Chapter 22

ARIA

When my dress is ripped off my body, a small squeal passes through my lips. I'm bare and exposed to his hungry eyes, nothing but my lacy panties barricading me from his naked body. I really shouldn't be finding him so damn hot right now. But I'm pathetic like that.

I'm torn between being turned on and panicked. We don't have time for this. There's so much important shit to do, but the hungry, predatory gleam in Jase's eyes promises me that I really don't have a choice right now.

He doesn't speak. Most savages don't. Not that they can't, but they usually don't have coherent thoughts. They have one thing on their mind at a time, and right now I can see clearly what's on his mind.

I almost wish I was a mindless drone like the last time. Then I wouldn't be so torn about what to do right now.

Jase stalks toward me, and every step I take back, he just takes a step forward to close my newly acquired distance. We really have to start practicing safe savagery. This is the second time one of us has had a relapse, and neither time did we bother to even take precautions.

My dumbass self didn't even bother to grab olophine after we got here. I could be bringing him down right now instead of cowardly backing up and stalling for thought.

The wall. Damn.

The second my back hits the wall, I curse loudly and glare at the door. I might as well give up my efforts of escape. If anyone gets between us right now, Jase might rip them to shreds. It's safer for everyone if I just—

My thoughts are cut off when an involuntary moan passes through my lips. I look down to see Jase has somehow managed to rip my panties off, drop down to his knees, and now his wicked tongue is doing things to me that has my toes curling and my back arching off the wall.

I never should have looked away. Not that I could have stopped him even if I wanted to. Then again, I do have gifts. Shit. I keep forgetting they work.

Again, my thoughts halt, because the man between my legs has a way of making my mind turn to mush. My hybrid heat steadily grows, singeing the wall behind me when the temperature spikes to a dangerous level.

I grip his hair needing something to hold onto as he ravages me with an angel's mouth and a devil's tongue. Oh damn.

My eyes roll back in my head as he sucks and rolls his tongue against my most sensitive spot that feels like a bundle of erotic nerves right now. He's good at this when he's sober, but as a savage…

"Jase," I whisper when his touch gets rougher. His greedy strokes start building an almost painful pressure inside me stomach, and my legs tremble in warning.

My head thuds against the wall when my body tries to buck, but the strong man on his knees holds my hips steady as he owns me with every flick of his tongue. Suddenly, he stops his ministrations, leaving me painfully bereft, and I open my eyes, possibly on the verge of crying. But instead of crying, I squeal like a bitch again, surprised when spins me around.

Before I can process what's going on, he slips inside me with a hard thrust, sheathing himself to the hilt. My whole body tries to catch on fire as he uses my hips like handles, jerking me to meet his thrusts, and without any warning, an earthquake erupts inside of me. Shattering like glass, his name tears through my lips like a curse or a prayer—not sure which. The release is so powerful that it's almost painful, and my body tries to slump as I uselessly try to grab onto the slick wall. As a result, he wraps my hair around his hand and angles my head back, keeping me right where he wants me as he asserts his savage dominance over me.

I almost wish I could go savage and repay the favor.

He doesn't stop or even slow down as he continues to drive in from behind me, and then I feel the sting of his blood bringers on my shoulder blade. I don't know how he has even managed to fold his tall body down to bite me there, and considering he has me pinned against the wall with my head angled awkwardly, I can't even turn around to see.

My veins burn even hotter as the erotic venom slithers throughout me, forcing my moans to get even louder. Jase's rhythm only quickens, and my legs threaten to give out as he pounds into me over and over, thrashing like he's on a mission to claim me as his counter for good.

When my second release comes out in a garbled scream followed by a litany of curses, he tosses me to the bed, his erection still unsatisfied. Before my back even hits the mattress, he moves with a blurred motion and thrusts in while effectively pinning my hands above my head.

I don't even know what damn phase he's in because his eyes don't dilate like a normal hybrid's. The blue glows brighter, but it seems tamer than the last time.

I whimper when I feel another building inside me, knowing I can't keep shattering and coming apart so quickly, or I might just fall into an orgasm-induced coma. My eyes screw shut as I try to hold it back, hoping I can hold out until he finds his own release, because he's an animal trying to mark me for good. This is even more intense than last time, but his savage seems so much stronger than last time.

When a gasp enters his lungs, I look up to see the blues lulling back to his normal hue, and relief fills me as his punishing rhythm slows, offering me some reprieve from the impending, possibly crippling, orgasm that I was on the brink of having.

He blinks rapidly, almost slowing to a halt as he slowly takes in the room around him. When his eyes drop back down to meet mine, he seems lost and confused, proving just how savage he was. Then when he sees our bodies joined, he slowly starts building up a less intense, but still incredible pattern.

"Damn," he groans, "sorry." It's doubtful he remembers what happened yet, so I'm sure he's apologizing for being savage. I start to tell him to save the apologies, but then he lets a sexy growl free, releasing my hands so that I can finally move.

He steadies his body over mine by keeping his hands beside my head, and I wrap my legs around his waist, taking him deeper as he sinks in with a delicious sound that rumbles deep in his throat.

My back arches off the bed as a less intense, but still surreal orgasm rips through my body, leaving me feeling boneless, considering it's my third in a matter of an hour. Jase grunts as he slams into me one last time, his head dropping to his chest as he shudders above me, and I grin as he drops to my body.

His usual cool temperature is gone, and he's almost burning as hot as me. Our combined heat sizzles against the flame retardant sheets, and he kisses my neck as he tries to catch his breath.

"I don't really know what just—" His words cease with his breath, then I feel him grimace.

"What?" I prompt, worrying when I feel dread seeping through his emotions.

"I just remembered what all happened. Shit, Aria. Sorry. I just fucked you like a damn animal."

Yeah… I probably shouldn't be smiling like a fool. "Don't apologize. The only thing I was worried about was dying from too many orgasms being so close together."

He snickers against my neck, and I run my fingers through his hair. His erotic venom is still coating my veins, and he's still inside me, apparently feeling the same thing when his hips start to rock, eliciting a small moan from me.

"Think you can handle one more?" he asks sweetly, moving to where he can support his weight again.

"I can handle at least two more," I say when he leans down to press his lips to mine.

"Good to know."

***

ARIA

"Simone was supposed to meet me over an hour ago, and I can't reach her or Kellan by phone," I tell Jase, wrapping myself up in the sheet.

I can't believe I lost track of time, but I'm shocked that Simone didn't show up. She's always punctual. Well, usually. This is the first time she's been in a relationship, so maybe she's still adjusting, especially since it's still in the early, lovesick phase.

I roll my eyes at my own self. I have no right to accuse her of being in the early phases, when I just spent four hours doing things to my husband that would make the wicked blush. And I also lost track of time.

At least I can blame his savage.

"You can only blame my savage for about an hour of that," he says from the bathroom just as the water cuts off.

Damn him for eavesdropping on my unguarded mind.

He chuckles as though he finds this amusing, and I stand up to start getting dressed. I don't even have time for a shower now, and I knew better than to get in the shower with Jase, no matter how tempting he made it sound.

"Do you think she's found anything?" he asks as he walks out with a towel around his waist, distracting me for a minute.

"I don't know. She said she'd be in the lab if I needed her, but I've called down to the lab several times, and no one has answered. She tends to get wrapped up in her work, so it's possible she has tuned out everything."

"Or Kellan could be down there with her," he says, smirking.

"Which is why you're coming with me. You can read minds, so you'll know if we're walking in on anything we'd like to avoid seeing."

"I can't read Kellan's mind," he says quickly, still wearing that smug expression that is also taunting in nature.

"No, but you can read Simone's."

He groans while shaking his head. "And I really don't want to hear what she's thinking these days. I avoid her mind at all costs. So no."

"Well, I really don't want to see them fucking," I say, slowly sidling up next to him and casually running my finger up his arm. "Can't you do this for your wife?"

He snickers while rolling his eyes. "On our wedding night you're already using our marriage against me to get what you want. It's going to be a long eternity," he says, playfully mocking a groan before pulling me close and kissing me.

"So I win?" I ask against his lips, smiling when he does.

"Fine. I guess I owe you, considering my earlier slip."

I doubt many people are lucky enough to get their savage counter on their wedding night. Yet he seems to think I didn't thoroughly enjoy every second of it.

Once I'm dressed and he threads our fingers together, we head out into the hall, and I melt against his side, smiling like a damn fool instead of worrying about the hell we'll be facing soon. I deserve to enjoy my one-night honeymoon. It went from the worst honeymoon ever to the best with one shift in his mind. Savage Jase is one hell of a turn on.

"You know, I really thought the mood was ruined after the attack, but you managed to salvage our wedding night."

"You mean I savaged our wedding night," he quips.

I snicker softly while shaking my head. "Other than the near-death encounter, I'm pretty positive I've had the best wedding night ever."

He blows out a huff that mingles with a touch of laughter while shaking his head. "Yeah. That's just the way I planned it," he says dryly.

I just continue smiling as he holds me against his side like he'll never let me go. Considering what lies ahead, we need to be living every day like it's the last, because we don't know when Alice will be coming.

We round the corner that leads to the lab, and I pull out my phone to see what the new access code is. Simone changes it the second she steals one of the labs as soon as we get to a different compound, but she always sends us a text to give us the new code.

After pulling up the message that holds the code, I hand it to Jase.

"Nothing," he says, tilting his head as though he's listening to words I can't hear. "But if they're touching, I won't be able to hear her. Remember? Kellan's touch blocks my mind." He steps aside after entering in the code, and then he hands me my phone while motioning toward the door. "After you."

I glare at him while shaking my head.

"Sorry, Commander. You're going first. Just in case."

He snickers while pushing open the door, and we both go still in the first room, waiting to see if there are any carnal moans or rattling tables. Nothing.

"Maybe she's just in deep science mode," he says with a shrug.

Relieved that I'm not going to walk in on anything that will burn images into my mind, I head into the secondary section that hosts Simone's work section. But it's empty. Well, sort of. There is lab equipment everywhere, and there are numerous dead bodies that have been opened up and prepared for examination.

Simone never leaves a lab in complete disarray unless she's planning on coming right back.

"She must have gone to do something," Jase says after reading my mind. "We'll hang out until she gets back."

The opened bodies on the table make me cringe, and I turn my head away from the tables that have blood pooled all over them. As my eyes scan the room for something that won't make me sick, they land on something that steals all the color from my face as horror washes over me. The dead bodies oozing blood everywhere is more comforting than the message written in blood.

"Jase," I whisper, dropping to my knees as a shiver spreads over me, consuming me in chills.

This can't be happening.

"Son of a bitch," he gasps, grabbing his phone after he reads the same message.

Five men have taken us. Be careful. It's a trap for you. They expect you to follow.

She left that specifically for me to find, and I let her down by taking so damn long. I've never felt so selfish, guilty, or ashamed in all my life.

Jase starts barking out orders to people over the phone, seeming to shift into new conversations too quickly for me to follow, because I'm numb as I stare at the message I should have found sooner. Instead, I was too busy being wrapped up in Jase, and Simone and Kellan might possibly be dead already.

If Kellan let someone take them, then that means they were stronger. That means they came from Alice. That means…

"There's no blood and no sign of a struggle," Jase says softly, helping me back up to my feet. "If these people wanted them dead, they wouldn't have gone to the trouble to kidnap them."

A thousand different scenarios pass through my mind, and all of them leaving me heaving for a breath I can't grasp. Torture. They'll torture them both. What I went through was absolutely nothing because Captain Fricks made Hedin hold back.

Fricks.

"I need to speak to Captain Fricks."

Jase starts to argue, but I cut him off. "Now!"

He tightens his lips while taking a deep breath, but he finally nods. "But I'm coming with you," he says after too much silence.

I've been dreading the day Alice would come for us. Instead, she's bringing us to her. Once again I've made the stupid mistake of underestimating her and her reach.