Page 62 of Warrior

I pulled her closer, pressing my lips to hers in a desperate kiss that carried all the emotions I couldn’t put into words.

“I love you,” I whispered and pulled her back into my arms for another kiss.

She was bare, warm, and mine, something I could no longer resist.Lifting her effortlessly, her legs wrapped around my hips, pressing her body tightly against mine as I deepened the kiss, pouring everything I couldn’t say into it.

“I need you,” she moaned, her breath hot against my lips.

Her hands traveled to my zipper, unfastening it with an urgency that mirrored my own.There was no grace, no thought of coordination as our bodies came together in a frantic rhythm.At one point, a sound from the other side of the wall made me clamp a hand over her mouth, silencing her soft moans as she continued to move against me, taking everything I gave her.Even in human form, our beasts merged, their energy a swirling tempest binding us in ways no words could describe.

Her body tensed and then shuddered with release as she whispered my name.I held back a growl as my own release quickly followed hers.The sensation of being wholly connected to her left me replenished and ready to take on the world.

There was no other woman made for me but Marinah.She was everything and filled a void I hadn’t realized existed.She called to the deepest part of me that I had never revealed to anyone including Greystone.He’d saved me from myself, while Marinah was the missing piece of my soul, making me whole.

I had waited my entire life for this.This woman.This connection.This love.

As we clung to each other, her chest rumbled softly against mine.For a fleeting moment, I thought she might be crying.I leaned back, brushing my hand against her cheek, only to find her biting back laughter instead.

“Am I too loud for you,your majesty?”she teased, her voice a playful whisper.

I narrowed my eyes, a slight grin pulling at my lips.“You’re too everything for me,” I admitted.

And she was.I had never thought I could have this level of need, of craving, of completeness.Marinah was mine in every way, and yet, I knew I’d have to leave her again soon.Nokita would be coming with the Shadow Warriors, tracking my scent and cursing me every step of the way.

“Your everything, huh?”she murmured, her smile softening as she rested her head against my chest.

She didn’t quite understand.

“You’re my air, the blood in my veins, the reason my heart skips beats when you’re away, and the soul that’s split in two without you.”I pulled her closer, brushing my lips to her ear and whispering, “You.Are.Everything.”

Her tears glistened in the dim light, and I gently licked them away, savoring the salty proof of her emotions.I kissed her nose, a soft touch to anchor us both.

“Show me where you jumped the wall and where your sleeping quarters are.I also need to know where Labyrinth and his men are positioned.”

“You shouldn’t come inside the underground,” she said softly, her sad eyes reflecting concern that pinched Beast’s pride.

“I won’t,” I assured her, even as Beast rumbled his displeasure.“I just need the general location of your room in case there’s an emergency.We’ll also need a place outside the wall where the Warriors can hide when we move closer to the city.”

Her lips trembled as she whispered, “I love you.”

I gazed into her mesmerizing eyes, their depths drawing me in, pulling me under.

“I love you, Marinah,” I said, the words simple yet heavy with everything I felt that no language could truly capture.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Marinah

I hadn’t realized how much I needed King.It tore me apart when he left, and I lay awake thinking about him.I could still smell his scent, his taste filled me, and the incomparable feel of his body inside mine sent tendrils of longing throughout my nerve endings.

Ms.Beast reveled in these thoughts, purring in contentment that was fading quickly for me.When the sadness of his renewed absence was too much, I forced my mind to switch gears.It was the only way to stay sane.I had to focus on the plan.Things would change, even if I had to confront the president directly to uncover the truth.Confrontwas an understatement because I would kill him if I had to.Sitting quietly in my room like a compliant Federation puppet was no longer an option.

The next morning, foggy headed from lack of sleep, I craved strong, black coffee to clear my brain.Even the bittersomething other than coffeethe Federation served would have to do.

When I arrived at the cafeteria, it held about a dozen people.I took my usual table after loading a tray.Since the first horrible meal of oatmeal and stale toast, they’d switched to their normal shitty rations of mush, a mystery substance better left unidentified.

I filled two cups with black liquid.The first went down fast, and regardless of what it was, it began chipping away at the haze in my head.When no one appeared to be paying attention to me, I slid a note under the table for Landan, the sticky residue helping it cling in place.

I’ve missed you so much.Too much time has passed without you in my life.Silly really.The two of us are meant to be together.I can’t stand being away from you.My heart.Every day is painful when we’re apart.

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