His Darkest Hunger Read online

  Libby’s eyes flew open and a tired smile crept over her features as she gazed up at his craggy face. For such a large and fierce-looking man, he’d always had the kindest soul. “Thanks, Cracker.”

  He nodded and abruptly turned away, and a few seconds later Libby and Jaxon were alone.

  He looked down at the frail blonde and shook his head slowly as an overwhelming rush of longing sprang from deep inside his chest. She’d been through so much, and yet here she was, still fighting. She truly was a remarkable woman.

  And she was all his.

  His dark eyes watched her in silence. There were no words. He waited for her to finish eating and ignored the hunger that gnawed tight at his gut. When she was done, her beautiful violet eyes seemed to shimmer, and he felt his soul move, so great was the emotion that rolled through his body. He would take care of her for the rest of her life.

  Starting right now.

  He reached for a large basin that had been filled with fresh water. A soft cloth had been draped over the edge, and he dipped it into the bowl, then gently wrung the excess moisture from it.

  His eyes never left hers as he knelt down beside her, gently cupping her face with his large hand as he slowly began to wipe every trace of the last few hours from her flesh. Her pale skin glistened with the sheen left behind from the cloth, and she closed her eyes as he methodically ran the cloth along her forehead before moving down to her cheeks, chin, and then to her trembling mouth.

  Jaxon took his time, and when he was finished, he couldn’t resist. He began to nibble softly, leaving a trail of small butterfly kisses along the contours of her generous lips. He felt her relax, and smiled against her mouth as she opened herself fully to him. He took a small taste but then pushed himself away, feeling a keen sense of power as her eyes flew open once more and she touched her fingers to her mouth.

  She was about to speak, but he hushed her, whispering into her ear, “Not yet.”

  Libby’s eyes darkened and the small catch in her throat tugged hard at his heart. He reached for her top, and her hands went up automatically, enabling him to whisk the dirty garment from her skin. He felt his groin tighten and had to stifle a moan of his own as her breasts sprang free from the cotton and hung provocatively in front of him.

  Like candy, ready to be licked. He couldn’t help himself, and his tongue darted out quickly, before she even knew his intent, circling an engorged nipple then claiming the ripe bud deep into the hot recesses of his mouth.

  Jaxon felt her shudder, and with a mighty effort clamped down on the hot desire that had begun as a slow burn in his belly and was now rifling like wildfire through his veins. This was not about him. It was all about Libby. His Libby.

  He reluctantly withdrew from the tantalizing flesh, and his hands trailed down her body as she fell back onto the blanket. His fingers grasped the edges of her pants and he pulled them down her legs, hissing sharply at the sight of her sex, exposed and vulnerable. He had to stop and take time to remove her boots, and he felt sweat break out along his limbs as his body raged and the cat began to stir.

  He threw her boots to the ground, and the pants quickly followed.

  Once more he dipped the cloth into the basin and crouched beside her, gently wiping the grime from her body with slow, precise movements. He started at her neck and shoulders, letting the soothing water wash away all traces of her time with Cormac in the cave.

  There was no sound, only their heavy breathing and the soft trickle of water as it fell from the cloth when he wrung the excess from it.

  When his hands fell to her breasts, he smiled wickedly at the hard intake of breath and the slow hiss that left her lips. Lovingly, he cupped each globe, taking his time, perhaps too much time, and he reveled in the feel of them as they tightened and filled with pleasure.

  He could see her hands clenched at her sides as he slowly worked his way over her ribs, taking special care where she’d been hurt, kissing every one of them as he finished. He moved the cloth down her body while his free hand massaged and kneaded. He felt small shudders underneath her skin as he swept over her belly, each pass with the cloth eliciting small mews from deep in her throat.

  Her hips began to slowly gyrate, and Jaxon clenched his teeth together as her knees opened and her soft cleft lay open for him.

  He had to pull hard to find the control he needed to continue, but it was important to him to look to her needs first. After rinsing the cloth again, he softly wiped along her inner thigh, inhaling the sweetness of her scent as he continued his ministrations. His eyes were drawn to the soft blond hair that lay there, glistening with the beginnings of her desire. She groaned loudly when he finally touched her heated flesh, gently rolling the cloth over her mound.

  She bucked her hips then, and Jaxon chuckled. “In time, sweetness.”

  He ignored the swelling cock between his legs and reluctantly left her hot core, finishing her body right down to the very tips of her toes. When he was done, he threw the cloth into the bowl and then ran his hands up along both sides of her body, before gently resting them against her hips.

  Libby’s breaths were coming in short, soft pants, muffled as he turned her over onto her stomach. He felt her still, and then draw away from him. With his hands, he began to caress the scarred, damaged skin that lined her back in a macabre display of artistry.

  Jaxon moistened the cloth yet again, to repeat his ministrations, starting from the top of her delectable neck, working his way down along the length of her body. By the time he reached the soles of her feet, he was breathing hard, because of the effort it took to control his need to claim her.

  When he was done, he stood, the hard outline of his dick straining against his pants. He looked down at Libby, splayed out, long white limbs relaxed, but her excitement betrayed by the staccato breathing from her lips.

  His fingers tore open the waist of his pants and he stripped them from his body, groaning roughly as the heavy material rushed against his aching cock. In one movement he threw his shirt from his body and reached for the cloth, wanting to clean his own skin before he would allow himself to touch her.

  “Don’t.”

  Jaxon paused and hissed sharply as Libby rose in front of him, her breasts swaying teasingly. She moved toward him slowly. “I want you inside of me right now.”

  He felt his skin begin to burn and itch, and the wash of predatory possession that coursed through him made his breathing even more ragged and rough. She belonged to him.

  And he would never let her go.

  She knelt in front of him, her beautiful eyes huge and luminous, and when the tips of her nipples caressed the tight abs of his skin, he nearly lost it. He closed his eyes and prayed for control, but it was so hard. The beast in him howled in pleasure as her fingers took a torturous path, tracing the clan tattoos that proudly stood out against his flesh.

  Softly, they crept up, and when he opened his eyes once more, he knew by her sharp intake of breath that his own eyes were glowing, full of raging desire. He reached down and cupped her cheeks, lowering himself until they were face-to-face.

  For several moments there was no sound other than their harsh breathing as they both inhaled deep gulps of air. For Jaxon, everything faded away and there was only Libby. It was as if a spell had been cast. As if this moment in time mattered more than any other moment they’d ever spent together.

  And he guessed that it did. Everything was spelled out. His heart was out there to be shredded to pieces or put back together and healed. She had the power.

  And for the first time in his life, Jaxon Castille was willing to surrender to that power.

  Her deeply shadowed eyes filled with soft tears, and he kissed them away before claiming the mouth that trembled against his own.

  She tasted like home, and when her tongue flicked across his lips and her mouth opened wide beneath his, Jaxon clutched her to him, but then broke away. He needed her to know what was in his heart.

  “I love you, Libby.” He held
her eyes, watching as myriad emotions crossed them and then disappeared. “Do you understand what I’m saying? There will never be another for me. There will never be another for you. I will not live without you in this world. Whatever tomorrow brings doesn’t matter,” he kissed her gently, “and you’ll always have my heart.”

  He felt her body melt against his, and he caught her, gently laying her back onto the bedroll and pulling his large body up alongside hers.

  “Please,” she whispered, “Jaxon, I need you to love me.”

  His body sang with joy and he claimed her lips again, pouring every bit of emotion he had into the kiss as he ravaged the softness beneath them. His fingers dug deep into the thick mass of hair that haloed her head, and the scent of her arousal clung to his nose, sending spikes of hard desire straight to his aching cock.

  He wanted to be gentle, but his need was so great and he felt his edge of control begin to slip as her hands encircled his engorged shaft. Softly, her fingers flew over the velvet ridge before running along his straining length. He groaned loudly into her mouth and grabbed her tongue, sucking it hard.

  “Christ, Libs, keep that up and the show will be over before we even begin.” His voice was ragged and he pulled away, his great chest heaving with the effort it took to control his animal desires.

  “Well then, I need you to begin, because I’m aching for you.”

  Her eyes held his prisoner as she moved and positioned her body, gently gliding his cock to her warm and wet opening. As if the smell of her wasn’t enough to drive him crazy, the feel of her slick desire on the head of his cock drew a small curse from him. He watched a satisfied smile race across her face, before a pained one took its place.

  “Damn it, Jaxon.” She began to rub herself all over him. “I can’t wait.”

  With a growl, Jaxon flipped onto his back, lifting her above his body, barely able to control himself as she placed her legs on either side of him. He looked up at her and marveled that this beauty, this fucking amazing woman, was his, and with a savage snarl he brought her down over him. The feel of her was exquisite, and he felt his balls clench as her slickness slid over his hard length. With a hard thrust, he buried himself deeply within the hot core of her body.

  She screamed softly before smiling down at him wantonly, beginning to move and gyrate against him. The pressure he felt was intense. His hands immediately grabbed her hips, slowing the rhythm, wanting the pleasure to last.

  But his little hellion was having none of that, her body gliding up and down more forcefully, her channel tightening as she continued to ride him fast and hard. Her breasts jiggled in front of him, and his hands fell away from her hips, letting her have her way, and they found their way to the softness of her generous globes, the long fingers pinching the puckered redness of her engorged nipples.

  His right hand left her chest and he held it tight against her belly, loving the feel of her muscles as they clenched and shuddered with each thrust of his cock. He could feel the pressure build deep inside him, and his eyes sought out hers, fastening on the large ovals that stared down at him, misty and luminous with passion.

  Her lips were open and her tongue could be seen between her teeth as she began to moan softly. She increased the rhythm even more, and the sounds of flesh slapping hard against flesh reverberated throughout the tent. It only added to the insane pleasure that Jaxon was feeling; for they were the sounds of his body loving the woman that belonged to him.

  When he felt her vaginal walls clench even tighter, he knew he couldn’t wait much longer, and as she screamed her release, he gave one final thrust and let his body give in to the most incredible orgasm he’d ever had. It pounded through his veins, rough and aggressive, leaving every nerve ending in its wake electrified.

  He heard the beast within scream in triumph, or it very well could have been himself. He didn’t know and didn’t care.

  Libby collapsed onto his chest, and he immediately wrapped his arms tightly around her, reveling in the sound and feel of her heart raging deep inside her chest. He wasn’t sure how long they lay there, limbs entwined, bodies wet and slick from their lovemaking.

  When her head moved and her eyes looked at him, he felt more love than he’d known was imaginable. She gently traced his mouth and kissed him, murmuring against his flesh, “That was one hell of a body wash.”

  Jaxon laughed loudly, and pulled her in close to his body before closing his eyes. A few moments later her even breathing told him that Libby had surrendered and fallen asleep. He kissed the top of her head as his thoughts darkened, and he felt anger once more begin to claw at him.

  His thoughts turned to Cormac. They had in their possession something the sorcerer wanted. Badly. There was no way in hell he would just hand over an innocent to a madman like Cormac, but that didn’t mean he was above using the woman as bait.

  He sighed softly, his breath ruffling the soft blond hair that lay against him. Only time would tell if his son was indeed alive and well. He couldn’t dwell on that right now, though. He needed to rest.

  Because tomorrow he was going to fucking kill the bastard.

  Libby awoke with a start. She wasn’t sure what pulled her from the clutches of sleep, but she pushed her hair from her eyes, instantly on edge. She sensed a presence, and it had nothing to do with the warm, muscled form that was flush against her back.

  She shook her head and tried to focus. Something was here. She could feel it. Her eyes searched the dim interior of the tent as she tried to locate whatever was making her so jumpy.

  The feeling intensified, manifesting itself until she knew beyond doubt that Cormac was calling to her. The urge to run to him was so compelling she found herself moving before she even realized it.

  His magick was strong, of that there was no doubt, and her natural instinct was to fight the pull. What kind of power did he have over her? The nagging question flittered through her mind, but Libby pushed it away. She knew it didn’t matter. She would follow his crumbs. This was her only chance to get her son back. She had to obey.

  Gingerly, she disengaged her limbs from Jaxon, her smile bittersweet as she gazed down at the sleeping man. He was such a fierce warrior, so handsome and strong, yet in repose she could see the young man that he had once been.

  That thought alone brought a host of emotions to the surface, and she had to take a moment and compose herself. Quickly, she gathered up the dirty clothes that Jaxon had removed from her the previous evening, wrinkling her nose at the thought of pulling them on. A quick glance around told her there was nothing else available, so she quickly pulled the clothing up over her body.

  After dressing, she drank some water and tried her best to untangle the hair that still lay in wild waves, pretty much everywhere. She gave up after a few frustrated moments and gathered the thick mess, securing it with a piece of string from the bag she’d brought with her when she first arrived.

  She paused once, her eyes trailing back toward Jaxon, and then quietly slipped from the tent. She knew she had to do this alone. Jaxon would attack with a vengeance, taking Declan, Cracker, and even Julian along for the ride. There was just too much room for error, and that was something she wasn’t willing to take a chance on. Her son’s safety was her only concern.

  Besides, she knew that Jaxon would never approve of her plan.

  It was still dark out, the air heavy with the threat of a storm. The ominous feeling seemed to fall like a second skin over her flesh, and she shivered as her eyes moved about the camp. She’d been so exhausted when they returned that she’d never even inquired about the woman. Skye Knightly.

  She pursed her lips, then took off without hesitation toward the tech tent. It was the largest and would be the most logical place to stash a prisoner. After moving the flap back, she stepped silently inside, grateful that her eyes had adjusted to the gloom.

  “You’re up early.”

  The words sliced through the air and brought Libby up cold. She turned to her left, a small smile
playing around her mouth as she spied Cracker.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  His raised eyebrow brought a blush to her cheeks, but Libby ignored it, her focus shifting to the woman who lay a few feet beyond him. She was bound, and her eyes burned with dark emotions that were evident even through the dim interior of the tent.

  “I need to talk to her.” Libby nodded toward the prisoner. “Alone.”

  “Aha.” Cracker spat to the side and slowly got to his feet. “I’m going to give you a few minutes, Libby, but pay attention. She’s a slippery piece of work and not to be trusted.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Why don’t you try and get a few hours sleep? I’ll stay with her.”

  Cracker’s dark eyes bored into her, and Libby hoped he would just leave. She didn’t know what she’d be forced to do if the ex-soldier refused and stuck around. Seconds ticked by, and then, with a slight nod, Cracker disappeared and left her alone with the blond woman.

  A woman who was the key to her son’s survival.

  Her face grim, Libby turned and slowly walked toward her. She needed to know why Cormac wanted her so badly. She needed to know what kind of hell she was going to unleash by giving him exactly what he wanted.

  Because she would sacrifice this woman for her son, if she had to.

  Of that there was no doubt.

  Libby squatted down in front of the woman that she’d shared a room with for several weeks in the DaCosta compound. They’d hardly spoken then, and the dislike evident on the stranger’s face told her she would have to do her dammed best to get her to talk now.

  “Skye?” Her voice was soft, silky smooth. As the seconds ticked by, Libby knew with all her heart she was on the right path. She would do this.

  She would get her little Logan back.

  The woman’s electric blue eyes were full of anger, but she remained silent.

  “Skye, we don’t have much time. I need your help.”