“Let’s just hope there isn’t another emergency to distract us this time.”
She laughed and grabbed the bags out of the backseat. “Nothing will stop Ryker this time, the man’s way too focused. Now let’s get you dressed. I want you stunning for tonight.”
The sky turned pink and I knew we didn’t have much time. Ryker was nowhere to be found so we rushed up to my bedroom and I changed into my brand new dress. It was white, with crystals along the bodice. I wanted it to sparkle in the moonlight.
“You look amazing,” she gasped.
We walked down the stairs and with each step, my heart thumped harder and louder. Tyla went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine. “Trying to get me drunk on my bonding night?”
She giggled. “No, it’s to calm your sporadic nerves. I can hear your heart all the way over here.” She handed me the wine and I gulped it down.
“I’m not nervous, well, maybe just a little. I think it’s more excitement than anything. I don’t know what it’s going to be like once we complete the bond.”
“I wish I could tell you, but I don’t know either. I just know it’s the best feeling in the world. Maybe one day, I’ll know what it’s like too.”
“You will,” I promised.
The sound of Ryker’s truck could be heard coming down the drive and Tyla squealed, grinning from ear to ear. “He’s here. Good luck tonight! I’ll see you tomorrow and you can tell me all about it.” She started for the door and then stopped. “Well, maybe not everything. I don’t really want to know how you decide to do it.”
“Goodbye, Tyla.” I laughed, pushing her out the door. She said some words to Ryker when he got out of the truck and he laughed. When he looked at me, he froze, eyes glowing for a split second.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured, closing the distance. I thought he’d be in his ranger uniform, but instead, he was dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a white button down.
“You look handsome yourself. I thought you were at work?”
Grinning mischievously, he shook his head. “It’s a special night, Bailey. I wanted to make it perfect.”
“Oh yeah? How so?”
He held out his hand. “Come and find out.”
“Let me put my glass down and get my shoes. I’ll be right out.”
“You don’t need your shoes, angel. We’re taking the scenic route.” He nodded toward the woods and smiled.
I quickly put my glass in the sink and took a deep breath before walking back outside. Maybe I was nervous. I couldn’t stop from shivering . . . but in a good way. Taking his hand, we began our trek through the woods, the sky growing darker with each passing minute.
“How far are we going?” I asked.
He pointed to the clearing up ahead. “Just up to the lake.”
Once the lake appeared, I stopped to catch my breath. The moon had the most magnificent glow over the water, but that wasn’t all. “Ryker, it’s amazing.”
There was a blanket on the ground with candles all around, and a basket of food. It smelled heavenly. We both sat down and he picked up one of the flameless candles. “Kami got these for me. Using real candles out here wouldn’t have been the best decision.”
I laughed. “Smart thinking.”
“Are you hungry?” He opened the basket and pulled out the food, including a cooler with mint chocolate chip ice cream inside.
“It’s scary how well you know me.”
“We can hear each other’s thoughts, angel. I’m sure there are things you hear in my mind that you wish you couldn’t. I’m working on not butting in on your thoughts all the time.”
“I have nothing to hide. Besides, if I don’t want you to listen, I block you out. Easy enough.”
Chuckling, he passed me a plate full with a steak, potatoes, and asparagus. “Same here. You’d be scared to know what I think about every second of every day.”
“Enlighten me then.”
He pointed down to my food. “Why don’t you eat and then I’ll tell you all about it.” We both ate our plates of food and topped it all off with our favorite ice cream. Once everything was cleared away, we laid down on the blanket and looked up at the moon.
“Why would I be scared to know what you think about?” I whispered the words.
Turning on his side, he lifted up on his elbow and I did the same. He stared at me with those emerald eyes of his and I couldn’t help but get lost in the depths of them. “I think about you all the time. No matter what I’m doing or where I’m at, you’re always on my mind. I don’t know if it borders on the line of obsession, but I can’t help it. I love you, Bailey.”
“I love you too,” I murmured, leaning over him for a kiss. The time had come and I was more ready than ever. Slowly, I unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his smooth, hard chest. “Make love to me, Ryker.” I pulled the straps of my dress down and he finished, sliding it the rest of the way.
“You’re sure this is what you want? Once we do this, it can’t be undone.”
Nodding, I helped him out of his shirt and unbuttoned his pants. “I have never been so sure about anything in my entire life.” Lowering his pants to the ground, a satisfied growl rumbled in his chest. Keeping his gaze on mine, I watched how they shifted back and forth as he kissed his way up my body. “We’re not going to have any surprise visitors tonight are we?”
He flicked his tongue over my clit, making me jerk. My body tingled and I ached to feel more. His warm breath blew across it as he spoke, making the yearning worse. “They know to stay away. I don’t want to share this moment with anyone other than you.” He licked me again and I grabbed a handful of his hair and squeezed when he plunged his tongue inside.
“That feels so damn good,” I moaned.
“And you taste good too,” he said.
I was so close to losing control, but he stopped and chuckled as he licked a trail up to my breasts. “I see you want to torture me tonight. What do you think about this?” I reached down between his legs and wrapped my hand around his arousal, stroking his length. He sucked in a breath and pushed himself up and down inside my hand. The tip of his cock grew wet and I wiped it away with my thumb. Licking my lips, I brought it to my mouth and closed my eyes, moaning as I tasted him.
Groaning, he lowered his mouth to my breasts and sucked my nipple. “You’ll be the death of me, angel.” He grazed my skin with his teeth, but he didn’t bite.
“Why won’t you bite me?” I asked silently.
Looking into my eyes, he bent down and kissed me. “I don’t want us to be lost in a vision tonight. I need you right here with me.”
I nodded and wrapped my legs around his waist. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Are you ready for me?” he asked, reaching between my legs. Slipping a finger inside, he groaned with how wet I was.
I bit my lip and grinned. “Is that answer enough?”
He spread me wide and aligned himself at my opening. The moon glowed down, its magic swirling like invisible threads all around us. As soon as we completed the bond, those threads would be inside us, tethering us together; Ryker felt it too. Slowly, he pushed, until he was as deep as he could go. I gasped and squeezed my legs tighter around his waist, pushing him deeper. We moved together as one, our bodies and minds fully connected. The bond we already had opened up to a whole new level. Our power merged and whatever magic was in my body transferred to him and his to mine.
My insides tightened and I felt my release coming quick. Fisting his hands in my hair, Ryker grunted with his thrusts, his cock pulsating inside me. I cried out as I finally reached the edge and trembled from the best orgasm of my life. Ryker groaned and pounded his hips into mine as he chased his release, arms clutching me tight.
When he reached completion, I gasped as those magical threads bound us together. His soul was inside me and mine in his, unbreakable. Only death could break us apart. Leaning up on his elbows, Ryker leaned down and kissed me, our bodies still connected. “You’re mine now, angel.”