Through the Ether (Force of Nature Book 5) - Amber Lynn Natusch Page 0,21
his body. “I love you too, Piper. Always.”
“Well, that’s good, because you’re stuck with me, even after all this shit is over.”
“Deal.”
More silence. “Knox?”
A light giggle shook his body. “Yes?”
“What are we going to do once the royals are dead?”
“Well,” he said as he exhaled, “I’d love to go back to Alaska—with you, of course—and rebuild what we had there, but that can’t happen. That life is gone.”
“So you’ll stay here? In the mansion?”
“I don’t know, Piper. I’m not sure I can. Not with the pack situation.”
“Oh—”
“But I’m sure there’s a solution to that somewhere. Hell, maybe we’ll find one in Faerie. That place is full of surprises.”
That was one way to put it.
“And in the meantime?”
“I’ll deal. Like I said before, it’ll be fine.”
The edge of tension that crept into his body at the mere mention of it said otherwise.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You can get naked and sit on top of me…that certainly wouldn’t hurt.”
Before he could blink, I climbed on top of him, grinning. But when I looked down, I could see that his comment had been an attempt to distract his mind that was clearly somewhere else. Instead of stripping my shirt off, I closed my eyes and reached down deep to find the thread that bound us. The call rooted in my elemental magic. Once I found it, I pulled it tighter.
Knox let out a breath as his eyes drifted shut.
“Do you feel that?” I whispered.
“Yes,” he breathed.
“That’s the tie that binds us, and I am never letting it go, do you understand? That means that whatever you face, I face with you—together. And I have no intention of letting your status as alpha of this fucking city sink you.” I shifted my weight, and he moaned beneath me. “Say you understand…”
“I understand.”
“Good. Whenever you need to, I want you to draw on our connection, no matter what.”
His hands slid up my sides to capture my face. His eyes opened, exposing their golden glow as the beast within the man shone through. He pulled me toward him until our lips touched, our kiss sealing the deal between us.
“How about taking those clothes off now?” he said, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke.
“You’re supposed to be getting some rest, remember?”
“Nope,” he said, nipping my bottom lip. “Don’t remember that at all.”
I pulled away from him and frowned in a playful display. “Well, I do, and I’m going to make sure you get some.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he replied, grabbing my waist and yanking me forward.
“Rest,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Get some rest.”
“Oh. That. Funny…I’m not feeling very tired anymore.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“Really? Then maybe I should make it more obvious.”
His hands slid the hem of my shirt up, but I pulled away before he could slip it off. The second I got naked, there’d be no turning back.
“Maybe,” I said, intercepting them, “I should just lie here next to you, since you seem to be more at peace when I’m around.”
“I’m not sure I’d call this peace—”
“Knox…” I groaned, letting my exasperation leak into my tone. “I’m serious.”
“So am I—”
“Knox! I mean it.”
His hands fell to his sides as he exhaled hard. “I know you do, and you’re right.”
I smiled down at him in triumph. “I usually am.” I slid off his torso and lay down beside him with his arm tucked under my head.
“You know, there’s no rule against cuddling naked,” he said matter of factly. “Who knows? Maybe it’ll help me fall asleep faster.”
“I highly doubt that.”
His head lolled to the side to look at me. “Couldn’t hurt to try.”
Before I could launch into my argument, his laughter rang out around us, tucking me into a sense of rightness I hadn’t felt in some time. Even once it dissipated and turned to the soft sounds of his breathing, the feeling remained. Without the sense of looming dread that plagued us, I fell asleep in Knox’s arms.
And awakened in another’s.
Chapter Eight
A strong hand pressed against my stomach as I lay on my side in bed. It slowly slid upward until it cupped my throat, and I gasped as it gently flexed against the tender flesh, my pulse racing as I tried to orient myself. Then a low voice in my ear set me at ease.
“You are safe, Piper. I needed to see you.”
Merc’s voice anchored me in place, and my breathing calmed. His protruding canines raked along my neck, and I shivered at the sensation. Even though