Unbound (6 page)

Annabelle swallowed the mouthful of toast and placed her fork on the plate. She couldn't tell him the truth, but she also knew that she couldn't withhold everything, so she opted for a bit of both.

“My mother died about ten years ago, and after that, my father and I moved in with his cousins. We were left broke by my mother's medical bills, and we didn't really have a lot of options because my dad got laid off—again.”

“I'm sorry.” Zachary's voice was gentle and filled with compassion. “How old were you when she died?”

“Twelve.” Annabelle's eyes stung with tears at the memory, and she blinked them back, not wanting to weep in front of him yet again. She held up her wrist and smiled at him briefly before looking away. “She gave me this bracelet on my twelfth birthday, right before she died.”

“I had a feeling it was special to you.” He took a sip of his juice and pointed at her wrist. “You fiddle with it every time you're nervous or uneasy.”

“Silly, huh?” Annabelle let out a short laugh and adjusted the sterling silver bracelet before leaning both elbows on the counter. It was a bit unsettling to have someone she just met see her so clearly. “Anyway, my cousins live on what could best be described as a commune in northern California. It was okay at first, but after a while it got…weird. I only stayed as long as I did because of my father, but a couple of weeks ago things changed.”

She took a deep breath and stopped herself from saying anything else, because she didn't trust herself not to tell Zachary everything. She wanted to. Annabelle wanted to come clean and tell him exactly who she was, but she couldn't. Even though she knew Zachary wouldn't hurt her—the truth would hurt him, and
that
was unacceptable. He'd been nothing but kind, sweet, thoughtful, and charitable. How on earth could she tell him who she was? He would hate her.

“What changed?” Zachary's jaw set and his lips pressed together in a tight line as a dark cloud passed over his face. “Did someone hurt you?”

“No,” Annabelle said quietly. “Although I was worried about what would happen to me if I stayed. To be honest, the place is what most people would consider a cult. I'd been wanting to leave for a while, and recently I finally got up the courage to run away.” She shrugged and looked away from him before taking a sip of her orange juice. It wasn't a total lie…not really. “They don't take kindly to deserters and would do almost anything to get me to come back. My cousins are kind of obsessed with their beliefs, and let's just say I don't agree with them.” She glanced at him briefly before smoothing the fabric of the dress he'd given her. “Not anymore,” she added quietly. Her fingers curled in her lap, and a tickle of awareness flickered up her spine while he studied her intently. “Not at all. In fact, they couldn't be more wrong, and I'm never going back.”

“Okay, you don't have to go back,” Zach said slowly. He wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin on his empty plate. Placing both hands on the counter, he leaned across it while holding her gaze. “So why come to Mexico? Why a whole other country?”

“I dreamt of it.” Annabelle's voice was just above a whisper while she revealed more than she planned to. “The beach, here at the house, it's the same one from the dreams I'd been having. I guess I thought that if I came here. then I'd get some clarity or something.”

“So much for that,” Zach said with a smile. He let out a curt laugh and pushed himself off the counter before taking the dishes and putting them in the sink. “All I did was give you more questions.”

“Perhaps.” Her voice was barely audible. “I also came here because I knew I'd be safe. It's crazy, isn't it? I don't know how I knew that, but I did. I didn't know what I would do when I got here or where I was going to stay, but deep in my gut…I had no doubt that I'd be safe. In fact, I'd never been so totally certain of anything else in my life.” Annabelle's gaze wandered over his well-muscled back, and she ground her teeth against the sudden twinge of need that throbbed through her from the mere sight of him. She crossed her legs and stifled a moan as she watched him move. He was graceful and sleek, just like the lion she'd seen in the vision. Powerful. Dangerous. Protective. The man was all of those things rolled into one, and even though her head was telling her to run, her heart was whispering for her to stay. “I'm safe with you, aren't I?”

“For now.” Keeping his back to her, he braced both hands on the sink, and the muscles in his shoulders bunched. Then Zachary turned around, leaned his hip against the edge of the sink, and captured her gaze. Holding her stare, he stalked slowly around the edge of the counter until he was only about a foot away from her. Hands at his sides, he let his eyes drift over her from head to toe in one long, languid pass. He studied her with the hungry look of a predator, and it made Annabelle's heart skip a beat. “Can't say for how long…but for now…you're safe.”

“For
now
?” Her voice sounded far away and her body felt heavy with need. Annabelle gripped the sides of the stool, worried she'd lose her senses, jump Zachary's bones, and fulfill every erotic thought she'd had about him. Her bare feet slipped on the rung of the stool, but she righted them quickly and held on for dear life. “What do you mean, I'm safe with you
for
now
?”

“Well, you see, Annabelle…” Zachary inched closer so that her knees brushed the fabric of his shorts, which were doing little to conceal his growing erection. “Right now, I'm going to take a cold shower and get dressed. Then you and I are going to go into town so we can file that report. That sounds safe, doesn't it?”

Annabelle nodded, unable to form a coherent sentence, worried she'd do nothing but moan like the horny creature she'd turned into. Zachary's lips tilted at the corners, and then, with lightning-fast speed, he reached out and grabbed the sides of the stool, covering her hands with his far larger ones. His lips were just inches from hers and his distinct masculine scent filled her head, making her dizzy with desire. Breathing as though she had just run a marathon, she held his stare and didn't dare move a muscle.

“Then when we get back…” His deep voice was filled with sinful promise. “You won't be safe. Do you know why?” Annabelle shook her head almost imperceptibly. “Because I'm going to strip you naked and spend the rest of the night finding out how many different ways I can make you scream my name.”

Without another word, Zachary turned and disappeared into the bedroom. Annabelle, her body shaking with lust, adrenaline, and all-out carnal need, stared at the closed door. She had never wanted another man the way she wanted Zachary. He was forbidden, dangerous, sexy, protective, sweet, and masculine, all rolled into one.

The sound of the shower running captured her attention, and she imagined him in there. Naked. Wet. Soapy. She pictured herself there with him. Running her hands down the slick skin of his stomach until finally reaching the part of him that she so desperately wanted to see.

“Oh my God,” Annabelle groaned. She closed her eyes and let out a shuddering sigh. “What the hell is the matter with me?”

Nothing
at
all, baby.
Zachary's sexy voice surrounded her on a purr.
But
if
you
keep
that
up, I'm not gonna wait until we get back.

“Holy shit.” Annabelle's face heated with embarrassment and her eyes flew open, expecting to see him standing in front of her. However, the room was empty and the bedroom door was still closed. Annabelle slid off the stool and stood on unsteady legs. “Zachary?” she said with a squeak.

Why
don't you join me?
His voice swept along the edges of her mind like a caress, and she could practically feel his hands on her.
There's still plenty of hot water.

What's happening?
Annabelle shuddered as her mind touched his, and a smile of wonderment spread across her face. She moved closer to the bedroom door and her fingers curled around the doorknob. Eyes closed, she rested her forehead against the cool wood surface and reveled in the erotic sensations that fired through her body from the intimate mental connection.
How
is
this
possible?

Well, since you asked—
the playful sound of his voice made her smile grow
—it's because you are my mate. All Amoveo can use telepathy, but it's especially important for the mating process. Most humans can't communicate telepathically. But you aren't like most humans, are you, Annabelle?

No. I don't suppose I am.
Annabelle turned the doorknob and pushed the bedroom door open. She stood there for a moment, debating whether or not she should do what she wanted to do, what her body was begging her to do. The sound of the shower running urged her forward until she was standing right outside the bathroom door, which was open just a crack. Steam spilled out and wafted over her in damp waves. She pushed it open and stood for a moment in the doorway.
Can
you
hear
all
of
my
thoughts?

Only
what
you
want
me
to
hear.
Annabelle's heart raced with anticipation and lust while she watched the blurred image of his tall, naked body through the tempered glass of the shower doors.
But
whatever
we
say
to
one
another
this
way
is
protected, Annabelle. No one else can hear telepathic communication between mates—even if we aren't actually mated yet.

Turn
around
. Annabelle's voice, even in her mind, sounded as turned on and needy as her body felt. She watched as his form stilled before turning around and facing her. He ran one large hand over the glass, swiping away the fog, so she could see him more clearly. But it wasn't enough.
Now
open
the
door
and
let
me
in.

The door to the marble-lined shower opened slowly, revealing Zachary in all his wet, soapy, naked glory. Just as she'd imagined. Only better. His hair was slicked back off his face, giving those glowing amber orbs center stage. He was handsome. She knew that already, but she hadn't quite seen that intense look of desire before, evident in the sharp angles of his cheekbones and chin.

The water streamed over his body in rivulets, showing off every well-sculpted muscle. Her gaze wandered over him slowly until finally landing on the pronounced evidence of his desire. His cock, thick with need, jutted out from a neatly trimmed patch of hair. It was rigid and standing at attention, as though begging for her to touch it, to take it in her mouth so she could make him moan.

She'd been with men before. Well, maybe not
men
; they were more like boys. She'd had only two fumbling sexual experiences with two guys she'd met at her waitressing job, but both had left her unsatisfied, and neither turned her on even a fraction of the way Zachary did. Hell, she'd barely touched him, and every cell in her body lit up with electricity just from one look.

Annabelle sucked in a shuddering breath and took in the wickedly erotic sight of Zachary, while letting her gaze drift over him from head to toe and back again. Her body hummed with desire and every single inch of her skin tingled with anticipation, but for the life of her, she couldn't get herself to move any closer.

“I did as you asked.” A sexy lopsided grin played at his lips. His hand curled around the base of his cock and started to stroke. “Now tell me what else you want, Annabelle.”

“You,” she whispered.

Annabelle took two steps toward the shower, standing just a few inches from the open door. Watching his hand slide up and down his swollen shaft was erotic and empowering. It turned her on to know she had that kind of effect on him. Water sprayed over her when it bounced off Zachary, and she could swear she heard it sizzle when it touched her heated skin. Her heart raced and threatened to pound right out of her chest while she continued to hold his predatory gaze.

“I shouldn't want you. It doesn't make any sense.” Her voice quivered with anticipation and she inched closer still. “And yet…here I am, unable to think about anything except having your mouth on me.”

On a growl, Zachary's eyes widened and he whispered, “
Verto
.”

A cloud of static surrounded them, and a split second later, Annabelle's dress vanished and she was nude before him. She gasped at the surprisingly erotic sensation of the fabric disappearing from her body. The static made her skin tingle, and her sensitive nipples tightened with the rush of electric air. If Zachary didn't touch her soon, she'd lose what little dignity she had left and start begging.

As though reading her mind, one strong hand reached out, cradled her neck, and pulled her to him. Annabelle sighed with pleasure and relief when his lips covered hers, and she opened to him immediately. His tongue drove into her mouth, demanding and taking everything he wanted, and she met his challenge with equal fervor. Linking her arms around his neck, she stepped into the shower with him and moaned at the feel of her breasts pressing against his chest. Paying thorough attention to her mouth, Zachary closed the shower door with one hand and kept the other firmly wrapped around her waist. The hot water sprayed over them, and she shivered when the bare flesh of her back hit the cool marble of the shower wall.