Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Ryker rubbed his head and Raine placed her hand on his arm.
“Are you still getting those headaches?” Brian asked, concerned.
“Yes. Lately they’ve been coming more frequently.” Ryker smiled over at Raine and placed his hand over hers. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.” He then turned and looked at Brian. “I understand everything. I’ll keep a close eye on Bella for you.”
“How have things been between you two? I see you’ve given Raine your mark.” Brian watched as a slight blush bloomed across Raine’s cheeks.
“Yes, and we did the acceptance kiss too. I don’t think I’m her father’s favorite person.” Ryker chuckled and winked at Raine. He was fairly certain he’d heard a growl from her father for a split second during the kiss.
“Daddy’s fine. He likes to act tough, but I think he’s relieved that I’ll be living here where he can watch over me.
My cousins Justice and Destiny moved away from Uncle Chasen and Aunty Jin already.
I guess they’re both missing their kids, and it had my dad worried.
” Raine interlaced her fingers with Ryker’s.
“I’d say my dad is very lucky that I found you.
I think he’s just worried you’ll leave if your memory comes back, and—”
“Raine, we talked about this. All of this.” Ryker glanced up at Brian and then smiled back at Raine.
“Whatever my life was before is irrelevant. This is my life now. I have promised upon my flame to stay with Brian and be his person. And—” He reached out and cupped her cheek.
“You are my fated mate. If there was someone out there who I was with—” He shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s only you, Raine.
No one else. It will always be you. I’m not going anywhere. And I will never leave you.
“I did talk to her about this before we decided … before I marked her.” Ryker looked back at Brian.
“We don’t know anything about my past. I don’t know if there is someone out there waiting for me.
It is a possibility. However, I told Raine that there is no turning back for me.
My life is here now, and with her.” He turned his head and smiled at Raine.
“I love you. I’m crazy about you … maybe even obsessively so.
” He chuckled and shrugged. “I’m bonded to you so deeply that I can’t ever be separated from you.
” He reached up and traced the mark on her neck.
“What if you marked a chosen mate before?” Raine sighed. “I guess sometimes I worry that, because I’m so happy, something bad is going to happen.”
Brian chuckled. “I think that’s because those are the stories you grew up hearing from all your relatives.
It’s okay to relax and be happy, Raine. You know, Ryker is right.
A mark on a fated mate won’t fade. And if he had claimed a chosen mate, that mark would have vanished the moment he placed one on you.
Our marks are meant to be permanent on our fated mates.
If a dragon has marked a fated mate and tries to mark a chosen mate, the mark wouldn’t stick on the chosen one.
A fated mark is more powerful. Besides, if Ryker did have someone out there, they haven’t come looking for him.
” He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
“I would never stop searching for Bella.”
“You think I’m silly for feeling a bit insecure?” Raine smiled.
“Yes. I’m never leaving you, Raine. I told you I would vow it upon my flame.”
Raine shook her head. “No, I don’t want that. I don’t want you to stay only because you can’t leave. I only want you with me if you want it as well. It’s important to me. No matter how devastated I would be. I don’t want you trapped—” Raine whispered.
“Raine …” Ryker frowned then heard a snort from Brian, and he turned to look at him.
“It would be better for him to be trapped to you, Raine. Because if he ever breaks your heart …” Brian’s blazing gaze met Ryker’s, the promise of fire burning in his eyes.
“If I ever hurt her, I’d want you to incinerate me.
” Ryker chuckled, then pulled Raine into his side.
He pressed his nose into her black, curly hair and inhaled her scent.
“You are my home, Raine. Because of you, my beast is calm. I have to be with you. I’m the one who’s worried …
that you will want to leave me. I just hope my past isn’t something that could tarnish you. ”
“Ryker, I don’t care about your past. I just want all of you, now and forever.” Raine leaned into him as his lips came crashing down on hers, their kiss desperate as their hands wandered over each other.
Brian cleared his throat loudly. “Um, this is my office. And since I can’t have a taste of my mate right now, I’m quite jealous.
” He chuckled and watched the shocked blushes on both of their faces.
They had forgotten about his presence at that moment, which made him even more jealous.
They were so into each other that no one else in the room existed.
He couldn’t wait until he could experience this with Bella too.
Ryker kept his focus on Raine’s lips as the two of them panted inches from each other’s mouths. It had been like this since they’d found out they were mates. He could barely control himself when it came to her. “If you don’t need anything else from me at the moment …”
“Go and get to a soundproof room.” Brian chuckled, shaking his head. Ryker lifted Raine into his arms, carried her out of the office bridal style, and disappeared.
Ryker cradled Raine against his chest as he gazed down at her. She blushed under his hungry gaze, but her eyes stayed locked on his.
“Will you promise me something?” Raine whispered as she lifted her fingers to trace over his lips. He gently kissed her fingers and nodded his head.
“I’ll promise you anything.” Ryker watched as her green eyes stayed glued to his.
“If you ever remember, no matter what it is … will you tell me about it? Even if you think I’ll be sad or hurt. Promise me you’ll tell me everything. That way I won’t feel like there’s a wall between us.”
He smiled softly. “I promise, Raine. No matter what, I will tell you. I don’t want there to be anything between us.
And that includes this annoying fabric on our bodies.
” Ryker nipped at her finger and pulled it into his mouth.
He could smell her arousal and let out a low growl.
“We need to get back to our room … now.”
Raine twisted herself in his arms so she could wrap her legs around his torso, her arms around his shoulders and her head at his neck. She ran her tongue over his nape and listened to his low, strangled growl as he began to practically run with her.
“Ryker,” Raine whispered as she began to nip and tease his sensitive skin. “I’m ready now.”
“What? Here in the hall?” Ryker asked, not understanding her. Well, if that’s what she really wants …
Her sweet giggle filled the air. “No!” she scolded playfully and nibbled at his ear. “I’m ready to mark you as my own.”
Ryker let out a stifled moan as his hands gripped her tightly. “Gods, Raine, that sounds hot as hell.”
“I was hesitant before. I felt the need to but couldn’t go through with it because …” Raine pulled back as he stopped running. She looked into his eyes as a faint smile spread over his lips. He nodded his head in understanding.
“You were afraid of marking me and me leaving you.” Ryker could see the guilt in her eyes.
“The idea terrifies me. I feel nauseous when I think you might have another mate out there somewhere. And the moment you remember, you’ll leave me for your past. That’s what held me back.
” Raine inhaled a deep breath. “I’m not going to hold back anymore.
I don’t want to regret later that I didn’t give you every part of me.
So—so that no matter what, I would have given my everything to us. ”
Ryker slid her down his chest and pushed her against the wall, his hand resting on her face.
He stroked her cheek with his thumb and gazed into her captivating green eyes.
“We don’t know if those memories will ever come back.
I don’t want you to feel like you’re competing with a ghost. I guess we both have some insecurities in this relationship.
I’m always worried I don’t deserve you, and that something from my past will make you discard me.
” He leaned his forehead into hers and closed his eyes.
“Raine,” he breathed out, opening his eyes to look into hers.
“Bind us together in every way possible. Let’s drop the insecurities and embrace each other for the rest of our lives.
Be my partner, my home, my rock, and take my heart.
You are the reason my flame burns and are the future mother of my children. ” Ryker kissed her nose lightly.
“Let me be the person you trust and depend on the most. I’ll keep your secrets and always be by your side.
I’ll be your shelter that welcomes you with loving arms. I’ll share your burdens and lighten your load.
I will love you unconditionally and will forever be your family.
I promise I won’t hold back anymore, and I’ll put my trust in us.
” Raine felt his soft, molten lava lips searing hers.
He moved against her passionately as they poured all their emotions into the kiss.
This kiss felt different from the ones before. It felt like they’d promised their souls to each other, and somehow it was more than being fated mates. This … was their promise and connection to each other as a couple. Not because of the mate pull. It was their bond to mend their gaps.
“I love you, Raine.” Ryker panted against her lips.
“I love you, Ryker.” Raine squeaked as he lifted her up again, placing her legs around his torso.
“I need you, Raine. In every way possible.”
“Hmmm, I wonder where I should mark you ... maybe I need to taste you all over to be sure,” Raine whispered and listened to the low growl of approval from Ryker.
“You can mark my whole body. I won’t complain.
” Ryker chuckled as he sprinted to their room.
He wasn’t sure why, but it felt like a burden was lifted from his shoulders.
For some reason, their promises to each other meant so much more than being fated mates.
Or maybe it was the combination of their words and their fated mate bond.
But he felt a weight lift off his chest, and for once, he didn’t think about his past, because that didn’t change who he was now.
He was Ryker, the dragon loyal to the Prince of the West. And the man who was irrevocably in love with Raine.