Page 96 of Born Savage

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re very savage, but there is much more to you. I guess I just need to know more about you.”

“So you can trust me.”

“Maybe. I still don’t know who I am, but you do, or at least more than I’ve been made aware. Peter told me to place my full trust in you and Wrath and Vicious and the others. Maybe I just need to understand more about why I feel so close to you. I can’t explain it and at first, the way I felt was absolutely the most annoying thing in the world. I couldn’t stand the thought of being alone with you, yet my body craved every inch. Every morsel.”

Now she was so close the air was sucked from the room. With a tentative touch, she lifted her arm, taking the time to brush her fingers down my chest.

“Morsel? An unusual term.”

“But very accurate.” She leaned in, her gaze trailing behind her fingers as they dipped dangerously close to my groin.

My cock responded with an obvious twitch, which cause a slight tic to appear in the corner of her mouth.

While the best thing to do was to ignore the chemistry before our actions got out of hand, my body and raging libido had another idea in mind. I slid my arm around her, tenderly fingering every vertebra as I rubbed my hand down her back.

Her sigh was entirely different than before, providing a sensual sound that ignited the very savage inside that she was content to ignore. When I jerked her against me, a tiny but perfect moan slipped past her lips. Very slowly, she lifted her head.

“I do trust you.”

The simple statement meant more than she could understand. I pulled her onto her toes, dropping my head at the same time. As soon as I brushed my lips across hers, she rolled her arm over my shoulder. I’d come to enjoy the feeling of having her in my arms more than I should. With her breath labored, I captured her mouth.

A rough and unbridled desire settled into my system, making it almost impossible to remain gentle. Somehow, I sensed that’s what she needed. And in truth, what she deserved.

Yet she clawed at my shoulder, finally tangling her long fingers in my hair as she arched her back. The kiss had a powerful hold on me, one with far too many thoughts that had no place at this moment.

That didn’t mean I was willing to stop because at this point, I didn’t believe that was possible.

She clung to me, allowing my control to command the moment. I kissed her as if a dying man needing her oxygen, enjoying the taste of her sweet mouth. She was so warm to the touch, her skin even softer than I remembered. Or maybe I was finally allowing myself to enjoy being with her.

Her actions more tentative than I was used to, she darted her tongue against mine with every moan I captured. She could easily break my defenses, pulling me into something I’d never be able to get enough of.

When she finally pushed me away, her subtle laugh created a wave of sizzling sensations.

“Shane,” she said.

“What?”

“Your name. No, you’re not a Shane. Something more masculine. Thorn. Or Jagger. That suits you.”

Her laugh brought one to my lips. Why the hell the big secret? “Phoenix.”

“Phoenix. A legendary bird that is reborn. A mythical creature of exquisite proportions. That’s perfect for you.” She pulled away, touching her lips. “Do you know your last name?”

“Jeffers.”

The name didn’t register. At least at first.

“Wait.” Star took another step away. “Was your father Theodore Jeffers?”

I nodded only once and her eyes flashed both surprise and anger. Now, as she moved farther away, she fisted both hands. “Hold on. Your father is the reason Peter lost his entire family. Did he not know that?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

She was clearly upset, closing off from me completely. “Yes. That’s right. Your father controlled the damn lottery and Peter begged to have his family allowed to go with him, to be able to take them to safety, but your father refused. Oh, my God.” Recoiling, she backed all the way to the door. “What is this?”

“What do you mean?” I had an understanding of the lottery system of course but had no way of knowing how people were selected. That much I hadn’t been told.

“This is all a scam. Who are you really?”