in a few minutes.” He hung up and smiled. “Pam’s diverted
the paparazzi, which means, if all goes according to plan, we won’t
be bothered at the station.”

“I didn’t even think about the paparazzi,”
Sydney admitted.

Thane kissed her palm. “That’s why we have
Pam.”

Sydney giggled. “I’m not sure I’m her
favorite person.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I keep distracting you from what
she
wants you to do.”

Thane chuckled. “Pam’s protective, but she
knows who signs her checks, so you won’t have any issues with her.
If you do, tell me.”

“I’m not getting between you and your
assistant, Thane. I’ll fight my own battles if I need to.”

“Sassy.”

“Bossy.”

He dropped his head back and laughed.
“You’re gorgeous, you know that, right?”

“Back atya.”

He leaned over and kissed her quickly,
smiling against her lips. “I can’t wait to spend the entire weekend
with you.”

“Me neither.” She cocked her head. “Uncle
Cary discussed me staying with you instead of Charlotte and Niall,
right?”

“Aye, he did.”

“Is that still okay?”

He chuckled. “Of course it is. It’s better.
We’ll have no distractions.”

“Perfect,” she said. The SUV pulled up to
the train station and Thane guided her directly to their private
train car.

“Shouldn’t we check in?” she asked.

“My people will do that for us.” He pulled
her to a seat next to the window and sat down beside her.

“So this is what it’s like to travel with a
big movie star,” she mused.

Thane chuckled. “Do you find it to be a
positive or a negative?”

“Being whisked into a private rail car?
Positive,” she said. “Being accosted by sixteen-year-olds with
barely any clothes on? Negative.”

He grinned. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A young man in uniform made his way to them
and smiled. “Sir, ma’am, may I get you a drink or something to
eat?”

“Coffee,” Sydney said immediately.
“Please.”

“Same,” Thane said. “What would you like for
breakfast?”

“Surprise me.” Sydney grinned. “But
definitely something with bacon.”

Thane chuckled. “Everything’s better with
bacon.”

“A valuable motto to live by.”

Thane focused back on the server. “Full
breakfast, please.”

“Very good, sir.”

The server walked away and Sydney leaned
against Thane. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her
closer.

“Careful, honey, I’ll fall asleep if you
make me any more comfortable,” Sydney warned, settling against his
chest.

He chuckled. “Sleep, baby. We’ve got
time.”

“But there’s bacon coming,” she whispered
even as her eyes were closing.

“I’ll wake you when it gets here,” he
promised.

She nodded with a smile and snuggled closer.
She didn’t even remember falling asleep, but as promised, Thane
woke her to eat. Even with the lure of bacon, she was hard-pressed
to leave the comfort of his arms, but the pig won out and she
devoured her meal.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“W
OW,” SYDNEY
EXCLAIMED with a low whistle as they drove through wrought-iron
gates and down a long drive. “All of this is yours?”

“Aye, love.”

The train ride had been breathtaking. Well,
it had been breathtaking for as long as she’d managed to stay
awake, but a full belly and strong arms to hold her had her falling
asleep shortly after breakfast. Thane had awakened her right before
they pulled into the station, so she only got a brief look at the
passing scenery and then they were pulling into the depot.

Thane’s home came into view and it was like
something out of a medieval movie, the white stone house that
looked more like a mansion sitting on acreage that rivaled a king’s
fiefdom.

“It’s a Scots Baronial property,” he said.
“I built it in 1760 and refurbished it a few years ago.”

“
You
built it?”

“Aye, lass.”

“Just how old
are
you?” she
whispered.

He smiled. “Two hundred and
eighty-five.”

“Shut up.”

Thane chuckled. “I know it’s a lot to take
in.”

“Ya think?”

The car pulled up to the front door and
Thane took Sydney’s hand, leading her inside. “I have about a
hundred-twenty-five acres which we can explore this weekend. I’m
not sure if you ride, but I have horses and we can take them out
whenever you like.”

Sydney nodded as she took in the space. “I
love horses.”

Thane’s home had five bedrooms, four
bathrooms, something he called a reception hall, but it was more of
a room with historic furniture inside, drawing room, kitchen,
family room, library... she kind of zoned out as he kept listing
rooms. She knew it would take some time to explore the entire
house, not to mention the property.

There was apparently a cottage somewhere as
well, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and all the necessities of
a separate home.

“Sweetheart?”

“Hmm?” Thane squeezed her hand and she came
back to the present. “Oh, sorry. I’m trying to take it all in. What
did I miss?”

He grinned. “Nothing, love. Come on, I’ll
show you to your room.”

“I’m going to get lost,” she said as he led
her upstairs.

“No you won’t. If you do, just let me know.”
He tapped his temple.

“Or, you could just stay glued to my side at
all times.”

“That works too.” He pushed open a large
mahogany door and stepped back for her to precede him inside.

A king-sized wrought-iron bed sat to the
right as she walked into the room, a fireplace was centered on the
wall opposite the bed, and two high-backed chairs created a reading
area facing a large picture window overlooking the grounds. She
could see the cottage and a large white barn off in the
distance.

“Thane, this is incredible,” she said, and
smiled over at him.

“I’m glad you like it. You have your own
bathroom and a closet through that door there.” He pointed to the
door next to the fireplace. “I’m right next door, so I’m close if
you need me in the middle of the night.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You’ll scare away my bad dreams?”

“You have bad dreams?”

“Not often, to be honest.” She glanced up at
him. “I don’t typically sleep much.”

He tugged gently on her ponytail. “I will
scare away anything that might frighten you.”

Sydney giggled. “My true knight in shining
armor.”

“Always.” He smiled, leaning down to kiss
her.

As he deepened the kiss, a flash of light
then a loud boom of thunder sounded, and Sydney broke their
connection with a grin. “Wow, you rocked my world, honey.
Literally.”

“Just wait,” he promised, and walked to the
window just as rain pelted the glass. “So much for exploring.”

“I’m up for cozy make-out time with wine as
well, you know. Especially if it involves answers to all these
weird questions... oh, and more world rocking.”

He faced her and crossed his arms. “The
answers could take all night.”

She shrugged. “I’m okay with that.”

Thane held out his hand and Sydney took it,
following him downstairs and into the library. And it was
literally
a library. The room was larger than most master
bedrooms and had bookshelves that covered three of the four walls,
all loaded with a majority of hardback books. The dark mahogany
wood and overstuffed furniture, perfect to relax and read on, made
her feel like Hemingway would have loved it here. She did too. It
was gorgeous.

Thane released her and pushed open a
bookshelf to reveal a private room.

“Oh my word, you have a Scooby Doo
room!”