The Girl and the Lion (Sanctuary Book 1) Page 7

  She crawled up next to him, aligning her body with his. The warmth from her body would hopefully keep the chills away.

  It wasn’t that she wanted to be close to him. That’s what she told herself anyway. Sadie wasn’t trying to take advantage of a sick man.

  But when she felt his arm drape over her, almost on instinct, she let him pull her close to him. Sadie glanced over her shoulder questioningly, but Dimitri still seemed to be fast asleep. That was good.

  She snuggled up against him, nestling her head on his arm. It felt nice to be held like this by him, even if he didn’t know he was doing it. She felt safe in his arms and warm in his embrace.

  Whatever growing feelings she had for the man didn’t matter in that moment. Whether it was pure sexual attraction or something deeper, all she knew was that in that moment, she was happy and at peace.

  Tomorrow’s problems would still be there tomorrow. For now, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  Sometime later, Sadie was awakened by sounds of distress. Dimitri was shifting restlessly beside her and crying out in a nightmare voice. She couldn’t make out any words, but there was no question he was calling out for help.

  She spun around to face him. Her hand reached out to his shoulders, shaking him gently. “Dimitri,” she said softly. “You have to wake up.”

  His eyes flew open, and what she saw there chilled her to her core. His eyes burned golden and they held a fury like she’d never seen before. But he wasn’t looking at her. He seemed to be looking past her, far away.

  “Dimitri, it’s okay. You’re safe. It was a dream.”

  His eyes seemed to clear. The rage faded from them, along with the glowing golden shimmer. He blinked a few times and glanced around, as if remembering where he was.

  “Sadie,” he said, his voice filled with relief. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s fine. You’re fine.”

  “I had a terrible dream.”

  “It’s okay. It’s over.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “It was you. Something happened to you.”

  “I’m safe. You’re safe. It was just a dream.” She whispered it into his ear in soothing tones. It seemed to help. She could feel his body relaxing. His breathing slowing.

  He let her go just enough so he could look at her. His face was a jumble of shadows in the light of the dying fire, but it was enough to see the concern in his face. “Thank god you’re safe.” He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

  It sent a warm shiver through her body. His lips were so tender and loving. So different from the tough soldier that he was.

  He looked into her eyes again. Their gazes locked, but this time she saw something other than concern. She saw a fire there, a passionate blaze.

  He kissed her. This time on the lips. She melted into him. Her tongue probed between his lips, tangling with his, sending jolts of excitement through her body.

  Dimitri slipped his fingers through her hair on either side of her face, holding onto her like he never wanted to let go.

  She ran her hands over his chest, the way she’d wanted to do earlier. Her fingers traced the hard lines of his muscles, feeling them tense up at her touch. There was a power thrumming through his body like a bolt of lightning, straining to break free. She could feel it crackling off his skin, sending jolts of arousal through her core.

  He felt so good. So strong. The touch of his lips set fire to her skin, and it was a pleasure to burn.

  He trailed kisses down her neck while his hands deftly undid the buttons of her shirt. Then he was kissing her collarbone, her shoulder, and then the tops of her breasts. His hands found her nipples, hard and straining against the fabric of her bra.

  His hands caressed her, tracing spiraling circles around her nipples. She reached behind herself to unclasp the bra, almost angry at the thin layer of cotton separating her flesh from his.

  Her breasts sprang free and he took her hard nipple into his hot mouth. His tongue swirled around, making her moan at the sensation. He kneaded her other breast with his hand, scraping his rough palm over the sensitive point of her nipple.

  A raging fire blazed in her core. Her hips shifted against him, desperate and hungry. He pressed against her, pushing his bulging length between her legs. She could feel the heat radiating from it, matching the heat inside her.

  He reached down between them to unbuckle her belt. Then he unfastened her pants and pushed them down her hips. His hand found the damp patch between her legs. He stroked her through her panties, following the line of her slit until he found her hard clit.

  She ground herself against his stroking hand, needing more, needing to fill the empty ache inside her. He slid his hand into her panties, parting her silky folds with his thick finger.

  The feeling was electric. She moaned into his shoulder. Her heartbeat filled her ears and liquid fire filled her veins. He stroked her with his fingers while his palm pressed against her sensitive clit, stoking the flames inside her until she thought they would consume her.

  He continued to lick and suck at her breasts. The combination was a symphony of pleasure vibrating through her entire being. She could feel herself swelling upwards, building to the crescendo.

  Her excitement peaked, and she felt pleasure roll over her like a wave. Her entire body tensed up with the feeling, and her moans of pleasure were so loud they echoed in the cave.

  Dimitri held her close as she rode out wave after wave of satisfaction. Time seemed to stop, freezing her in that perfect moment, filled with bliss.

  When she could think again, she kissed him hard. He met her eagerly, his passion still running high. She wanted to make him feel as good as he’d made her feel. Her hands reached down to unfasten his pants.

  She shoved the pants down his hips and grasped his hot, hard length in both hands. He grunted at the feeling of her. He seemed to swell even bigger at her touch.

  Sadie stroked him gently at first, savoring the feeling of his throbbing length.

  Dimitri kissed her as she pleasured him. One hand found her breast while the other slid between her legs again. He caressed her in rhythm with her own strokes, matching her pace. She felt the fires rising inside her again at his touch.

  He groaned with pleasure while she stroked him. The sound was like an intoxicating drug. Just knowing she was making him feel good and turning him on excited her. She moved her hands faster, more boldly. She felt his hips pumping in time with her hands, like he couldn’t control himself.

  She was feeling the same way. The intensity of his caresses had risen too. The feeling of him in her hands, the sound of his ragged breathing, and the expert touch between her legs had her soaring with delight.

  She could feel herself getting close again, but she wanted to make sure he came, too. She stroked him harder, faster. Beads of precum slicked his length, smoothing out her strokes.

  “Fuck,” Dimitri groaned. “Sadie, that feels amazing. I think I’m gonna—”

  His words cut off as his cock twitched in her hand. The feeling of it sent her hurtling over the delicious edge. Pleasure flooded through her like a crash of thunder. She could feel him coming, his hot seed spilling out of him.

  They came together in the darkness, the fires of their passion burning brighter than the fire beside them. They leaned against each other as satisfaction rippled through them. The sounds of their breathing mingling together. Their slick, sweaty skin pressed against one another.

  Dimitri wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close, planting a sweet kiss on her lips. She loved how close she felt to him, not just physically, but close in a deeper way.

  Whatever problems were waiting for them didn’t matter in that moment. Those were things that existed in another world, a world that couldn’t touch them out there in the woods, safe in their cave.

  “You are amazing,” Dimitri whispered.

  “So are you,” she sighed.

  “I’m so ha
ppy I found you.”

  The emotion in his voice sent another warm ripple of pleasure through her. “You’re just saying that because I saved your life.”

  He looked down into her eyes. “You did save my life. Maybe in more ways than one.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He laid on his back and looked up at the firelight dancing on the cave ceiling. Sadie curled up against him, resting her head on his chest.

  “It’s hard to explain,” he said, his voice a low rumble in her ear. “It’s like, I’ve been wandering around since I came home, with no real purpose. No direction. Like if I died it wouldn’t really matter. That’s why I came out here in the first place. I figured if I could help my friend, my life would have meaning. But now, with you, I feel a sense of purpose. A reason to keep going. I’m sure that sounds crazy.”

  “No,” Sadie whispered. “That doesn’t sound crazy at all.”

  Dimitri’s hand stroked her back in lazy circles. “The good thing is that I know we’re going to make it through this whole mess.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because it took me my whole life to find you. And there’s no way in hell I’m ever letting you go.”

  Chapter 9

  When Sadie awoke, Dimitri was no longer by her side. She felt a pang of sadness at waking up alone. The makeshift bed of leaves felt cold and empty without him.

  She emerged from the cave to find him gathering up their meager possessions, obviously getting ready to leave. “Looks like you figured out our next move.”

  He looked up from what he was doing and grinned at her. “Morning, gorgeous.”

  She laughed and ran her fingers through her tangled hair. “Oh, please. I look like crap.”

  Dimitri closed the distance between them and gathered her up in his arms. “You look like a little slice of heaven.” He punctuated the compliment with a kiss.

  When he broke the kiss, she leaned her head against his chest. “I wish we didn’t have to leave this place. Is that weird?”

  “That’s not weird at all. I know exactly what you mean. But we’ve got to get moving.”

  She nodded. “Where are we going?”

  “We’re heading back to the Sanctuary.”

  She pulled away from him, panic flaring in her chest. “You said we couldn’t go back there. They’ll be waiting for us.”

  “Yeah,” he said grimly. “That’s what I’m counting on. We need answers. Whoever they left behind, they’ll have those answers.”

  “It’s not like they’re just going to tell you everything.”

  “I’ll ask nicely.”

  The comment had a sinister tone to it. Sadie felt like she was catching a glimpse of the soldier in him. It was so different than the man she’d come to know in the past few days. There was a hard edge to him now, sharp and dangerous.

  “And what if there’s too many of them?”

  He shook his head. “I doubt they left a whole army of guys back there. It’s probably just two or three guys.”

  “Probably?”

  “Well, it’s what I would do. If I’m wrong, we’ll just have to improvise. Besides, it’s a long walk to the city. Too long. We need a vehicle.”

  “The van?”

  “Correct.”

  Sadie sighed. “So the Sanctuary it is. At least I can look in on the animals. They should almost be out of food at this point.”

  “We’ll make sure they’re taken care of, before whatever comes after.”

  “Thank you. I can’t let anything happen to them. It would break me.”

  Dimitri walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes locked with hers. “That’s exactly how I feel about you. Above all, I need you to stay safe. None of this matters to me if you get hurt in the process.”

  “I can handle myself. Don’t worry.” She looked back at him defiantly.

  “Well, one way or another, we’re about to find out.”

  ***

  Sadie and Dimitri lurked in the tree line around the Sanctuary, not too far from where they’d entered the forest three days ago. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the Sanctuary grounds, while keeping them wreathed in shadow.

  Dimitri surveyed the grounds. His eyes alert and focused. Sadie couldn’t see any movement around the main building.

  “Looks clear to me,” she said, eager to check on her home.

  “Wait,” Dimitri said. “They’re here. Look.”

  He pointed towards the main building. Sadie saw nothing. “What am I looking for?”

  “I forget sometimes that my eyesight is better than most humans. There are shapes moving inside. I can see them through the windows.”

  “Can you tell me how many?”

  “No. I can’t be sure. We’ll have to draw them out somehow. Come on.”

  He guided her south along the tree line, staying just inside the shadows as they moved. They edged around until the front of the main building came into view. A black SUV was parked in front. The vehicle was empty.

  Dimitri searched the ground and came up with a flat, heavy stone. “You think you can hit the SUV from here?”

  “Definitely.”

  He looked at her, unconvinced. “Are you sure?”

  “We were state champs in softball four years running. I could make that throw in my sleep.”

  He nodded curtly. “Perfect. I’m going to swing around to the back of the main building. Wait exactly five minutes, then throw that rock at the SUV. It should set the alarm off.”

  “What if it doesn’t have an alarm?”

  “I’m sure it does. But just in case, maybe aim for one of the windows. Once you do that, they’re going to come running and I’ll sneak up behind them.”

  “Then what do I do?”

  “Then your job is done. Fall back into the trees and keep hidden. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  Sadie frowned. “What, that’s it? I can help more than that.”

  “Please don’t argue with me. I can move in quietly, take them out one by one. But I have to know you’re safe. Promise me you’ll do as I ask.”

  “Okay, I promise I’ll stay safe.”

  That seemed to satisfy him. He hadn’t caught the fact that Sadie had only promised to stay safe. She hadn’t promised to retreat in the woods. If she had to get involved, she would. That wouldn’t be breaking her promise.

  “Okay, five minutes.”

  “Got it.”

  Dimitri slipped away into the dark woods, merging with the shadows so quickly he might as well have been invisible. Sadie looked down at her watch and started counting down the seconds.

  The next five minutes were the longest of her life. The second hand ticked slowly, as if time itself were stretching out. Yet somehow, when the time limit was up, she wasn’t ready.

  The rock felt heavier in her hand than it did five minutes ago. The distance to the SUV seemed too far. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that Dimitri was counting on her. She couldn’t let him down. If she couldn’t be brave for herself, she could be brave for him.

  She took aim with the rock, choosing the driver’s side window as her target. She whispered the name of her guardian angel, Seraphina, praying her aim would be true. Then she threw the rock as hard as she could.

  The sound of shattering glass ripped through the quiet dusk, followed by the annoying blare of the vehicle’s alarm. It was so much louder than she’d expected. There was no way the men inside could miss it.

  Sadie ducked quickly behind a tree, only peeking her eyes out around the side of the trunk. Three men in suits swarmed from the main building’s front doors, rifles held up at the ready.

  Two of them went to investigate the vehicle while one stayed back on the front steps, covering them. A dark shadow appeared behind the lone gunman. It had to be Dimitri. Surprisingly, he was in human form. Then she remembered that it was painful for him to shift with the poison in his veins.

  The shadow slid up behind the unaware
guard, and the man dropped silently to the ground. It was quick and efficient. Sadie didn’t want to think about whether the man would ever stand up again. These men had attacked her home. Whatever happened to them, it was what they deserved.

  She watched with baited breath as Dimitri crept up behind the next man. His back was to the main building as he inspected the car. His buddy was on the other side of the vehicle, looking in. But one glance up and the second man would see Dimitri.