Brides of the Kindred(131)

Closing his eyes, he tried to push the false memory away but the real one which took its place was even worse. The hurt look in Olivia’s eyes when he’d turned her down, refused to bond with her. The distress in her voice when she’d begged him to take her. I hurt her. I should go to her—make it right. But he couldn’t. Even though he wanted her with every fiber of his being, he couldn’t let himself take her until he was certain she was ready. Not after she’d spent so long fighting and resisting him. And not after the AllFather’s seed of doubt had been planted deep in his head.

I’ll just hold her tonight, Baird told himself. He knew the scent of a willing female—the one female in the universe who was right for him and who was ripe and ready for bonding—would be a torment almost past endurance. But he had no choice. He had to give her a little more time to think—time to be sure—before he took that irrevocable step.

Sighing, he got out of the bathing pool and dried himself thoroughly. Putting on his black sleep pants, he headed for bed. It was going to be a difficult night but somehow he had to get through it. And if Olivia really still felt the same way tomorrow and wanted him to bond her—

His train of thought was cut off abruptly by what he saw when he opened the bedroom door.



Olivia looked up eagerly when the door opened and had the pleasure of seeing the stunned look on Baird’s face when he took in her outfit.

“Lilenta?” He looked at her uncertainly, desire and doubt warring in his amber eyes. “What in the seven hells do you think you’re wearing?”

“This?” Liv gestured down at her outfit. It consisted of a crimson see-through bra which clearly showed the hard points of her nipples through its open weave lace and a tiny black pleated skirt so short it barely deserved the name. It started low on her hips and ended at the tops of her thighs. When she shifted and the flirty pleats of the skirt flared up, a pair of red lace panties which matched her bra were revealed. It was absolutely the naughtiest thing Liv owned and she had never had the nerve to wear it before. But desperate times called for desperate measures and from the look on Baird’s face, he was rapidly becoming as desperate as she was.

“Yes, that.” Baird was positively glaring at her now. “What the hell is it?”

“Nightclothes.” Olivia smiled at him. “You told me to put something on, so I did. Why, don’t you like it?”

Baird ran a hand though his hair. “You know damn well I do. But can’t you wear something different? Where’s that long, ugly gown you were always wearing during our first week?”

“My granny gown? I’m afraid I lost it.” Liv raised an eyebrow. “Now are you coming to bed or not?”

With an unreadable look, he came around and sat on his side of the huge bed. Leaning back against the headboard, he continued to stare at her.

Liv blushed at his intense scrutiny but she was damned if she would back down now. Giving him a seductive little smile, she dropped to her hands and knees and crawled over to where he was sitting. But when she started to straddle his lap, Baird put a hand out to stop her.

“Wait a minute—what do you think you’re doing?”

“Nothing against the rules.” Liv looked at him innocently. “I just want to be close to you—isn’t that okay?”

Baird groaned as she settled herself firmly in his lap. “Damn it, this is hard enough as it is.”

“Something is certainly hard.” Grinning naughtily, Liv lowered herself until the lace crotch of her panties was rubbing against the rigid length of his cock. Baird groaned again but made no move to stop her as she pressed against him, letting him feel how hot and ready she was.

“Lilenta,” he whispered hoarsely. “Please…”

“Touch me.” Lifting his hands, Liv placed them on her breasts. “You can, you know,” she said when he seemed about to protest. “If we’re back to holding week rules you can touch me as long as you do it over my clothes. Like this—see?” Arching her back, she pressed her breasts into his hands, making sure he could feel her tight nipples rubbing against his palms.

“Gods…” Baird’s eyes were blazing now and he didn’t move his hands. But he didn’t make any move to touch her further, either. Liv would have been frustrated beyond belief by his lack of action if she hadn’t felt his cock throbbing against her pussy. He wants it—wants me. He just can’t admit it for some reason. Well she would damn well make him admit it then.

“You could even do more. Without breaking the rules, I mean,” she murmured. “For instance, if you wanted to kiss me…” Lifting his hand off her right breast, she raised herself up and pressed her tight peak against his lips. “You could suck me here—suck my nipples,” she told him. “And it wouldn’t really count because I still have my bra on so there’s still some clothing between us.” Never mind that the bra in question was whisper thin and the lace was so open it was practically fishnet. Technically, they were still following the rules.