The Darkest Whisper (23 page)

“I won't. Now give me more. Everything, like you said.”

Up and down she rode him, his fingertips clutching her so tightly they nearly broke skin. The fear of hurting him faded, leaving only a consuming sense of neediness.

“That's the way. So good…so very good…” He was panting, grinding against her, his thumb stroking her clit. “Don't want it…to end.”

Neither did she. Nothing had ever consumed her like this. Nothing had ever taken over her mind and body so fervently, to the point that nothing else mattered. Her sisters could find them, could be searching even now. Swift as they moved, they could be here already.
Can't stop. Need more.

Her head fell back, the ends of her hair brushing his chest. Reaching up, he cupped and kneaded her breasts, applying a little pressure to arch her backward. She complied, anchoring her hands on his thighs.

“Turn around,” he commanded roughly. “I want
your
blood.”

Perhaps she hesitated too long—what exactly did he want? Had she heard correctly? He palmed her knees, lifting, and spun her. His cock remained inside her. When she was facing the other direction, away from him, his fingers curled around her neck and drew her down. Her back to his chest. His teeth were in her neck a second later, and she was spasming, screaming at the bliss.

He didn't suck her long, just enough to experience his own orgasm, hips hammering up and into her, one hand flat on her stomach to grind her against him. Nothing compared. Nothing was as wild, as necessary, as liberating. She and the Harpy soared through the heavens, lost in the pleasure of another climax.

An eternity passed before she collapsed, fully and
completely spent, unable to breathe. Her chest was too constricted. Sabin's inhalations were choppy, as well, his grip on her now weak.

The Harpy was quiet, had quite possibly passed out. Gwen didn't roll off him, even though she wanted to pass out, as well. She'd been fighting sleep for so long, restful sleep untainted by pain and injury, but now it was creeping up on her, determined to consume her.

She lay exactly as she was, head cushioned by Sabin's neck, his arms wrapped around her, his shaft still inside her. Stars winked in front of her eyes—or maybe it was the sun dancing between the clouds.

What they'd just done…the things they'd done…

“I didn't rape you, did I?” she asked softly. Her cheeks burned. Without the cloud of lust, she admitted that she'd been jealous, attacked him, and had decided to have sex with him whether he wanted it or not.

He laughed. “Are you kidding me?”

“Well, I was kind of forceful.” Her eyelids were so heavy she blinked—closed, open, closed—and then they refused to open again, as though they were glued together. If her sisters found her asleep, they'd freak out. They'd be disappointed in her, and they'd have every right. Had she learned nothing from her capture?

“Actually, you were kind of perfect.”

Words to make her melt. Instead, she stiffened, still fighting with all her might to remain awake for just a little longer. Anytime she and Sabin relaxed together, no anger between them, Doubt usually pounced.

“What's wrong?” he asked, suddenly concerned.

“I was waiting for Doubt to try and tear me down.” Were her words truly as slurred as they sounded to her? “You say something nice, and he's knocking on my door to point out why you're wrong.”

Sabin pressed a soft kiss into the side of her neck. “He's afraid of your Harpy, I think. She comes out, and he goes into hiding.” Joy and awe had entered in his tone there at the end, as if he'd reached some sort of decision with those words. But what?

“Someone afraid of me.” She grinned slowly. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me, too.” He stroked between her breasts, his index finger grazing a nipple. “Do Harpies have any weaknesses I should know about?”

Yes, but to admit it was to court punishment. Her sisters would cut her off as her mother had; they would have to. It was a rule that couldn't be broken. Lethargy fragmented her thoughts before she could reason things out. She yawned and settled more snugly against him, fading…still struggling…

“Gwen?”

A soft entreaty, but it pounded through her mind, and she grabbed on to it like a life preserver. “Yes?”

“I lost you there for a moment. You were telling me about a Harpy's greatest weakness.”

Was she? “Why do you want to know?”

“I want to make sure you're protected so no one can use it against you.”

Good idea.
I can't believe you're actually considering this
. But this was Sabin, the man who'd just kissed and touched her everywhere. The man who wanted her strong, invincible. And she didn't like that she had such a weakness, either. It was how the Hunters had subdued her, though they had never realized exactly what they'd done. It was what flooded her with worry every time her sisters decided to hire out their services.

“You can tell me,” he said. “I won't use it to hurt you. I swear it.”

Once he'd admitted to forsaking his honor if it meant winning a battle. Would he forsake this vow? She sighed, sinking further under the blackness.
Stay awake. You have to stay awake
. This came down to one decision: to trust him or not. He desperately wanted her to help destroy his enemy. No way would he jeopardize that by betraying her.

“Our wings. Break them, cut them off, bind them, and we're powerless. That's how the Hunters got me. They didn't know it, but when they wrapped me in that blanket to abduct me, they paralyzed my wings, thereby weakening me.”

He squeezed her tight. In comfort? “Maybe we can design something to protect them, something that still allows them to move freely. But you're also going to need to train with them bound. It's the only way to…”

His voice faded completely, the darkness thicker than ever. Lord, she'd done so many bad, bad things this last hour. She'd given him her body and snuggled in as though he were a comfortable couch. Harpy rule: always leave afterward.

If she fell asleep, Sabin would have to carry her out of the forest, past her sisters, who would see her zonked out and vulnerable, just as she'd feared.

I'm a failure in every way.

“Don't…let…them see,” she managed before sinking into oblivion.

D
ON'T LET THEM SEE
…what? Sabin wondered as he gathered the sleeping Gwen in his arms. A mewling sound parted her lips, soft and oddly erotic. He tightened his grip, feeling oddly protective.

Don't let the Lords see her naked body? Done. He would rather die than allow another man a peek at her beauty.

Don't let her sisters see her like this? Again, done. They would ask questions he wasn't ready to answer. More than that, they tended to react negatively to the thought of Gwen snoozing. Why? It still made no sense to him.

Another mewl, this one quieter, breathy. His stomach clenched in desire, because it was a sound she'd made while grinding on his erection. The sun stroked her, highlighting the glimmer of her skin, her rosy nipples. Her hands were folded over her belly, her body loose, her head resting trustingly at the base of his neck. Strawberry curls tumbled over his arm, his stomach, and it felt as if he were draped in silk.

Should he dress her? No, he thought a moment later. He didn't want to jostle her and accidentally wake her. Finally, she was resting. Truly resting. And all he'd had to do was pleasure her senseless, he thought dryly. Then he grinned. If he had to, he would pleasure her senseless
every night. Girl needed her rest, after all. And (cough, cough) he was used to making sacrifices.

He didn't even consider dressing himself. He would have had to put her down and coverage wasn't a good enough reason to risk a twig poking her or a bug crawling on her.

Sabin kissed her temple, unable to help himself, and stalked forward. Remaining in shadows, he edged toward the back of the fortress, always careful of the cameras, pits and trip wires he and the other warriors had designed to keep Hunters out.

What had just happened between him and Gwen…He'd never experienced anything like it before. Not even with Darla, whom he had loved.

And unlike Darla, Gwen just might be strong enough to cope with his demon over the long term. It had been a startling, and welcome, revelation.

Do you really think you can keep her? How long will she love you, if she's ever stupid enough to love you? You might betray her. And you're always rushing off to fight. Worse, you plan to fight beside her sisters. What if they're killed? Gwen will blame you, and rightly so.

The doubts didn't float through him. They screamed, pounding into his temples, beating at his skull. He cringed from the sharp ache of it. Now that Gwen was asleep, her Harpy tethered, Sabin's demon had come out of hiding, pissed and desperate to feed.

What better to feed on than the secret fears Sabin only then realized he'd harbored? And now that they'd been forced to the forefront of his mind, there was no blocking them; they nearly swallowed him whole.

Did he want Gwen to love him?

To have those amber eyes regard him softly, today, tomorrow, forever…to have that luscious body in his
bed every night…to hear that sparkling laughter…to protect her…to awaken her to the strength of her true nature…

Yes, he wanted her to love him. She could handle his demon in mental combat, as he'd just discovered. Hell, she'd frightened the beast into submission.

Part of him had loved her since the moment he'd seen her, he realized. When she'd been captive, helpless, his every instinct had clamored to save her. Then, as she'd struggled to keep her Harpy under tight control, to follow the rules of her people, he'd found himself fascinated by her. But he'd never really understood her, had mistakenly thought her weak. Now, he saw her for what she really was: stronger than her sisters, stronger than him.

For most of her life, she'd suppressed a seemingly insuppressible brute. Sabin had trouble caging his demon for more than a day. She'd left her family to pursue her own dream. She hadn't run from him, even when she'd discovered his origins and even though she'd been afraid.

Oh, yes. There was more courage in this tiny female than anyone had realized. Even Gwen. Now, because of him, she wanted to attack the Hunters. She wanted to place herself in danger, each and every day.

If she were injured, she would heal. That, he knew. Rationally, at least. The thought of her injured, bloodied, broken, however, nearly had him roaring as he snuck in one of the back entrances to the fortress.
I'm a fucking idiot!

No argument here
.

Frowning, he made his way to a secret passage, a passage Torin monitored.

Sabin stared up at one of the hidden cameras and shook his head, a command for his friend's silence.
Never once did he slow his gait, though. When he reached his bedroom, he barricaded the door. Did Gwen love him? She was attracted to him, otherwise she wouldn't have given herself to him. And so passionately, at that, gifting him with the best orgasm of his long, long life. She trusted him, otherwise she wouldn't have admitted her greatest weakness. But love?

If she did love him, could that love withstand the trials they were sure to face? Yes or no, he realized he wouldn't let her go. She belonged to him now, and he belonged to her. He'd warned her there would be consequences to giving herself to him.

He wanted to know everything about her. He wanted to see to her every need. Pamper her. Kill anyone who hurt her—even her sisters.

He'd once told her that he could—and would—sleep with a woman other than the one he loved if it meant aiding his cause. How silly he'd been. How naive. The thought of bedding another woman left him cold. Even sick. No one would feel, sound and taste like his Gwen. More than that, it would hurt her, and he couldn't hurt her. And the thought of Gwen bedding another man—touching him, kissing him, enjoying him—just to win a battle sent Sabin into a killing rage.

What if she wants another man? Desires him? Craves—

Another word, and I swear to the gods I'll find Pandora's box and suck you out by the balls.

You'd die
. There was a tremor to the words.

You'd suffer. And we both know I'll spite myself to destroy my enemy.

Who would guard your precious Gwen?

Her sisters. Shall I go get them? Let you talk to them?

Silence. Sweet silence.

Sabin gently placed Gwen on the bed and tucked the covers around her. A loud knock echoed from his door, and he scowled. Gwen didn't move, didn't moan or act as if she was aware of the interruption in any way. That saved the intruder's life.

Three long strides and he was at the door, removing the barricade then ripping it open.

Kaia tried to push her way inside. “Where is she? You better not have hurt her, Mr. Pound On Gwen For Giggles.”

“It wasn't for giggles. It was to strengthen her, and you know it. You should be thanking me, since you failed to do your job. Now go.”

She glared up at him, hands on her hips. “I'm not leaving until I see her.”

“We're busy.”

Golden eyes, so eerily similar to Gwen's, darted down his naked body. “I see that. I still want to talk to her.”

Don't let them see,
Gwen had beseeched. “She's naked.” Truth. “And I'd like to get back to her.” Again, truth. “Your conversation can wait.”

A wide grin spread over the Harpy's beautiful face, and his shoulders sagged in relief. Thank the gods sex wasn't against those damned Harpy rules.

He and Gwen were going to have a long talk when she awoke, and she was going to outline exactly what was permitted and what wasn't. And then the rules he didn't agree with would be demolished.

“Mom would be so proud! Little Gwennie, bagging an evil demon.”

“Get lost.” He slammed the door in her face. Then he grimaced and spun. Thankfully Gwen still hadn't moved.

Throughout the day, warriors, females and Harpies alike came knocking on his door. He couldn't relax be
cause he couldn't get Gwen's words out of his head. Don't let
who
see what, damn it? The sisters had already seen her sleeping with him, the night of their arrival, so now he wasn't sure that was such a big deal. They hadn't tried to punish her or anything. Was Gwen ashamed of the wounds in her neck? Maybe he shouldn't have bitten her.

The first visitors were Maddox and a smiling Ashlyn, holding a plate of sandwiches. “After such an intense training session, I thought you and Gwen might be hungry.”

Maddox hadn't been smiling, but he hadn't insisted Gwen be made to leave, either. “Thanks.” Sabin took the plate and shut the door. He'd pulled on a robe, wanting to give the appearance of a sexual marathon—Kaia had seemed happy about that, so surely it wasn't shameful to the Harpies—while still maintaining his dignity.

Next came Anya and Lucien. “You and Gwen wanna watch a slasher movie with us while we pretend to read those dusty scrolls but really make everyone else do all the work?” Anya asked, waggling her eyebrows. “It's gonna be fun.”

“No, thanks.” Again, he shut the door.

A short while later, Bianka arrived. “I need to talk to my sister.”

“She's still busy.”
Sleeping
. He shut the door in her scowling face.

Finally the visits tapered off. Sabin texted Torin to let him know he was staying behind while the others went to Chicago.

Figured, was the reply. Which is why I already found you a replacement. Gideon's taking over the mission.

His relief was almost palpable. Leaving Gwen like this wasn't even an option.

If any of the men are injured, you'll blame yourself
, Doubt said.

Sabin didn't try to deny it.
With reason
.

What if you begin to resent Gwen?

Now he rolled his eyes.
I won't
.

How do you know?
Sulky, whiny.

She's not to blame. I am. If I resent anyone, it will be myself.

Seriously, how could he resent this tenderhearted woman? If she'd known about the trip, he suspected she would have wanted to go herself.

Sabin watched the sun set, the moon rise and the sun reappear, unable to rest or relax. Why wasn't Gwen waking up? No one needed
this
much rest. Did she need blood again? He'd thought he'd given her plenty in the heat of their loving.

Sabin leaned back in the chair he'd dragged to the bedside. The wooden slats dug into his back, but he didn't mind. They kept him alert, his mind active.

Look at you. You're becoming everything you've ever despised, he thought. Weak, because of a woman. Worried, over a woman. Vulnerable to attack, because of a woman.

“Sabin,” a breathless sigh rang out.

Sabin jerked upright in the chair, feet hitting the floor with a thump. His heart skipped a beat, his lungs nearly seized. Finally!

Gwen's eyes blinked open, but her eyelashes were matted together and she had to scrub them. Then their gazes collided, and he forgot to breathe. He'd wondered how she would react to awakening in his bed; he should have wondered how
he'd
react. He could have prepared himself. He was shaking, his blood heating at the sensual sight of her, rumpled and ready.

She frowned, attention sweeping the bedroom. “How'd I get here? Wait. Tell me when I return.” She threw her legs over the side of the bed and lumbered to a stand.

Sabin was already on his feet, already swooping her up in his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested.

“I know.” He deposited her in the bathroom, stepped back into the room and shut the door behind him, allowing her a measure of privacy.

What if she falls and hurts herself?

Shut up. You're not going to affect me right now.

A horrified gasp pummeled through the wood, and he grinned. She must have only then realized she was naked. Holding her like that had affected him madly. He was hard as a steel pipe, her female scent in his nose.

When he heard the water switch on, he grabbed a change of clothes and stalked to the bedroom next to his. The door was open, so he walked inside without preamble. The three Harpies sat in a circle on the floor, stacks of groceries in the center. They were laughing about something—until they spotted him.

Kaia's eyes began to bleed black, and Sabin's demon quickly retreated. “Our food,” she squawked and he grimaced. Funny. Didn't bother him when Gwen sounded like that. Rather, he just wanted to please her. “We stole it. It's ours.”

“Calm down.” Bianka slapped her arm, though her gaze never left Sabin. “About time you showed up. Where's Gwennie?”

“Showering. I need to use yours.” He didn't wait for permission, but headed into the bathroom and gathered a towel.