Page 57 of Born Savage

Her face became pinched and she wrapped her long legs around my waist, locking her feet together. Which only proved additional leverage. Soon, I was on my back again, her face peering down at me with even more vile and hateful aspirations twisting through her mind.

The towel had shifted, exposing her breasts while bunching up around the tops of her thighs. With her nipples tight, plump, and pink, my mouth watered in near urgency to indulge in another taste. She sat back on my chest, eyes hooded and mouth twisted.

There was nothing like such an incredible view. She didn’t seem perturbed or embarrassed, other than her chest rising and falling while contemplating what to do with me. Challenging her to see how far she would go was the most entertainment I’d had in a long time.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in my room?” She lifted the knife, twirling the weapon in a practice intimidation tactic. She knew better, but was determined that I should accept she wasn’t a helpless female.

Before bothering to answer, I waited as she gripped the hilt, holding it in such a way to indicate preparations to gut a man. However, her moves were practiced, her training allowing her patience. She dragged the tip of the blade from one side of my jaw to the other, taking her time without bothering to see if I was concerned.

I wasn’t.

“Peter suggested we have a discussion before we head out tomorrow. You should know what we’re facing. And there will be difficulties.”

The pressure of the blade against my collarbone through the shirt was almost indistinguishable, but when she lifted her chin to stare me directly in the eyes, I could tell she was contemplating the location where best to cause injury.

“I’m not interested in anything you have to say. And if you’re stupid enough to believe I intend on going anywhere with you, the experimentations fried your brain. Or maybe you were just this way before the change.” She continued savoring the belief she was in control, rolling the edge of the blade down my shirt.

“Are you certain you don’t long to hear what I have to say? Or would you just prefer hard actions?”

She twisted the blade, pricking the skin on my arm above one of a dozen scars. If she was hoping I’d complain of discomfort, she didn’t understand the makeup of Savages. “What I know is that you’re going to leave this compound and never return. If you don’t go quietly, I will cut your heart out with a spoon. If you even have a heart. But you never know, maybe I’ll keep your friends as spares, using them as I will and for whatever reason I so desire. We could use a little brawn around here. With their primal instincts and low intelligence, I’m certain they’ll follow orders like good little soldiers.”

The way she traced the long line of the scar brought questions to her mind while refusing to act upon her heightened curiosity. Obviously, the woman had trust issues.

“Such terrible words for such a beautiful lady. Threats are beneath you.” I had a desire to search for the crescent moon. And if what Peter had told me was true, would that change anything? I wasn’t honestly certain of the answer.

Every action was cunning, her smile only illuminating her thoughts. Without cutting the material, she expertly lifted my shirt with the blade, exposing a portion of my abdomen.

“You should see me when I really get angry. This isn’t about issuing threats, Rage. This is about protecting my people.” Her eyebrows knitting together and with her other hand, she lifted the material even higher. “You’re scarred everywhere.”

“Life in the Graveyard is dangerous.”

“How many beasts have you killed?” Scooting further down, she still believed she could make me anxious by running the edge of the blade across the top of my pants.

“Are you more curious about beasts, monsters, or men?”

Her shrug was as if bored. “Maybe all three.”

I dared taunt her anger by rolling the tip of my finger down her cheek. Her skin was soft, much more than with most females. Between the harsh seasons and lack of decent food, skin and hair were the first to face the body’s ultimate betrayal.

“Enough.”

“Freedom Hunters?”

“Dozens.”

Her chest was heaving from excitement. “I’ve always hoped to gut a few.”

“Where we’re going, you could get your chance. They are highly trained.”

“So am I.” Her laugh was indulgently seductive.

While the fun and games were enough to keep me interested, I’d had enough of her superiority complex. She’d gotten the initial upper hand, but with a slight toss using my hip, I turned her over, pressing half my weight against hers. Her gasp meant I’d shocked her. Good.

“Be careful what you ask for. Do you have any idea what Hunters would do with you? What they will do to your body? Trust me, princess. I’ve seen exactly how they handle a beautiful female. Very few if any recover.”

She struggled in my arms, swiveling her hips back and forth in trying to gain some leverage. This time, I ripped the knife from her hand, tossing it aside, then dragged both arms over her head. I was finished playing games, the intense throb in my groin creating an entirely different need than evoking any further conversation.

“I should have guessed a beast like you couldn’t figure out that I can handle myself against all predators, yourself included.” She almost managed to free one arm before I snapped the fingers of one hand around both her wrists. Now she was spitting fire. “And I’m not your princess.”