Chapter 4

Liv and Kyle had left, and Tori never felt so alone. True, she had asked them to go, but that’s only because she didn’t want them to see her like this. Wearing only Bryce’s white button-down shirt and her underwear, she pinned her hair up in a messy bun as blood-stained tears began trickling slowly down her cheeks. She sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed Bryce’s ring which hung from a chain around her neck. It was the ring he had given her the night she became a vampire, and she had never taken it off since.

After they had hunted, Tori just wanted to get home. She had hoped that Bryce would be there, waiting. Instead, she found an empty bar and an even emptier bedroom. Something felt wrong. But she couldn’t put her finger on it. This was more than the inevitable doom that the Council had placed upon them. This was distance between her and Bryce, and it was a feeling she was eager to dispose of. He was her heartbeat, and without him she felt empty inside. She feared he was regretting ever changing her. After all, if he had just drained her that night when she fell to her death there would be no problems in his life. The Council would have left him alone. Without the Council on his heels, and the threat of werewolves, there would be no need for Derek to reveal the secrets of The Blood Clan. There wouldn’t even be a need for Erin to step forward as the slayer. Sure, he would be in the dark, and Erin and Derek would be living a lie, but Bryce would be safe.

Safe.

It would have been safe to marry Jonathan. It would have been safe to have just swallowed her desires and surrendered to a routine life. True, she jumped. But when she jumped, she got more than she bargained for. Her encounter with Bryce was like something from a dream. He was beautiful, sexy, mysterious, and she was drawn to him. Drawn to the darkness. She craved it. It was a part of her, she just never knew it. He awakened her, drew forth her power and unveiled the beauty of the night. She would face ten High Councils to be with him. She did not fear Averill or her wrath. All she feared was immortality without Bryce. It was a world she wasn’t prepared to face.

Then, her world returned.

The door unlocked and Bryce entered, looking somewhat like his cheery self, but that soon shattered when he saw the tears rolling down his mate’s cheeks. His face became transfixed in worry, and it felt as though without moving he was at his knees before her. “Whit’s wrong, lass?” He asked. His voice carrying the weight of their heartache.

“I was worried you wouldn’t come back,” Tori said, although her words seemed silly now as he knelt before her.

Bryce looked at her thoughtfully. “I’m here.”

“I just have this crazy feeling… I can’t explain it.”

“Ye dinna have to.” Bryce placed his fists on the bed and pushed himself up so he was level with her. His green eyes met her gaze and seemed to devour her, reminding Tori that she was his. Then cautiously, Bryce leaned in and caught the fresh tear that had fallen down her cheek on his tongue. He lapped at her pain like an animal licking at its mate’s wounds. Taking a fistful of her hair he brought his mouth to her ear and said, “No more tears, lass. Nae tonight.”

“The night is nearly over,” Tori said, breathless from the intimacy already unfolding between them.

“Nae yet. There’s time for us still.” He slipped his hands under her thighs and lifted her onto the center of the bed. Pulling off his shirt, he tossed it across the room and then swept his lips over her, ever so delicately. Bryce wasn’t usually this gentle and Tori realized he was making a memory. Something to carry with them to London. Something to remember what was worth fighting for.

Slipping his tongue into her mouth she tasted the trace of her own blood mixed with scotch—the good kind. His hands traveled over her body, strong but tender, as he explored her skin. His fingers unfastened the buttons of the shirt she had borrowed, and he peeled it open, revealing her bare breasts. He leaned against her so they were skin to skin. The sensation made her quiver.

She wanted him. She wanted to lose herself in all that he was, all that he made her, so curling a leg around his waist, she extended her fangs and pierced his neck. The blood filled her mouth making her high on their love. Wrapping one arm around his back she pulled him closer so she could drink more. She wanted her fill. With her free hand, she slipped it between his legs. Bryce groaned as she ran her fingers over his thick hard shaft that was trapped beneath his jeans. She only teased him for a few strokes before she freed him from his belt and zipper. Bryce slipped his pants down over his rock-hard ass and then tore her panties in two. Tori, alive from the familiar sound of hearing the fabric rip started lapping at Bryce’s wound, feeling the skin close up beneath her tongue.

She was prepared for him to enter her, but he didn’t.

Instead, he drew himself up to his knees and flipped her over so she was on all fours. Slightly startled, Tori felt him slide his hands over her round ass, then her small waist and finally around to her breasts. And that’s how he lifted her against him, his hands pressed against her breasts as he brought her back up against his chest. Lifting her slightly, he entered her then, biting her neck as he did, drinking from her. With one hand on her breast, the other wandered down between her legs finding her bundle of nerves as he thrust himself inside her.

With every thrust her muscles tightened around his shaft beckoning him to continue. Her arms wound around his neck, drawing him in, inviting him to drink. She would give him all that she had if she could. The tension began to build inside her, and she was grateful that Bryce had his strong arms wrapped around her body. He pulled his mouth away from her neck and breathed into her ear heavily as he said the words while he continued to thrust himself inside her, “I am yers. Forever.”

Tori let out a small cry as her body erupted in orgasm. He was hers. Forever. Bryce licked her wound lightly with the tip of his cool tongue. The sensations caused her to ripple with the last effects of what he had done to her. She turned her head up to meet her maker, his hair damp from sweat. Bryce barely ever sweated when they made love, and she took it as a compliment.

“I love you.”

“And I ye.”

The couple laid down on the bed as the sun outside kissed the earth with its rays, welcoming the day while the moon said its goodbye to the night. Tori’s eyes were heavy but in a strange way, Bryce had given her peace. Things would be all right. She knew now, as long as they were together they could win this war. Together they could face whatever Averill had planned for them.