Savage Hunger: Savage, Book 1 (18 page)

She couldn’t stop the tension that seized her muscles and knew immediately he’d picked up on it by the knowing grunt he made. She swore softly and fisted her hands.

“It was deduction, kid. I pretty much figured it anyway. You’ve got a dead body turning up in an empty lab after the agents combed that place and found it empty. Meaning Leonard ended up there after.”

“Stop,” Sienna choked out, tears burning her eyes. Her stomach clenched at the thought of what Leo’s last few minutes must’ve been like. The terror and pain he’d gone through. “I can’t…I can’t go there right now.”

“You don’t have a choice, Sienna.”

“You’re wrong,” she shouted and turned to face him. “You know what? I don’t have to answer any of your questions, Agent Quinton. I don’t care if you’re the end-all be-all of agents within the P.I.A. If you think I’m guilty of something, than say it outright. Arrest me. Have me subpoenaed. Do whatever it is you need to do, but we’re done here. I’ve told you everything I can.”

Quinton’s eyes were like hard chips of blue ice. Lacking any warmth and full of accusation.

“I could turn you over to the local police. You’re wanted for questioning by them. But with local law enforcement you won’t be offered the same protection the P.I.A. can offer.”

“Protection?” she repeated in disbelief and shoved a strand of hair off her face. “I’ve been abducted, harassed and nearly killed—how the hell can you call this protection?”

Quinton stepped closer, almost nose to nose with her now. “You’re alive
because
of us, Sienna. And you’d do well to remember that. If I turn you over to the humans you may as well kiss your ass good-bye.”

A trickle of fear rolled down her spine, even as her anger at the agent in front of her pricked deeply. What if he was right? What if whoever had killed Leo wanted her dead too? It wasn’t completely farfetched. She couldn’t trust humans. Couldn’t trust shifters. My God, she was literally on her own here.

“But you’re right about one thing, Ms. Peters. We’re done here. For now. Get your butt back to the safe house and think real hard about all the things you’re
not
telling me.” Quinton stepped back, unblocking her escape on the path back to the house. “Because next time we talk, I’m not going to be so nice.”

This was nice? And no way was he letting her go just like that. She eyed him suspiciously, before glancing down the path again.

For someone who was supposed to be the Big Bad Agent within the P.I.A. who evoked terror, he seemed to be letting her off way too easily. There’d only been a handful of questions at most, and she’d only given hints of truth. Of course he’d promised a next time, but hopefully she’ll have gotten the hell out of Dodge before next time came.

When he made no attempt to block her retreat, she lifted her chin and stepped past him. One step. And another. When she was a few feet past him she started to relax.

“Oh, but I do have one word of advice.”

Of course he did. Damn. She’d known it had been too easy.

She didn’t bother to turn around. “And what might that be?”

“Don’t get involved with Warrick Donovan. Or any shifter for that matter. Our kind can’t—”

“Mate with humans? Save me the info dump.” Her lips twisted at the painful reminder. Dammit, she was done having this flung in her face. That she would never measure up. “I know all about the archaic little rule within your society, Quinton. And you have nothing to worry about. I don’t want to be Warrick’s mate. I just want to fuck him.”

If her intent had been to shock him, it seemed to have worked, because a heavy silence met her response. She couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder anyway to steal a peek at his face. But there were no wide eyes or open mouth. Instead there was that hint of amusement again and maybe—though she probably was imagining it—a glimmer of respect.

The latter possibility robbed Sienna of her smugness and again put her on unfamiliar ground. Turning away, she continued up the path and away from Quinton.

Chapter Eleven

Warrick paced the front porch, his hands fisting and unfisting at his sides. His whole body was taut with worry for Sienna. For the intensity of questioning Quinton no doubt was bestowing on her right now. Shit, she would probably be a freaking mess when she came back.

He wanted to be there with her, to shield her from the brunt of the verbal attack she was no doubt undergoing. But dammit, it needed to be done. She wouldn’t confess to him, but she’d crack under Quinton’s scrutiny. They all did eventually.

“Shit.” Casting another glance into the woods, he shook his head when she showed no sign of appearing.

He needed to do something. Distract himself. His muscles itched and the wolf within him screamed to run free. His brows drew together and he grunted. Now there was an idea. A good run would calm him down a bit and appease the wolf.

Wiping another bead of sweat off his forehead, he cursed the damn humidity and heat. Maybe a run and then a swim.

Decision made, Warrick pulled off his T-shirt, dropping it onto the porch and then shucked his shorts a moment later. With a low growl, he jumped from the porch and tore off into the woods, heading toward the river.

The transition happened rapidly. His muscles and bones twisting in a mild burn that was so chronic to shifting he barely noticed it anymore. Black fur covered his skin and a moment later the shift was complete. He fell onto all four legs, howling his frustration as he tore through the trees.

Even though it was still early in the day, the summer sun showed its heat. With the tension in his body easing from exertion, Warrick followed the sound of the river. He broke from the trees and made his way out onto the rock-laden river’s edge.

The rushing water slowed at this location, making it not nearly as dangerous to cross or swim. The curve of the river and isolation from other property made it almost a secluded bath. One he intended to indulge in, being that it was so damn hot.

He padded slowly into the shallows, letting the coolness bathe his paws and his legs.

He’d just lowered his head for a drink, when the sound of a twig snapping stilled him. Warrick slowly lifted his head again and scanned the forest, a growl of warning building low in his throat.

There was no one at first glance, but someone was there. He inhaled deeply to pick up the scent and the fight left him.

Sienna was nearby. Watching. It was amazing he hadn’t picked up her presence moments ago. But he’d been blinded by frustration and the need to run.

Warrick padded from the water, swim forgotten, and allowed himself to transform back to human.

“You can come out, Sienna. I know you’re there.”

Another twig snapped, before she stepped from the trees. Eyes wide and hands clenched in front of her, her gaze swept over him. He felt no embarrassment or shame in his nudity, but instead a surge of confidence at the feminine awareness in her eyes.

“It’s such a beautiful thing,” she said softly. “When you shift. You’re beautiful, Warrick.”

Was she referring to him in wolf form? Or human? Either way,
beautiful
was an interesting word choice. His lips twitched and he allowed himself the equal opportunity to run his gaze over her. She didn’t look the least bit traumatized or ruffled by her interview with Quinton. If anything she looked mildly irritated, and once more entirely too sexy.

He should ask her how the questioning went. Or escort her back to the house. Instead he walked slowly toward her, until their bodies almost touched, and slid a hand up to tangle in the softness of her hair.

Her lips parted on a sigh and her gaze—full of trust and desire—sought his.

Sienna was the only female in a safe house full of men. And by the way the other agents had been watching her this morning, Warrick knew they had to be feeling the strain of it.

The way she looked at him now, combined with what had happened last night, sent a rush of pleasure and possessiveness through him.

Need her.

With a tug of the silken strands, he pulled her head back, angling her mouth up toward his, before crushing his lips down on hers.

Want her.

She molded herself against him, making a soft moan of pleasure as he teased her and tasted her. Sliding his tongue against hers in a slow rub that had his blood pounding and his cock rising.

Oh God how he wanted her. Wanted to ease her to the ground and take her. Hear the sound of her pleasure echoing in the forest. But he couldn’t. Dammit, he
couldn’t.
He needed to remember what jacked-up circumstances had brought Sienna back into his life in the first place.

With one last seductive nibble on her bottom lip, he lifted his head with a sigh. Her eyes remained closed, lips parted and moist, and her face was flushed with pleasure.

“Don’t stop this time,” she pleaded huskily.

Brushing his thumb over her lips, he muttered, “I have to, Sienna.”

“No. You really don’t.”

Before he realized what she was doing, Sienna had pulled off her shirt and shucked her shorts and panties.

Oh shit.
His cock lurched as he ran his gaze over her slender, naked body. The small curves of her breasts, gentle flare of hips, and cleft covered in golden curls between soft-looking thighs.

“You don’t know what you’re asking, Sienna,” he muttered thickly, even as he reached for her, drawing her flush against him.

He ground his hips into hers, letting her feel his arousal. Let her realize just how hard she made him. But she didn’t run, instead Sienna rubbed herself back against him. Heat flared in her eyes, smoldering in intensity as her breathing hitched.

“Of course I know what I’m asking, Warrick.” She leaned forward and kissed him this time. Catching his bottom lip between her teeth and nibbling. “I’m not a damn child. And neither are you, so man-up and let’s do this already.”

Warrick bit back a groan, his hands sliding to her hips to hold her still. But the touch of her silky skin against his fingertips only heightened his need. Dammit, she made it sound so damn easy.

Maybe he
was
overthinking this. Maybe she could handle one time. And it would certainly clear the must-fuck-Sienna haze from his mind a bit.

“You know you want to.” She slid her hands into his hair and sighed, her head falling back and the pale curve of her neck exposed. “You know I want to.”

Warrick’s gaze slid to the fast beating pulse in her neck, and it became almost hypnotic. The quick throbbing.

No.

Still, his head lowered, his lips seeking the pulse that was a dead giveaway of her excitement. Sienna squirmed against him, her plea for more a whisper in the air.

Warrick exhaled in a rush of air, his last coherent thought being that he was utterly screwed.

Yes. Oh God yes.

Sienna almost purred when he closed his lips over the curve between her neck and shoulder. An arrow of pleasure shot straight down her body to between her legs.

Warrick’s hand moved in a sweeping caress down her body. Setting her on fire with each place his fingertips brushed.

A cry of disappointment ripped from her throat as he pulled away abruptly. But then the world tilted as he swept her up into his arms and moved them toward the river. He didn’t stop at the river’s edge, but waded into the water she’d just discovered him in moments ago.

She hadn’t lied. Warrick was achingly beautiful in wolf form. But as a human, he was ruggedly handsome, and equally dangerous.

“I need to cool us off a bit, or I’ll take you in three seconds flat,” he muttered.

He carried her toward the middle of the slow-moving river and set her down. The water hit about waist high, sluicing over her heated body. She only blamed part of her state on the sun and humidity, the rest was due to Warrick and his sensual assault on her senses.

His lips covered hers again. His tongue pressed deeply to tease and arouse. She kissed him back feverishly, the ache between her legs growing and her nipples hardened. More. She wanted more.

When his hands moved up her waist, agonizingly slowly toward her breasts, she couldn’t breathe. He stopped at her rib cage, before his fingers traced the sensitive undersides of the small swells.

“Please,” she whispered against his lips, and was rewarded when his thumbs swept up over the taut peaks.

Sienna let out a ragged groan and weaved her fingers into his short hair, arching her body into his. He cupped her fully, kneading her breasts and lightly pinching her nipples.

Her mind spun and her knees weakened. It became hard to tell up from down, let alone try to find a reason why she shouldn’t be doing this. And no matter how much she wanted this, there were reasons. But right now they didn’t matter. They’d ceased to matter since Warrick had made love to her with his mouth last night.

It seemed as if Warrick had surrendered to the inevitable as well. He groaned and arched her body over his arm, thrusting her breasts closer to her face, and a moment later his mouth replaced his fingers.

Each wet rasp of his tongue over her nipple had her crying out. Pleasure swirled through her, quicker than the river rushing past them.