Page 98 of Shadow Bound

“I love that you never looked at me like I was the monster they made me think I was. I love that you were patient with me even when I didn’t make it easy. I love that you defended and protected me from your family, even though it was a hard thing to do. I love, though I’m still a little mad, that you chained me to a tree and forced me to bite you. I never would have done it on my own, so thank you for fighting for us when I was too afraid. I love…” I pause trying to think of something else, but all I come up with is, “I just love you.”

The words are barely uttered from my lips before he’s turning us, in a second I find myself under him, his mouth hovering just centimeters away from mine. “Say it again,” he rasps, his eyes shining with emotion.

“I love you,” I whisper back.

“Fuck,” Ransom curses. “Besides hearing you scream my name as you come, those words are my favorite things to hear from those lips of yours.”

I grin up at him, unable to keep the outward display of happiness at bay. And you know what? I’m exhausted trying to hide my emotions all the time. From this day forward, when I’m happy, I’ll allow myself to show it. Despite Nessa’s great efforts, I now know I deserve to feel the joy and happiness in life.

I’m worthy of being loved.

More importantly, I’m worthy of Ransom’s love.

Ransom presses a soft but passionate kiss to the smile that still sits on my lips. Holding the side of my face, he pulls back so he can look at me, “I love you.” The words make my heart hurt in the best way. It’s like those words are the fire that melts the ice that has covered the organ for so many years. My icy heart thaws as it pounds against my rib cage, almost like it’s fighting to get out. “I think I’ve been in love with you since you held my dick at knifepoint.”

I laugh at this, but even as I do, I feel the tears streaming down my face. Happy tears, of course. So,sohappy. Up until this second, I thought happy tears were made up, but it seems I was wrong. There is still so much I have to learn, luckily Ransom will be there to lead me when I’m lost.

Ransom is quick to kiss the tears away. “I don’t like to see you cry.”

“They’re not because I’m sad.” My finger traces along his cheekbone down to his jaw. Ransom leans into my touch like he can’t get enough.

“Don’t care, I don’t like to see you upset.” His head dips down to mine, stealing my breath away with a heart-stopping kiss. “I want to protect you from everything that could possibly hurt you. I know your past is full of shadows and darkness, Beau, but I want to be your light.”

“You already are,” I croak. “You already are, Ransom. You’re myeverything. My light, my heart, and my soul. You’re the reason my blood pumps in my veins. You’re all of that and more to me.”

Delving his hands into my hair, Ransom brings his lips back to mine. His kiss holds the weight of the promise he’s just made me. He’s my light in the shadow and my warmth in the cold. He’s the beacon that calls to my soul and blood.

My arms snake around his neck, holding him so close, it’s as if I’m trying to melt us into each other.

As his tongue slides against mine, making me moan, my entire body feels like it’s been struck by lightning. The electrical current that happens every time we touch, it intensifies to almost an unbearable level. By the way Ransom’s body locks and he gasps against my mouth, I know he feels it took.

Pulling away from him, panting, I look up at his face. The sight that hovers before me is one that will forever be ingrained in my memory. When I’m old and gray and on my deathbed, this is the memory that will play on repeat in my head. It will be the moment I will remember feeling so incredibly loved and safe. And whole.

Shining bright around Ransom’s body is a shimmery gold aura. The significance of the aura is monumental and life-changing, but I’m not afraid of it. No, I’m delighted.

“Is that the—”

“Mating aura,” Ransom chokes out. “It’s the mating aura.”

“Does that mean—”

“It means you’re my mate,” he finishes for me again. “You’re fucking mine, Beau. All mine.”

“Wasn’t I already?” I tease.

“You sure as hell were.” Ransom’s eyes light up with excitement, with adoration. “We have the vampire bond and now we’ll have the shifter bond. Hell, I’d marry you tomorrow if that means I get to claim you as mine in just one more way. I need the whole world to know you’re mine in every way possible.”

Marry Ransom? Hmm. I’m not completely put off by the idea, but that’s a discussion for another time.

“They’ll know,” I tell him, a smirk growing on my face. “I’m sure you’ll make a point of telling them.” Ransom and his possessive tendencies mean that everyone will know with one look at him that I’m his. Just the way I like it.

I vowed ten months ago that I would belong to no one ever again, but with Ransom, I enjoy being his. He’s just as much mine as I am his.

Playfully growling, he leans down and nips at my bottom lip. “You know what this means, right?” His fingers skim over the skin that sits at the junction of my neck. “I get to bite you this time.”

Holding Ransom’s face between my hands, I lean up and kiss him. “Only if I get to bite you back.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Tink.”

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