Shadow's Awakening: The Shadow Warder Series, Book One (An Urban Fantasy Romance Series) (18 page)

“I’m going to try again,” Hannah said, taking a step closer. Her cheeks were flushed. She bit her lower lip, suddenly shy. Conner wondered if the mental touch had been as intimate for her as it had been for him. She raised her hands, as if trying to channel her mental energy through her palms. “Ready?”

“Ready,” Conner said. He braced himself this time, prepared to resist the pressure even as he was ready to absorb her touch. Eyes closed, the first stroke hit in a rush, the heat of her mind brushing him from forehead to toes, a wave of desire following in its wake, centering in his groin. He imagined he could smell her hair, feel her lips on his skin grazing his jaw. Conner barely registered his step backward as he fought his growing erection.

“Hannah,” he ground out, opening his eyes. “Do you know what you’re doing to me?”

He met her eyes and saw that she did know, but she hadn’t done it on purpose. She was still biting her lip, chewing at the plump flesh, inflaming him further. Lust, embarrassment and excitement swirling in her green eyes, Conner realized Hannah had taken him from control to the fraying edge in moments.

“We have to stop this,” he said, taking a step back. “Tell me to walk away.”

“Why?” Hannah asked, moving closer. “I won’t tell anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Fuck that. I don’t care about that. We just can’t do this. I’m supposed to be helping you.”

Hannah tilted her head to the side and looked up at Conner through thick lashes. Her mental touch ghosted over his cheekbones and brushed his lashes, smoothing over his lips in a breath of a kiss.

This was more than just the movement of air over him. It was Hannah’s soul moving against his. Conner didn’t know a lot about Shadows or Tk, but he knew this was different. More than it should have been. He held his ground as she took another step closer. Less than a foot away, she looked up into his eyes.

“Are you saying no for you? Or for me?” she asked, anticipation twinkling in her eyes, betraying that Hannah already knew what his answer would be.

“For you,” he whispered.

“Stop saying no,” Hannah said, her words quiet yet strangely like an order.

As she spoke, Conner felt a distinct push in his mind, compelling him to do as Hannah said. He didn’t have time to think about it as she lifted her hand and brushed her fingers across his cheekbone. The electric touch of her skin to his after her mental touches broke Conner’s control.

With a groan, he took her face in his hands and brought his mouth down to hers. He fit to her as if they’d been kissing for a lifetime. Her soft lips moved in hunger, a low moan echoing from the back of her throat. When the tip of her tongue brushed his, Conner lost the last of his restraint. He wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her flush to his chest. Hannah melted, molding her body to his. Her hips moved against him, swaying with the rhythm of their kiss.

Conner had expected passion, but Hannah was fire in his arms, her tongue stroking, hands buried in his hair, pulling him into her, deepening the kiss further. Conner dropped a hand, gripping the firm curve of her ass hard as he lifted her. Long legs circled his hips. Conner’s fingers flexed, dragging the heat between her legs against his erection. He ground against her, gratified by Hannah’s answering moan. She pressed her hips into him harder, sliding her soft breasts against his chest.

Dying to get his hands on them, Conner braced her weight with one hand as he slid the other hand beneath her loose shirt. Her skin was soft and warm, inviting him to stroke. Strong as Conner was, their standing position was too awkward to touch her the way he wanted without risking dropping her.

Conner was bending his knees, preparing to lower them both to the ground where he could pull off her clothes, when he felt the buzzing in his pocket. At first the interruption didn’t penetrate his absorption with Hannah’s body. When it continued, Conner recognized the riff of music playing from his pocket. Reluctantly, he loosened his grip on Hannah’s ass and set her on her feet, gentling their kiss. He wasn’t able to stop touching her fast enough to grab the call. It went to voicemail. Immediately, the music started up again. Conner pulled his mouth from Hannah’s, loving the lust-addled expression in her glazed eyes.

“My phone,” he whispered in Hannah’s ear. “Kiernan. I have to take this.”

“‘Kay,” Hannah breathed, trying to get her balance. Conner lifted a hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. He was tempted to forget the phone and pull her down to the ground. Or better yet, drag her to a bed and keep her there for a day or two. If the call had been anyone but Kiernan, he might have. Kiernan wouldn’t have called the second time if it wasn’t important.

“Why don’t you go in and make us some lunch while I talk to him.”

“‘Kay.”

Conner watched her turn on unsteady legs and walk back to the house. He needed a minute to process what had just happened, but the insistent phone in his pocket wasn’t going to give him that. Irritated, he flipped it open.

“Why do I have a feeling you’re not just calling to check in?” Conner growled.

“Did I interrupt something?” Kiernan asked, sounding delighted.

“Yes,” Conner answered, his voice low and still roughened by lust. He watched Hannah let herself into the cabin. When the door was closed safely behind her, Conner paced farther away. It seemed likely he wouldn’t want her to overhear this conversation.

“What did I interrupt?”

“Nothing,” Conner said. “What’s going on?”

“Seriously? You’re not going to give me anything? After I went to the trouble to set you two up in the cabin?”

“You thought she was going to be a kid, so you don’t get credit for setting me up when it was by accident. And I’m not giving you every detail. We’re not teenaged girls. You interrupted something. I’d like to get back to it. Why did you call?”

Conner heard the temper in his voice and shook his head. He didn’t get irritated easily. He’d always been relaxed and easygoing. Intense as a soldier, but laid back as a man. Cutting off his unexpectedly hot kiss with Hannah was bringing out previously buried moods.

“Grumpy, grumpy,” Kiernan said. “I’d love to give you shit about this. And I’m claiming credit for the hook-up, unintended or not. But sadly, we don’t have time. Things are a little weird here.”

“Weird how?” Conner asked, every cell in his body suddenly on high alert.

“Weird as in someone knows that the Shadow is missing and that one of us has her. Alexa called me in and questioned me about it. She was very careful not to give away what she was asking about and wouldn’t tell me why she was asking.”

“Was she asking for herself? Or for someone else?”

“I don’t know,” Kiernan said. “Either way, it doesn’t make any sense.”

“Unless she’s just worried about us being together. But how would Alexa know about Hannah in the first place? If a Warder knew she was being held, she would have been taken out of the nest before we got there.”

“Exactly. And Alexa was very curious about where you were. I reminded her that she’d sent you on retreat herself. She wants you to call in.”

“Not good,” Conner said.

“No. I told her you went camping on the Outer Banks and I didn’t go because I hate the beach this time of year. I said your cell probably wasn’t working that well out there so it might be a while until you checked in, if at all. Has she called you?”

“No, you’re the first call I’ve had.” Conner turned and studied the back of the cabin, as if assuring himself that all was well within. “Odd that she asked you about me but didn’t try to call herself.”

“I know. I’m not sure if this is as weird as it feels, or if I’m just being paranoid.”

“Both,” Conner said.

“Maybe. Any word from the Oracle?”

“Nothing. So what do we do with this?”

“I think you two should stay put for now. I want to dig a little more. I’ll piss off Alexa, but I think we should know how she learned about Hannah and why she’s looking for you before you go against the Oracle’s warning and bring her in.”

“See what you can find out,” Conner said, turning on his heel and heading back to the cabin. He wondered what Hannah was making for lunch and if they could eat it later. He was hungry for food, but his body was hungrier for Hannah.

“I’ll keep you posted,” Kiernan said. “And Conner? The world won’t stop on its axis if you have a little fun. Go back to whatever I interrupted and don’t think too much. It’ll take me a day or two to find out if it’s safe to come in. Take advantage of it.”

“I’m not thinking too much.”

“Conner, I’ve known you since I was thirteen. You always think too much about stuff like this, worrying about doing the right thing. You never get that you’re wired to do the right thing. It’s not wrong to just kick back for a few days and have a good time if the girl is up for it.” Kiernan paused. “Is the girl up for it?”

“Kiernan, shut up.” Conner stopped walking to the back door and lowered his voice. “Why are you so obsessed with my sex life?”

“Because I’m a good friend and I feel bad about you never getting any. I’m trying to pay it forward.”

“Fuck off,” Conner said, trying to keep the smile out of his voice. “I’ll take care of my sex life. You take a break from yours and find out what’s going on there.”

“I can multitask,” Kiernan protested. “I’ll call when I know something.”

Conner heard the flat silence that told him Kiernan had hung up. He wasn’t sure how to respond to Kiernan’s news. There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for Alexa asking about a missing Shadow. But it was out of character for her. Alexa was lazy. Looking for Conner, asking for him to call in? Then not calling him herself? Conner had been in the field long enough to know that anything that felt wrong probably was. He wished, not for the first time, that the Oracle would call him back.

One more time, Conner hit the buttons to dial Zach’s number. Again, it rang through to voicemail. Conner thought about hanging up, then waited for the beep.

“Zach. Kiernan just called and said he’s being asked about Hannah. Do you know anything about that?” Conner paused, gathering his thoughts. “Also, I was working with Hannah on shielding and I got something odd from her, like a mental push. Not Tk. If it is what I think it is, we could use some help here. I don’t know much about Shadows and she knows less. Call me back.”

Conner pressed the button to end the call and turned back to head into the cabin. With a sigh, he opened the door. Just before he’d kissed her, he’d felt it, as if her voice telling him to stop saying “No” had physical substance. As if it was inside his head, compelling him to do as she ordered. He’d have to talk to Hannah about it before things went any further. Too bad. For once he wanted to follow Kiernan’s advice. Put his concerns aside and just have a little fun. Or, if that kiss had been any indication, a lot of fun.

Chapter Eleven

The back door opened and Hannah turned to see Conner enter the kitchen. He sighed as he shut the door behind him. His passionate mood seemed to have evaporated. She wished hers had. Hannah was a little embarrassed at making a move on Conner. She’d never been shy with men. Not aggressive, but she’d made the first move more than once. There had only been two men in her bed, but Hannah wasn’t a stranger to flirting and making out. This was the first time she’d gotten such mixed signals and still made the first move.

Maybe Conner regretted kissing her. Even if he wanted to take back their kiss, Hannah didn’t. She was sorry if she’d made him uncomfortable, but that had been the best kiss of her life and she wanted to do it again. For months she’d been drowning in filth, terrified every moment Glenn or one of the others would decide to finish her off. It wouldn’t have taken them much longer to break her completely. Then Conner had swept in like a white knight from a fairy tale. He was strong and good and Hannah wanted him.

She was facing a new life, hopefully a safer life, but it was still an unknown future. Conner was here right now. He made her feel alive again. Alive and safe. With his warm brown eyes and warrior’s body, was it any wonder Hannah couldn’t keep her hands off him? But Conner would have to make the next move. She might not be shy, but she had too much pride to push herself in where she wasn’t wanted.

Conner’s shoes scuffed the floor behind her. She looked up from the pot of canned chili she was stirring on the stove. Two turkey sandwiches sat on the table, arranged on plates with chips and napkins.

“Lunch is ready,” she said. “Everything okay?”

“I don’t know,” Conner said. He got out two bowls and helped Hannah dish up the chili, then joined her at the table. “This looks good. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. What did your friend say?”

“He said our handler is asking about you and looking for me, which is weird. He’s going to try to find out more.”

“How would they know about me? Or know I’m with you?” she asked, dropping her spoon back into the bowl of chili with a little plop. “Are you in trouble?”

“I don’t know how she knows about you. That’s the weird part. And stop worrying about me getting into trouble. That’s not an issue.”

“Okay,” Hannah said, ignoring him. She’d worry about him getting in trouble if she wanted to. He’d already said he wasn’t supposed to be with her. She wanted to stay with him, but she also didn’t want to cause Conner problems.