Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy #1) (37 page)

She loves me
.

He hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her he felt the same way. He moved his hand from her hair to her face, tenderly stroking the back of his knuckles across her downy cheek.

She watched him as the car rolled north. As they reached more populated roads, shadows and light from the streetlamps flickered across her delicate features. Nothing could detract from her beauty, not even the now-healing bruises along one side of her face. Nothing seemed to be able to shake her grace under fire, and that made his heart swell with pride.

They pulled into the driveway at their house, followed by Brenin driving the other Escalade and Rhys driving the sedan Nicole had taken earlier. Though they were covered in blood, with bruises and lacerations decorating their skin, their Elder couldn’t have looked more pleased to see them. He came out the back door to meet them as the cars pulled around. Rhys and Brenin hopped out, grinning from ear to ear.

“Now that’s what I call a party!” Brenin hollered. His long blond hair swung across his back as he pumped one brawny arm. “Let’s do that again!”

“I think I’ll skip the next time, if you don’t mind.” Nicole eased out of the car. She seemed steady enough to walk, though she didn’t let go of Gunnar’s hand.

“Seriously, Nicole, you did good.” Rhys gave her a lop-sided grin.

“I’m the reason we all ended up in that basement.”

Gunnar brushed a wayward lock of hair from her face. “We planned on ending up wherever Maeron was hiding his sorry ass–basement, cave, whatever. Although you being there definitely wasn’t part of the strategy.” He turned to his fellow warriors. “You can stay up hashing out the details with Rilan if you want. We’re going to get cleaned up.” Draping an arm across Nicole’s shoulders, he tugged her through the door.

She didn’t protest as he led her up the stairs to his bedroom and closed the door behind them. As it clicked shut, she melted into his arms, burying her face in his grimy T-shirt. “We did it,” she said against his shoulder.

“
You
did. I’m so proud of you.” He slid his finger under her chin, tilting her head up so he could look into her bright eyes. “Nicole, what you said before, in Maeron’s lair…”

Her tender gaze swept through him like a soft breeze, enticing his soul and caressing his heart. He almost couldn’t believe she was his.

“You know that the mate bond is permanent?”

She took his hand in hers and raised it to her mouth, kissing his knuckles. “I think you mentioned that.”

He would never get enough of her sweet lips and her playful spirit. “Then I belong to you.”

“And I belong to you.” She tugged his face down to her.

God, but he loved hearing those words. Every nerve tingled, ready to burst with the deluge of love and devotion she poured into him with her kiss. Her mouth was tender and sweet and ripe with promise.

She pulled back and looked at him for a moment, her eyes searching his face. “Now what?”

“I say we get cleaned up.”

“No, not that. Are we mates now?”

“The bond has been forming for a few hours. That’s how I knew you were in trouble. It’s the reason I was able to lend you my strength when you were fighting the mist. But it won’t be fully complete until we do one more thing.” He gave her a slow wink and dropped his eyes to her mouth.

“What’s that?”

“It involves getting naked.” He smacked her bottom and she jumped. “Shit. We can wait–”

“No, I’m okay.” She smiled and glanced at her arms. The criss-cross pattern of angry welts had faded to pink. “It may not look like it, but I seem to be healing even faster.”

She trailed her hands down his arms, tangling their fingers for an instant, then let go and walked to the center of the room. Turning, she shot him an expectant look. Dirt and grime covered her hair and her clothes. Her face looked like Maeron’s punching bag, although the bruises had already changed from purple to yellow. Lingering pink burns from the fog painted her skin. Dried blood caked her arm and one of her legs, which was barely covered by her shredded jeans. But she had never been more beautiful. She was home. She was safe. She was
his
.

Her eyes travelled the length of his body, which was even filthier than hers, and flashed with a wicked gleam. “I feel dirty.”

She kicked off her boots, and gave her jeans a sharp tug. They met the floor in a crumple of denim. Her pink tank top followed suit. She turned to walk toward the bathroom door, unhooking her bra and dropping it. “Wanna help me wash my back?” she called over her shoulder as she disappeared. He heard the hiss of the shower a second later.

Still standing against the door, Gunnar grinned broadly. He couldn’t wait to join his Solsti, in every possible way. Once they were mated, he would never again have to wonder how she was feeling. He would be able to sense her emotions all the time and hear her thoughts if she was near. She would be able to do the same with him. And right now, he caught a faint, impatient echo from her mind.

He walked to the bathroom, divesting himself of his clothing as he went. Pulling back the curtain, he stepped in behind her. She leaned forward, her hands braced against the wall under the spray, head bowed, letting the water pound against her shoulders.

Ribbons of pink twined around the length of her legs.
Fuck
.

“I’m okay,” she said over her shoulder.

Had she realized that he hadn’t spoken out loud? He closed the small space between them and pulled her close, placing tender kisses down her neck and shoulder. “Mine,” he whispered, and sucked the mark on her neck.

She sighed and wriggled her hips, pushing her ass against his erection. He had been hard ever since she’d tenderly kissed his hand. And now, skin-to-skin with her, inhaling her scent, his cock throbbed in anticipation.

He grabbed the soap and washed her back, massaging her muscles through the billowing lather. Turning her, he inspected the cut on her arm. Only a thin red line remained.
Thank the gods
. He lowered his head to kiss it and she sighed contentedly.

“Can you wash my hair, too?” she murmured. “It feels so good when you do it.”

“Hell, yes.” He reached for the shampoo.

When she was thoroughly sudsy, he knelt to wash her long legs. He rubbed the soap in small circles from her ankles to her sexy ass. Kneeling in front of her, he gripped her hips and kissed the smooth skin of her belly. He moved his hands around to her backside and kneaded, sliding his fingers between her cheeks. She inhaled sharply and he rumbled his approval against her skin. He kissed her again, and this time he caught the unmistakable scent of her arousal mixed with the clean smell of soap.

He’d go to his knees before her any day, but she tugged at his shoulders, urging him up. He stood and crushed her to his chest, one hand at her waist and the other in her hair. Growling, he kissed her deep and rough.

She responded by nipping and sucking his lower lip. Fierce need ripped through him as he felt her passion on a new level. The sensation was curiously both new and familiar…then he recognized the ache of her lust rising along with his own.
My mate wants me
. He’d heard about this aspect of the mate bond.

Nicole rocked her body against him, moving her hands up along his neck and into his hair. She stopped abruptly, paused, and then he felt her smile against his mouth.

He pulled back slightly. “What?”

She slowly brought one hand down to eye level. Between her fingers was a black glob of demon goo. He grimaced. But she only grinned as she flicked it down to the drain. “Been there, done that. Looks like it’s your turn for a shampoo.”

He must have looked mortified, because she kept smiling. “I still think you’re totally hot. And I’ll wash demon guck out of your hair any day. Especially if it means we get to share a shower.”

I love this woman
. He bent his head so she could shampoo him. And was rewarded with the sight of her soft, round breasts moving in the most enticing way as she reached up and massaged his scalp. He watched as rivulets of water slid along her shoulders, across her collarbones, and down to the puckered tips of her pink nipples. He groaned, unable to resist, and traced one droplet’s path with his finger. She gasped as he rubbed her nipple with his thumb, then moaned as he repeated the process on her other side.

She shoved him under the spray. “You’re clean enough, demon.”

Chuckling, he turned around, quickly making sure anything else that may be considered a biohazard was rinsed from his body. He twisted the faucet to turn off the water, grabbed a blue bath towel, and began to dry her off. No longer in the mood to be pampered, she reached for a second towel to dry him. When he pressed the soft terry cloth to her breasts she made a most unfeminine sound of aggravation.

Yanking the towel from his hands, she threw her arms around his neck. “Now, Gunnar. I can’t wait.”

He’d wanted to take his time with her tonight, after the ordeal they had been through. But her urgent desire only stoked his need higher. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She nuzzled his neck as he walked them across the bedroom and lowered her down to his bed.
Our bed.

He knelt before her and caressed her hips, her abdomen, and the tops of her thighs. Impulsively he leaned down to swirl his tongue around her navel, and inhaled a fresh burst of her spicy-sweet scent.
Intoxicating
. His cock twitched.

She writhed under him and reached for his shoulders. “
Gunnar
. I need you inside me. Now.”

A growl escaped his throat and he positioned himself at her slick entrance. He nudged inside her heat, and she arched her hips up to take him in all the way. She caressed his shoulders and moved her hands to his back, dragging her nails down his skin. He hissed in pleasure, beginning a steady thrusting inside her.

She cupped his ass and pulled him even closer. “Harder.”

He grunted his approval and leaned back, tilting her hips up so that he could drive in deeper. Her breathy little moans made him crazy. Her body was so soft under him, so open, her need a beacon to the primal male in him. He would pleasure her every day for the rest of their long lives. He would be hers to command.

Her hands clutched the sheets and her breasts bounced as he slammed his hips against hers. An urgent sound escaped her lips as she gazed up at him. “I’m so close. Make me come, Gunnar.”

His balls tightened. He moved his thumb to his lips and moistened it, then trailed his hand down her body to her core. Finding her most sensitive spot, he circled her and applied a steady pressure. Her body bowed, and her shoulders came off the bed as the orgasm swept over her. She dug her fingers into his biceps, holding on for dear life.

His own release built at the base of his cock, and as her inner muscles squeezed him, he exploded inside her. Unable to stop, he pounded into her until his last drop was spent and he collapsed next to her on the bed.

He stared at her lying beside him. Her eyes were closed, lips parted, her breathing ragged. She was so beautiful, so sexy, so brave and determined.
Mine
. His heart swelled with adoration and joy, and the words spilled effortlessly from his mouth. “I love you.”

Her eyes snapped open and she propped herself up on her elbow. A huge smile lit her face. “And I love you,” she murmured, leaning down to kiss him. Her lips brushed along his, then moved to place tiny kisses along his jaw. “Tell me again.”

“I love you, Nicole.”

She beamed at him, then her expression sobered. “Gunnar...I know you’ll always want to protect me and keep me safe. I understand that it’s part of who you are. But...” A ghost of sadness flickered across her emerald eyes.

“You’re right. I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm you.” He stroked his hand down her arm. “But…what?”

Her eyes shone with steely resolve. “I spent my life feeling like I was the odd one out. And now I’ve discovered my true purpose, the reason behind my talent. I’m a Solsti, and I’m here for a reason. Gunnar, I won’t hesitate to fight if I’m needed. If I can tip the balance in our favor, or if I can help someone who’s weaker, I’ll do it. Can you...accept that? Can you accept that about me?” She looked so fragile at that moment, so unsure.

“I accept you, Nicole. All of you.” He took her hand in his. “Hell, your bravery is part of who you are. As much as my protective instincts are part of who I am. You’ve made me so proud over the last few days. Even though you nearly gave me a heart attack every damn time,” he added wryly. “But I love you. And I’m not letting you go. Just don’t go running into a battle if I—or our allies—have things under control.”

She lay back down on the bed, facing him. “I promise not to do anything crazy.” The love in her eyes melted his heart. She rubbed her thumb absently over the back of his hand. “I was afraid I had jumped the gun back in that basement today.”

He raised an eyebrow and she continued. “By telling you that I love you.”

Caressing her side, his hand stopped at her hip. “I had already realized that I felt the same. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

A playful smile curled across her face. “When did you know?”

“The other night, when I came home to find you sleeping in my bed. That’s when I realized you were my mate. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to live without you.”

A question flared in her green eyes. ”Are we mated now?”

I think so
, he answered silently.

She shot up in the bed. “What?”

He grinned broadly.
Oh yeah, we definitely are
.

A look of cautious wonder and surprise crossed her face. “What’s going on?”

He spoke the words aloud this time. “Mates can hear each other’s thoughts when they’re near.”

She opened her mouth and then closed it.
No way
.

Way
.

Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. “We’re…mated.” She stared down at him with the goofiest, most adorable grin he had ever seen.

“We can also sense each other’s emotions. We don’t have to be in close proximity for that.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Anything else?”