Free Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) by Morgan Kearns Page B

finally stopped.
    His hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds as he slowly, painfully rubbed at his chest in obsessive circles. His silent heart ached. He closed his eyes and sank his fangs into his bottom lip to keep from …
    What?
    Yelling? Cursing? Curling up in the fetal position and bawling like a baby?
    He wasn’t sure what would ease the conflicting emotions waging war.
    “ Good job on the flowers, my man.”
    He’d forgotten Vincent was in the room. Thank the Goddess, he’d maintained control over his emotions. He pounded a fist on top of the desk. “I cannot believe that bastard.”
    “ Nik, you have two weeks before she marries that bastard . You have got to step it up.”
    He stood and walked around the office. His head shook back and forth then, unable to contain his frustration a second longer, he slammed his fist into the wall. Drywall dust puffed then fluttered to the ground.
    “ Claim her.”
    Niko was in Vincent’s face between one blink and the next. His chest heaved with every intense breath. “And how do you propose I do that?”
    He stalked away, using one forearm to sweep his desk clean. It was satisfying when the phone hit the floor with a thud. Papers fluttered to the floor. His fists clenched.
    “ Should I just toss her on my desk and pound into her until she submits?”
    “ Well, I do think pounding is a good idea.” The corner of Vincent’s mouth twitched. At Niko’s scowl, he bit his lip and cleared his throat. “Maybe you should throw your hat into the ring. Give her a choice.”
    “ She’s always had a choice.”
    Vincent shook his head. “Take matters into your own hands.”
    “ How?”
    “ Goddess, you’re dense. Propose!”
     
    *****
     
    It took a week to finalize everything. Tonight would be the start of their lives. Together. Excitement mingled with anxiety zipped through his bloodstream. After he explained who he was and what their connection meant, she would accept him and be his. Heart, body and soul. They’d come home—what a glorious word—and make love until the sun came up. Then he’d wake her with kisses and another round of lovemaking. Chances were good, they wouldn’t make it into the office tomorrow.
    With suit jacket in hand, Niko vaporized to the study upstairs. He laid the jacket over the back of his buff leather couch and went around the oak desk to stand in front of the portrait of his mother hanging on the wall. He rubbed at his unbeating heart and smiled at the painting that didn’t do her justice.
    “ Tonight’s the night, mamai .”
    Plucking the portrait’s corner away from the wall, it swung to the side. A safe was revealed and Niko quickly entered the combination. Inside, he pushed through the files—deeds to land, titles to vehicles, wills for himself and Gustav—to get to the velvet case that held the few remaining pieces of his mother’s jewelry.
    Turning to sit at his desk, he reverently placed the jewelry box in front of him and slowly opened it. Goddess, he missed his mother. She had once been his everything. He hated that he hadn’t been there to protect her when the mob had come looking for the monsters of nightmares.
    Goddess, has it really been two hundred years?
    His fingers traced the emerald choker he’d bought her on her 600 th birthday, the pearl drop earrings that had never left her lobes until her final moments, the ruby ring that had rested on her right ring finger, and—the piece he needed for tonight—the simple gold band with the intricate criss-cross pattern that had been her wedding band.
    Niko wished his mother could offer her input on this impossible situation. His short moment of desperation was replaced by an overwhelming guilt boiling through his whole body. It had always been Nikolai’s greatest desire to protect his mother. Yet when she needed him most, he hadn’t been there. Gustav hadn’t blamed him and there’d been no accusations from any of his kind. But that didn’t mean Niko hadn’t walked