Savage, page 10
part #1 of The Healer Series
“Daniel,” she moans, and I lose it.
“Do you know how much I’ve missed you?” I growl as I thrust. “Your fucking smell, your laugh, your eyes, your body. Fuck, I’ve missed you, Kitten,” I grunt as my climax builds. She claws at my skin and her breasts bounce as I pound into her, bringing me closer. “Tell me you’re mine. Tell me you’ll always be mine. Fucking scream it when you come,” I demand, and like my good little kitten, she obliges. Her orgasm lets loose like a raging fire, scorching her skin pink and leaving me ruined.
“I’m yours, Daniel. Only yours. Always yours,” she cries as she comes, tears streaming down her face. I drop her legs from my shoulders and stretch over her, still thrusting.
“Bite me. Drink from me,” I command, and she doesn’t hesitate. Her fangs stab my neck and with her first pull I come, filling her. My eyes flutter closed as she drinks and my dick twitches inside of her. When I begin to soften, she retracts her fangs and turns her head, exposing her neck for me.
“Drink,” she says and my mouth waters, desperate to taste her, but I stop myself. She’s pregnant, and she’s been starved for so long. I can’t take from her.
“Not now, Kitten,” I kiss her neck softly attempting to ignore the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. The intimacy between us goes so deep. It leaks into everything—from the need to satisfy ourselves and each other, to protect, and even to nourish. It’s as if we’re programmed to sate everything by using one another. But we want it. I want to give her everything she needs, fill her with my love, my cock, my blood—everything. And I have. She’s having my child. “You need your strength.” I pull out and lay beside her, pulling her to me. She’s facing me, her eyes still wet with tears, and I gently wipe her cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I should have waited before I put you in that position and pressured you.”
“You didn’t pressure me, Daniel. I wanted you. I want you. Now, yesterday, every day. No matter what. I’m sorry I look so . . .” she pauses and presses her forehead to my shoulder. “So bad.”
Pulling back, I take her face in my hands and force her gaze to meet mine. I have many gifts and powers, but right now I wish I had the ability to make her see herself through my eyes. “Kitten, you don’t look bad. You look like you’ve been starved. But make no mistake . . . you’re fucking beautiful, a pearl. And as soon as Mama gets a hold of you she’ll fatten you right on up.”
Her eyes flutter and she licks her lips. “I can’t wait for her cooking.”
I brush her hair from her shoulder. “I was going fucking crazy looking for you. I’m sorry it took so long. I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”
“Hey.” She smiles softly as her little hand cups my cheek. I close my eyes relishing the touch. “You did find me. And I’m okay. Don’t carry that guilt.”
“What they did to you . . .” I clench my jaw as anger surges through me. “To our . . .” Shit! We haven’t discussed the baby yet. Our gazes lock, and she immediately looks away, her eyes hazing over with some unreadable emotion.
“I didn’t know until a few days ago. He said the baby looked good.” She shrugs. “I heard the heartbeat.”
“You did?” I ask amazed. I so badly want to hear it, to see what she saw. I want to wipe away how she found out, and rewrite it so it’s happier—beautiful—like it should be.
“Yeah. Really loud and strong.” She lays her hand on her stomach and my eyes are glued to it. My hand finds hers and she shifts her hand and rests mine to her belly, pressing her hand to mine. “I think I’m still in shock.”
“Me, too,” I admit. How could we not be? “I know neither of us expected this, or planned for it, but . . . it’s a part of you and me. We made this. That means more to me than you will ever know.”
Tears stream down her face as she leans in and kisses me. “What if something is wrong with it? After everything they did to me . . . what if . . .” I pull her to me and hold her tightly as she dissolves.
“Listen to me, Kitten. No matter what, this is our child. We will protect it. Keep it safe. No matter what.”
“How?” she sobs. “How, when now it will be hunted by vampires and lycan?”
She presses her face to my chest and I squeeze her tighter to me as I struggle to keep my own doubts from my voice. “We just will. Besides,” I smirk, trying to lighten the mood and cheer her up. “Little Daniel Jr. has a bad ass Mama hybrid that can suck the energy out of numerous beings at once.”
She snickers. “Daniel, Jr.?”
“For now. Until we can think of other boy names.”
“How do you know it’s a boy?”
“Just a feeling.” I shrug.
She pulls away from me and stares up at me. “Are you angry with me for killing them?” This time, I swallow hard. Angry is not the word I’d use to describe it. I wish it had been me to take every one of those mother fuckers down. What I am is worried. But I won’t tell her that. She’s smart enough to know what happened at Fierce’s compound will have repercussions; ones that involve her and our child’s life, not to mention all of the hybrids. Cleo will get word from Fierce and send drones of lycan to hunt us. Deep down, she knows this. What she really wants to know is do I blame her?
“I’m not angry with you, Kitten. Things were . . . complicated. Anyone in your place would’ve reacted the same,” I assure her.
Her gaze narrows in disbelief, but she rests her head on my chest again. “I shouldn’t have killed them. I don’t know how to explain it, but my ability to reason was gone. I hated them. Everything about them. They’re energy made me ill, they’re scent made me insane. I don’t know where all that power came from.” Her hand finds her belly again, and her brows furrow. “Do you think it’s because of the baby?” she questions, more to herself, as if it just occurred to her for the first time.
“Kitten,” I whisper as I kiss her forehead. My poor girl. She’s been through so much, and there’s still so much more to come. So much more anger to be felt. “There’s a lot I have to tell you, and I will. But I want more time—just us—before I do. Just a little while longer where the only thing that matters is you and me, naked, in this bed. Just a little longer where I’m yours and you’re mine.”
She nods in understanding. “I am yours. Always.”
Daniel and I spend hours in bed, touching each other everywhere, entwined so completely, it’s difficult to see where he begins and I end. We are one. Our alone time is exquisite but short lived. It doesn’t take long for the panic to set in as Rachel’s words wreak havoc in my mind, torturing me far worse than anything the doctor did.
You will be asked to make a choice. One that may define your future, who you will be.
Death will bring death. I’ve turned her words over and over in my head, but how can I know what decision would render such devastation? To say I’ve always been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl would be a gross understatement, but now . . . I have to be smart,. I must think, and over think, everything. When faced with a tough choice, I need to focus and do my best to make the right choice. Not wing it like I have in the past. Winging it is what put us all in this situation to begin with. No matter what, this is my fault. I owe it to everyone I love to reign in my impulsiveness.
Not long after Daniel and I dress, Eileen and Flynn return, both grinning from ear to ear as they enter the room. “It smells like padussy in here.” Eileen scrunches her nose.
“Padussy?” I ask reluctantly, already wishing I hadn’t asked.
“Pussy, dick, and ass,” Flynn interjects, and I turn bright red.
“Okay.” I jump up from my perch on the bed. “Maybe we should go.” I motion for everyone to exit. Leave it to Flynn and Eileen to totally call us out and embarrass the shit out of me.
“Yeah. As much as I love you guys, I don’t much care for basking in the aroma of your love making,” Flynn calls over his shoulder as he exits.
“Flynn!” I groan, squeezing my eyes closed in embarrassment.
“I think it’s my new favorite smell,” Daniel purrs softly in my ear as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind. “The smell of blood and sweat, our come all mixed together. Fuck, it turns me on,” he growls as he pulls my ass into his groin, pressing his erection to me. I squeeze my legs together as the ache Daniel always causes throbs. His hand drops from my waist and slides between my legs. “Ready for me again already, Kitten? My, my.” His fingers work diligently over the fabric of my jeans, and my head lulls back on his shoulder. I want him again. I want him now. “Are you going to come for me again?” he murmurs and I feel the beautiful build up, the rush of everything exquisite on the cusp of coursing through me.
“You guys coming?” Eileen asks as she rounds the corner of the door. “Oh, shit!” She covers her eyes and scurries away. “I guess one of you was coming.”
“Jesus, Eileen!” Daniel shouts as I melt into a puddle of mortification. Eileen just caught us getting off like a bunch of high schoolers. When my eyes meet Daniel’s, he grins. I’m not sure if he finds being caught funny, or the fact I’m beet red. “I’ll have to finish later, Kitten.” Daniel takes my hand and kisses it. “I promise I’ll make it worth the wait.” His gray eyes dance over my body, and I lick my dry lips. Damn, he’s sexy. His expression goes dark suddenly, and I tilt my head in question. “I’m so fucking glad your back. I . . .” He swallows hard, fighting the emotions. “I can’t be without you ever again.” He finishes before kissing my hand once more. “Let’s go.” He motions for the door.
“You expect me to move after melting me with words like that?” I gawk at him.
He chuckles softly. “If you can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”
I kiss his lips softly. “No need. Where you go, I go. No matter what.”
Daniel and I sit in the back seat of a sedan they obtained from who-knows-where, while Flynn drives and Eileen rides shotgun. I’m sandwiched in the middle with Rachel asleep on one side, and Daniel on the other. As soon as we got in, Daniel snaked his arm around me and pulled me to him, crushing me to his side. I love this possessive side of him, but I know he’s scared. I know he’s afraid I’ll disappear again. We ride for hours while the three of them try to explain everything that happened after I was taken.
They tell me about the farm where Sarah, Lila, my brothers, and Rhett took the kids after Andre was destroyed. But everything gets heavy after that. Daniel explains that Sarah knew where I was, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from spewing obscenities. What is her deal? Why is it one minute I think we’re on the same page, and the next, she’s trying to get me killed?
“There’s more,” Daniel grumbles and swallows hard, pulling me closer to him—if that’s even possible—kissing my forehead.
“The doctor who . . .” Eileen begins then pauses. She doesn’t want to say tortured, even though that’s exactly what he did.
“Who tortured you,” Flynn finishes, and Eileen gives him an appreciative glance.
“His name is Bruce Whitlow.” Eileen finishes, and Daniel squeezes my hip. Bruce Whitlow. Realization dawns, and my eyes widen as I face Daniel. A tic thrums in his jaw, his mouth in a thin flat line, as his hold on me tightens. Bruce Whitlow. I push away from Daniel, too transfixed to remain locked in his hold. I’m like an atom about to split, threatening to vaporize everything in near proximity. Bruce Whitlow. My biological father? My mother’s rapist? Before the vile things I’m thinking spew from my lips, Daniel’s arm weaves around my waist again, jerking me back into him.
“Don’t push me away. Your pain is my pain,” he whisper-growls against my ear. When my gaze meets his, the pain he speaks of stares back at me. I know it isn’t up for discussion. I may think I’m on my own on some level, but that’s not true. Daniel shares my pain—that’s how deep our connection runs. “Understand?”
The intensity of his grey stare renders me silent. I nod once and turn my gaze forward, letting my body relax into his, despite being a trillion tiny particles of chaos on the inside. His words and closeness soften the edges of my rage, but my skin tingles everywhere as I remember the cruel things the doctor did to me. Eileen continues to speak, but her words fade to distant mumblings. When my stomach clenches and everything begins to spin, I focus hard to swallow back the knot in my throat.
“What is it?” Daniel’s mouth finds my ear. I shake my head dismissively, hoping it will ease his concerns, but before I know it, he tilts my chin up. “Look at me,” he orders, his tone deep, but calm. When I open my eyes and meet his stare, his head rears back slightly. Whatever he sees, it’s surprised him. The car feels too small, like a coffin set to run out of oxygen at any moment. My stomach rages with nausea and hunger, and I shudder as Rachel’s scent lingers in the air. Blood. I want blood, and I want it now.
“Calm down, Aldo,” Daniel orders, and I know I’m scaring him—he used my real name.
Rachel’s pulse, slow and steady, beats in my ear. If I don’t get out of this car, I’m going to rip her throat out. Jerking my eyes to the right, I see we’re driving through some town. We’re maybe moving at forty miles per hour, but it’s slow enough. I have to get out. Within seconds, I’ve leapt from the car, running like crazy with no destination in mind, only instinct leading me. Get away from anyone I might hurt. I pass the buildings in a flash, and practically fly over a hill as I head toward the tree line, when I come to a screeching halt. My fangs erupt as the scent of the three children playing baseball blankets my senses, their heartbeats thundering in my ears.
Someone yells, but I can’t hear what they’re saying. Hunger is all that drives me as I move toward the children. Before I reach the three pasty-faced kids, something jerks me. I whip back, hitting something hard, and then something snaps, and it all goes black.
“No!” I yell as her body collapses to the ground.
“Shit.” Flynn steps back as I approach.
“What the fuck was that?” I roar as I shove him farther away from her before slamming my fist into his jaw, causing him to stumble back.
Flynn shakes his head and jerks his jaw back into joint. “I didn’t mean to snap her neck.” He opens and closes his mouth a few times, testing its range of motion. “I was just trying to jerk her back,” he explains as I fall by Kitten’s side.
“Goddammit! She’s pregnant!” Pushing her body onto her back I growl, “Wake up.” I smack her cheek lightly, and she whimpers. I know Flynn didn’t mean to snap her neck, and she’ll heal just fine, but after everything she’s been through it was awful to witness. Biting my wrist, I let the flowing blood trickle into her mouth. Eileen has all three of the kids Kitten was after grouped together as she spells them to forget what they’ve seen. Kitten’s hands grasp my wrist after a minute, and she latches on. Her pulls are fast and strong, but I won’t stop her until I absolutely have to. She needs blood. Our child does, too.
“I’m sorry, Daniel.” Flynn runs a hand through his hair as he stares down at us.
“What was that?” Eileen asks as she stands by Flynn.
My gaze falls to Kitten and my chest tightens. She’s not herself. Before she was taken, she would have never gone after children. I could barely get her to feed on adults, and she almost died because of it. She’s definitely not herself. How could she be after everything she’s been through? I knew she would need time to heal, both physically and mentally, but perhaps I underestimated just how much healing she’d need to do. My energy is dropping, but I still don’t stop her. When her eyes pop open, and she realizes what’s happening, she immediately releases me. When I move to help her up, she holds her hand up, stopping me. Pride is a fickle thing, and hers is strangling her right now. She knows she just snapped and has no idea how to keep it from happening again. Anyone would feel ashamed, knowing they don’t have control of their emotions, no matter how justifiable it is. We follow her silently back to the car where she slips inside without a word. Flynn, Eileen, and I share a look before we all slide in, too. As soon as I’m next to her, she slides against me and buries her head into my neck. I think she may cry, but no tears or even labored breathing commence. Flynn and Eileen glance at one another so quickly I almost don’t catch it. They’re worried. Honestly, so am I. I don’t want to believe she’s on the verge of snapping—of becoming the creature hybrids are at risk of becoming. But what just happened says she is. Her eyes almost glowed before she leapt from the car, nearly jerking Rachel out with her. If I hadn’t caught the unconscious girl, she’d have ended up under a tire. Hugging her tightly, I let out a slow breath. I can save her. I have to. No matter what.
We near the farm and she pulls away to stare out the window, her eyes glazing over as she watches the rolling hills and fields pass by. She sits up when we turn onto the gravel driveway, craning to see the farm house. She’s anxious to see her brothers. Maybe they’re just what she needs to snap out of it. Maybe they’re the key.
As soon as Flynn puts the car in park, Kitten rushes out and up the stairs to the house. Whit and Hudson are already exiting the screen door as she nears them.
“Daniel . . . I—”
“I know,” I grumble as I meet Flynn at the back of the car, keeping my eyes on Kitten. The three of them are embraced, so I keep my distance, giving her some space.
“Could be a problem having her here, man,” Flynn adds as he scans the yard where several kids are flying kites. “This is like taking a meth addict to a lab, or something.”
“Let’s give her a day. One of us stays with her at all times. She needs time with them. Go check on the doc for me, would ya?”
“Sure thing,” he nods and heads toward a small shed to the rear of the barn where Whitlow is being kept.
“She’s on the verge.” Eileen crosses her arms and joins me in watching the three siblings embrace. She means on the verge of snapping, becoming a savage.
