Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(71)

She ached to think what it would do to him when he realized he was wrong. Just as she trembled with fear that he was right about his own damage within the spirit trap. All her life, she'd waited for him, this kind, gentle, beautiful warrior. But their time together appeared destined to be all too short.

Chapter Fifteen

Hawke pulled Faith into the library, then closed the double doors and pulled her into his arms, brushing her hair aside to kiss her neck. Even after the training he'd put her through, she smelled like ripe, sweet raspberries.

"I need to be inside you."

"Here?" she asked on a laugh, a disbelieving lilt to her voice.

"I'm on duty." He unfastened her jeans.

She snorted. "Duty for what?" Then gasped as he slid his hand down into her panties.

He pushed his fingers through her curls and down into heat and wetness. "Goddess, you're ready for me."

"Always." The word trembled on a sigh.

With shaking hands, he released her and knelt before her to pull off her shoes. Then with quick, desperate movements, he shoved her jeans and panties down her legs and onto the floor, baring her slender calves and creamy thighs and all the lush beauty between to his starving eyes. He pulled off his shirt, then shucked his own pants while she stripped off her shirt and bra.

His hands shook, his body quaking and throbbing with incendiary heat as she turned to him, a smile on her lips, passion in her eyes. He lifted her, and she wrapped those lovely legs around his waist. Positioning himself against her damp, swollen opening, he pushed inside. His eyes closed at the exquisite feel of her tight little sheath, slick with arousal, hot and throbbing. And at the feel of her arms around his neck, the sweet torture of her taut ni**les teasing his chest, the softness of her lips against his earlobe, and her hot gasps and moans, all driving him up fast and hard. She was fire in his arms, his light in the darkness, and he loved her beyond measure.

Capturing her mouth, he kissed her, sweeping his tongue inside as his body drove into hers, melding with hers, making them one.

Lightning bolted through his head, and he groaned. He knew what followed. But even prepared, the pain of those raking, vicious talons had him rearing back, his mind going white with shock, his body rigid with agony.

"Hawke?" Faith asked softly, worriedly.

As the pain slowly dimmed, as the hawk's angry cries faded away, he felt Faith's soft hand stroke his hair with a featherlight touch, over and over, easing him back.

He swallowed, looking at her. "Bad timing."

"Are you okay?"

A smile tipped the edge of his mouth. "That's my line." With a sigh, he nodded, though it was a lie. The hawk was trying to destroy the connection between them. The animal spirit had been damaged in that spirit trap. Or maybe it was Hawke who'd been damaged. Either way, the bird spirit was trying to gain his freedom, a freedom that Hawke would not survive.

The pain had been one hell of a distraction, but his body still throbbed, demanding release. He pulled partly out of Faith, then pushed himself deep inside her again, the intense pleasure shoving away the last of the lingering shock.

Faith moaned, the sexy sound combined with the scent of lovemaking sending his senses tumbling all over again.

"Can you finish?" she asked softly.

"All too soon. There's nowhere I'd rather be than inside you. And I'm not coming until you fly for me."

She smiled. "Let's fly together, my hawk."

He captured her mouth once more, driving into her hard and fast until they were both breathless and panting, until she cried out with release, squeezing him in hard, rhythmic spasms. He followed her into oblivion, pumping his seed inside her, loving her with his body, his mind, his soul.

For long minutes, he held her wrapped around him, her body melting into his, soft and warm. When he thought he could move again, he pulled out of her, set her on her feet, and kissed her, then grabbed his jeans and dressed.

Life was so unpredictable. For decades, little had changed. He'd spent his life fighting draden, studying whatever subject intrigued him, taking the occasional lover or two. For the most part, he'd lived a calm, predictable immortal life until a few months ago when they'd realized that the Mage were trying to free the Daemons. Ever since, he'd felt as if things were spiraling out of control, but never more than the past few weeks, the past few days. Now he found himself in the center of a vortex, the love of his life in his arms, and death stalking him, trying to rip him from his animal. Heaven and hell snaring him at once.

He finished dressing, watching as Faith tied her shoes and rose to stand before him, her eyes once more sparkling, her mouth swollen from his kisses and lifted in a smile of love and feminine satisfaction. "You are so beautiful," he murmured, brushing the hair back from her beloved face. Then he took her hand and opened the door before he was tempted to strip off her clothes all over again.

Together, they went in search of Kougar and found him standing in the doorway of the media room, talking with Fox. As Hawke approached, Faith at his side, the distinct scent of pine caught his nose. A second later, two wraithlike females appeared in the hallway, then quickly took corporeal form. Ariana, Kougar's mate, and the ever-scowling Melisande.

Faith's hand tightened in his and he squeezed hers gently. The Ilinas definitely took some getting used to. As Kougar went to his mate, Fox stepped over to join Hawke and Faith.