Tempted (Book 5) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Thirteen/Matters of the Heart

I fell asleep with my head lying on Luca's chest. His arm was draped over my waist and his breath flowed over the top of my head, ruffling my hair. His hand was curled around my hip. My eyes were closed and for once, I wasn't afraid of the dark dreams that seemed to plague me. Darkness and a peace I had not experienced in a long time came. I didn't dream. I just slept. Before I opened my eyes, his presence was there comforting me. His warmth sank into my skin.

When I opened my eyes, I smiled staring up into his face as he slumbered. I reached up and traced his jaw causing him to stir. His eyes opened staring into mine before going wide as he gazed at the foot of the bed.

"Don't move," he whispered, his voice shattering the peace I had been reveling in only a few moments before but another voice crushed it to dust.

"Hello, Luca," Mary said and I stiffened. The acidic edge to her voice caused me to flinch. I trembled as I moved away from Luca and covered my naked torso with the blanket.

The blood drained from my face as I found her, her eyes narrowed and red from crying but more concerning was the gun pointed at me. She took in my face. Tears blackened by mascara slid down her cheeks.

"You slept with him," she said her voice weakened as she glanced from me to Luca. "You aren't allowed to touch him...I'm the only one who can touch him."

I blinked as I moved against the headboard. Luca moved protecting me with his body. "Mary," he said, gaining her attention. His hands were up and his beast was ready as he spoke through clenched teeth. "You don't want to do this."

"You were with her," she said as her voice trembled. She pouted her lips causing her to appear liked a deranged child.

He moved closer. "We have to talk about this," he said, inching toward the gun. "She's my wife. I would have never been allowed to marry you."

"But you love me," she said, glancing at me before turning back to Luca and saying louder. "You love me."

Luca frowned. His eyes darkened in pain. "I'm sorry, Mary," he whispered shaking his head. "I don't. I don't think I ever really did."

She flinched as if he had slapped her. "That's not true," she cried as tears continued to travel down her cheeks. "I know that's not true."

"It is true," he said, inching closer. He was at the end of the bed. He could almost grab the gun.

Her eyes slitted as she found mine. Her pupils dilated as her gaze swept over me. Luca was close enough that he had to reach forward but she stepped out of his reach. "It's because of you," she said, narrowing her eyes. Luca tackled her but the gunshot rang through the air. The scent of gun powder rose invading my nostrils as red-hot fire burned through my chest. The pain blinded me. Luca called my name as I fell back against the bed.

**********

"Claire! No! Claire," Luca's voice called out as the darkness moved over my vision. Mary's sobs reached me and then, it was gone.

"No, Claire," he whispered as his warmth swamped me. His tears fell on me cooling my skin. "No. Please don't leave me. Please."

I knew his desperation. I had pleaded for the same thing when he lay so close to death. I forced my gaze to find him. Tears flowed down his cheeks. Even through my pain, I would do anything to take his away. His hand covered my chest where the burning was centered. His eyes were closed as if he were praying.

I licked my lips as the only thing that could save me came to mind. I used the last bit of energy I had to reach up and touch his face. His eyes found mine widening as he realized I still lived...I was still with him.

"Claire," he said, choking on his words through his sobs. "I have to save you. Please let me do this. Please don't hate me for it."

I nodded once hoping he saw it before closing my eyes. He shook me. "Stay with me," he said as his voice rose and his hand shook as it touched my face. A rumble shook through his throat as he inhaled. The scent of his blood entered my senses. A moment later, his wrist touched my lips.

The metallic essence of his blood dribbled down my throat. With the first taste the burning in my chest lightened. I sucked it through my teeth as my body strengthened and the bond with Luca became unbreakable...indestructible. His thoughts and his emotions burned into my mind...My soul. He loved me...Oh how he loved me. My body was warm from it...Healed from it.

"Claire, keep drinking," he whispered as the rhythm of our hearts aligned to beat as one. Sophia and Gavriel's bodies lying on the floor flashed through my mind but they weren't my thoughts...They were his and I realized how frightened he had been of the bond too. He understood more than he did before...His parent's love for each other...How they could have chosen to be together...How they chose to bond. He understood a love as strong as theirs because he was experiencing it with me.

The burning in my chest ceased and I inhaled deeply. The world shifted and then, I blinked. I was healed but different. I sensed it in every cell in my body as I blinked a tear from my eye and sat up before glancing around the room. Mary was gone. The gun dropped on the floor. The scent of the gun oil and powder was in the air mingled with my blood and his.

I glanced down finding that blood still stained my body and had puddled beneath me on the bed. My lips trembled as I gazed at Luca grateful that he was with me and grateful I was still alive. He studied my face, his expression wary.

"Claire, I hope this is what you want," he said, his body still trembling. His eyes were wide.

I pressed my finger to his lips. "I was afraid of the blood bond for the same reasons you were," I whispered and then, caressed his face. "I'm not anymore."

"You're not?" He asked as he released a breath.

I shook my head. "I am more afraid of being without you," I said. "I will walk this life with you. I don't want to live in a life without you."

He cupped my cheeks and pulled me to him in a searing kiss but even then, my mind wandered to Mary. If she would try to kill me once, she would try to kill me again and that was not safe for either of us.