Authors: Jessica Lee
Forbidden Bond
Forbidden Bond
Copyright © 2014 Jessica Lee
Edited by: Ashley O’Neil
Cover art by: Mina Carter
Published by: Jessica Lee
All rights reserved.
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Chapter One
“Don’t you do it, Olivia Wilson.”
“I dare you to go first,” she drawled, her lips turning up into a mischievous grin.
Eion shot her his best
in your dreams
look.
“What’s the fun of just sitting and staring at the water, Eion Mandrake?” She tugged on the thick rope in her fist; the other end was tied to the thin oak branch extended out over Lake James. The wind kicked up, lifting her long dark brown ponytail as she narrowed her green gaze on him and propped her free hand on a denim-clad hip. At only six inches less than Eion’s six-foot-two, Olivia was tall for her age, and the cut-offs she wore over her bathing suit made her legs appear crazy long.
Eion shook his head.
His best friend’s little sister never gave up.
She’d been bugging Eion ever since he’d moved to Little Crow Pass, Wyoming four years ago and had walked into their home. Olivia always followed them around, teased him and her big brother. But this last year, things had changed. Her teasing had shifted from an attempt to annoy him and Kris, to a more
I want
your
attention
flirting aimed right at Eion. And Olivia wasn’t easy to ignore with her high cheekbones and full curvy pout that, when she became legal, would be any man’s wet dream.
But that was precisely the issue.
She was fourteen, and Eion would be graduating from high school in three weeks. Not to mention that she was Kris’s sister. Kris would have his nuts for even thinking of touching her. Eion mentally punted that train wreck of an idea from his head.
So not happening
.
He was a wolf shifter, and she a too-young human that would soon be off his radar. Once his time in Little Crow was over, Eion would return to his pack in Screaming Eagle and prepare to assume his role as alpha.
Olivia was most definitely off limits.
“Come on, Eion,” Olivia called out. “What, are you—chicken?” The few friends who’d joined them at the lake to cool off from the early summer heat laughed.
“Go on,” Kris nudged him in the back. “Do it so she’ll shut up.”
Eion looked over his shoulder at his best friend, then back to Olivia. “I’m not chicken. But that branch is not going to hold if you swing out there.” Eion pointed to the limb she’d picked for the tie-down. “I don’t mind a cannon ball, but I don’t want that thing coming down on my head—or yours.”
“He’s probably right,” Kris said, facing his sister. “Pick another spot for your rope swing, or just give it a rest.”
“God,” Olivia said with a sigh and rolled her eyes. “You guys are so lame.” She whirled around toward the lake, giving them her back. “It’s going to be fine. I crawled out there on it, didn’t I?” Olivia tugged once more on the rope with both hands. “Watch.”
With a mad dash, Olivia streaked toward the grassy edge that would take her out over the near five-foot drop to the water below. With both hands wrapped tight around the twisted rope, she swung out with a squeal of delight and a sickening
crack
came from the tree.
Shit.
As if someone had flipped a switch, the world around Eion geared down to half speed.
Olivia fell through the air, arms and legs flailing in a strange, slow motion.
The jagged limb followed, tumbling down, down, down, as if seeking revenge on the person who’d dared to test its endurance.
One second his feet were rooted to the ground, and in the next, Eion found himself staring over the edge as Olivia went under, the branch making a loud splash in the same spot. He gasped and the world roared back to full speed.
“Oh, shit!” It was Kris’s voice, but he had no idea when Kris had moved in beside him. In paralyzing silence, they stared at the rippling surface.
Waiting.
Watching.
Come on, Olivia. Show me how damn tough you are.
Seconds ticked off. Too many for the contents of his gut to remain calm.
Instinct had Eion jerking his shirt over his head and diving into the lake.
The impact and cold shock of the water disoriented him for a moment. He shook his head, lips sealed tight, holding back the air in his lungs. Blinking, he surveyed the area around him. All the activity in the lake had the sediment stirred up from the bottom, taking visibility down to a couple of feet at best. He twisted left, then right, searching. His pulse throbbed in his ears. Where was she?
Eion kicked forward, flicking his gaze above and below. Then a dark shadow snagged his attention. Another dose of adrenaline flooded his veins, propelling him forward with every ounce of speed he could muster. Closer…closer…until he could discern what looked like a human form.
Arms.
Legs.
Dark hair.
Olivia.
Thank God.
One last kick had him in reach. Eion clasped a wrist, pulled her into his embrace, and launched them both to the surface. They broke the top at the same moment as Kris.
“Oh, God.” Kris groaned at the sight of her limp form floating in the waves beside Eion. “No…”
Kris lifted her head with one arm and together they swam her to shore. Eion slipped his hands under her armpits and pulled her onto the thick wet sand.
Christ
. She was so still. He’d never seen Olivia when she wasn’t moving or talking incessantly. His chest ached.
“Someone call nine-one-one!” Eion shouted to the others who were gathering around. But instead of taking action, they stood there, frozen, eyes wide. “Go, dammit!” Finally, one of the guys in the group broke away at a dead run.
“Oh, shit. Oh, shit.” Kris hovered over her pale form. “What are we going to do? She’s not breathing. She’s dead! She can’t be dead!”
Eion’s stomach lurched at Kris’s frantic words. He had to do something. His wolf stirred. Wanted—no, demanded—action. Placing two fingers to her neck, he felt for a pulse. A gentle
thump-thump
registered against the pads of his fingers. It was weak, but still there.
Thank God.
Eion shoved one hand under Olivia’s neck and tilted her head back. Her once pink bow of a mouth had faded to a bluish hue.
Please, God…this has to work.
He pinched her nose with the thumb and forefinger of his other hand, breathed deep, and sealed his lips over hers. On a long, slow exhale, he watched as her chest rose, filled with his air.
Yes!
Eion inhaled, and again, forced his breath into her lungs.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
“Come on, Livvy,” Kris shouted.
In and out, her chest filled and deflated. Then it happened. She coughed. Eion’s heart rate stuttered at the sound.
Her lashes, tiny water droplets clinging to the ends, lifted. Green irises, crisp and clear, not what he’d expected for someone who had almost died, bored into his soul. Unbidden, he reached out and cupped her cheek, the flesh soft and cool to the touch.
Electricity tingled under his fingers where his skin touched hers. The sensation was unlike anything he’d ever felt.
Eion couldn’t look or pull away. The sizzle under his hand grew, swelled, and traveled up his arms. The wolf inside him squirmed. Not in pain. No. It was as if it recognized the experience. Knew what was happening and wanted more. Wanted
out
. Eion sucked in a harsh breath, jerked his hand away, and tumbled back onto his ass. The world fogged. He blinked, trying to focus. His heart raced, each breath becoming more rapid than the next.
“Livvy!” Kris surged forward, oblivious to what was going on between Eion and his sister. What that was, exactly, Eion didn’t want to admit. No damn way was he willing to accept what that meant. He wasn’t ready. He was too young. For God’s sake, so was she. And worse…she was human!
“Hey, Eion,” a faraway voice called out. “Eion. Hey, you okay, dude?”
Through the haze, Eion rolled his head back on his shoulders, searching for the origin of the sound. Slowly, a face came into focus.
Bobby.
Bobby from history and trig class.
“You don’t look so good, dude,” he said. “Kind of pale.” Bobby extended his hand. “You need some help?” Eion grabbed on and allowed Bobby to help him up. The weight on his knees had his joints sagging, but he quickly recovered and shook it off.
“I’m good,” Eion said, his voice sounding stronger than he felt. His extrasensory hearing picked up the distant wail of a siren.
Hurry up. Dammit.
A few minutes later
,
a chorus of excited voices from the direction of the road caught his attention. Eion glanced over Bobby’s shoulders. A couple of rescue workers headed their way with a stretcher. “Finally,” Eion breathed. “Paramedics are here, Kris.”
The paramedic team rushed down the embankment path and past him to their patient. Kris took over, relaying the events and his sister’s current status. Everyone’s attention had gathered around the scene and off Eion. He scrubbed his palm over his face, pulling in a deep cleansing breath, fighting back the panic and the desire to shove his best friend out of the way and protect Olivia. He had to get out of here.
And not just away from Lake James.
Whether he liked it or not, the moment school was over, Eion had to get out of Little Crow Pass.
Chapter Two
Twelve years later
“How was Kris this morning when you left?” Taylor asked, as he scratched under the muzzle of a yellow lab sporting a wide E-collar. He turned, giving Olivia his attention. Based on the tousled look of his blond locks and the shadows underneath his blue eyes, a better question would be how
he
was doing this morning.
“You slept here again last night, didn’t you?” Olivia plopped the bag of warm muffins on the counter, closed the distance between them, and ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing the unruly curls.
Taylor tossed her a weak smile. “Yeah.” He sighed. “Busy night.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and moved past her to another kennel. She followed close behind. He squatted, studying the respirations of a handsome Dalmatian sleeping peacefully despite the large bandage to its hind leg and hip. “She was brought in right before closing yesterday. Poor girl had been hit by a car.”
Olivia rested her palms on Taylor’s shoulders, doing her best to massage the tension away. He always loved when she did that. All through veterinarian school, he’d been her best friend. So when graduation day had come, it seemed natural that they would end up working together. Last year, their dream had come true. Taylor had moved to Little Crow, and they’d opened a small clinic together. They were a perfect match. He working with domestic animals and she provided the community’s equine and farm animal veterinary needs. It had been her dream to work with large animals for so long that at times it felt surreal.
“She looks comfortable,” Olivia said.
“Yeah. She’s responded well.”
“She has a good doctor.” Olivia patted his upper arm. Taylor looked over his shoulder with a sly grin.
“Flattery will get you…” He stood, turning toward her in the process, and yanked her into his arms. “Right here, beautiful.” Taylor captured her mouth with his. The kiss warmed, heated. Olivia opened, responding as expected, willing her heart to race, for the butterflies to take flight in her midsection. He shifted, pressing the evidence of his awakening arousal into her abdomen, his broad hands splayed on her back dropping lower. His heartbeat thumped under her palms on his chest.
What was wrong with her? Why didn’t her pulse react like that? Taylor was everything she should want—a good friend, handsome, supportive, an animal lover. She liked him a lot. She really did.
So why did his touch do nothing for her?
Who was she kidding? Olivia knew why, and his name was Eion Mandrake—even though nothing had ever happened between her and Eion, and the guy had left town a long time ago. But it didn’t mean her crush on him hadn’t had a lingering effect. One that had her questioning her sanity every time a man wanted to take things to the next level and she began a serious retreat.
Wasn’t twelve years a long enough prison sentence for her heart?