Page 24 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“What are you doing here?” I whisper.

“The beast sleeps. I came to warn you. He plans to use you for your power and own gain. If you fall into his hands, he will destroy you.”

“I’m not afraid of dying.”

He shakes his head as a piece of golden hair escapes the tie at the base of his neck and sweeps across his cheek. “He won’t kill you, he will destroy everything you are, everything you stand for, and he won’t stop until he owns you, body, soul, and mind.”

“Nobody can own somebody.”

His eyes flash with a possessiveness I feel in my soul. He strides towards me and backs me against a small shelf. Grasping the backs of my knees he pushes me onto the shelf and steps between my legs, leaning his elbows on the wall around my head, caging me in. Velvet warmth glides over my neck and I lean into it, a small embarrassing moan escaping me. The heat slips around my throat and dips between my breasts. Archan pulls the zip of my suit down, exposing my black silk bra. He snaps open the front clasp and bends to draw a tightening bud into his scorching mouth. My head hits the wall and my legs wind around his waist, drawing him in tight. He bites down and covers my mouth with his hand, stifling the scream. My back arches off the wall as my hands dive into his soft hair, to pull him in or push him away, I’m not sure. He’s proving a point, and he’s proving it well. But I don’t feel owned, it’s a step beyond, I feel as if he possesses my very soul. Like he could be my savior or my demise. The rush of danger that accompanies being near him drops addictive adrenaline in my veins. A pulse in time to my heartbeat pounds through every part of my body.

“Was it the fire in the cabin or the one I lit in your body that kept you warm last night?” he rumbles. I didn’t see him last night, who the hell is he talking about? He presses a hard, demanding kiss to my lips before I can express my confusion. My mouth parts and allows him in. My zip lowers, and he groans when he finds me wet for him. The kiss turns frantic as it deepens and becomes a lifeline. The concerns I have about his mistrust in me fade into the background, nobody kisses someone like this and doesn’t feel something strong.

“I love the way you kiss me,” he states between nips of my lips. The sensitive flesh swelling in response.

I frown. “You said that in my dream.”

Finding the vulnerable and sensitive pulse in my neck, he draws it into his mouth and gives a quick nip. My body jolts against his. “You were dreaming of me?”

“Yes.”

He cups my ass and draws me against his erection. “And what were we doing? This?” He drops my ass, spins me around and flattens me against the wall. He tugs my suit down my arms, exposing my bare back, and kisses down my spine.

“It was a dream,” I mutter.

He dips into my panties, swirling his finger around my entrance. My head falls back onto his shoulder. He tugs hard, my panties snap and disappear. I knew the name of this place was a bad omen. The door slams open and Emi appears, hair and eyes wild.

“Hey, girlfriend, how about we team up, girls against boys?”

Her eyes scan over the scene of me half naked and the alpha male at my back making me squirm. Archan pulls away and tugs my suit up. He tucks my panties in his suit pocket as I spin around, my face flaming as I glance at Emi, but her hard glare is all for Archan.

“Archan, you big lumbering ass. What are you doing to my friend?” she says, folding her arms. My mouth falls open.

A wicked grin tips his lips. “Would you like the details, Emi?”

“You know each other?” I splutter.

Jed crashes through the door with Zee in tow, Jed glances around the crowded room, frowns at Archan and glares at Emi. “Emi? What are you doing here?”

“Goodness, Natia. You keep god awful riff raff for company,” Emi says, folding her arms and giving the Gods an icy look.

“What are you doing here?” Jed repeats, his fists turning white.

“I’m on a date.”

Archan and Jed turn to Zee, who holds his hands up and takes a step towards me. Then, to make our troop complete, Aaden bursts through the door and splatters us all, including Archan, with his red balls. “Got ya!” he yells as Duncan follows, a frown marring his forehead as he takes in the scene.

“And what are you doing here?” Jed asks Archan, looking between him and Emi.

“Talking to Natia,” Archan says, folding his arms and leaning against the wall. How he manages to still look suave in a suit covered with red paint I’ll never understand.

Zee looks between me and Archan, frowning at my chest. He glares at Archan’s chest, also covered in yellow and silver paint from pressing against me. “Right… talking,” he murmurs.

“So, talk,” Duncan says.

Archan raises a perfect eyebrow at Duncan’s demand before turning towards me. He takes a step closer. Jed, Duncan, Aaden, and Zee form a circle around me. Archan chuckles. “Ah, the protectors, I see you have stolen Jed from my cadre.”

“There was no stealing, they are who they are.”

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