Scarred Protector(11)

“Yes.” He wondered if she would want to.

“Your friends are neat, but they don’t trust me. Which is okay, I don’t really get me anymore either. Everything has happened so fast, but I need to tell you something.” He nodded for her to continue. “I used to live a normal life like everyone else until five years ago. Well, maybe not completely normal, but I didn’t hide at home thinking I was going mad.”



“What happened?”

“I was driving home from university one day and had a car accident. I was going through a junction, and a guy ran a light and drove into me. He died. When I eventually came around in the hospital, I could see angels and demons when I touched people. It’s really hard not to stop people from touching you at all. If I stayed at home surrounded by my dad’s trinkets, they stayed at bay. He believed in voodoo. I hadn’t been out of the house for five years until that night at the hospital.”



A tear rolled down his cheek. Heath couldn’t remember the last time he had cried, even an imaginary time in his mind. Evie reached across and wiped the tear away. She was so close, and he didn’t normally let people get close. It led to pain.





             “Apart from Dad, no one has felt sad for me. Thank you.” She bent down and placed a light kiss on his cheek. It lasted a second and was probably nothing more than a friendly gesture, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her lips. That was until he looked into her eyes. He wanted to touch her.



“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You said you were studying . . . What was it?” He needed to change the subject or he would kiss her.

“Psychology.” She raised her eyes as if she had said something funny.

“You know all that will tell you is that our lives have been difficult.”

“So can we have peace here in your mind for a little while then?”

Heath turned on his side and looked at her. She was biting her lower lip as if hesitant about what would happen next. “I want to touch you, Evie, and perhaps find peace in someone’s arms for the first time in centuries. I hope I can offer the same.”

Evie smiled and took his hand in hers.

“Have you been with a man before?”

“Yes. A few guys at university, but no one who kept phoning when I disappeared off the grid. It’s nice that you ask though.”

Heath moved closer, and Evie let their bodies touch completely as they wrapped their arms about each other. He closed his eyes and heard her sigh as she rested her head on his shoulder. Heath knew she would die if he could not save her. She was not like Nicole, who Ridge had saved and converted. He was well-aware something was terribly wrong with Evie. He had sensed the entity within her and didn’t know how she was still sane. Was he sane anymore to be touching her like this, even in his mind?

They didn’t move. Their minds were connected, and he knew she was simply enjoying the closeness. He ran his hand up and down her back slowly, letting her adjust to having someone near. Eventually, she relaxed and wrapped her leg around his hip. His fingers traced each groove and curve and held her close. He could feel her breasts pressed against him and knew his hard cock pressed against her lower abdomen, but she didn’t move away. Their arms gripped around each other in desperation of need, and he knew it was going to be difficult to hold back.



             She turned her head so she was looking at him and moved forward so their lips touched. He lost himself in those lips. They were so soft, and yet he pressed back firmly as he encouraged her to open to him. He ran his tongue along her lower lip and gently nipped. She opened to him, and he found himself lost in her mouth’s interior. Their tongues teased each other as their bodies fought to get closer. She rolled onto her back and pulled him with her, so he was on top of her. He had forgotten how wonderful it felt to be so close and to feel the soft curves of a woman beneath him.

He wanted to explore her body. He trailed kisses down her neck to her breasts as he threw the bedclothes off them. She bowed her back and pushed her body up into him as he sucked on her nipple. Her breasts were beautiful and full, and he sucked on each nipple in turn until they were swollen from his touch. He moved his hand down between her legs and could feel the heat there against his palm as he inserted his finger into her core. Evie groaned as he joined her, feeling how wet she was for him.

“I want to taste you,” he said.

“Don’t talk, just do it.”

He trailed kisses down her abdomen to her thighs, where he nibbled as she opened her legs to him. In the candlelight, she lay there before him, beautiful, and he could not resist as he delved into her with his tongue. He moved to her clitoris, flicking his tongue and sucking until her body bucked beneath him. He moved his fingers back and forth inside her, feeling her body tensing for him.



             He had to be inside her, and moved up her body again so his cock pushed against her opening. The head of his dick was so sensitive and his balls so tight he thought he would explode before he was in her. She wrapped her legs around him and he pushed his whole length into her until she completely encased him in her heat. He kissed her hard on the mouth, their tongues fighting as their bodies pounded each other. The release, when it came, might only be in their heads, but it was as if their bodies had exploded as they ultimately joined together.

He lay there, wasted on her body, as they both breathed heavily and their bodies pulsed together. She ran her fingers up and down his back as he relaxed, and she said the words that undid his heart. A heart he had kept closed for a long time.



“Thank you for making me believe someone could or would want me like that again.”

He rolled off of her and gazed down at her face. She was beautiful. “You have honored me by trusting to give your body to me, even in my mind.”

“My mind has been a gloomy place for so long. I’d see such terrible things in my dreams where I’d kill people. This was beautiful.”

“I’ll keep the demons away from you, Evie. Sleep now.” Evie turned on her side, and he cuddled against her back. It was wonderful to lay with his arms wrapped around her, knowing for the first time in a long time he had made a woman happy. It was an addictive feeling and one he did not deserve. In the long run, he doubted he would be able to save her, and the fact gnawed away at him. Whatever darkness was upon her, it was clear it would not let them join completely, and it was preventing them from going to Pergor. Unlike Ridge in America, he had never tried to convert someone. Elizabeth had killed herself before he could. Even after such a short time, he already knew he would not hurt Evie by attempting such a thing.





             Evie’s breathing steadied as her body fitted against his. He would try to rest, for he had a feeling whatever was to come, the fight would be bad for both of them.





Chapter 6



Fighting the Bond



Evie stretched and yawned. When she opened her eyes, she found she was still fully dressed and lying on Heath’s bed. That had been one of the most vivid dreams she had ever had. She didn’t think she would be telling Heath about it in case he got the wrong idea. The bed was empty and her breath caught as the panic hit that he was gone. Sitting up, she glanced around the room. Suzie was sitting in a chair near the door.

“Finally, Sleeping Beauty wakes up. Don’t worry, he’s fine and being a pain as usual. Doesn’t trust anyone, including you, and is doing a reci of the house as we speak.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Twenty-four hours, though you both made a few noises on occasion that would suggest neither of you were sleeping soundly but sharing some saucy dreams.”

“What do you mean?” Evie could feel herself heat up as she blushed.

“Well, let’s say it was embarrassing being in the room with you two for a bit. Whatever was going on in your heads sounded like you were having a really good time, and, in all likelihood, without your clothes on.” Suzie laughed.

Evie couldn’t believe it. She was sure it had just been a dream, and not a shared one at that. She would go bright red the next time she saw Heath. He probably thought he had attached himself to a sex maniac.

Evie sat up on the edge of the bed. “But it was just a dream.”





             “As Midworlders, we can take your mind to another place. It’s almost like another reality. Trust me, it would have been real to both of you. You’re bonded, so your minds are linked. Look at it this way: the boss seems to like you, and he never takes to anyone. Look, follow me. He said to put you next door. There are some clothes there, and you can have a bath. When you’re done, I can take you downstairs so you can meet everyone.”

A bath had never sounded so wonderful before. She followed Suzie to the room down the corridor, and it was a beautiful, a more feminine version of the one they had left. Clothes were laid on the bed, and she could see the bathroom door was open. Running the water, she poured some bubble-bath in, stripped off her clothes, and sank into the water. Her whole body relaxed, and she sighed as she leaned back and closed her eyes. She rarely allowed herself such luxuries at home. That was a strange thought. Was this her home now? Would she be able to go back and get some of her stuff? Her laptop was there, and so were her clothes and family photos.