Page 11 of Savage Fire

Again, he leaned in, his breath against her neck, his body heat infusing her back like a heating blanket set on “lava”.

“And Iwilltaste you, my Tessa. There is no doubt about that,” he drawled, his deep voice like the smoothest whiskey.

Her body throbbing with want, her blood singing so loud the booze she’d drank was fleeing from the noise, she stared at the women around her.

The knowing smirk from Fae. The indulgent grin from Skathi. And the wary nod from Liz.

Tessa groaned, wishing she hadn’t thrown back that last shot of Cuervo, because she was feeling a little too reckless.

Sliding from the booth with all the grace of a drunken penguin, she stood, then snapped a turn toward Fang, who was leaning against the back of the booth, all six-foot-three of lean, tanned, hard, delicious muscle in insouciant repose. The man looked relaxed, but there was a predatory nature to him, a pulsing wave of dark and danger that tasted like sex, power, and risk.

Planting her hands on her hips, and lifted her chin and pinned him with her gaze.

The wicked, lopsided grin on his face made her tummy flip.

“Fine. Let’s go. You want this, let’s do it. But don’t blame me if your night ends with disappointment.”

At her words, he seemed to freeze. His massive body going taut, as if he couldn’t believe she’d finally given in.

Was this it? Was this when he’d laugh, roll his eyes, and tell her he was just fuckin’ with her?

His eyes, once full of mischievous humor, turned dark—all humor gone. Replaced by a burning victory so hot, it singed her from head to heel.

He pushed off the back of the booth and strode toward her, stopping only when his toes touched hers. Refusing to move, to show any sign that he intimidated the hell out of her right then, she peered up into his eyes, taking note of the seriousness in his expression. The flirty, fun Fang was gone.

In his place was the predator. The wolf who’d just cornered his prey.

God…why did that make her panties wet?

“Disappointed,mi amor? Impossible. I could never be disappointed by something I have wanted for so long. And I have wanted you. Since the very moment I first saw you.”

She blinked at him, barely able to comprehend what he was saying. He’d wanted her since she first stepped foot in the clubhouse with Skathi nearly a year ago? That was impossible. He didn’t even know her then. And she looked nothing like the women she’d seen him with at the grocery store. Up until that second, she’d thought his pursuit was about him wanting what he couldn’t have, that she fought him so she intrigued him.

Could it really be something else?

“I can see by the look on your face that you don’t believe me.”

He was damn right about that.

“But you will.” He grinned wolfishly. “You’re drunk right now, so we’ll put a pin in our date. But, be assured, by the time our date night together is over, you will belong to me. Body and soul.”

She gasped, the power of him thrummed between them. Fire of need licked at her blood, and she fought to swallow down a moan.

Suddenly dead cold sober, she realized what she’d just done. Hell, she’d really done it. She’d agreed to go out with Fang. The player. The manwhore. The man who wouldn’t know monogamy even if it poured hot coals down his throat. The man who was now looking at her like he’d just won the ultimate prize.

Her.

Aw, shit.

Fucking tequila.

Beneath the waning moon, the ragged remains of her nightgown caught in her fists, she collapsed to her knees, a sob stuck in her throat…as the man she’d given her heart and soul to walked into their home, another woman naked in his arms.

Tessa jerked awake, gasping breaths making her chest heave as she desperately tried to drag air into her burning lungs.

What. The. Fuck. Was. That?

Never in her life had she dreamt of something so…heartbreaking. Over the last several months, she’d dreamt of terror, pain, hopelessness—all bleedover from being kidnapped, held captive, and tortured by human trafficking scumbags. Those dreams were scary as hell, leaving her shaken and covered in sweat the morning after. But those dreams…they didn’t affect her like the dream she’d just had.

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