Whispers of Darkness (The Deadwood Hunter Series) (17 page)

Her legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees, sweat coated her body and her chest heaved up and down with each rasp of air. Lexia lifted a trembling hand and pushed the hair from her face. She could feel herself cracking at the seams. The hard aching lump in her throat desperately tried to make its way out but she refused to cry, to feel self pity; she didn’t deserve to cry, she didn’t deserve pity. She’d hurt the one person she loved more than life itself, she’d lost control of the dark power that lived within her and she hated herself for it.

But as always he came for her. No matter what she did Lincoln always came for her. The black panther slipped through the undergrowth, stopping inches from Lexia.

She lifted her head and looked into his sad gold eyes, centimeters from hers. “Pretty panther, I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

He pushed his head into hers, rubbed his warm soft fur against her and she broke. Lexia clung on to her panther, burying her fingers into his fur and sobbed, huge great sobs that shook her body and stole her breath. She clung to him as all the heartache poured from her body in tears. Burying her head deeper into his velvet soft coat, she wrapped her arms tighter around his strong lean frame.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she cried when the sobs lessoned, “I feel so out of control, I never wanted to hurt you, I’m so sorry, my pretty panther, please forgive me.”

He turned to lights in her arms and her fingers gripped skin instead of fur. She lifted her head to look into his golden brown eyes, warm and welcoming, eyes that made her feel like she was home.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again.

His hands cupped her face, his skin callused and rough but his hold ever so gentle.

“There is nothing to forgive, my little wild cat... Always shouldering the blame, always trying to protect everyone but yourself.”

“I pushed you away, I hurt you. I lost control,” she whispered, tears still running freely down her face.

“Lexia we can’t always be in control of our emotions. Sometimes things happen that are just too awful to move past. I know you are frightened and you can’t see a way out of this but we are in this together, we will survive this together.”

“I don’t want to destroy anyone else’s lives. I’ve already ruined yours and Caden’s, I won’t drag Caleb into this, too.”

“Lex, stop! None of this is your fault and every one of us chose this. I love you, Lex, I will do anything to keep you safe.”

“I know you do... And loving me is what will destroy you.”

“No! Don’t ever think that, loving you is the best thing that has ever happened to me!” he growled.

“How can you say that? This place, this is where you belong, in your family home as alpha, with friends and family around you but you can never have that with me. I can’t give you a family, I can’t be an alpha’s mate... The only thing I can give you is death.”

“Oh my sweet, beautiful broken girl, you don’t see it at all, do you? You don’t see what you have given me? Yes, this place is my home, it’s where I belong. I was born to be alpha but it wasn’t you that changed my path. I joined this fight a long time ago. You didn’t change my destiny, the Hunters did when they killed my parents. The moment they died I stopped being a child and started a life of vengeance. The second I was old enough to leave I did and I wandered, searching, killing, looking for the one thing that would ease the pain inside of me, and then I met you. Only it wasn’t your death that was meant to heal my pain, it was your heart. You have shown me how to live again, how to laugh and love and if I die tomorrow I will die knowing what it is to love and to be loved. I will die knowing true happiness.”

“I’m just so frightened, Linc. This thing inside of me, this power, it’s so dark and I worry I won’t be able to control it forever.”

“Come here, baby,” he said pulling her close, crushing her body against his muscled chest. “Do you know what I think? I think what is inside of you was meant only for you. It’s your willpower and your heart that makes you so different from the rest. Yes, this power is a burden, a burden you will struggle with at times, but it is a burden only you can shoulder, only you can control, and you will always come back. Just remember, you’re not alone, we’ll figure this out together. You’re my mate. We are linked in a way you will probably never understand but you will never be alone, I’ll always be there inside of you. Even on your darkest days I will always be there and I will always love you. We’ll get through this together and when this war is over we will come back here and I’ll take my place as alpha, like I was always meant to, with you by my side and we’ll start a new pack, a new family.”

Lexia pressed her face against his chest, safe, wrapped in the protection of his strong arms, the heat of his body seeping into her, warming her aching heart. She sat there cradled in his lap and wondered what to say to Lincoln. How did she tell him what he meant to her? How did she tell him that his words soothed the turmoil inside of her and that loving him gave her a reason to fight, to live.

“I love you,” she whispered against his skin.

“I love you, too,” Lincoln answered, lifting her from the ground and carrying her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, pulling her head back to look at him.

“Carrying you back to the house, Caden is making food.” Lexia laughed at the cheeky smile on his lips.

“I can walk, you know.”

“Yes, I know but I want to carry you.”

Lexia didn’t argue with him, she snuggled herself closer to him and relaxed, listening to the steady drum of his heart.

She must have dropped off because when she opened her eyes again she was inside the house being carried up the stairs.

“Thought we were eating?” she mumbled.

“It’s not ready yet, thought you’d like a nice hot bath to relax.”

“Hmm sounds good... Glass of wine and a good book would go nice with that bath, too.”

Lincoln’s laugh rumbled up his chest, vibrating against her. “You realize we are on the run? Be grateful your bath is in a tub and not a river.”

Lexia had a sarcastic comment on her tongue when she noticed an open door. “Hey Linc, put me down.” She struggled from his arms and went to push open the door further. She knew whose room it was, of course, she’d caught a glimpse inside before.

“Wait Lex, don’t go in there,” Lincoln gasped.

She pushed open the door and walked inside, taking in the room’s contents: the single bed with a blue, white, and red striped throw over it, the toy boxes filled with boy’s toys, some scattered on the floor as if the child would be back any moment to play with them. Lexia picked up a silver photo frame, studying the picture she turned back to Lincoln who stood in the doorway.

“Why won’t you come back in here? This is your room, isn’t it?”

Lincoln sighed, “Who told you?”

Lexia smiled at him. “Why are you so sad? Caleb confirmed what I had thought and seeing as you are the only child in the photos around the house, it doesn’t take a genius to work out this is your childhood room.”

He smiled at her but his eyes were sad as if remembering the past.

“Why didn’t you want me to know this was your house?”

“It’s not that I didn’t want you to know... I just... I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m still not, really. Being here in this home, it hurts, I think I’ve only just started to come to terms with what happened to my parents.”

Lexia grabbed his hand and dragged him into the room, he stiffened as he looked around. She wrapped her hands around his head and pushed up on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his lips. “I understand but you need to remember the good times you had here.”

“You’re right, I do,” he replied, glancing around the room. “Come on, time for that bath.”

Lexia took his hand and walked from the room. She paused on the landing and then walked to the door that was always shut. “What’s in here?”

“Lexia please, I’m not ready to open that door.”

“Linc, it’s time to let go of the past.” She opened the door.

Lexia walked into the bedroom and froze, she wasn’t expecting this. Her heart started to hammer in her chest as she slowly took in her surroundings. The walls were painted in a soft cream with the slightest touch of pink to it, a bunting hung around the walls, made of patchwork fabrics in pastel shades of pink, green, and purple. Her eyes went to the corner where a small cradle sat, soft folds of chiffon floating down in a canopy over one end.

Lexia looked at Lincoln who was frozen in place out on the landing, his eyes full of the horrors of the past. “I don’t understand,” she whispered, suddenly wishing she’d never opened the door.

Lincoln said nothing, he just stood there frozen.

Picking up a pink teddy bear from a nearby shelf Lexia hugged the teddy to her and then took one last look around the room. Placing the bear into the cradle Lexia walked back out the room and closed the door. She wrapped her arms around Lincoln and whispered the horrible conclusion she’d made. “She was pregnant... Your mum was pregnant when she died?”

His eyes suddenly hardened and his words were half growled as his spoke, “She was six months pregnant when she died. The Hunters killed my mother, my father, and my unborn sister.”

As she looked at him she realized now how he had been before he’d met her, hardened with a dark hatred and a thirst for revenge. Lexia placed her hand over his heart. “Let it go, baby. The Hunters will pay for what they’ve done but don’t let them take you as well, it’s time to remember the happy memories.”

His eyes filled with sadness and a single tear trickled down his cheek. “I won’t let them have you,” he whispered.

“They can never take away what we feel for each other. Remember what you told me? Well, I’ll always be inside of you, too. You own my heart, Lincoln, and they can never take that away from you,” she whispered, wiping the tear with her thumb. “Come on, let’s run my bath.”

Lexia slowly lowered herself into the hot water, a sigh escaped her as the water encased her sore, tired muscles. She closed her eyes and dipped below the water, her hair floating around her. She stayed under the water for a minute, holding her breath and shutting out the world around her.

A hand dipped into the water and pinched her nipple. Lexia pushed her head out of the water with a gasp looking at Lincoln who now had on a pair of jeans, the top button still undone. “What was that for?”

Lincoln loomed over her, a grin on his face. “Just making sure you weren’t drowning yourself.”

“Just drowning out Caden’s and Caleb’s bickering,” she answered, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

“Yes, they are like old women,” he chuckled.

She heard him move next to her; the sound of fabric brushing against his muscled body, his feet brushing against the tiled floor.

“Are you okay, pretty panther?” Lexia asked quietly.

“I’m getting there... Are you, my wild cat?” His voice whispered against her skin, making goose bumps erupt over her skin.

“Mmm,” she sighed as desire pooled in her belly.

Lexia could feel his eyes on her, his body so close to hers, his heat making the already steamy bathroom even hotter.

“I am trying to relax remember,” she murmured.

“I’m not doing anything.” She could hear the smile on his lips as he spoke and it only made her want him more, her thighs clenched together and she squirmed. The little hitch in Lincoln’s throat confirmed he’d seen the effect he was having on her.

This is insane! He’s not even touching me and he makes me crazy for him!

“I can feel you fucking me with your eyes, Lincoln!”

“Lexia! As if I’d do such a thing!” He laughed as his hand delved into the water and pinched her nipple again.

Lexia squealed as a jolt of electricity travelled to the now aching flesh between her legs. “Linc! Relaxing remember!”

“Hmm, carry on relaxing. I’ll entertain myself.” His voice was a rough whisper against her cheek before he placed a soft kiss there, warming her heart.

His hands started to roam her wet skin, pinching and pulling her breasts, making the water spill over the sides of the tub as Lexia wriggled and moaned. His hands travelled further, heading towards the apex between her legs. He took his time, his rough calloused skin sending sparks through her nerves. He paused, his fingers millimeters from the bud of nerves desperate for his touch.

Lexia was panting, her whole body alive, begging for release. She snapped open her eyes as he stopped and looked into Lincoln’s face. “Relaxing is so overrated,” she said in a breathy whisper.

He smiled at her, slow and sensual, and delved his fingers between her soft folds. His free hand caressed her body, squeezing her breasts and teasing her nipples until they were little hard pebbles.

“You are mine, Lexia... Your body, your heart, is mine; I won’t let anybody else have you!”

His mouth closed over her neck, sucking and kissing, setting her skin on fire. He travelled up her to her ear, along her jaw, soft, sweet little nips and sucks, whilst his fingers worked her clit, circling around it, never quite pressing were she really wanted him to press.

“I love you, Lexia. I love your plump breasts that just beg for my mouth, I love your soft milky skin that tastes so sweet, and I love your tight little pussy that welcomes me so greedily.”

Lexia could barely breathe, her breaths came out in shallow pants. The air was so hot, her skin felt on fire, every fiber in her body buzzed, desperate for relief and his words, so possessive, so hot, made her crazy. He made her crazy.

“You are MINE! Every bit of you MINE!” he growled as his teeth sunk into her neck and his finger finally touched the tight bud of nerves nestled in her swollen flesh.

“Lincoln!” she cried out as she shattered into a million pieces, her back arching and electricity firing through her nerves.

When she came down from her high, Lexia opened her eyes. “Well I’m relaxed now,” she smiled.

A wicked grin crossed his face. “No relaxing for you! Out and in the bedroom, I’ve not finished with you yet!”

He stood and Lexia’s eyes focused on the bulge in his jeans. She quickly got to her feet and climbed from the bath, holding his arm to steady her shaky legs. She placed a soft kiss to Lincoln’s lips and then dropped to her knees. His jeans were dropped to the floor and his dripping, hot cock slid into her mouth.

She closed her eyes and moaned as she worked his length, hard as steel and soft and silky, he tasted so good in her mouth.

“Look at me!” he commanded.

Lexia opened her eyes and looked into his as she slowly slid her mouth off his cock. Her hand clasped around him, working him up and down whilst her tongue swirled the head, collecting the drops of liquid that gathered on the end.

His hands fisted into her hair, forcing her to take the full length. Her fingers gripped his muscled thighs as she worked him faster and desire started to pool between her legs again.

“Fuck, stop,” he groaned.

“What?” she asked with a smile.

“I want to come inside you! Bedroom now!”

Lexia walked from the bathroom into the bedroom. Lincoln spanked her naked bum and she giggled and squealed as his arm snaked around her waist dragging her back. He pushed her up against the wall, thrusting himself into her as his fingers gripped her bottom. the wall shook as he slammed her against it and a picture frame fell to the floor.

“Shush! They’ll hear you!” Lexia whispered.

“We live in a house full of shifters, they will hear you even if you whisper.”

The wall shook again, Lexia wrapped her legs around his waist taking him deeper inside of herself, moaning in pleasure.

“Food’s ready!!” Caden called from downstairs.

“I swear he does that on purpose,” Lincoln grumbled.

“We’ll be down in a minute!” Lexia called back, and gasped as pleasure rippled throughout her from Lincolns thrust.

“Make that ten!” Lincoln shouted as Lexia cried out, her nails digging into his flesh.

“You are so bad!” she giggled against his mouth.

“No baby, I’m so good!”