Page 54

Let Me Take Care of You

“ T o Ryker and Brynleigh Waterborn!” Nikhail’s voice boomed through the ballroom. He raised his glass, leading the attendees in a toast. “May the gods continue to shower their blessings upon them in this life and the next!”

“May the gods bless them,” chorused the hundred guests, the words rippling around the room.

“Congratulations, old friend. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Nikhail tipped back his glass, the sparkling white wine cool as it ran down his throat.

Ryker lifted his glass in salute, his suit jacket on the back of his chair, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his new tattoo. The gods’ blessing on their soul bond had manifested as intricate swirls and whorls that marked Ryker’s right hand and wrist and Brynleigh’s left one.

The bonding ceremony had ended several hours ago.

After the shadows lifted, revealing the new bond markings, Tertia had stood and performed the traditional bonding reading from the “Hymn of the Gods.” Ancient Fae had rolled off her tongue, but even if she’d been speaking in the Common Tongue, Nikhail wouldn’t have paid attention to a single word she’d said.

No, the moment Ryker and Brynleigh held up their arms, revealing their new bond markings, Nikhail had gone back to staring at River. He couldn’t help himself—he was drawn to her like the tide was drawn to the shore. Nothing would keep him from her.

Sitting at the next table over, River had been picking at her food over the course of the meal. For the gods’ sake, she’d had two glasses of wine, but she’d barely eaten ten bites.

If she wasn’t hungry, or she regularly had a small appetite, that would’ve been one thing, but Nikhail knew that wasn’t the case.

He’d been at plenty of game nights where River ate plates of greasy food, watching whatever game was on that night.

She had a healthy appetite, which meant that this was all Tertia’s fault.

The Representative had wasted no time in picking up her vile behavior from the night before. Every time she’d leaned in close, her mouth moving with awful words that Nikhail couldn’t hear, River had wilted a bit more in her seat.

Having to watch his water fae suffer was like ingesting slow-acting poison, but thank all the gods, dinner was finally over. Atlas was standing, giving a toast about how he’d known Ryker and Brynleigh had a soul-deep connection from the moment he met the vampire.

The earth fae was an eloquent speaker, and he had the assembled crowd laughing several times. Nikhail half-listened, raising his glass of wine at the right moments and toasting the bonded couple along with everyone else.

And then finally—fucking finally —the orchestra began playing.

The ceremony had been lovely, but Nikhail was itching to have River in his arms again.

It delighted him to no end that she’d put his necklace back on, that she was still marked by him even if no one else knew he was the one who’d given it to her.

The reception was taking place in the same ballroom as the Winter Solstice party, although it looked completely different. Night had fallen, the windows were uncovered, and hundreds of roses were spread throughout the space. A mix of black and red, they were equally elegant and dark.

Nikhail had already sent a selfie to his family, to which his mother had appropriately gushed over the beautiful decorations, and Laurie had predictably gotten angry about the Waterborns’ extravagant show of wealth.

Now that it was socially acceptable, he drained his wine and stood. He stopped by Ryker and Brynleigh’s table, hugging the newly bonded pair and passing on his well-wishes before making his way over to River.

She was staring gloomily at the slice of chocolate cake on her plate, which had a single bite taken out of it.

Anger bubbled hotter in Nikhail’s veins. It took everything within him not to snap at the Representative, who was ignoring her daughter in favor of having a conversation with a prim-looking fae woman.

Gods above, he hated Tertia Waterborn. Who in their right mind would ever ignore River? Well, it was working out in his favor tonight. Holding out his hand, he bent his upper half in a bow.

“Would you care to dance, River?”

She looked up at him, her lovely brown eyes wide. The sadness in them sent lava racing through his veins. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to snap at the Representative who cared so little about her daughter that she didn’t even notice she was unhappy.

“Thank you, Nik. I’d love to.” River slid her hand into his, and something deep within him relaxed. Touching her was a soothing balm to an ache he hadn’t known existed, and he never wanted to let her go.

He led her away from the table and onto the dance floor, where other couples were already swaying to the music. Sliding his hand around her back, he held her as close as he dared in public.

“You look beautiful tonight, River,” he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair that had fallen into her face. “I missed you last night.”

Sleeping alone had been torture when all he wanted was to have her with him. They spun, reaching the other end of the dance floor, and she sucked in a breath.

“I missed you, too.” Her voice was hushed, but he heard her words as if she’d shouted them. Flames licked his insides, and he held her close, propriety be damned.

He couldn’t wait until everyone knew she was his. Gods, how did he get so fucking lucky? This beautiful woman could have anyone, but she’d chosen him .

“Why are you smiling?” River asked softly, stepping even closer to him. Barely any room remained between them.

His smile stretched. “I’m just thinking about you, little storm.”

“Me?”

“Mm-hmm.” He pressed his palm more firmly on her back, dipping his head and whispering in her ear. “Would you like to get out of here and have some real food? I noticed that you didn’t have the chance to eat much.”

That Tertia had stopped her from eating .

River drew back, her question-filled eyes searching his.

“We don’t have to do anything,” he assured her. He had never forced himself on a woman, and he certainly wouldn’t start now. “I just want to see you fed properly. That’s it.”

His inner fae yearned to provide for River, especially after watching her pick at her food two nights in a row.

She drew her bottom lip through her teeth, her gaze darting over to Ryker’s table before coming back to his.

“They won’t even notice we’ve left,” Nikhail assured her. “There’s an entire ballroom of people waiting to speak with them and wish them well.”

It was customary for the newly bonded pair to receive guests before they retired for a week to celebrate and explore the bond. The fae tradition was as old as the soul bond itself, and the couple would be occupied for hours.

River’s breath hitched, and indecision flickered across her face. “I?—”

“Please, princess,” Nikhail murmured. “Let me take care of you.”

A long moment passed when he was unsure whether she would agree, before she relaxed against him, blowing out a long breath.

“Okay,” she said. “Let me talk to Ryker and check on my dad. I’ll meet you outside in half an hour.”

He grinned, feeling like he’d just won the lottery. “It’s a date.”

Thirty-seven minutes later, the front doors of Waterborn House opened.

Nikhail grinned from where he was leaning against the stone dragon standing guard at the base of the stairs, pushing off as River slipped outside.

She wore a wool coat over her dress, and a knitted red scarf was wrapped around her neck, keeping her warm.

“Hey, princess.” He met her at the base of the stairs, taking her hand and pulling her towards him.

The driveway had been shoveled, and he kept to the prepared path so her feet wouldn’t get cold.

They left the bright lights at the entrance behind, stepping into the shadows.

“I called for a rideshare; they’ll be here in a few minutes. ”

The moment they were away from potential prying eyes, Nikhail released River’s hand. He palmed the back of her neck, drawing her towards him.

“How are you doing?” he asked, eyes searching hers.

She smiled softly. “I’m… okay.” She leaned in closer to him, her shoulders loosening. “The fresh air is helping. It’s good to be away from my mother, you know?”

“Makes sense. She’s horrendous.”

River laughed, and gods, the sound was everything. It was a brilliant sunrise, a first flower in the spring, a warm fire on a cold winter’s night.

He bent, capturing her lips because he couldn’t help himself. A groan slipped from him as her warm lips welcomed his embrace. Her soft mouth, contrasted with the cool metal of her lip ring, felt amazing.

Had a mere day passed since their last embrace? It felt as though years had gone by since he’d last felt her mouth on his.

Nikhail had intended for this to be brief, but that was before River’s fists rose and gripped the edges of his jacket. She moaned into his mouth, pulling him closer.

He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, and she opened for him. Their mouths merged, their tongues tangled, and everything else faded. Nothing else came close to the way this stunning woman made him feel. The way she felt against him, the way she tasted, the sounds she made…

“I’m getting addicted to the way you taste, River,” he groaned, nipping at her lips.

Her grip tightened on his jacket, and she sighed against his mouth. “I could say the same.”

Nikhail drew her deeper into the shadows and fused his mouth to hers once again. He lost track of time as they kissed beneath the cover of darkness, only breaking apart when the wind carried whispers of crunching gravel to his ears.

“I meant what I said earlier, River.” Nikhail brushed his lips over the crown of River’s head. “I just want to take care of you. That’s all.”

There would be many other nights for them to do more than just be together, and he didn’t want to pressure her. Being around her mother was stressful for him—he couldn’t imagine how it made her feel.

Those beautiful brown eyes swept over his, and she smiled. “I know, Nikhail.” She leaned against him and sighed happily. “That’s how I know I’ll always be safe with you.”

Their ride arrived, and Nikhail drew his water fae out of the shadows. He helped her inside before following and closing the door behind them.

Greeting the driver, a werewolf with eyes that glowed like orange embers in the night, Nikhail made sure he had the hotel address before turning to River.

He reached around her, checking her seat belt before claiming the middle seat beside her.

His heart soared when she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Little by little, tension seeped from her shoulders. By the time they got on the highway, she’d fallen asleep.

Nikhail pulled out his phone and took care of a few things, trying not to move so he didn’t wake her. Gods, she must’ve been exhausted.

When the car had parked in front of the hotel, River was still asleep. Unbuckling his seat belt, then hers, Nikhail fished his room key out of his pocket before picking her up as gently as he could manage.

Seeing what he was about, the driver rounded the car and opened the door for him.

Nikhail dipped his head in thanks as he lifted River from the car, carrying her bridal-style into the hotel.

It wasn’t until he was standing in front of his room, the door beeping as it unlocked, that she stirred in his arms.