Sword of Inquest (La Patron's Sword Book 1) by Sydney Addae Page B

She’d deliberately chosen a place impossible for humans to access, but in his present form, he couldn’t access it either. She retraced her steps and watched him sleep. Out of options, she sat near the entrance to defend her mate.

Chapter 14
     
    The sun set low in the sky when Hawke moved. Asia looked at him over her shoulder and then refocused on the entrance. Two drunks had wandered near earlier but sobered quickly when she growled her displeasure. The men ran, tripped and rolled a good distance down the hillside.
    “What happened?” Hawke said, his voice deep and harsh.
    Asia turned; prepared to defend herself she stood and watched as he took stock of the surroundings.
    “Asia?”
    The huskiness of his voice caressed her skin. She shook off the effect and continued staring at him.
    “ Goddess, you are so beautiful.”
    Her wolf whimpered at the awe in his voice, but she remained vigilant as he sat up and scooted back against the wall. He tilted his head in the same manner when he looked at her in the hall at the castle. “I’m in control,” he said with a puzzled look staring at her. “Did you do something?”
    Still in wolf form Asia stared, looked away and unable to stop looking at him, stared again.
    Hawke frowned. “Something is different. The computer is muffled, like a hum.” A spark lit in his eyes, stealing her breath, and confusing her. “The chip’s not controlling any more, it’s there but not strong like before.”
    Asia’s wolf whined, pushing her toward him, urging for the connection between mates. Stepping out on a symbolic limb, she opened the link. “ Good, that’s good.”
    His eyebrows shot up. A moment later a smile appeared. “ Thank you, Asia. Thank you. Such a long time… so long since …” his eyes closed and a rush of warm wind flowed through the link, brushing against her mind as if tasting and caressing every nuance of her essence. Asia’s body tingled beneath the onslaught. This mingling was unlike anything she’d ever experienced which made no sense, she’d been mated before.
    A soft breeze carried the aroma of his craving, filling places she never knew existed. Her wolf whined and stepped closer, taking in more of his scent, licking his hand and face.
    “ You are so beautiful,” he whispered. The deep huskiness in his voice left her panting and defenseless. Resisting him never entered her mind. Warm tendrils of need arced between the links, binding and tying them together. Hot coils of desire wrapped tight around her as an embrace.
    “Asia,” he whispered. “Let me see you.”
    The raspy hunger in his tone slid into a crevice of her mind she hadn’t known existed and filled the space with something akin to hope. Could she? Fear, the parasite in her mind, rose swift and strong, urging her not to trust this man, not to release everything, not to allow him access to her dark secrets and shame, not yet.
    Allowing Hawke to see her wasn’t the same as giving in, plus her wolf would take matters into her own hand if she backed out of this mating dance.
    Asia shifted into her true form.
    Hawke’s gaze softened as he pulled her forward and cupped her cheek. She touched the scar on the side of his face with the tip of her finger. His gaze roamed her face, as if imprinting her on his brain. “So damn beautiful.” The heat of his words brushed against her cheek. Unprepared to share everything her eyelids lowered beneath his steady gaze.
    Hawke fisted her hair pulling her head back and kissed her hard. Her wolf purred. The noise slipped through her lips. His movements quickened as if the unchecked sounds were a fire accelerant, inflaming him further.
    Long licks of his tongue danced with hers. Intoxicated with pleasure, he tasted like a life-altering liqueur. She’d never thirsted to this degree and pressed into him for more.
    He growled, lifting her onto his lap. The length and width of his cock set off a happy dance with her wolf, they were both pleased. Hungry for