Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Take that, you sick fuck.” Then Wilder pulled his hand free, his father’s heart clenched in his hand and he dropped it into the dirt like it was nothing.
Admiration and pride flowed through me as I watched Wilder defeat his father. He stood there, watching the last bit of life fade from the man who’d haunted him all his life, the wind whipping in his hair and his face as hard as stone.
He was magnificent.
Then the tether pulled back as Wilder called his magic back into his body and I finally let myself go. The fight left my body, and I surrendered to the softness of the grass beneath me.
This was better. Lying down was definitely better.
“Byron!” Wilder’s panicked cry kept me from drifting unconscious.
His face hovered above me and his eyes were bright and full of tears.
I cupped his face. “You don’t have to cry for me. I’m not dead yet. Or I think I might have died and somehow come back. I don’t know. It’s all a bit hazy.”
“You idiot,” he huffed as he wiped his nose on his sleeve and sobbed. “What did I tell you about getting stabbed in the heart?”
“Pretty sure you told me not to get shot, actually.”
“Same thing,” he said as he placed his hand on my chest. Warmth spread beneath his fingers and I felt the wound starting to knit back together.
When he pulled his hand back, it wasn’t completely healed, but it was close enough. I wasn’t in any danger of dying at least. I was, however, very much in danger of blacking out. All the exertion and the blood loss had done a number on me.
Wilder pressed a kiss against my lips and when he tried to pull away, I hauled him closer. I didn’t want to let him go, not when I’d just almost lost him.
“Stay with me,” I said as the world started to fade.
“Always,” he replied, and I drifted off knowing that I was safe with him.
I awoke in my bed at my apartment, the sun fading from the sky and Wilder watching me with curious eyes. He was lying on top of me, his chin resting on his folded hands and a sappy grin curling his lips.
“Well, this makes for an interesting change. It’s usually me watching you.”
He smiled wide and free. “I’m just glad you’re here. I had to bargain for your life, you know.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You did? With who?”
“With Death. Adela was right. He was a bit of an ass, but he did get me out of my deal with Terence.”
“That’s good.” I’d never been a fan of that deal, even though I’d understood the motivation behind it. “How do you feel about your father now?”
He pursed his lips. “I don’t really feel anything yet. I’m sure it will hit me at some point. I killed him. I actually killed him and I don’t think I feel anything other than relief. He can’t get me anymore.”
I brushed his wild curls away from his forehead, tucking them behind his ears. “That’s okay. All your feelings are genuine and valid, Wilder, and it doesn’t matter what you feel, good or bad. I’ll be here for all of it.”
He pressed a kiss against my lips. “Thank you. I love you.”
“I know. I love you too, baby.” I kissed him again, just because I could, and it soon turned filthy. As it always did. I was insatiable when it came to him. I’d never get enough. “Want to get married?”
He blinked at me then laughed. “I beg your pardon? Aren’t you the one who thinks it’s just a bit of paper?”
“Yes, but I can sense how much you want it. You want a ring on your finger, and you want to see one on mine. I like that you’re possessive over it and that makes me want to do it.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
I traced a finger over the curve of his cheek, basking in the warm glow of his gaze. “Yeah, but you love me anyway. So, how about it?”
“Mr Blake, are you calling that a proposal?”
I rolled out from the bed and dropped to one knee. Then, just because I could, I grabbed his ankle and pulled him to the edge of the bed so I could settle between his thighs. “Wilder Rowan, will you marry me?”
He cupped my jaw in his hands and pressed a soft kiss against my lips. “Absolutely.”
“Good, because I think we’re stuck together for life, anyway.”
“Huh?” he said, his eyes a little dazed.
“We were inevitable.” I trailed the rings marking his forearms. The only difference was he had three on each arm, whereas I only had one. “I’m curious why you have three Souls Bounds, but I only have one.”
He looked down at the shimmering violet rings and frowned. “No idea. Guess we will have to figure it out together.”
“That we will. Now, come with me. I want to show you something.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards one of the spare bedrooms.
“Where are you taking me?” he asked, his tone light and laughter easy.
“It’s still your birthday, and I got you a present.”
“Byron,” he groaned. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but I wanted to.” I turned to him and gave him a quick kiss. “Now, close your eyes.”
He cocked a brow. “The last time you got me a gift, I thought it was a body part.”
I snorted. “It’s definitely not an appendage, and I hope you’ll like it.”
A sliver of excitement filtered through the tether, and I knew I had him. “Close your eyes, baby. Trust me.”
“Fine,” he huffed and did as he was told.
I pushed the door open and guided him into the middle of the room. Then I placed my hands on his boxer-clad hips. “Wait here and keep your eyes closed.”
I grabbed the delicate collar I’d ordered days ago and placed it around his neck. My dick hardened in my pants at the sound of the click securing it in place. It was a simple silver band with a lock at the back that only I had the key to.
Fuck, I needed to see it. I needed to see the way it sat beneath that tattoo on his throat.
I walked in front of him and the pure sense of contentment radiating off him and pulsing through the tether, made my dick leak. “Open your eyes, baby.”
They focussed on me for a moment, before snapping to the shelves behind me. “Is that…?”
There were rows and rows of CDs and vinyl discs. Every single one that he’d had in his house had been carefully catalogued and replaced.
“Happy birthday, Wilder.”
“You asshole,” he cried, tears of joy filling his eyes. “You did all this? For me?”
I nodded, overwhelmed by the sensations I could feel flooding the tether. I stepped behind him, tucking my chin onto his shoulder as he took in his collection. I traced the collar around his neck, loving the way his eyes fluttered beneath my touch.
“Do you like this?” I asked as my fingers tugged the small silver band around his neck. “I know it’s not an engagement ring, but I think this is more ‘us’.”
“I love it.” He turned around in my arms, his pupils dilating and his cock tenting his boxers. “Ask me to run.”
I dragged my thumb across his bottom lip before taking a slow step backwards. “Run, baby.”
“I’ll fight back,” he warned, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Oh, I fucking hope so. Ten, nine…”
He turned on his heel and darted out the door. I didn’t even bother counting to ten. I didn’t think I ever would. I’d always be too desperate for him. Too desperate and too hungry.
He was mine, and now, he always would be.