Page 85 of The King's Man
That hole in my chest squeezed and my heart swelled and spun, driven by hope and need and… dare I say it,love?I stared into her eyes and pleaded with God that she could feel me as clearly as I could feel her, and she’d sense howsureI was.
“You. Are. Mine,”I growled, tugging the knot of the two ends tight.
Then I looked at her and she stared back at me, shock and delight and hope—and a hint of fear—on her beautiful face.
“Diadre—”
“Shut up, Jann. The answer isyes,”she breathed.
The bond hit like a wave, washing over me, tumbling everything within me so that though my feet remained on the dirt, and the sky above, everything turned and spun. I gripped her hand with mine, threw the other arm around her and pulled her into my chest as we both sucked in shocked breaths.
Like lightning kissing the night sea, the bond tore the dark open, bathing me in bright, blazing light and heat. I groaned and pulled her closer as she gasped and clawed at me—but when that light should have hurt, should have burned through my skin, she appeared in the glare, and she brought a sweet cooling so my blistering heart was suddenly soothed and relieved.
“Dee,” I croaked.
Her fingers curled at the back of my neck, and her head tipped against my collarbones as she gasped and twitched under the onslaught of the bond threading through my ribs, then through my flesh into hers, braiding us together indelibly.
We both gasped when it clicked into place, and my heart stopped dead—then plowed on, pumping, pulsing, thrumming in my veins until the hole that had been torn in my heart disappeared under the wave ofher.And that cord expanded, coiling around my heart and hers, knotting us together at the soul.
Mate.
Soulbond.
Mine.
I threw back my head and roared my claim to her, daring any male to hear and challenge me, daring Lucifer himself to attempt to take her.
We both trembled and gasped, the power coursing between us—until that hole within me was filled. Healed.Gone.
As the assault of power and binding washed away, I found myself standing in that misty forest, bent over her, holding her to my chest, my forehead tipped to her hair.
Then she looked up and we both remained still, panting.
She stared at me with wonder in her eyes as I reached for her face. Her tears returned and made my heart weep to feel her—relieved, delighted, full, andfearful.
“No,” I muttered hoarsely.
“No, what?” she whispered.
“No. Be angry with me, Dee. Be irritated. Be furious… but never afraid. Never frightened. Never unsure. I am here. And I amyours.”
Then I descended on her with a kiss to ignite her soul since she had already set mine alight. And it was the most precious joy of my life that she opened to me and grabbed me close with frantic delight.
32.Beg to Please
~ DIADRE ~
The bond was shocking. So tangible. Terrifying. And beautiful.
He towered over me, curling himself as if to shield me—when in truth, he was the one who needed protecting out here. But the thought barely appeared before it was gone, because when he touched me, my body came alive.
My nerves, my fear, my uncertainty all paled in the face of that onslaught ofunity.The place in my chest that had suddenly, unequivocally becomehim.
I fought a war inside—the bond, thetogethernessof it driving me closer. But my mind shrieked that there was so much about this man I didn’t yet know.
Awed and afraid, I stared up at him, overcome by formless emotions that tugged me in opposing directions.
Jann cupped my face with both of his huge hands, so tenderly, staring down at me like he was afraid I would bolt.
