Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) (25 page)

He wanted to smack himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. He felt so stupid. All of these years he’d spent near her, loving her, wanting her, and he’d never noticed before.

“
I need you to be honest with me, Gabrielle.”

She pulled her shirt closed to cover the white lace of her bra. “Look, if you don’t want to…” she paused when her voice cracked.

Did she not feel how desperately he wanted to make love to her? She struggled against the pillows and sat up to face him.

He brushed a soft, gentle kiss against her lips, making sure to let his hips grind into her body. “Oh, I want you.” His voice was thick, deep, desperate. “Sweet Gabrielle, there is nothing I want more than to make love to you, but there’s something I must clarify first.”

“
What’s to clarify?” she huffed. “I want you, you want me. So stop stalling. Put out or get out!” Her hands hit the mattress in clear frustration. Her words shocked him, but the frustration … yeah, he got that.

He sat back on his haunches and gently took her hand in his. “Have you been with another man?”

“
Define ‘been with’.” She blushed and dropped her eyes.

“
I know you are innocent. I can … sense it.”

The light pink hue of her cheeks flamed red. “You can
sense
it? Well, hell—” She jerked her hand away, got off the bed, and started pacing. “—just what else can you
sense
about me? And why are we discussing this now? Surely, you’ve known all along.”

“
No, I just realized. Gabrielle, are you sure I’m—”

“
Cut the noble shit, okay? So, I’m a virgin. Does that piece of intel change the way you feel about me? You don’t want me now? When you thought I was a sex kitten, you were all over me but now—”

She threw her hands in the air and screamed so loudly his ears would ring for decades before whirling to continue her tirade.

“
I get it; vampires don’t want an inexperienced woman.” She popped her hands on her hips and her shirt fell open. Every infuriated breath caused her breasts to move. They were so captivating Nikolai found himself unable to look at anything else, unable think of anything else.

“
Stop ogling me!” She glowered at him and yanked the shirt back together. “Seriously!”

“
Sorry.” He shook his head to clear his clouded thoughts. “I can assure you, I want you as much as I ever have. Maybe even more. I love you, Gabby. You are mine. Right now, I am strung so tightly I’m about to snap.”

“
So snap, already!” To punctuate her words she shucked her blouse.

He raised a brow when she reached around to unzip her skirt. His heart skipped a beat. His throat constricted and he didn’t even want to
think
about what was taking place below his belt. Black fabric slid down her hips and pooled on the floor around her four-inch heels. His fingers curled into the bedding, knotting themselves into the sheets. It was either that or her hair.

“
Your first time—” He had to close his eyes if he was going to say what needed to be said and rubbed at his temples. “Your first time should be perfect. Slow and gentle.”

He heard the scuffing of her feet, the subtle crunching of the sheets, and knew he was in trouble. Her fingers tickled his face. His eyes shot open and he jumped when her lips pressed against the heartmate tattoo on his chest. When she looked at him her eyes were with pure intense focus.

“
I want you to be my first. My last. My only.” She took his hand, placing it on the lace of her bra. The diamond and platinum ring sparkled as she urged him with a kneading motion. “If it’s you, it will be perfect. I’ve waited a very long time for this, Niko. Please give me what we both want.”

All self-control vanished in that moment. He grabbed her, tossing her against the mattress. He caught her gasp with a kiss then moved his lips across her cheek, down her neck to where her pulse beat strongest. Suddenly overcome with the urge to bite her, to taste the sweet nectar that was exclusively Gabrielle, he unsheathed his fangs and let them drag along her skin.

She sucked in a breath. He stopped, torn between what he wanted and what
she
wanted. Her fingers wove into his hair, curling themselves around the strands to the point of pain, urging his head down toward her neck.

“
Please,” she whispered, dropping her head to the side, offering herself to him. “I want to be inside you.”

Overcome with the honor she presented him, he raked his fangs over her skin again.

A shudder rippled from head to toe and a seductive moan escaped Gabby’s lips. Nikolai ran his tongue over her vein, slowly, sensuously, and then twin pin pricks pierced her skin. The pain subsided almost before she recognized it. A sucking sensation was followed by a low groan. The sweet suckling pulls as Niko drank sent a shot of lust racing through her, lighting her up brighter than a firework display on a moonless night.

An orgasm bubbled in her belly and released itself on a scream. She rode the wave, her legs scissoring against each other. She ached. She needed.

He captured her mouth with his. Their tongues tangled and she could taste what must be her blood. He was rough, yet gentle as he stripped her bra away. Then, kissing his way down her belly, removed her panties. He stood and quickly removed his pants as well. No boxers. She smiled.

Hungrily, her eyes moved over him. He was beautiful; strong muscular legs, a narrow waist, and…

“
You like what you see?” he purred.

Her eyes flicked to his face. She nodded slowly, unable to use her voice. Feeling lazy, drugged, she reached for him, and he crawled across the bed to her. His muscles flexed much like a lion on the prowl, and she decided she would gladly let this predator devour her. A smile tipped her lips. He paused, examining her for a moment before mirroring her expression.

“
You’re beautiful.” He cupped her cheek in his palm and she leaned into his touch. A skeptical expression fluttered over his features. “Are you sure this is okay?”

“
Um-hmm,” she moaned.

She lay back and he moved up to cover her with his body. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and she struggled to fill her lungs with air. This moment was what she’d dreamed. No, it was better. Nikolai’s kisses on her skin surpassed anything she could have dreamed up. His fingers slid between lace and skin and Gabby sucked in a breath. She felt the stretch, prepared for the snap, and…

“
I know I promised not to—” Gustav’s voice interrupted.

“
Get out of here!” Nikolai shouted, grabbing for sheets to cover her. A difficult concept since they were both grasping for the same ones. As her fingers tugged, so did his. Finally she wrapped both hands around one of his and yanked at the sheet.

Gustav stood with his back toward them, rubbing his eyes. “I didn’t see anything.” His reassurance didn’t lessen the tension in Nikolai’s muscles, nor the embarrassment coloring Gabby’s entire body.

“
Why are you here?” Nikolai growled, looking back to make sure she was covered.

She smiled and gave him a seductive wink. She hoped to relieve some of her anxiety, but it didn’t help. She was so mortified—and frustrated. Just once she’d like to have sex with Nikolai.

He blew her a kiss then turned his irritation on his brother. “This had better be good.”

“
Look, man, don’t kill the messenger.” Gustav held his hands up. He took a step closer to Nikolai and dropped his voice to a whisper.

Gabby couldn’t tear her eyes from the naked bottom of her lover. It was firm and perfect and she couldn’t wait to sink her nails into it.

“
What!?
”

Gabby jumped, her eyes flying wide. She studied the tension in his shoulders, the anger in his white knuckles. Her ribcage constricted, closing in on her lungs. She tried to breathe.

“
I thought you might feel that way.” Gustav still had his back to her, and now she could see the tense set of his shoulders. “Vincent tried to call and didn’t get an answer. I think you should check it out. Soon.”

Nikolai looked over his shoulder and Gabby knew without having to be told that he would be leaving. A nod verified her assumption.

“
Let’s go.” He stepped up to Gabby, tucked the sheets around her, and kissed her.

“
Is everything okay?”

She expected him to assure her everything was a-okay. He shook his head, his muscles tight, his expression grim.

“
I just need to check something out. We’ll finish what we started as soon as I get home, I promise.” His lips touched the tip of her nose. “And first thing tomorrow, I’m installing gold leafing on the walls.”

He kissed her again. He dressed quickly in jeans and a t-shirt, stuffing his feet into a pair of black leather combat boots. She watched him closely. He was intense, serious, every movement had meaning. Her man had plans, and those plans clearly included kicking ass and taking names.

Gustav had been so quiet during the preparations and when he spoke, although it was softly, Gabby jumped. “I’ll meet you there.”

Niko jerked a nod and Gustav was gone. She was getting used to the popping thing—especially when people were leaving her and Nikolai alone.

His heavy footsteps crossed the room to where she waited in the bed. The mattress dipped when he planted his knee into it. His strong hand cradled her head, his fingers digging into the back of her skull. There was nothing gentle about his kiss. The pressure of his lips was a possessive grind, an aggressive brand.

When he pulled back, he panted, “I love you, Gabrielle Voinea.”

He straightened, winked, blew her a kiss and was gone.

She blinked and stared at the empty space. A shiver wiggled up her spine. Maybe she
wasn’t
getting used to the popping thing after all, because Nikolai’s quick departure felt like a part of her had left with him. She snuggled deeper into the pillows, inhaling his scent. Her heavy eyelids drooped closed.

Soon, he’d be back, they’d be together, and then happily ever after could begin.

*****

The first thing her mind registered as Gabby awoke was the fluttering touch of fingers against her cheek. She leaned into the touch, sighed … and panicked.

Something was wrong. Her eyes flew open and she sat upright in the bed.

“
Hello, my dear.” Natasha flashed a smile containing no humor, only fangs and malice. “It seems your lover has left you unprotected.”

Gabby took a quick inventory of her surroundings and realized she was still in Nikolai’s room, still alone, and still very naked. She ripped the sheet up around herself.

“
What do you want?” She slipped from the bed, taking the sheet with her, and went over to the dresser. She was careful to keep Natasha in sight. The woman could move quick as lightning but it made her feel better to know she hadn’t.

After pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, Gabby popped her hands onto her hips. “I asked you a question.”

“
Nice ring.” The snarled hiss made the hair on the back of Gabby’s neck stand on end.

Gabrielle lifted her hand, feeling smug as Nikolai’s declaration of love sparkled. A growl rumbled in Natasha’s chest and a panicked warning screamed in her bloodstream. She channeled her inner Wonder Woman and narrowed her eyes at the intruder.

“
Thank you. Now, tell me what you’re doing here.”

“
Oh, I came for you.”

“
I’m not going anywhere with you.” Gabby retreated until her back met the wall. She wished she had her cell phone. She tried the only thing she could think of.

“
Nikolai,” she said.

Ringing laughter echoed through the room. The sound was much too pleasant for the sinister scowl on the face it’d come out of. “It doesn’t work that way, little girl. The two of you might be connected, but he can’t hear you.”

Natasha vanished and Gabby’s flight instinct raged, but she didn’t know where to go. The phone on the nightstand beckoned her, shouting to her senses that it might be her only hope. She bolted, and just as her hand wrapped around the cold plastic, Natasha was back.

Long fingers wrapped around Gabby’s throat, making it hard to breathe. The phone tumbled to the ground with a crash. Gabby thrust an elbow backward and made contact with a stomach that didn’t give at all. Tingling sensations rushed up and down her arm like she’d hit her funny bone. Yet there was nothing funny about the pain nor the situation.

Gabby sucked in a breath. Her vision went fuzzy and she grabbed at the arm attached to the vise-like grip.

“
Very good.” Natasha laughed again. “That’s what I was waiting for.”

Everything went black. Gabby felt a newly familiar tug that meant she was no longer in Niko’s bedroom.

She was, however, in very, very deep trouble.

Chapter Fifteen

Glass crunched, roses squished, and stems snapped as Niko walked through Gabby’s office. Gustav strode at his side with a sick expression on his face. As sick as Gustav looked, Nikolai was sure it didn’t hold a candle to what he
felt
.