Savage Sanctuary 2: Panther Moon (6 page)

lingered in the notch of her waist, and dragged the tips of his fingers down her ribs and up again. No man had ever touched her yet the familiarity of that warmth stole into her heart, giving her a confidence she’d never known and when at last, he cupped her

breast, thumbing the nipple, she gasped into the heat of his mouth. His answering

groan rolled through her veins like wine. Trea closed her eyes, absorbing the intimate connection into her bones. His thick cock pressed firmly against her thigh. Helplessly she pressed against it, writhing on the mattress. Just that simple movement had him

crawling between her spread thighs, to press that length against her core.

A low moan ripped from her throat as he dragged his cock back and forth over the

wet folds. Like a man who had all the time in the world, Hudson taunted her with the

thick stalk, pressing firmly against her drenched pussy with each pass. Pleasure swept her up, dragged her under until her fingers curled over his sides, digging in.

“Hudson!”

“Hold on,” he breathed. “Just getting started.”

Dear Gods! Just getting started?

Already she felt ready to implode. Her nerves sizzled then screamed as he latched

onto a nipple and sucked gently at first, then harder. Hudson’s teeth gently scraped

over tender flesh, his tongue prodded then drew slowly, methodically before taking the tasting deep enough to send her lower body into a frenzy of motion.

Pleasure raced wicked fingers over her flesh coiling like a cobra in her belly and

without volition, Trea sent her legs around his hips. Her heels dug into the hard globes of his firm, muscular ass as her body screamed for more. Arching against his rigid cock, seeking an answer to every question she’d ever had about men and sex, she raised her

hips up to meet each thrust of his erection. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled 38

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down to get lost in her hair. Needing to touch him, to test the reality of this explosive pleasure, she sent her fingers into his thick hair, holding him to her, loving the way he worshipped her breast. “Hudson. This feels so incredible. I didn’t know. Never

realized.”

He released her nipple with a soft pop of sound and raised his head. “Tell me now.

Is this what you want?”

“How can you even ask it?”

Hudson surprised her by moving to his knees between her legs. Her gaze, drawn

instantly to his massive, well-defined chest, cruised over washboard abs. Her mouth

went dry. “I never imagined,” she breathed.

“What?”

“That my mate would be so beautiful.”

His nostrils flared and he did his own study of her body. She should feel like the

worst kind of slut spread out, practically naked, this way but she didn’t.
Turned-on
didn’t begin to cover it. Overcome with need for him, she cupped her breasts as another quick flash of heat surged through her body.

“Fuck, honey. You’re killing me here.” Hudson reached down and fisted her

rumpled tee shirt. After he’d yanked it off and tossed it aside, he studied her for several frozen seconds then stood to take off his sweat pants. He presented his back leaving her free to gawk as she wanted. Trea rolled to her side to watch, knowing in that moment

she’d never get enough of looking at him.

His hair, slightly wavy, and oh so thick, brushed along his broad shoulders. His

back rippled with muscle when he moved. Finally he turned back to her and Chantrea’s

breath hitched. Standing there, looking like a warrior from a time gone by, he reached down to grab the base of his erect penis and drag his fist up the length. His cock was thick and long rising up to his belly. Beneath it, his balls were drawn tight. Trea

wondered what they’d feel like in her hands.

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“Not gonna last,” he said, closing his eyes on a low groan. When he finally opened

them again, his gaze focused on her like a laser. “I hope you’re ready for me, darlin’.”

She couldn’t speak but then she didn’t have to because suddenly he was there

again. Spreading her legs with a firm touch, Hudson moved between them, staring

down at her with those intensely spooky blue eyes. They were so pale they practically glowed in the dark. Finally he narrowed them and reached down to tease the petals of

her sex with his fingers. As if hypnotized, Trea stared as he studied her exposed pussy.

Continually plying her flesh, he finally sent one finger deep.

Trea went still.

She sucked in a gasp and closed her eyes.

Sensation swamped her with that intimate touch filling her with the greatest need

she’d ever known. Letting go of the pain of death, the terror of the past night, she could only feel as she met each thrust of his finger into her body. He added another and the feeling of fullness intensified. Above her, his breathing turned heavy and speeded up.

She’d never had sex but instincts as old as time kicked in. Knowing he wanted her filled her up with power until all that was left was a raging yearning to take this journey with him.

“So wet. So pretty. Mine.”

When he removed his fingers, Trea looked at him. “Hudson.”

“Ready?”

“Yeah. Oh yes.”

He gripped his heavy cock and settled the head at the entrance to her body. Briefly

he closed his eyes as if the feel of her wet flesh was too much to bear. “Thank the gods.”

Then Hudson pressed, pushed until the thick head dipped into her channel. Her

body clenched in anticipation and Trea held her breath only to expel it in a rush as he plunged his cock deep. Nerve endings she didn’t know she possessed sat up and sang.

Reaching out she clung to the bed linens as if they’d save her from the intensity of the 40

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pleasure washing over her. Hudson lifted her legs, draping her thighs over his as he

fucked her slowly, powerfully, each heavy plunge wiping her mind clear of everything

but the here and now. Swamped, overcome, her fingers flexed on the soft cotton of the sheets and then Hudson rotated his pelvis against her clit. Pleasure zipped through her pussy in a shocking wave. Her inner walls tightened to clasp his meaty cock and a low, helpless sound broke from her lips.

She reached for him.

Suddenly he was there, leaning over her, enabling Trea to touch his chest with

eager fingers. Plunging, thrusting, pounding deep, he increased the pace melding his

body to hers until she didn’t know where he began and she ended. Her belly tightened.

Heat raced over her flesh. Her mind cleared of everything but the way he made her feel.

A heavy coil tightened in her belly then released in a flurry of motion. Trea closed her eyes against the lights that seemed to swim before her eyes as her body flew apart in a release so overpowering she cried out, clinging to the man above her.

Lost. She was lost.

Hudson went still above her as she rode his cock, a woman overcome, frantic, and

then finally, finally he thrust again, his groan a song in her ears.

“Trea! Gods!”

Once more, then again, he pounded deep and then a shudder rolled through his big

body. His gritted teeth flashed white. A hint of fang glinted as he made a coughing

sound.

Panther. Beast. Hers.

Above her, Hudson stiffened, his head dropping down to settle on her breast as he

lost control and spurted deep in her body until there was nothing left but him and her.

Together. Overcome by the moment, by the passion, Trea dipped her fingers into his

thick hair until he finally settled over her, a warm blanket protecting her from the world and all its sorrows.

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Fresh from a quick shower, Hudson stood beside the bed and looked down at his

sleeping mate. Earlier, hard morning sunlight had streamed into the room and since he wanted her to sleep, he slid the plantation shutters closed to give her relief from the harsh glare. Chantrea lay sleeping as the now-softer light washed over her. Seeing her this way, in the light of day, was a revelation to him. Yes, he knew she was beautiful but now her delicate features were more emphasized.

His heart thumped hard and his body reacted.

She slept so peacefully now. Her lashes lay like spiky fans against her fair cheeks

and her blonde curls provided the only drop of color against his stark white sheets.

Unable to resist, he brushed his hand over her hair, gently, when he had never before been a gentle man. Like some kind of voyeur, he studied the small, slightly upturned

nose and noted with remorse, the faint darkness under eyes that he knew were a deep

mossy green. The poor little thing had been to hell and back and he vowed then and

there he would spend his life protecting her and hopefully making her happy.

Chantrea Morgan was lovely. Pride filled him at the knowledge that she belonged

to him. Male panthers didn’t have a choice in the mate provided by the gods and he’d

learned long ago not to place much value in such frivolity as outward appearances. But Hudson wasn’t a fool. His mate was beautiful and he was glad about that. Hoping she

would sleep awhile longer, he tugged the sheet up over her shoulders and carefully

tucked her in before turning to head for the kitchen.

After he put on the coffee, he started frying mass quantities of bacon and set out a

dozen eggs as thoughts of the previous eventful night scrambled through his brain. He pretty much figured it was providence that had caused him to head out into the night

for a run. Thank the gods! He shuddered at the thought of what might have happened

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to Trea had things been different. No doubt she was traumatized after witnessing the

murder of her folks. She was exhausted from the frantic drive in her race to escape.

Hudson clenched his teeth.

The scent of brewing coffee and frying bacon filled the large kitchen but he barely

noticed. As a man who’d fought for his country in almost every war throughout U.S.

history, he knew timing was everything and usually luck played little part in things.

Yet, the events of his finding Trea when she most needed help had been just that. Pure luck.

Or a blessing.

After last night’s scare, he didn’t plan to let the woman out of his sight. Ever.

Hudson carried a platter of crispy bacon to the table, quickly cooked up eggs, and

poured himself a cup of coffee. Sliding glass doors led to an outside patio and Hudson walked over to look out at his backyard. Downing a bit of much needed caffeine, he

wondered what she’d think of the house he’d built here. It was big, no doubt, but could she be happy here? Hudson blew out a breath and narrowed his eyes as he took in the

backyard pool and the wooden gazebo he’d built nearby. Patio tables and chairs and a

state-of-the-art sound system were new additions. He liked it fine but would she? And what about the rest of the place? Hell, he didn’t know shit about decorating a house to a lady’s specifications. Thank the gods, Mahara had added her touches. Carrying his cup to the table, he figured Trea would have free rein in doing anything she wanted around here.

This was her home now, after all.

Hudson looked up at a sound in the doorway. Trea stood there wearing his

oversized tee shirt, hair damp and curling, and her face rosy from a shower. She gave him an uncertain look, her lips curling into a slight smile. “Um. Morning.”

She was obviously unused to morning-afters and her embarrassment was palpable.

Couldn’t have that now could he? So he went straight to her and without hesitation,

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pulled her into his arms. The tension in her body dissolved as she expelled a breath and buried her nose against his chest. Hudson pressed his face to her damp hair.

“Mornin’, darlin. How did you sleep?”

“Not bad,” she whispered. She finally lifted her head, still wearing that uncertain

smile. “All things considered.”

He knew she was thinking about what had happened to them in the wee morning

hours but she was distracted by other things too. Her grief was obvious. Tenderly, he led her to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair for her. She offered her thanks when she sat and then eyed the mountain of food on the table. “Smells good but I don’t think I can do this justice.”

“You have to eat,” he said as he grabbed a plate and filled it with eggs, bacon and

toast. Yeah, she was a little thing and this was no doubt far too much food. “You need to keep up your strength. Let me take care of you.”

Hudson took a chair beside her and, finding he was hungry enough to eat a bear, he

piled eggs and bacon onto his plate and dug in. Finally he looked up to see her poking at her food with a fork, noting she’d barely touched a thing. Reaching out he plucked up a slice of bacon and held it to her lips. “Come on, honey. Open up.”

Suddenly she grinned. “Bossy, aren’t you?”

He grunted. “Been accused of that a few times.”

Trea took the bacon from him and bit into it following that up with a swig of orange

juice. “Thanks for taking such good care of me.”

“It’s my job.” Her sudden frown made him wish to recall the casual words. He

reached across the expanse of the table and took her free hand. “You aren’t a burden, Trea. Don’t think that for a second. I’ve waited for years to find my mate and I’m damn sure glad you’re here, despite the circumstances.”

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Her eyes connected with his as if to examine the truth of his words and he realized

she was rather meticulous about things. Careful. Cautious. He liked that about her.

Finally she nodded. “Then so am I, Hudson. We’ll make this work.”

He grinned. “Damn right we will. Now eat. You need your strength.”