~ TWENTY-SIX ~

Gabe left the club and returned to the hotel to face Adam. He found Adam and Hanna preparing to enter their suite for the night. “Adam,” he approached them behind, “I need to talk to you.”

Adam opened the door for Hanna. “I need to talk to Gabe. I’ll be just a minute, babe.” He shut the door and turned to face him. “Did Javier have any problems?”

“No. Javier walked right into the club and…” Rather than risk anyone overhearing their conversation, he switched to their private line of communication. I stayed for a few hours to make sure his entrance went smoothly. No one at the club suspected a thing. The vampires stayed away from him and Mary pestered the hell out of him. She threatened him with hurting Sara if he took off without an explanation again. I can’t believe the hell she has put Demetri through. When the time comes, he definitely won’t kill her gently. Anyways, Javier is a perfect replica. I’ve known him for centuries and couldn’t tell him apart from Demetri.

Now that Demetri is free to search, he’ll find Sara in no time. Adam placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “I know something is bothering you. Talk to me.”

Gabe nodded, hoping like hell Adam wouldn’t try to order him to stay, knowing it would end more than their friendship, it would end Adam’s life or his. “I need to leave.”

“You aren’t planning to return to Russia, are you?” Adam asked.

“No.” Gabe shook his head. “Idaho.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“Not really. I made a mess of something. I need to get it straightened out as soon as possible.”

“You’re being vague.”

“I am leaving.”

“Does this have something to do with Larissa?”

Gabe didn’t want to fight with Adam but doing so was inevitable. His firedragon rose in him, ready to kill. It was time to put it all on the line. Only one of them would walk away.  “She’s my mate.”

“You need to cool your ass off. What are you so pissed off at? I know she’s your mate.” Adam frowned. “I raised you from a boy, Gabe. I know you well enough to figure it out. The only thing I don’t understand is why you chose to hide it from me.”

“Would you condemn your mate to a life of bondage?”

“Are you serious?”

“I need you to give me an opportunity to reimburse you for the remainder of my father’s debt.”

“For what?”

“You took me as payment for my father’s debt to you. I want to assume his financial debt. I will repay every cent with interest.”

“Damn it, Gabe. You really know how to piss me off.”

“I need my freedom. I’m not walking away from this conversation without it.”

“Do you really think you need to kill me to get it? Is that why you tried to beat my ass at the club?”

“I can’t leave here belonging to you.”

“You don’t owe me, and I never owned you.”

“My father’s debt…”

“It was never your debt. He was a terrible excuse for a mate to your mother and truly horrible father to you. He beat the hell out of you. He tortured you and starved you. He forced you and your mother to suffer endless abuse for his amusement.”

“She never had a chance. She never knew peace. She finally lost all hope.”

“She should’ve been treated like a miracle.”

“If I ever hurt Larissa…”

“Damn it. You need to shut the hell up, Gabe.”

“If…”

“You’re not your goddamn father, Gabe.” Adam interrupted. “Not even close. Don’t you dare compare yourself to him ever again unless you want me to kick your ass. You’re nothing like him. He was a cruel coward. He targeted your mother because she couldn’t fight back. She couldn’t do a damn thing to protect herself or you. She couldn’t escape because he would find her. He kept her isolated, so she never had a chance to get help.”

“I Just need to know you would stop me.”

“I would stop any male from torturing and abusing innocent women and children.” He paused. “And you know damn well you would do the same.”

“You can’t be sure. And I know Joseph is worried about Larissa’s safety when she’s near me.”

“I am positive you would never harm her. She’s human. You’re a damn firedragon. You know damn well what happens to a human if he or she hangs around a firedragon for too long. It never ends well unless the human mate happens to be the firedragon’s mate. As your mate she is perfectly safe in your presence. She’s your other half. Joseph’s concern for her safety ended the moment he realized she’s your mate.”

“He knows?”

“Are you kidding? You’ve been following her around like a lost little puppy. Of course, he put two and two together.”

“It’s not as easy to hide as one might think. I can’t stand being away from her for long. My mind is constantly searching, reaching for hers. It worries me. I feel out of control sometimes.”

“That’s natural. She’s your other half. Your center. You need her.” Adam laughed. “And Joseph likes you. He likes the idea of her having you around. He knows you’ll take damn good care of her. He knows you’ll give your life to protect her. I took you away from your father to give you freedom. It was a gift. Not a debt.” 

Gabe was shocked. He wasn’t sure how to feel. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth when I first left with you?”

“I couldn’t tell you why I took you with me. You would’ve run from me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You know it’s true. If you thought I was saving you from the bastard, you would’ve resisted me. You were a stubborn little shit when I took you away from your father. You were hellbent on suffering for your mother’s death.”

“I’ll never forget how he tortured her. He destroyed her little by little. I wanted to help her, but every time I tried to intervene, I made it worse for her.”

“You were a child. You couldn’t have helped her. I am so sorry I didn’t show up in time to save her.”

“She wouldn’t have let you know what was happening. She hid the abuse. She was terrified of what my father could do to anyone who might try to stop him. She believed she was protecting the world from him.”

“She was a strong, courageous woman. Go your way for now. But you sure as hell had better not become a stranger. If you find yourself in trouble, you’d better let me know. As far as I am concerned, you’re my son, Gabe”

“You’re serious?”

“That’s why I’ve always kept you close to me. I have never been good at showing my emotions. I should’ve told you sooner.”

“Adam…I…”

Adam wrapped his arms around him. “Get your ass out of here. Go get your mate and bring her home to your family. We have many more wars to fight.”

“To win.”

“That’s right.”

Gabe turned to walk away but stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “If you need me…”

“I know how to find you. And if I don’t hear from you soon, you’d better start watching your back because I will hunt your ass down.”

“You can try.” He laughed as he turned to walk away.

****

Adam stood at the foot of the bed to take in the sight of Hanna sleeping. She was a miracle. His miracle. His salvation. The joy, the pleasure she gave him was indescribable. She’d come into his life and changed everything and nothing all at the same time. She loved him. Completely. Unconditionally. She fully embraced the good and the bad of who and what he was. Everything made sense. His world. His past. His future. “No,” he whispered, “Our world. Our future.”

He had love. True love that would never end. He had his mate. And loving Hanna, being loved by her, didn’t scare him. He wasn’t a child anymore. He wasn’t weak or helpless. He would always hold her close and protect her. He wouldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t fail her. He had the strength and ability to protect her.

She moved. She was so damn beautiful. She was perfect in every way he’d ever imagined. He would always cherish her. As long as they were together, they would survive anything; they shared a love that would grow stronger with every passing day. Their bond would endure until the end of time.

His plan to go after Evolved and Erebus wasn’t about revenge. Not entirely. He wouldn’t be much of a mate if he didn’t force them to pay for each tear she’d shed. He would do everything in his power to prevent them from hurting others. He was a mess when he first met her. But now his head was on straight. He was a warlord. He fought for those unable to defend themselves. He hunted down evil and destroyed it.

A small part of him wanted to take her away. Far, far away from everything and everyone. He wanted to spare her from a life of war, but he couldn’t. Besides, she wouldn’t want him to stop fighting against evil forces. With her by his side, he would destroy Evolved, Erebus, and other cruel forces of darkness.

A demon could haul his ass out of a life of war, but one could never remove the need to fight for justice from spirit. Besides, he never left a trace of an enemy alive to return and bite him in the ass, unless it was for sport or entertainment. He sure as hell wasn’t taking any chances with her ass. He would be the only one ever biting it.

“What are you doing, Adam?”

“Thinking about your ass.”

“What thoughts are you having about it?”

“Biting it.”

She sat up and pushed the blanket to the side. “You had better not unless you want me to bite yours.”

“I need to teach you how to make a more productive threat.”

“It wasn’t a threat.”

“What was it?”

She crawled to the foot of the bed, rose on her knees, and began to unbutton his shirt. Slowly parting her lips, she smiled at him. “Bait.”

His breath rushed out of his lungs in a low groan, a fiery current of desire shot straight to his groin as every muscle in his body tensed in anticipation. “For?” His voice sounded more like a low growl.

Her fingers moved over his chest and belly, caressing his flesh ever so lightly, teasing him, driving him mad. Her mesmerizing touch sent electrical current over his skin and through his muscles. “To lure you into bed with me.”

She took his breath away. She was so damn beautiful. She caused his blood to burn with need.  She awakened insatiable hunger in him. Everything about her turned him on. The way she looked at him, the way she touched him. He was so damn hard and swollen, so in need of slamming his cock deep into the tight, glorious heat of her body. “Why?”

“I am experiencing a desperate need to feel your body against mine.” Keeping her gaze on his, she unbuckled his belt. “I need you. I really, really need you.” She unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, kissing her way up his throat to his chin and across his jaw to ear. “Right now, Adam.” She pulled his pants down and bent her head. The warmth of her breath sent powerful currents of pleasure through his body. He was too damn hard. Painfully hard. Throbbing.

Wrapping her fist around the base of his shaft, she teased its hypersensitive head with her tongue. His heart raced, pumping hot blood to his groin. He was so painfully swollen.

“You’re so big…so hot.” She lifted her head to look up at him, moving her fingertips up and down the length of his cock. The sight of lust burning in her eyes heated his blood, her desire for him, and her need to please him drove him to the point of insanity. “You’re so hard. I can’t wait for you to bury your cock deep inside my body. But first, I need to taste you.” Gently rolling, massaging his balls, she dipped her head and ran her tongue up from the base of his cock and then swirled it over the crown. “I love to feel your body hard, hot, and aching for mine.” Her tongue teased, and her fingers explored as she sucked the throbbing crown between her lips.

Adam’s breath burst out of his lungs when she took his cock deeper into her mouth’s moist heat. The pleasure was intense. It was indescribable. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he miraculously resisted the urge to shove his cock down her throat. Then, sucking harder, she took his cock even deeper until he felt her throat muscles tightly clenching him as the intoxicating scent of her arousal filled his lungs. Need, wild and insatiable, slammed into him. He pulled her head back and lifted her to her knees.

He saw forever in her eyes when her gaze met his. “I’ll love you until the end of time, Hanna.” He felt stronger than ever. He felt whole. “I’ll always hunger for you. Only you.” He framed her face with his hands and bent his head to hers. “Kiss me.” His thumb moved across her lips. “Love me, Hanna.”

He made her feel like the most desirable, most cherished woman in the world. “I do.” She kept her gaze on his, wanting him to see it was true, needing him to believe it was true. “I love you, Adam.” She reached up and clasped her fingers together behind his neck to pull him closer. “Only you.” She inhaled him. His masculine scent driving her wild with lust as she feathered kisses from his chin and to his lips. “Forever you.”

The strength of their bond thrilled her. It enabled her to feel his determination to love her, to hold her close, and protect her until the end of time. She knew their souls were bound together for eternity. He belonged to her. She belonged to him. Nothing would ever separate them. He wouldn’t allow it to happen. She wouldn’t allow it to happen. Keeping her mind fully merged with his, letting him freely merge his mind with hers, didn’t scare her anymore. It felt incredibly intimate. It felt safe. Trusting him was easy. She had no doubt he would give his life for hers and she would give hers for his.

She surrendered to him, to his mesmerizing kiss. Wholly. Entirely. Her body. Her soul. Her spirit. He kissed her deeply, passionately making love to her with his mouth and tongue, letting her know he adored her more than anything else. She’d never experienced anything more fantastic, more thrilling than feeling his love and his need for her in his kiss. It was a beautiful, sensuous kiss that went on and on, further igniting flames of love and desire in her.

Leaning back just enough to look at her, he cupped her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples. “You’re so beautiful.” He bent his head and ran his tongue from the base of her throat to her chin. She heard herself moaning, low and soft. His wickedly hot mouth and tongue blazed a trail up her jaw to her ear, down her neck, and back up her neck to her ear. “I’ve never needed or wanted anything more than you.”

Again, his mouth fed on hers. Passionately. Hungrily. His tongue found hers, wrestled with hers. Still cupping a breast in each hand, he squeezed and massaged them. The sound of his harsh groan of masculine satisfaction rumbling in his chest as he kissed and touched her, sent marvelous sensations spreading throughout her body, centering between her legs, overheating her core. Her heart raced. Her blood hummed in her veins. Needing him. Aching for him to fill her. She moved her hands over his solid frame, exploring his well-defined chest and broad shoulders. She absolutely loved the way his entire body responded to her touch, his muscles tensing and, trembling beneath her palms and fingertips.

He reached down and pressed his palm against her mound. “You’re so hot, Hanna.” A low growl rumbled in his chest, vibrated over her flesh as he dipped his fingers inside her to test her readiness for him. “So damn hot and wet for me.”

 His lips left her mouth to feast on her throat, her shoulder, and her breasts. All the while, his strong hands touched her everywhere, exploring her body, worshiping her body, increasing her already insatiable hunger for him. She savored the heat of his lips on hers and the sensation of his tongue diving deep into her mouth to dance with hers.

He planted his knee on the bed, wrapped his arm around her, and leaned his more substantial body against hers to slowly force her backside onto the mattress. He guided her to the center of the bed and nudged her legs apart as he wedged his body between her thighs. The heat of his hard cock poised at her entrance he bent his head and kissed her again and again.

Feeding from the sweetness of her mouth, absorbing her essence into his very cells, he lingered at her hot entrance, his erection growing even harder, throbbing painfully.

Then, his jaw clenched, and his gaze locked onto hers, he penetrated her slowly. “Damn it, babe.” Once he’d buried his cock to the hilt, he went completely still for a few seconds. Her channel was magnificently hot and slick, her inner muscles gripping his cock so damn tightly. “You’re so fucking perfect.”

Moving slowly, plunging deep within her body, he made love to her gently. He was long and thick, filling her up completely, forcing her body to stretch to the point of burning. A burning that gave way to an intoxicating ache. She wanted him hard and fast. She needed him to lose control. Gentle was great, it was wonderful, but she needed more.

Digging her nails in his hips, she bit his lips, his jaw, and his chin to rouse and enflame his darker, more volatile nature.

“You want more, babe?” His voice a harsh whisper, and his breaths short and ragged, he continued to move slowly. He knew damn well what she wanted. What she needed. But he wanted to hear her say it.

“I want everything you have to give me. I need you to lose control over me. I need you to take wild and fierce possession of my body.” She bit his chin hard. “And I need it right now.”

Covering her mouth with his, he captured her scream as he rammed his cock into her and buried it to the hilt. He thrust his hips wildly, long, powerful surges over and over again with no restraint, with no fear of losing control with her. Since their minds were completely merged, he knew she was loving it, needing it, demanding it.

Each surge was faster and harder than the one before it. She felt so much pressure building in her. It was so damn intense. She could do little else but hold onto him, her nails digging into his shoulders as he shoved them into a tempestuous sea of ecstasy where wave after wave of sweet rapture washed over and through them.