She blocked his way using her abilities until he fell back. Chest heaving, she came to a halt, bracing herself with her hands on her thighs as adrenaline thumped through her. God, but he was fast. Never had she seen anything or anyone move with that kind of speed. Dangerous man. Her man.
Having caught her breath, she rose to her full height. But even with her every sense on alert, she didn’t have the slightest inkling he’d circled around on her blind side until she turned to find herself staring into eyes gone night-glow. “Pretty, pretty, Sienna.”
Gripping her wrists before she could summon the cold fire, he tugged her close, shattering her concentration; his chest was a gorgeous, touchable distraction. There wasn’t even a hint of sweat on him. It should have been annoying, but she was far too fascinated by the smile flirting with his lips to care. “My Sienna.”
The absolute possession in his voice didn’t scare her. “Yours.”
A short, sharp nip at her neck. She shivered with pleasure, before twisting away from him using a move Indigo had drilled into her until it was second nature. She wondered if the wolf lieutenant had known this day would come. Hawke smiled at her, a delighted predator. Then he lunged.
She scrambled backward, only to feel him brush past her and into the forest.
The game was on again.
Taking off in the opposite direction, her night vision ample in the early evening light, she began to laugh inside. This was fun. It was only a couple of minutes later that she felt him pacing her in the trees to her left. Heart pumping hard and fast, she raised a wall of X-fire and disappeared in another direction, muddying her scent by using every trick in the book. It wouldn’t work of course. He was an alpha, his senses acute, and— A bouquet of wildflowers in her path.
Laughter bubbling out of her, she picked them up, put a cherry red bloom behind her ear. Taking the rest in hand, she looked up. And realized he’d herded her back to the cabin.
To the bed.
Butterflies in her stomach. Because she understood his words from last night now, knew that he’d been on his very, very best behavior. Tonight . . . tonight she’d be tangling with the dominant, wild heart of him.
Creeping up to the cabin, she tried to locate him in the dark shadow of the trees.
Silence.
Taking a long, deep breath, she made a run for it. Her feet left the ground midway through the journey, and she barely had time to utter a short scream before he dumped her on the bed, the wildflowers scattering around them as he braced himself above her, all playful smile and wolf eyes. “I win.” A sharp nip to her lower lip. “What’s my prize?”
Chapter 46
OH DEAR GOD. She was melting into a pile of goo. He was big and beautiful and impossible . . . and hers. He was hers. Not as she’d once imagined he would be, but this bond that continued to grow between them? It was as strong, as precious. “I’ll brush your hair for you.”
He blinked, thought about it. “All right.”
Delighted, she waited for him to get off so she could rise. He stayed in place, his gaze never moving off her lips. She parted them, felt his breathing change. “Hawke?”
“I’ll get you the brush.”
She hadn’t even managed to catch her breath before he was back over her again. “Here.”
Taking the brush, she reached up to push one hand through the thick silk of his hair. It was cool, soft, stunning. A wolf’s pelt given human form. “Beautiful.”
“More.” He dipped his head, allowing her to run the bristles through the strands. A low growling sound of pleasure accompanied her first stroke, and he lowered his body a fraction, so she could feel his weight against her legs. “Harder.”
Obeying, she ran the brush through his hair over and over. “You’re closer to your wolf than any other changeling I’ve ever met.” It told her so much.
“I am as I am.” A wolf’s answer. It had no time for overthinking things. “Open your mouth.”
She dropped the brush. “Wh—” His mouth took hers.
The kiss was hot and deep and all kinds of sinful, his hand closing gently around her throat to hold her in place as his tongue played with hers and his thigh rubbed against the arousal between her legs. When he let her breathe, it was only for the barest instant before he was taking her again. Her hands clenched on his shoulders, muscle and tendon flexing so powerful and hot under her touch.
“Sienna,” he murmured against her lips. “Smart.” Another bite to her lower lip, this one softer. “Strong.” His body settled heavily on her own, his erection a demanding hardness between her thighs. “Mine.”
When she used her nails on his back, he growled and dipped his head to suck on the pulse in her neck, making her body arch. Or attempt to. He was too heavy to shift. Fisting one hand in his hair, she breathed in the scent of him and knew that tonight he’d demand more than surrender, more than submission. He’d demand everything she was, then ask for more.
“Your heart’s fluttering like a bird’s.” A lick over her pulse.