Page 8 of Wicked Bonds

“A fitting name,” Balthazar said after Leela commented that no one had ever named a child after her before. It was appropriate, not just for Leela but also for the man who’d saved the tiny child’s life while growing in her mother’s womb. “Aidan would be honored.”

“He would,” Issac agreed, emotion thickening his voice. “Thank you for honoring his memory.”

“We wouldn’t be here without him,” Lizzie replied softly. “It’s the best way for us to remember him. It’s also a strong name befitting our miracle. Our baby Aidyn.”

Another heavy silence fell, everyone relaxing now that the crisis had been averted.

All because of Leela and her seraphic ability to connect to the child’s soul.

Balthazar continued to hold her, thinking about her power, what it meant, and how she might have used it on him before. But in a sensual manner.A fertility Seraphim. His lips nearly curled.A pleasure indeed.One he would be exploring at length, just as soon as he had his answers.

If any of the others noticed that he stood with his arms around Leela, holding her captive, they didn’t comment. Instead, Issac and Stas left with smiles for Lizzie, Jayson, and their newest addition. Sethios and Caro soon followed suit, leaving Leela and Balthazar as the last two standing.

“Call if you need anything,” Leela said.

“We will,” Lizzie hummed, all her attention on the baby cradled in her arms. Whatever power exchange was happening between them appeared to be soul-deep and intangible.

Jay glanced up at Balthazar, gratitude showing in his features.Thank you.

Balthazar nodded. He would do anything for his best friend and his new family. Jayson knew that.

Leela attempted to move, but Balthazar didn’t allow it. He’d let her lead during the recovery, but now he’d asserted his position on top—a position they could negotiate once she provided him with the details he desired.

“We won’t be far,” he promised. “You know how to grab my attention.”

“Thanks for calming me down,” Jay said, surprising Balthazar.Don’t ever do it again, though.

Balthazar almost smiled but nodded again in understanding, not agreement. Because he refused to commit to such a promise, not when they had no idea what the future held in store for them.

He straightened and dropped his hold of Leela’s waist. He didn’t quite trust her not to mist away, so he grabbed her hand and tugged her from the room.

The moment they reached the hallway, she considered misting, just as he’d expected her to.

He told her with his eyes that he wouldn’t recommend it before dragging her down the hall to a room with an open balcony at the back.

It’ll do, he decided, shutting the door and ignoring the blue-silk bed at the center of the large open space. Instead, he led her to the bathroom and took in the giant marble shower.Yes, it’ll do indeed.

“Strip,” he told her, deciding to get straight to the point.

“You can’t intimidate me,” she told him softly as she followed his command to the letter. No hesitation. No concern. Just a confident, beautiful woman ripping off her bloody clothes as though they burned her skin.

“I don’t want to intimidate you. I want to take care of you and demonstrate my gratitude for what you’ve done for my best friend. Then I’m going to consider fucking you. And after that, we’re going to talk. Unless you want Vera to alter my mind again?” It was voiced as a taunt, a way of confirming he knew everything.

Which he didn’t.

But he wanted her to believe that he did so she’d be more likely to think and speak freely around him.

She stared at him. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“I know you don’t, but I’m going to do it anyway.” Because she’d earned his brand of comfort after everything she’d just done for his friends. He also suspected she was long overdue for some pampering, given that she’d been shot in the head shortly before helping Lizzie give birth.

“And there’s no considering anything when it comes to fucking me,” she added, ignoring his reply. “If I want to fuck, we’ll fuck.”

His lips curled. “I can make you beg.”

“You can try.”

“Oh, Leela,” he said, stepping into her personal space and kicking her bloody clothes aside. “I’m going to make you crawl, baby.” It would make for a nice apology after taking his memories away.