Binded (The SHIELD Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him, and Carmen. She had looked away, not wanting to see what she would become. Perhaps she wasn’t ready to become a creature of the night just yet, drinking blood from whoever crossed her path, killing at will. For she had just seen in front of her how precious human life was, and how quickly it could be extinguished.
    “Sun’s coming up,” Cooper said, as he settled in the passenger seat beside her. “Do you think we should call the others, let them know we’re safe?”
    “I think I left my phone back there,” she replied, as she started the engine. “And I’m really not willing to go back for it.”
    “We can always get you another phone. Maybe under the family plan,” Cooper teased her, as they drove.
    “Shut up,” she said, although she didn’t really mind. “Look, when we get home ..?”
    “Don’t tell anyone because you’re still going to go through with everything?” Cooper asked, raising an eyebrow. He looked human again, no need to have his vampire face out.
    “No,” she made a sharp right. “Just look more like a vampire. I really don’t feel like explaining it, and maybe if you look like a vampire, it’ll be more obvious.”
    “I think it’ll just be confusing,” Cooper said, and she shrugged.
    “Just do it, ok?”
    “Aye Aye,” Cooper replied.
    They drove past the Polish Consulate, which would soon be open, and for one minute she considered pulling in to get the paper work they needed. But the idea left her head as soon as it had entered it. She didn’t have any desire to do it now. Now, she was exhausted, and she wanted to fall into James’s arms and go to bed. It would be a rough day, and she would have a lot of explaining to do to Donovan in the morning. Justifying love to those who lived the lifestyle of one night stands would probably be the hardest job she ever had.
    They pulled up into the driveway and barely had time to open the door before the three brothers rushed them. Carmen hung back, letting them hug Cooper, laughing, and mussing up his hair, grateful to see him again. Even Phil seemed happy, and making Phil happy was an impossible feat.
    But then, pulling back, they took in his fangs, his darken eyes, and looked confused.
    “But how…” James said, his head swivelling to Carmen as she threw the car keys in the bowl in the hallway. She turned to meet his eyes.
    “It doesn’t matter, James.”
    “ Carmen, darling…” he took a tentative step towards her, unbelieving. “You’re bound to him.”
    “Yes,” she nodded. “It wasn’t really…difficult, James, it had to be done.”
    “Oh, my darling!” he swept her up in his arms, holding her so tight she thought she would choke. “Thank you, thank you for saving my brother. Thank you! I will gift you a kingdom.”
    “Just some sleep will be nice right now,” she muttered, into his neck, although she was so grateful for his touch, his hug.
    “Anything, you want. Anything at all. Perhaps the paper work…”
    She met eyes with Cooper over his shoulder, and shook her head.
    “It’s ok, James. We can just…leave it.”
    He put her down, looking her in the eye.
    “I was hoping that you would say that.”
    “Yeah…I guess I was kind of hoping you would refuse.”  A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I like being married to you.”
    “I’ve enjoyed it far more than I realized,” he replied. “And I don’t wish it to end.”
    “Maybe…it doesn’t have to,” she took his hands. “Just um…when I break all your vampire rules, maybe give me a free pass before you rip my throat out, hmm?”
    “Carmen,” he touched her cheek, delicately. “You saved my brother’s life. You gave up the one thing that gave you power, and you put your life in our hands, where it will always remain. When you finally cross the threshold to immortality, I will never lay a finger on you, ever. And any vampire who does will suffer pain of death, under my rule.”
    “ James…” This was the second time he