Sword of Mercy (17 page)

“I love you so much it hurts,” she whispered
in a ragged voice filled with joy.

His hand stopped mid-stroke. His chest
expanded, froze and then released in slow degrees.

She wiped her tear stained face against his
chest. “It’s a good hurt, the kind I never want to stop. The kind
I’ll look for every day for the rest of my life. I had no idea love
could hurt this good.”

Impossibly, he pulled her tighter and held her
while breathing so hard she thought he’d pass out.

Emboldened by his response in a way she had
never been before, she continued. “I had a mate before, at least I
believe we were mated. I was told we were but… that was nothing
like this. I ache for you. Not a moment passes without thinking of
you, wondering if you’re okay, that you have everything you need to
make it through the day.” She smiled at the girly comments. “If
anyone had ever told me I’d want to serve a man, to utterly please
him in every way, I’d have kicked their ass. In fact, I have on
several occasions.” Asia paused and waited for the fear that always
accompanied any type of emotional outbursts. Nothing. She reached
up, placed her arms around his neck to keep him close. Happiness
bubbled like a spring, she wanted to sing, which made her laugh
since she sounded like a braying mule.

Instead of killing the mood and possibly
damaging his eardrums she continued. “You surprised me when we
first met.”

“How?”

“My wolf went crazy over you, but I’d been
tricked by Gunnolf and didn’t trust my gut anymore. The attraction…
Well, I was interested, but it happened too fast. I couldn’t accept
you or the mating. Plus, you tried to kill me.”

His long sigh whistled above her head. “I’m
never going to live that down, am I?”

Asia smiled. “Nope. But I forgive
you.”

He placed another kiss on her forehead. “Thank
you.”

“You’re welcome.” Giddy from the pleasure of
sharing she placed kisses everywhere her lips could reach, marking
him, honoring him, and treasuring him.

“Thank you for loving me,” he said in a low
rumble that resonated in her chest. “I have been alone for so long,
the idea of having a mate and a den seemed lost forever. But my
wolf never gave up hope. The day you entered the lab was the day I
breathed as a man again. You, my precious bitch, saved my
life.”

Hawke tipped her face up and brushed his lips
across hers. Her breath caught from the tenderness in his touch.
Another soft caress of his fingertips on her collar bone ignited
the flame in her core. “Hawke,” she whispered, calling him from a
place deep inside.

He lowered her to the mattress while deepening
their kiss. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him
chest to chest delighting in the pressure of his body holding her
in place. Warm tendrils of pleasure curled up and around her,
cocooning them in lust’s hazy embrace lovers often experience but
cannot fully explain.

Asia’s body hummed in recognition of his
gentle touch on her cheek, and his fingertips rubbed her scalp with
long slow strokes. Her core tightened in anticipation. Hawke
inhaled and smiled against her mouth.

“I love how wet you get for me.” His hand slid
down the side and rested between her legs moving the thong aside.
His fingertips teased her outer lips before pressing into her
tightness. “Ummm, so wet, tight, so hot for me.” His fingers
continued stroking her wet channel, while she pressed his mouth to
her hard nipples.

“Mmmm,” he murmured, pulling the taut bud into
his warm mouth. Her body shivered beneath the promise in his eyes.
Without removing his fingers he moved to the other nipple paying it
the same tribute he paid its twin. Her hand remained on the back of
his head, keeping him in place while opening her legs wider for him
to rest comfortably.

Fire raced up her spine as his fingers
deepened and hit her spot. This man had her sexual hotspots on
speed-dial. Within moments, she stiffened, smashed his face to her
breast as her back arched in response to the roaring orgasm that
rolled through her. Toes tingling she remained stiff for a few
seconds longer and then relaxed one limb at a time.

Hawke moved up and nibbled on her lower lip.
“I love the way you come apart in my hands.” His open palm rested
on top of her mound, every now and then he’d slide a finger down
her slit teasing her.

Asia placed her palms on the sides of his face
demanding his attention. “Love me.”

His eyes searched hers for a few seconds and
then softened. “Every time I touch you, I love you,” he said and
kissed her forehead. “Whenever I do this.” His lips brushed against
her in a feather light touch sending fire through her veins. “I’m
loving you,” he said against her mouth, allowing her to taste the
hunger in his words. He moved slightly. His cock bumped against her
opening, but didn’t enter. “This… this is a part of it, but not
anywhere close to the whole.” A quick move and he slid inside,
stretching, filling and feeding her.

“Damn if you don’t consume me, Asia,” he
moaned moving inside her again and again, taking her higher and
higher. “Loving you is what I do, it’s who I am.” He filled her
with slow, deep strokes rebuilding the flame.

“This is who I am,” he murmured.

She tightened around him lifting from the bed
to meet every delicious stroke. His fingers dug into her ass
keeping them connected and in the right position. Asia wrapped her
legs around his waist to remain bound to him as she flew apart.
“Hawke,” she screamed his name as waves of pleasure rolled through
her.

“That’s right, Asia. I’m your Hawke, I take
care of whatever you need. Provide for you. This is who I am.” He
slammed into her and picked up his speed. The sound of flesh
slapping flesh filled the room. The bed creaked in appreciation of
his hard thrusts. Sweat dripped from his brow as he stared down,
taking her with him. “This. Is. Who. I. Am. Loving. You.” He
punctuated each word with a deep thrust reawakening her languorous
body, demanding she join him on the crest of their
joining.

“With me, come with me,” he said watching her
closely.

Her breath caught at his primal beauty. His
wolf had risen close to the surface and peeked behind his eyes.
Sharp pointed teeth filled his mouth. Her wolf acknowledged the
challenge and rose to play. Her long curved nails pierced his ass
holding him close. Hawke howled and pushed harder, faster into her.
His long black hair moved to and fro as he took her to another
level.

Asia lowered her eyelids as the primal side of
her took over while keeping her wolf leashed. She nipped at his
chest with her teeth. Growling, he placed his forearm across her
chest, holding her in place while baring his teeth.

She bucked to dislodge him. It deepened his
penetration. Moaning at how good he felt inside she surrendered and
together they exploded. Hawke bit her on her neck, extending the
orgasm until dots floated in front of her eyes. He pulled back and
placed kisses all over her face and neck while breathing
hard.

Hawke rolled over and pulled her with him. “I
will always love you.”

Chapter 17

Verrick hung up the phone and shook his head.
Would he ever be free of those leeches? He wanted no part of this
brewing battle with hybrid wolves. Goddess destroy the lot of them
as far as he was concerned. No one asked or cared for his opinion,
but they were quick to use him and his pack to handle their
bullshit as if they were disposable diapers.

He walked through the main area and looked at
the men who survived Hawke’s wrath. Lancaster had sent him a video
and offered him a sip of the poison that would make him like the
hybrids. Andrei had taken it and look what happened to him. It had
taken some fancy foot-stepping to say no but he’d done it. Besides,
Hawke didn’t have a choice and the slew of test wolves who had lost
their minds after escaping Lancaster castle remained in the
forefront of Verrick’s thoughts. Not all full-bloods handled the
formula as well as Hawke.

“Anyone who can walk, come wit’ me,” he said
to the men lying in various states of repair. Most had shifted to
expedite the healing, but it would still take a few more hours or
days to be one hundred percent.

The shuffle of feet behind him spoke of the
state of his beleaguered pack. He turned and looked them over.
Blood seeped from a few wounds and others could barely walk a
straight line, but they answered his call. Damn the
Liege.

“Those who stayed behind on the last call,
with me. The rest, heal, watch the borders, keep our bitches and
pups safe until I return. There’s bullshit happening out there, so
watch our shit.” He nodded as the pack separated. Ten full-bloods
followed him to the remaining motorcycles and off their pack
lands.

Hawke and Asia walked into the breakfast area
and grabbed a quick bite. Asia had used the chameleon bracelet to
return to the non-descript boring white male she preferred to use.
He longed for the day he could show off his gift from the Goddess
to the world. One day at a time, he would make her world safe
enough so she could be herself.

They planned to spend the next few days with
Maheegan and Radoff. The Alpha sounded excited this morning when he
called, but that could be Maheegan. Radoff had lit up when the
bitch deplaned the other day and it seemed mutual. Stranger
pairings had happened, Hawke thought. At any rate, Radoff claimed
they found more information regarding the Liege and was even more
excited to see a copy of the contract.

“You headed out?” Niall asked from across the
room where he sat next to Granira watching them enter.

“Yes. Get your things, we’ll drop you back
where we found you,” Hawke said without looking in his
litter-mate’s direction. The man’s lies stood like a citadel
between them. Hawke and Asia agreed to have nothing more to do with
Niall or Granira until after they completed their
mission.

“What? I don’t need a ride, I’m staying here
with Granira.” He edged closer to the silent woman.

Angus walked into the dining area and looked
at Niall. “Both of you are leaving, we have too much to do for
houseguests.”

Granira smiled, but remained silent as she
looked Angus with unbridled hunger. Hawke glanced at Asia who sat
at the table eating and watching everything.

“Is that how it is? We give you valuable
information and you throw us out? What if Verrick comes after us?”
Niall sputtered looking at Angus and then Hawke.

“You’re a liar and need to go,” Hawke said
over his shoulder, ignoring the red flush that spread over Niall’s
face.

Angus looked at Granira and nodded. “There’s
enough bullshit to wade through without second guessing everything
that comes out your mouth.” Hawke wondered if anything happened
between the two. She didn’t appear offended at his bald
comments.

“The contract–” Niall said.

“Has to be verified. A specialist will look it
over,” Angus said.

“The contract is a copy of the real one, but I
don’t blame you for being cautious,” Granira said standing. “Niall
be a dear and get my bags. We don’t want to miss our ride,
something tells me neither of these full-bloods will wait and
Chacal will simply kick us off his land.” Although the words were
uttered smoothly, Hawke heard the bite behind them. She didn’t
appreciate how things played out. Had she expected more from Angus?
Or had Silas told him the same thing Asia’s Mistress told her. Not
to trust her or Niall. Hawke didn’t know or care.

Asia placed some fruit and bottles of water in
her bag before hefting it over her shoulder. She stood next to him
and nodded at Angus. “
I need to talk to him while you finish
eating. Come outside when you’re done,
” Asia said through their
link. Hawke stiffened at the idea of her being outside without him.
Although there were few in the world who could harm his mate that
didn’t stop his wolf from wanting to protect her at all
times.

Instead of saying something he’d be
apologizing for all day, he nodded. “
Links open
.”

She nodded and walked out. Angus followed
her.

A few seconds later, Hawke listened to the
conversation Asia, Angus, Silas and Jasmine conducted. It still
amazed and pleased him Asia could not link with anyone other than
him and her Mistress.