Savage Hunger: Savage, Book 1 (31 page)

Footsteps sounded and she vaguely heard either Quinton or Larson mutter good-bye to her. The door to the hotel room opened and shut a moment later, leaving silence in their absence. Even as Warrick returned to her, his steps were silent. But she knew he was approaching. Could sense his gaze on her with the way the hairs on the back of her neck lifted.

When his arms slipped around her waist, her heart fluttered in her chest like a trapped bird and her knees became a little unsteady.

“Sienna.”

Her name was a rush of warm, moist air against her ear. She let her lashes flutter closed and she leaned back into the welcoming, solid embrace of Warrick’s arms. The comfort it automatically gave.

“I don’t want you anywhere near that trade tomorrow,” he muttered thickly.

“We don’t have a choice. You need my dad back, Warrick. And I know you’ll protect me.” Her throat caught. Or he could try. Still, she didn’t voice her doubts, but added instead, “You always do.”

His arms tightened around her waist and his chest lifted with the deep breath he drew in.

“I swear to you nothing will happen tomorrow,” he vowed, his lips brushing the nape of her neck. “But I hate, absolutely hate the possibility that something
could
happen. I don’t trust this.”

Sienna’s pulse quickened with images and a fear she would never admit aloud to Warrick. The idea of possibly ending up in the hands of the people who’d killed Leo scared the hell out of her. But there was no choice.

She shoved the uncertainties and dread of tomorrow to the back of her mind and focused on the man holding her. It wasn’t too hard, already her body had softened with awareness, molding into his warm, protective embrace.

His lips brushed the curve of her neck and shoulder and a tremble rocked her body. Her lips parted and a breathy sigh fled her lips.

“Make love to me, Warrick,” she whispered. “Please. I need you right now.”

Warrick made a low groan, the sound reverberating in his chest and against her spine. Then he spun her around and lifted her, carrying her toward the bed before gently laying her down on the mattress.

He followed her body, lying down next to her and lowering his head to take her lips in a slow, deep kiss. Sienna responded with everything inside her, stroking her tongue against his in a slow, poignant dance that said so much that neither of them seemed able to say aloud.

Need slid through her blood, scorching every nerve ending and awakening every one of her senses. When Warrick teased a hand lightly down her body, her bottom clenched and her toes curled. A soft moan of pleasure built in her throat.

He broke the kiss, lifting his head slowly to stare down at her. There was hot, potent desire in his gaze, but it was the tenderness in his eyes that had her breath catching and tears pricking behind her eyes.

How long had she been in love with him? As a teenager, she’d always assumed it was a crush. But maybe it
had
always been more. There was no denying it now—whether he knew it or not—Warrick held her heart firmly in his hands. It was exhilarating, it was soul gripping, and it was so frighteningly dangerous. Because she knew it would be all too easy—and likely—that he would crush her heart.

All the thoughts in her head must’ve been reflected in her eyes like a mirror, because Warrick’s nostrils flared and his gaze heated with possessiveness. His gaze slid lower, to the marks on her neck and his mouth curved softly.

“Mine,” he murmured and lowered his head, brushing his lips against the marks on her neck. “You’re mine, Sienna.”

Of course she was. And probably always had been. Her stomach twisted and she closed her eyes on a ragged breath. But would he always regret marking her? Claiming her as his mate? Regret everything he was going to inevitably have to give up?

“Do you regret it?” she asked, before she could stop herself.

Warrick froze, before slowly lifting his head. “Why would you ask that, Sienna? I made the choice to make you my mate.”

“I know you did. But that wasn’t what I asked. I asked if you regretted it.”

His gaze darkened and he shook his head “It’s a foolish question.”

Then why won’t you answer it?

“We belong together, Sienna. You know this as much as I do.”

His kiss moved downward, to the neckline of her dress, and her thoughts scattered quickly, like startled crows in a park. Only her growing need for him and the consuming fire in her blood remained.

Warrick’s lips traced her body through the thin cotton dress, and then he found a nipple and sucked through the fabric. Her body arched off the mattress and she cried out, delving her fingers into his hair and drowning in a whirlpool of sensation.

He tugged the thin strap off her shoulder, pulling the dress down just enough to bare her breasts. She’d forgone the bra and was thankful for it now as his mouth covered bare skin. If it had been pleasure before, now it was nirvana.

Cries of pleasure spilled from her lips and she writhed on the mattress, her hips lifting off the bed as the ache between her legs grew. Maybe it was because she knew they were mated now, but her senses seemed even more heightened than usual. Her breasts more sensitive.

Every breath she drew in filled her nostrils with the smell of the soap on his skin and the natural, musky male scent of his body.

The stubble on his chin scraped against her breast as he suckled her nipple, wreaking havoc on her body and raising her to a higher state of arousal.

Warrick lifted his head and stared down at her. “You’re so beautiful, Sienna. So responsive to my touch.”

As if to demonstrate, he eased his hand down her body, gathering the fabric of her dress in his hand and bunching it up above her waist. He moved his fingers beneath the silky panties, and caressed the cleft of her sex.

She cried out sharply, before holding her breath as he slowly sank into her channel.

“I love that I’m the only one who’s made love to you, baby,” he murmured and lowered his head to kiss her low on her stomach. “I love that you belong to me.”

But do you love
me
?
They were just words, and everything he did and said showed how much she meant to him, but there was a part of her that desperately needed to hear him say it. To say that he’d marked her consciously.

“Warrick…”

“Let me love you, Sienna.”

For now, it would have to be enough. She let out a whimper of surrender and gave herself over to the moment.

He began a slow penetration with his fingers, while his lips trailed lower and closer to the sweet spot that ached so wonderfully.

Finally his mouth was there, finding her clitoris and tormenting it. Making love to it. Slowly, tenderly. Keening moans spilled past her lips and her hips rose and fell with the pressure of his mouth.

When she climaxed into ecstasy, tears spilled down her cheeks and she made no move to stop them or wipe them away. Warrick did that for her, moving up her body and kissing away the dampness as he gently stroked her cheek.

“You’re my world now, Sienna.” He kissed her forehead and then her lips once more, in a soul-searing kiss that once again had her heart jackhammering.

You’re my world now.
She should’ve been elated by the words. But one word was a harsh reminder that held her joy in check.
Now.
He was giving up everything to be with her.

She tried not to think about that as he lifted his head and moved away from her. But it was only to shed his clothes, then to remove her dress completely, tossing it to the side, before pulling her panties free from her body.

It built inside her, slowly but then gaining momentum. The need to claim him as much as he’d claimed her. The desire to bring him pleasure and see him lose control.

When Warrick moved to touch her again, she shook her head and pressed her palms against his chest.

“It’s my turn,” she said huskily.

Warrick’s heart kick-started at the intent in her eyes, and he didn’t try to stop her as she eased him back onto the bed.

He knew what she was going to do, and his body rejoiced in the idea.

She crawled over him to straddle him, almost feline as she lowered her mouth to his neck with a purr of pleasure. Her teeth scraped over the pulse beating like crazy, before she stroked the warm moistness of her tongue to soothe the same spot.

His body responded, the blood shooting south to his groin and lifting his cock against the softness of her buttocks. He bit back a growl of need, resisting the urge to grab her waist and lift her up and back just enough so she’d sink onto his erection. But there was something so sensual—so intimate about her exploring his body. He didn’t want to miss a moment of the experience. And he was pretty damn sure she’d never explored another man like this.

She sighed softly as her lips shifted from his neck to his collarbone, working a path down his chest.

“I love the way you feel,” she murmured. “So hard. So…male.”

Which was why they worked well together
. A soft chuckle built in his throat, but died when her tongue flicked over his nipple.

“Sienna…” he rasped.

“Please. You’ve given me so much pleasure, Warrick. Let me try to do the same.”

Try. As if there was any doubt. He groaned at the image her words evoked. “Oh, God, you do, baby. Every time I touch you. Taste you. Am inside you.”

A visible tremor ran through her body and she lifted her head to look down at him. Hot need burned in her eyes, along with trust and something dangerously close to love.

The realization sent a shard of ice through his blood, cooling his feverish need just a bit as he thought about what that meant. The implications of having a love that he didn’t deserve.

He pushed a strand of pale blonde hair from her face and the vulnerability in her blue gaze melted something inside him, vanquishing the unease. Whether he deserved it or not, he wanted her love.

She’d taken off the bandage in the shower and he could see now that the red mark on her shoulder had faded, but still his gut clenched. The sacrifice she’d made had the ability to make his throat burn with emotion. It swelled his chest with pride at her strength and courage. And it drove the fear of God into him at what could have happened. Thankfully there seemed to be no effects though. Her humanity was her saving grace.

Warrick’s gaze slid to her neck, to the marks he’d left by claiming her, that were barely visible now. Clarity smashed into him like a two-by-four, stealing his breath and leaving him stunned.

It was so clear. He would give up everything to be with her. He would walk away from the shifter community, from the P.I.A., without regret. Because nothing—
nothing
—was more important than Sienna. Loving her and building a life with her. Maybe he didn’t deserve her love but, dammit, he’d take it.

He’d told her a moment ago they belonged together, but it wasn’t until this moment that he believed it with every fiber of his being.

“You look awfully serious,” she whispered with a small, nervous laugh. “Am I really bad at this or something?”

“You’re perfect, Sienna.”
In every way.

He’d fought this for years. Had told himself he could never touch the younger sister of his good friend. And that it wasn’t normal to be so possessive, protective, and physically drawn to a human woman. It went against everything in his very nature.

But he’d been a fool. A fool to push her away. A fool to deny to himself how he felt about her.

“Sienna,” he murmured, his throat tight. “I’m so sorry.”

Skepticism flickered in her eyes and her brows drew together. “Sorry? What on earth are you apologizing for now?”

Instead of answering her question, he slid his palm that rested on her hip inward, to the flatness of her belly. He closed his eyes and was slammed with the images of a baby inside her womb. Their baby. How perfect Sienna would be as the mother of his children someday.

What if she was carrying his child now? It was entirely possible. They hadn’t used protection, and he sure as hell didn’t plan on starting now. She was his mate. A child was a foregone conclusion. He liked the idea of her being pregnant with his child. Probably a little too much.

“Warrick, are you all right?”

When she tried to move off him, he cupped her hips again and held her still, opening his eyes to meet her gaze.

“I’m fine. I just—”
realized you’re my everything.
“I need you, Sienna. Just don’t stop.”

Relief flickered in her eyes and she tossed her hair, before giving him a smile that was pure seduction and intent.

“I have no intention of stopping. I’m enjoying myself far too much.” She licked her lips, before lowering her head again.

The silky strands of her hair brushed across his chest, just before her tongue rasped over his nipple again. He reached a hand up to catch a few loose strands, running them through his fingers as he closed his eyes and gave himself over to Sienna’s exploration.

She moved down his body, her hot mouth exploring every little defined muscle and ridge along the way. When she was just inches away from his cock, he didn’t breathe. His lungs burned as he waited for her mouth to envelop him. Waited to see if she’d be that bold.