Bind Me

By Marie Medina

When Jensen wasn’t prepared to commit to his fated mate, he let Ciel walk away, thinking he’d get over the human soon enough. But a year apart has proven that what he felt for Ciel went far beyond lust. He wants a second chance, and he’ll do anything to convince Ciel to give it to him.

Ciel thought he’d moved on, but when Jensen comes back begging for another chance, he finds it hard to deny the vampire. His heart’s been broken once, yet Ciel can’t make himself walk away from Jensen again. Will they be able to make it work, or will the pain of the past prove too much in the end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Dec 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781772336184

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2015 Marie Medina

ISBN: 978-1-77233-618-4

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To Howard

BIND ME

The Year of Gods, 2

Marie Medina

Copyright © 2015

Chapter One

Valladora

3154, The Year of Gods

Ciel made his way through the market slowly as he ate an apple. With Lord Klaus and Lady Sienna gone, he had very little to do. Since he loved working with numbers, the steward had been training him to manage the accounts, but in the middle of the month very little was coming in or going out. Emily, a girl who’d been flirting with him ever since his return a few months earlier, waved at him. He smiled and waved back but purposely went in the opposite direction, tossing his apple core into a compost heap by the butcher’s shop. A new lover was the last thing he wanted.

He saw Lydia, one of Lady Sienna’s maids, coming toward him hurriedly. Ciel, Lord Jensen is going to arrive today. The steward wants you to greet him. He’s still recovering from his cold and can barely talk.

Ciel had to fight the frown that tugged at his lips. Today? Did we have word in advance?

She shook her head. A letter less than an hour ago. He doesn’t even know his parents are gone. The steward thought it best you see to his needs.

See to his needs? He had a chance at that but threw it away. Threw me away. Ciel cleared his throat. Yes, I’ll have everything readied and then wait for him. Is someone airing his room?

Lydia nodded. Yes. They should be almost done by now. It was aired last week, so there’s little to do but change the linens and such. Replenish the candles.

Ciel nodded as well. I’ll go see for myself. Thank you. Have a page keep a lookout in case he’s early. I’ll be in Jensen’s room.

Lydia looked at him a bit oddly but then gathered her skirts and moved back toward the castle. Ciel walked to go in one of the back doors, wondering what had made her react that way. Just as he reached the castle, he cursed under his breath. He’d referred to Jensen without his title. Again. He’d caught himself doing that since his return. Erik, Jensen’s younger brother and the vampire Ciel had served for many years, had always insisted Ciel leave the title off, but he wasn’t living with Erik anymore. A wave of anger moved over him. He had every right to call Jensen by his first name alone because they were mates, but of course no one knew that. Jensen wanted to fuck him, but he didn’t truly want him. Didn’t love him.

A year ago, they’d slept together. Jensen had fucked him every way imaginable over the course of a week. He’d drunk from Ciel and whispered all kinds of sweet words about how good they were together. But then he’d shown his true colors, wanting to hide the mate bond and take Ciel as nothing more than a live-in lover. Ciel had kicked him out of bed and sent him sprawling across the floor. When Jensen had risen to his feet, Ciel had slapped him and told him to get out.

Ciel slammed right into a maid as he rushed into Jensen’s room. She shrieked, and he caught her before she tumbled over.

I’m sorry. I was flustered and in a hurry, Ciel said.

No, it was my fault. Excuse me, sir. Everything is ready within. She gathered the old linens and hurried down the hall. Some of the servants showed him deference because Lord Klaus had practically adopted him after his parents died when he was very young, and Erik had always shown him great favor. Other servants resented him a bit but rarely said anything. Being away for seven years had changed things. Lord Klaus’s castle had been his home more than half his life, yet it didn’t feel the same anymore.

Ciel closed the door and moved around Jensen’s room. His anger rose again when he remembered his first week back here. He’d sneaked into this room to sleep several times, creeping back to his own bed as the suns rose. He thought it pathetic looking back, but almost everything in this castle had reminded him of Jensen at first. He’d had to work every moment to keep people from seeing his pain.

Moving to the desk, Ciel touched the polished surface before lowering himself to the chair. His hands shook. Jensen knew he was here, knew they’d have to interact. The eldest brother, Dax, would be arriving in a few days, but Jensen had given them no indication of an impending visit. Ciel didn’t want this. He never wanted to see Jensen again, yet the urge to be at Jensen’s side nearly drove him mad at times. He hated it, and some days he even hated Jensen. But that hate stemmed from love, which made it even worse. Through the open window, a carriage could be heard, so Ciel made himself get up and go out to the courtyard.

Ciel smoothed his clothes and made his way carefully down the stairs. Jensen held the curtain aside and looked right at him as the carriage circled and came up to the main staircase. Ciel did his best to keep his face calm and detached, but he knew Jensen would see the truth in his eyes. The week they’d been together, they’d fucked two or three times every night. At least once each night, Jensen had taken him face to face, gazing into his eyes and telling him how beautiful he was. Ciel’s heart pounded, and he fought to stay in place. He wanted to run away, but he had no choice but to stay and face Jensen.

Jensen opened the carriage door the moment it stopped. He jumped out and walked right up to Ciel without acknowledging anyone else. Hello, Ciel. How are you?

As well as can be expected, my lord. He bowed low. Your parents are away at the moment. They’ll return in a few days, and Lord Dax will be here soon as well. Your room has been prepared.

Jensen watched the servants taking his trunk for a moment, and then he simply stared at Ciel. Thank you. Are you truly well? There’s no one standing near. Please tell me.

I’m fine, Lord Jensen. Please come inside so you can rest after your journey. He turned to the side and gestured to the door with his hand.

Jensen frowned but walked inside. Where have my parents gone?

To the Carthinian Ruins. Your mother wanted to explore and sketch the landscape and the buildings.

Jensen sighed. They didn’t want you with them? I know Mother missed you when you went with Erik to his dominion.

She invited me, but I’m being trained to do the accounts. I chose to stay here and work.

You mean they’ve been fighting a lot, and you wanted them to have time to themselves?

Ciel trained his gaze on the stone floor. "I believe you know the