Page 72 of Depths of Desire
But I knew all the words said just one thing. This is us. We are together. We are bonded for life.
As he increased his pace, and my world centered on just what was happening in my body, my nerve-endings drawing tight, the lights flickering behind my eyelids, the emotion swirling inside me, I uttered my own truth about us.
We belonged together. I could love this man. I wanted to be part of his life.
“Oh, my life. My precious wife,” Nico’s sexy growl tapped my brain the way his cock tapped the top of my channel.
As I flew over the edge of reason, Nico flew with me, calling my name, claiming me as his for all time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Esme was screaming in extreme pain.
I sit up fast, heart pounding. I could’ve sworn that’s what I heard—Esme screaming. The sound still echoes in my skull. I glance over. Luna’s still asleep, tangled in the sheets, one arm curled where I held her last.
I should’ve gone after Esme right after the wedding. I was that certain that something was off.
But Luna… Luna in that dress, eyes locked on mine, her scent pulling me under like a drug—I couldn’t think. All I could feel was that she was finally mine. Forever.
I ease out of bed and head to the bathroom. It’s already late afternoon. I need to eat, and then I need to find Esme. I grab my phone and try her one more time. When she doesn’t pick up, I text Kael.
Get me a location on Esme if you can.
Will do.
I shower quickly, the water doing little to wash away the gnawing guilt in my gut. I pull on dark jeans and a black shirt, roll my shoulders to shake off the lingering ache. I’m still notback to full strength after my fall from the freighter’s catwalk. Not since the poisoning. Not since the ship. But I’ll make do.
Down in the kitchen, I grab two bags of blood from the fridge and drain them one after the other, no ceremony. Luna’s never seen me feed. That will change at some point. I only hope it doesn’t disgust her.
Carson appears just as I wipe the corner of my mouth. Always perfect timing.
“Carson, I have to find Esme. Stay with Luna. Make sure she eats something.”
He nods, bowing slightly. “Of course, sir. It will be my pleasure.”
“Where are you going?”
Luna’s voice hits me like ice water. I turn to see her in the doorway, wearing nothing but my bathrobe. Her hair’s a mess, her lips swollen. She looks like sex and sleep and everything I don’t want to walk away from. The sight of her damn near breaks me.
I had hoped to leave without this conversation. “I have to find Esme. She’s in trouble.”
She frowns. “Who’s Esme?”
“She’s…” How do I explain Esme without getting into the stuff about my mother? It’s all too complicated. “She’s…a friend.”
Luna’s face clouds. “Where is she?”
“That’s what I have to find out.” My phone goes off. I glance at the screen to see it’s a text from Kael.
I might have a line on her.
“I’m sorry,vita mia.I have to go,” I say as I walk over and drop a kiss on her nose. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With that, I head out to the garage. It’s too light out for me to travel across the sky, so I have to drive.
I pull out of the garage in my Porsche and call Kael. “Talk to me,” I bark as soon as Kael picks up.
“No one’s seen her in at least twenty-four hours,” he says. “Could be longer.”
A cold dread curls in my stomach. “What do you know?”
