Page 105 of Land of Shadow

“I needed to know more about the camps. About everything you won’t tell me. I can’t keep me or my people safe. The Saints are coming.”

He pauses, but only for the tiniest moment. “He told you this?”

I figure it’s best not to mention I saw the Saints insignia on Gage’s arm, especially considering how little I know about how he fits in with those murderous psychos. “No, well. I don’t know. Major Barker told me. He said we all have to leave the lab. Go to Atlanta where it’s safe. The Saints are going to this entire place in just a few days.”

“If they dare to attack you again, they’ll meet the same fate as their compatriots.” He hooks a clawed finger onto my blanket and eases it down.

“There are too many. A whole army of them.”

“Human armies don’t concern me. You wearing far too many clothes does.”

“Human wars don’t concern you, eh? Asshole!” I reach up to smack him in the side of the head, but he catches my hand and kisses it.

“I’m human!” I yank my hand away, and he lets me. “Me. Human.”

“I’m aware, but as I said, I’ll keep you far from harm. Human wars are meaningless affairs.”

“Because you’re busy fighting your own wars for Gregor?” I ask. “Who, by the way, maybe you should’ve mentioned is yourfather.”

He’s unfazed, his movements deliberate and disarming. “Does that matter? Does it change anything?”

“I mean, yes,” I say, flustered as he nuzzles against the hollow of my throat.

“Why?”

“Because …” I can’t think when his warm breath tickles my skin. “Because I can’t trust you!”

“As I said, how does that change anything? You’ve never trusted me even though I’m the only creature in this world who’s keenly interested in your survival.”

“You want me to survive only as a means to an end.”

“Still telling yourself that?” He snickers, his mouth warm against my chest. “Please do go on. What else did the meddling captain have to say?”

My heartbeat is so rapid I feel like I’m running a race. “That’s all.”

He laughs, low and sultry. “Lies don’t suit you.”

“You’re scaring me,” I whimper.

His gaze meets mine again. “Afraid?”

“Yes.”

“No.” He smirks. “Another lie. Your blood knows I would never hurt you.Never.”

He pulls the blanket down farther, his lips grazing along my chest.

“Your scent.” He groans and moves along my body, his fangs catching on the buttons of my pajama top and slicing through each one. “It’s undeniable. I know what you crave.” He presses his nose to my pussy and inhales.

Half of me cringes. The other half of me is exasperatingly turned on. “You can’t do that!” I smack the side of his head.

His dark laugh ripples across my stomach as he returns to my breasts and swipes my shirt apart. When he wraps his lips around one of my hard nipples, I can’t help the moan that rises from me. God, what’s he doing to me? It’s just sex, I remind myself. Just mind-blowingly good sex that I can’t seem to stop thinking about. And I certainly can’t stop wanting.

He slides a hand beneath my back, lifting me as he licks each breast, taunting me with his wicked tongue. My entire body goes tingly, the heat circling me like a drain that stops between my thighs.

With a hard yank, he pulls the blankets away and covers me with his body. I twine my arms around his neck. He kisses me with hunger, with raw desire. My toes curl, my body going up like a wildfire, the smoke obscuring any thoughts of danger.

He returns to my breasts, one of his hands kneading as he sucks my nipple.

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