Chapter Thirteen #2
But I did think he wanted to be here. He let himself be chained to my bed and when I’d given him the option to uncuff him, he hadn’t wanted me to.
What if I asked him to stay, and he refused?
What would happen to me then?
“I take it from your lack of response that you haven’t asked Wilder what he wants. Just be careful with him. I do think he’ll be good for you, Byron. I just hope we’re enough to make him want to stay.” Then he hung up, leaving me with a myriad of thoughts.
Bishop was right. The reality was, that I came as part of a matching pair. Being with me meant being somewhat with Bishop, too. Did Wilder know that? Did he care?
Did he even want that?
It wasn’t long before Wilder stirred, shaking off his morning nap. I could tell the moment he realised where he was. His whole body flinched and stiffened.
“Hello again,” I said as he looked up at me, his eyes back to their normal brilliant purple.
“I haven’t forgiven you,” he said as he narrowed his eyes at me.
“I know, baby.”
He huffed a disgruntled breath and snuggled deeper into my embrace.
I smiled down at the top of his head. He might not want to look at me, but he didn’t want to be away from me. I was going to take that as a small victory.
“We need to talk about your father,” I said as I stroked my fingers up and down his arm.
“Do we have to?”
“Mm-hmm,” I replied. “He’s up to something and I don’t like how close he’s been to you.”
Wilder’s hand traced the bandage on my shoulder. “What happened here?”
“Vamp attack and don’t change the subject.”
“Fine,” he huffed as he untangled himself from me and sat up.
I pouted as he moved away but I didn’t pull him back. He needed to feel like he had some control, even if it was an illusion.
He wasn’t going anywhere without me ever again.
“I think your father is involved with the people who were holding the wendigo and he’s tried to get into your house,” I said as I sat up next to him. I reached into the bedside table and pulled out a couple of bottles of water, chucking one over to Wilder.
He cracked it open and gulped half of it down. I watched his Adam’s apple bob has he swallowed and wondered what his throat would look like when I fucked it.
“What would he want with a wendigo?” Wilder asked as he swiped away a rogue droplet of water with his thumb. Could this man be any sexier?
I’d had the same thought about the wendigo myself. What would anyone want with a wendigo? “To clean up a particular mess? For power maybe?”
“Possibly,” Wilder mused as he ran a hand through his hair. “They’re as rare as Shadow Witches.”
“Have you figured out how you feel about that yet?”
“Nope. I’m not sure what to make of it. Guess we will all know more next week when I turn twenty-five.” He gnawed on his bottom lip and stared out at the space in front of him but not really seeing anything.
I cupped his chin and turned his eyes towards mine. “You do know I will protect you with everything I have, don’t you?”
He frowned so hard two little lines appeared between his brows. “Why?”
“Why what?” I asked as my thumb swept back and forth across his bottom lip. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from touching him.
“Why do you want to protect me?” His violet eyes were big and wide and full of innocence.
I knew Wilder wasn’t innocent. He was far from it, actually, and often a mischievous little shit, but there was something about the way he was looking at me, all doe-eyed, that had me wanting to ask him to run.
“Because something inside me decided you are mine.”
“That simple, huh?”
I nodded and brushed an errant lock of hair away from his forehead. He was pretty like this. Mussed up from sleep. Relaxed. “It is for me. Psychopath, remember?”
“Oh, I remember.” He pointed to the tattoo on his neck. “You branded me.”
A possessive spike drove through my core at the word ‘branded.’ “The bruises and bite marks will fade but that won’t. I wanted something permanent to show the world that you belong to me.”
He looked skyward, and an exasperated sigh burst through his lips. “Whatever happened to a traditional engagement ring?”
I grabbed his chin and pulled his eyes back to mine. “Is that what you want? I’ll go and get one now.”
I didn’t care if it was Christmas. I’d get one if that’s what he wanted.
“What? No!” He batted my hand away. “I was just trying to rationalise whatever this is.”
I chuckled. “That’s going to be impossible.
There’s nothing rational here, baby. I want you because there’s a vulnerability in you that calls to the hunter in me.
I want you to run so I can chase you down and claim you, even though, no matter how far you run, I will always find you.
I want you to always bear the marks of our fucking because knowing that you submitted to me, that you let me do what I want to you because you’ve literally put your life in my hands, feels like a gift, Wilder. ”
He blinked at me as his whole body flushed and his pupils dilated. “That’s… nice?”
I smiled down at him and cupped his jaw, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. “I’m not nice, Wilder. The only reason we aren’t on my private island is because it’s Christmas and Bishop gave my pilot some time off.”
A soft sigh brushed against my lips before Wilder pulled back. “Wait. Private island? That’s real?”
I reached forward and scraped my teeth along his jawline revelling in the way he shuddered deliciously. I’d never get enough of the way he reacted to me. “Mm-hmm. I bought it a few years ago and I’m going to take you there to keep you away from your father.”
He pressed his hand against my lips and pushed me away. “I’m not running from this, Byron.”
I growled low in my throat and nipped at the end of his fingers. “It’s not running if I’m keeping you safe, Wilder.”
His eyes grew fierce as he stared at me. “You can’t just lock me away, Byron.”
“I can if it’ll keep you away from anything that wants to hurt you,” I rumbled.
He snorted. “Byron, I’m pretty sure you want to hurt me.”
“Only in a way you’ll enjoy,” I said sulkily.
Wilder’s mouth quirked up in a smile. “That’s kind of sweet.”
I cupped his face and stared deep into his eyes. “I’m fairly certain it’s actually abusive behaviour but yeah, we’ll go with ‘sweet’.”
Wilder went quiet for a moment and dropped his gaze to the bed. I wanted to ask what it was, but something held me back. I didn’t want to force him to tell me. I wanted him to trust me enough to tell me whatever was on his mind.
When he looked at me again, there was a wariness about his mouth and concern darkening his eyes. “Have you ever heard of the Memory Wraith?”
“Yes,” I said slowly. “Bit of a weirdo and likes to keep to himself.”
“I, um, have his business card. A friend of mine gave it to me and—”
“What?” I hissed. The guy was crazy, which was a lot coming from me. “Why would you even think about contacting him?”
“I want my memories back, Byron and I thought you, of all people, would help me do that.”
“Just because I’m a psychopath, doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” I muttered. “The Memory Wraith is a powerful asshole who abuses his customers.”
Wilder folded his arms across his bare chest. “So, I’ve heard.”
There was a bite to his words and a determination in his eyes. Wilder was going to do this whether I helped him or not. At least with me there, he stood a better chance of surviving. “Fine, but we do it my way.”
“Fine,” he huffed like a petulant teen. “But we’re doing it tomorrow.”
“If that’s what you want.”
He lifted his chin. “It is.”
“You’re so cute when you’re pouty.”
Wilder’s eyes narrowed to two aggressive slits. “Keep talking like that and I might punch you in the face.”
I closed the distance between us, loving the way he swallowed and leaned back slightly, a flush blooming across his pale skin.
It was like he couldn’t help the adrenaline rush that burst to life with in him every time I was near.
“You can try to punch me in the face, but I’ll retaliate by making you run.
And then I’ll fuck you where I find you. ”
He sucked in a short breath. “I’ll fight back.”
Music to my fucking ears. “I hope you always fight back, baby.”
It seemed like Wilder was coming around to the idea of ‘us’ which excited me in a way I’d never really felt before.
“Now come on, let’s get some food. You’re going to need it for what I plan to do to you this afternoon.” I hopped out of bed and into the bathroom. This was definitely the best Christmas ever.