Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) (29 page)

Her lips.

He swallowed and tried to disconnect his emotions in order to do what needed to be done. Pulling out his keys, he used the tiny Swiss Army knife’s scissors to cut the brutal stitches on her eyes, then the ones on her lips. Her mouth fell open as soon as it was able, and death rattled up her throat.

Oh, Goddess!

He loved her so much his heart clenched as he examined the extensive damage. Yet, if he spent the precious seconds dwelling on that, she wouldn’t get what she needed.

Stephon leaned over Gabby’s chest, pressing his ear between her bare breasts and a loud, predatory growl rumbled around them, echoing off the walls. Nikolai didn’t recognize the noise came from him until Stephon’s baby blues flipped up.

“
Easy, dude.”

“
I’ll do it, Stephon.” Elizabeth eased him out of the way. She resumed the position, and the silence was deafening. “Almost,” she whispered. “She’s very close, Nikolai. Very close. Get ready.”

Seconds ticked by, seconds that felt like centuries. Nikolai stood next Gabby, ready to rip open his vein as soon as he was given the okay. He watched Elizabeth. As much as he wanted to glance down at Gabby, he didn’t dare. He didn’t want to let a fraction of a second tick by. That fraction could be the difference between life and death. And with her life hanging in the balance, it wasn’t a chance he was willing to take.

Death was not an option.

“
Now!” Elizabeth’s eyes flashed as they met his. “Do it now, Nikolai.”

Nikolai’s fangs elongated and with a quick swipe he opened his wrist. Blood swelled to the surface and he pressed it against Gabby’s lips. She didn’t respond. He opened her mouth further and jammed his arm in as far as it would go. He squeezed the skin, making the blood flow quicker.

“
Dammit, Gabby, drink!” He stroked her neck, urging her to swallow.

And then she did.

The motion of her throat muscles nearly caused him pull her close and shout with joy. He jumped and had to remind himself to remain still.

“
That’s it, my love. Drink.” His voice shook. “Take as much as you need.”

Color seeped into her features, overtaking the sickly pallor. For the first time since bursting into the room faith in her recovery dangled at the edges of his thoughts. He didn’t dare hope, though. Not yet.

“
I’m taking her now.” Without waiting for a response, Nikolai gathered her into his chest, wrapped her arms around his neck and evaporated.

The room was cold and dark—until Nikolai willed on the lights. This exact replica of his bedroom would have to do while Gabby went through the beginning stages of her change. He laid her against the sheets and stepped back to look at her. Damn, she looked fragile. Her skin was pinker than it had been, but she was still pale—and battered and bruised by a demented female.

This was all his fault. She’d been hurt, nearly killed, and then to top it all off, he’d changed her. Essentially finishing the job Natasha had started. He eased down next to her, careful to keep his weight away. She shifted and uttered a slight moan.

“
Shh, love. I’ve got you.” His hand shook as he placed it on her forehead. He placed his hand against his chest, felt the strong thud of his heart, and used every ounce of resolve he had to calm himself. He had a job to do. He
could
do this. For Gabby.

He took her hands in his. Gently he smoothed out each joint, noticing the left ring finger was badly damaged. It bent at awkward, unnatural angles and was conspicuously missing the diamond he’d put on it. Nearly all of her nails were also missing; the remaining ones broken and torn.

His whole body trembled with the fury that fought for release. His skin buzzed with the need to destroy something—someone. A very specific someone. He would never rest until Natasha was brought to justice.

Chapter Seventeen

Gabby was dead.

That had to be the reason for the way she felt, because she was completely numb, and not because of pain. Just numb. Her brain was foggy. The sensation was worse than any hangover she’d ever had. Worse than the fogged out stupor of waking up after anesthesia.

She began an inventory of her body. Remembering the torture she’d endured she was afraid of what she might find by poking the sleeping monster that was her body.

An initial, tentative toe wiggle revealed no pain. She clenched the muscles in her calves and her heart skittered. Her groin area, which had ached horribly from the sadistic poking and prodding, didn’t hurt at all. Hunger pangs were the only discomfort in her stomach. Her fingertips were a bit sore, but didn’t throb like she expected. She swallowed to try and kick start her saliva glands. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips.

Wait! Her lips were open. Her lips were open!

The stitches had been snipped.

She wanted to see if they’d been removed from her eyes as well. But what if they weren’t? And what if they were? She didn’t want to give Natasha any sign she was awake. As far as she could tell, she wasn’t tied down and would need the element of surprise if she had any chance of escape.

A hand landed on her arm and Gabrielle jumped. Every fight instinct she had fired sending her flying up into the air. She landed in a low crouch, balanced on the balls of her feet. Her hands formed fists. A snarl ripped from her throat.

“
I’m going to kill you, you stupid bitch!”

“
Easy, love.”

Recognition dawned. Her fear and anger trickled down her body to pool at her feet. She knew this room. She knew … Nikolai.

He stood with his hands up in surrender, his back pressed against the wall. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His face was drawn tight, his black brows pulled down in a worried scowl, and dark circles marred the skin under his eyes.

Tears sprang to her eyes and a sob erupted. She was safe. Every muscle in her body relaxed at the same time, and she crumbled. She expected to collapse into the floor, but was drawn into the chest of the man of her dreams.

“
Niko,” she whispered.

“
Shh, I’m here. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Sweet Goddess, I’m so sorry.” He held her close, stroked her hair—

Her hair! Auburn curls draped her shoulders, giving her a hint of what had taken place after her rescue. She circled her arms around his neck and hugged herself even closer.

He kissed the top of her head. “Can you ever forgive me, love?”

“
There’s nothing…” she croaked. Man, her throat was dry. She swallowed and coughed a bit. “Niko, there’s nothing to forgive.”

“
You may feel differently once you learn what I’ve done.”

He eased his arm under her knees and lifted her into his chest, her head rested against his shoulder. He held her tightly against him, stroking her back, kissing her face. She sensed a subtle change in him and looked up into his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his nostrils flared with his breath.

“
What are you talking about?”

He avoided looking her in the eye. “I’ve done something unforgiveable.”

The strong, steady beat of his heart comforted to her. She’d thought she’d never hear it again. She put her arms around his neck and weaved her perfectly straight, pain-free fingers through his long hair. She smiled against his neck as he carried her to the bed. He laid her carefully against the pillows. He was treating her like she was fragile. She felt anything but fragile. She felt … invincible.

She sat up, tucked her feet under herself, and took his hands in hers. “Niko, there is nothing you could’ve done that—”

He kissed her. His lips were hard, determined, against hers. His tongue penetrated her mouth and stroked her teeth. The movement made them ache even more. Then there was a shifting, a grinding as her canines … got longer?

She clamped her hand over her mouth and pulled away. His eyes were enormous, filled with a panic that sent her heart racing. Something definitely wasn’t right.

“
Wh- what … holy crap!” A grin spread under her hand.

“
You were—” He dropped to his knees next to the bed and lowered his head into his hands. “I am a selfish bastard,” he told her.

She reached out and pushed a black lock from his forehead, loving him even more.

He sighed deeply. “I’m no better than my father.”

Gabby leaned down and kissed the top of his head, kissed his forehead, and as he raised his head, she kissed his tear slicked cheeks and lips.

“
You are not your father. You are a man who rescued his woman from hell. You saved me—”

“
By taking away your choice.” He pulled away.

His guilt was palpable in its consumption. She heard it in his tone, saw it in his movements. As he stood with his arms stretched tensely between the door jamb and his head hanging heavily, she followed him. His muscles jumped when she touched him. He sucked in a breath, but didn’t flee.

“
Niko, look at me.” He didn’t. “Nikolai Voinea, dammit, look at me!” She ducked under his arm and stood on her tiptoes to glare at him in the eye. “You are a stubborn sonofabitch, you know that?” She slapped him and her hand stung.

“
I deserved that,” he muttered, rubbing his cheek.

“
Do you think for one second I haven’t figured out what happened?” She leaned up on her tiptoes and eased his hand away from his cheek, pressing a kiss to it. “You’ve changed me.”

He squeezed his eyes together like he had a migraine, rubbed his temples then crammed his palms into his eye sockets, and she noticed he wasn’t breathing.

“
Do you think for one second I can find any regret for that?”

His eyes opened.

“
You are
not
your father, Nikolai, because this woman wanted to be changed. There is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life as your wife.” Taking his face between her hands, she kissed him, a quick peck to get his attention. “I love you, Nikolai. Do you understand? There is nothing to forgive, because you gave me what I wanted; you. Forever.”

Nikolai’s ears worked just fine. It was the comprehension he seemed to be struggling with. Gabrielle was speaking, but he’d be damned if what she said made any sense. He stared at her dumbly. Her beautiful blue eyes twinkled. She smiled brightly.

Her hands gripped his arms. Hard. She shook him. “Nikolai.” She shook him again. “Do you understand?”

He didn’t. How could she possibly still love him?

It was his fault she’d been taken in the first place. His fault her body had been abused. His heart broke into a thousand pieces as he looked down at her. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, to pull her close and never let her go. He wanted to marry her and make love to her every day—multiple times a day—until the end of time.

Her palm met his face again, and as his eyes watered, he blinked frantically. The first slap had stunned him. This one shocked him stupid. She took his face between her hands, stroked his cheeks with her thumbs. Her beautiful cobalt eyes sparkled.

“
Niko, I love you.” She pressed her lips to his. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” She kissed him again. “I cannot say those words enough.” She dropped down onto one knee and took his hand in hers.

The out of body experience continued. He was there, of course. He felt. He heard. He loved. Goddess, did he love. He loved the female who now knelt before him. Knelt before him.

“
Gabrielle, what are you…?”

“
Marry me,” she blurted.

His heart screamed yes, but even as the pleading in her eyes froze him from the inside out, his pride wouldn’t allow it. He shook his head. “I can’t.”

“
Give me one good reason why you can’t.” She remained on her knee, his hand still firmly in hers. Burnt rubber doused her lovely scent. Her voice was strong, but her eyes revealed her hurt—and anger.

“
I promised—”

She stood and pushed him backward until his knees met the edge of the bed and he sat. “You listen to me. You’ve spent
centuries
worried you’d turn into your father. You have.”

Her words were more effective than her palm against his cheek. They were sharper than the sharpest blade, slicing his insides to ribbons.

“
I’ll be damned, but you have. You are such a self-centered bastard you’re not even considering the thoughts and feelings of the woman you say you love.” Tears flooded over her lids and rolled slowly down her cheeks as she continued, “It’s all about what
you
want, what you
think
I want.”

“
And what do you want?”

“
You!” she screamed. “I hate what that … that … that
bitch
did to me. I hate she altered our future. But she only altered it, Niko. We didn’t choose the way things happened, but it was inevitable. In-ev-it-able! I. Love. You!” She closed her eyes tight, sighed heavily, and dropped to her knees again. “Marry me. Make me your wife.”

“
This isn’t right.” He stood, his heart bursting. He knew he had to make this up to her. She’d all but begged him to marry her, but he was old-fashioned. It wasn’t the female’s responsibility to ask that question.