Page 26 of Born Savage

Soft music played in the background, the light breeze from the warm air tickling the sheets barely covering our naked, sweaty bodies. Champagne sat in a bucket of ice, already opened and prechilled with two crystal flutes just waiting for when we both became thirsty.

Yes, the setting was perfect, if only in my mind, surreal in a way that brought more angst than delight. These were things I’d never experience.

“Yet I’m going to make you even wetter.” The intensity of his fingers and the dark promise of his words dragged me back to the present and to the bleak environment that would never change.

My mouth twisted, preparing to spew a typical nasty comment, but no words came to mind.

Everything about the way he pulled his slickened fingers under his nose then rubbed them across his lips was dirty. But when he shoved them into his mouth, I was in awe of just how sinful the Savage could be.

Was that part of their programming, using seduction to get whatever information they wanted? Or was he a special breed, a top achiever in his field?

“Sweet.”

The single word brought a complex array of emotions, or maybe it was the sound of his voice. So deep. So penetrating.

He backed away by a few inches and I slumped down on the wall, watching him with such an intense need I couldn’t breathe as he unfastened his pants. The corner of one lip was upturned as he watched me, taking his time to remove the rest of his clothing.

He had me at a disadvantage with my pants wrapped around my legs. Maybe the Savage was fearful I’d run. How could I get away with so many of them standing watch?

As soon as he was bare, I pushed away from the wall, the shock of what I was seeing almost too much to bear. The weight of his gaze was almost too intense. He wanted my reaction, so I gave it to him. I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip.

Everything about him reminded me that he was a true predator, eager to take what he wanted. With two steps that seemed to take forever, he advanced. From the way he was looking at me, heat swelled in my stomach. I’d never known anyone so expressive, a single look alone telling me his thoughts.

Ones that kept me floating on air.

He was going to devour me whole. With his fingers flexed, he rolled his palm down my stomach, the action so intimate my thighs clenched. The times I’d dared allow myself to wonder what it would be like to have a man look at me the way Rage was doing paled in comparison to reality.

As deftly as he’d done everything else, he pulled my pants down, yanking off one boot then the other. Standing only in panties, the rush of embarrassment hit me like the heavy swing of a sledgehammer. My reactions around him were involuntary. This time, I threw my arm across my chest.

“Never cover yourself.” He pulled my arm away easily even with my resistance.

His voice was so deep and sultry, I was clearly becoming mesmerized because my reactions were not my normal behavior. He chose that moment to slip his fingers under the elastic of my panties, tearing them off my body with little effort.

Instead of gasping from fear or annoyance, I sucked in a ragged breath. He stood only inches away, towering over me as before, but he seemed a giant now that I was standing in bare feet. The moment was oppressive until I felt his fingers brushing across my inner thigh.

He was purposely trying to drive me crazy. Did he expect me to beg? Not a chance. I turned my head on purpose, causing a simple yet profound reaction with his dark chuckle.

“You can try and deny your desire, but we both know better.”

What I knew was that this couldn’t occur. My resolve seemed more pronounced and I pushed away from the wall as I’d done before. Only this time I had every intention of getting the hell away from him.

Before I lost my way.

Before there was no chance of turning back and regret would leave me covered in shame and silence.

Apparently, the beast had anticipated my every move. I’d barely snagged my pants and made it two steps before he grabbed my arm, tossing me back against the wall.

This time when crowding my space, there was no room for error. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Anywhere but here.” The push-pull on my mind was extreme. Breathing was impossible.

“Is that what you really want?”

The retort was on my tongue, but I said nothing, another wave of suffocation stealing my breath.

And perhaps my thoughts.

But there was no mistaking the constant burn of yearning even as he spun me around, pressing my face against the wall. I had no idea what he was doing at first, pushing back against him just before his palm connected with my bottom.