Dawn's Awakening Read online

  vagina clamped, rippled, sucked at the hard flesh and left him crying out her name as she finally collapsed against him.

  CHAPTER 12

  When Seth finally managed to pull his mind back into his body, he found his arms clenched around Dawn, holding her to him as she licked his shoulder lazily and he realized—A rough chuckle left his throat. “You bit me again.”

  “Hmmm.” She licked over the wound.

  “Makes three times.” He had to smother a yawn before kissing her shoulder.

  They were plastered against each other, damp with perspiration and fading pleasure. Seth was still buried inside her, and she was still hot and tight around him, the muscles of her pussy flexing lazily around the still-erect flesh.

  She was like a sleepy little cat against him. As he stroked her back, he heard that faint little purr again. Just for a second, as though it had slipped past some unconscious barrier.

  “I like that,” he whispered drowsily.

  “Like what?”

  “That little purr.” He rubbed his chin against her hair and placed a kiss at the tip of her ear. “I love the sound of it.”

  She was silent, still, for long seconds. “I’ve never done that before,” she whispered, as though the fact she had done it was somehow frightening. “It makes me weird. I’ve never heard of the other female Breeds doing it.”

  “Who cares what they do. I love to hear you purr. It sounds sensual and lazy. Satisfied.” And all his. He had her first, and if God was willing, he would provide many, many more purrs in the future.

  He stroked his hands down her back, rubbed slowly at those pert little ass cheeks and moved her slowly along the length of his still-hard cock.

  He could wait for more. He was aroused, thick and hard and buried inside her. But he could wait. Right now, he wanted to touch her. He wanted to feel her flexing against him, feel the catches in her breath and the little ripples of response each time he moved against her.

  “I’m not satisfied.” She stretched slowly, her hips lifting in an undulating little movement before sliding down again, consuming his cock with a heated, tight grip.

  “Not even a little bit?” He smiled as he felt her lips curve as she kissed his shoulder.

  “Just a little bit. Just for a few seconds.” She lifted and braced her hands against his chest. “And you’re so very ready, Seth. We could play some more.”

  Her eyes gleamed with heat and the lightest sparkle of amusement.

  “You want to play, do you?” He skimmed his hands from her hips to the full mounds of her breasts.

  Her nipples were diamond-hard points, her breasts flushed and lifting and lowering heavily as her breathing began to grow deeper.

  Lower, where her body cradled his, deep inside the snug depths of her pussy, he could feel her response gathering again. The heated flesh was gripping him more tightly, becoming slicker, if possible, and tempting him to madness.

  “Come here,” he whispered. “Kiss me, Dawn. Deep and sweet, like only you can.”

  He watched the joy that suffused her gaze, even as pleasure washed through her body. He drew her down for the kiss, feeling her sink onto him, around him, inside him.

  Sweet heaven, how would he ever survive without this again? How could he ever live without knowing her kiss, her touch?

  He watched as she lifted above him long moments later, her eyes slitted, heat burning in the rich, golden brown depths. She was the most sensual, erotic sight he had ever seen in his life.

  Nothing had ever prepared him for the beauty moving above him, following his direction as his hands clasped her hips and he taught her how to destroy his senses with a slow downward glide, a shift of her hips, the tightening of her thighs.

  She growled as he tilted her back, directed her hands to brace behind her on his thighs and used his thumb with slow, sure movements on the tight, hardened bud of her clitoris.

  “Hell, I love it when you growl like that.” He watched his cock slide inside her, then she lifted, revealing her sweet juices as they clung to his heavy flesh.

  “I don’t growl,” she panted, then she made the sound again. Soft, a rumble that was more than a purr. A sound of complete pleasure.

  She tossed her head, the silken strands of her golden hair feathering around her face and neck as her back arched and he felt her tightening on him.

  Seth increased the movements of his hips, plunging into her, his own breathing rasping from his lungs then. He pulled her forward, took her lips in a kiss and felt her melt around him.

  She was crying out against his lips, calling his name, and the sound sent him exploding into his own release. Hard, forceful spurts of semen blasted from his cock, filling her. The pleasure tore through his body, burned up his spine and left him fighting to breathe long, long moments later.

  Seth knew he should get up. He should lift her from him, clean them both and tuck her in against him, but he didn’t want to move. He didn’t want to move her. He wanted to hold her, just like this, where he was a part of her. Where he was connected to her in a way that filled his soul.

  Ten years he had fought the mating heat. Ten years and he had given up on Dawn ever coming to him. Now she was here, and he swore, no matter what it took, he would hold her here.

  Dawn slept. She slept harder than she could remember sleeping in her entire life. Sheltered in Seth’s strong arms, tucked close against his chest, she felt safe. Secure. She could sleep now, knowing he would hold back the night. And she slept deeper. So deep that the protective layers she had built in her mind to hold the past at bay weakened. Relaxed.

  Suddenly, she wasn’t in Seth’s arms any longer, but standing amid the glare of bright lights and a cold that chilled her to her bones.

  I’m frightened.

  She turned and stared at the child that uttered the words. She was almost insubstantial. Almost a ghost. She was huddled in the corner of the cage, naked, her long hair covering most of her body, her brown eyes stark and blind with pain.

  It wasn’t just a child. Dawn knew who it was. It was her. The child she had forced herself to forget, forced herself to bury as deeply as possible.

  As she stared at her, she felt betrayed. A betrayal that cut deeper than Callan showing Seth those images. It cut deeper than any betrayal she could remember, and she couldn’t place its source. Refused to search for the source of that pain.

  She shook her head. She wasn’t here. It was just a dream. That was all. She was with Seth. He was holding her. Even as the nightmare images coalesced, she could feel his arms around her, the warmth of them, the safety, even though she could no longer see him.

  Dawn looked around and felt terror chill her soul again. She was no longer someplace safe. She was no longer seeing shadows or darkened shapes. She didn’t sense an enclosure, she felt it. She saw it.

  The underground labs of the New Mexico facility that Callan had rescued them from. But this wasn’t the rubble left after the escape and the explosions. This was the lab, fully functional, the monitors beeping, the computer screens showing the cages and cells. And the cages. The cages that held the children when they were unruly or when they were insane from the pain of the experiments conducted on their young bodies.

  “I don’t want to be here,” she whispered, feeling the words lock in her throat.

  “Don’t bother praying,” the child whispered. “If you pray, they get mean. And He doesn’t listen anyway. You know He doesn’t.”

  “Then don’t pray,” she warned her, furious. “Keep your damn mouth shut.”

  Dawn was angry with the child and she wasn’t certain why. Why would the kid want to pray? Why call out to a God that didn’t listen, that didn’t protect the Breeds? He hadn’t created them, why should He care if they lived or died? If they survived or lived without nightmares?

  The little Breed female laid her head against the bars of the cage, dejection and hopelessness surrounding her as Dawn felt her chest clench with pain. She moved closer. She wanted to com
fort her, even though she knew there was no comfort she could give. She was a step closer when the girl’s eyes opened again.

  “Did you see his eyes?” she whispered. “I looked as he hurt me. At his eyes. Just at his eyes. I want to remember them forever so you can rip his throat out. Remember his eyes. Remember, Dawn, we’re going to kill him dead. We’re going to tear out his throat and bathe in his blood. We swore it. Remember that, we swore it.” Agonizing pain, a brutal, animalistic growl of rage and helplessness, filled the room as the words slammed into her.

  Dawn jerked back. She remembered that vow. As that knowledge tore through her brain, light and color, the ground beneath her and the world around her, shifted in a dizzying array.

  Suddenly, she was being restrained, cruel hands gripping her arms and legs as she fought and bucked. Her eyes jerked around, staring at the dark shapes. They wore black masks, black shirts. They were hiding themselves, but she could see their eyes. She could see them and she could smell them and she was going to kill them.

  She bared her teeth and snarled, enraged, the animal inside her tearing at her mind with vicious claws as it sought escape.

  “I smell you,” she screamed. “I smell you. I see your eyes. You’ll die. I’ll kill you.”

  She was screaming at one. Just one. As he moved between thighs that were restrained by steel. His lips curled into a smile as he worked his pants loose. And she stared into his eyes.

  “I’ll kill you.” Demented, enraged, a haze of bloodred fury filled her senses as he came over her and she knew the pain he would bring to her. Not just to her body, but to the soul they said Breeds didn’t have.

  “You’ll have to find me first.”

  A second later she began to pray. Fear filled her, dark and oily, sliding over her senses as she felt that first touch.

  “Oh God. God save me…God save me…”

  “God doesn’t care.” His smile was cold, triumphant. “When are you going to accept that? God doesn’t care about what isn’t His. You’re not His. You’re ours—”

  She came awake. Her eyes jerked open, staring into the enraged, agonized gaze of the man she loved more than her own life.

  “Wake up, damn you!” He shook her shoulders, his face tight, savagely hewn, his eyes tormented as she stared back at him.

  Her body was stiff, the fragmented memories of the dream almost, just almost, receded. She could almost remember. She could still taste her own fear, hear her own prayers and the answer she had been given.

  And as she stared into Seth’s eyes, she knew he had heard. He knew. He would have heard her prayers. She knew she prayed in her sleep, where she refused to pray while awake. She didn’t pray, because she knew He didn’t listen.

  But Seth did. He had heard her and he had brought her back from the dream. He had kept her from her screaming. He had kept her from feeling the pain. She knew that in a distant part of her consciousness. She might not remember the dream, but she knew the pain she always awoke to. Until now.

  “Hold me.” Her voice was harsh, desperate. “Don’t make me be alone.”

  But he was already gathering her closer, the muscles in his powerful arms flexing around her as those prayers, a child’s prayers, echoed in her head.

  “You’ll never be alone again,” he whispered at her ear. “Don’t you know, Dawn? God sent me to you. Tell me what to do, baby, just tell me what to do.”

  “Just hold me.”

  She wasn’t shuddering, she wasn’t praying. She held on to him like a lifeline and felt a coil of dread begin to unravel in her soul. Because she remembered the eyes, and she knew, knew, somewhere at some time, she had seen those eyes again.

  Seth stared into the dimness of the room and felt Dawn slip slowly back into sleep. He still rubbed her back in slow, easy circles as he held her tight to his chest, his heart racing furiously.

  Terror had clenched his heart when she had jerked out of his arms, her arms and legs slamming to the bed as though jerked in place by some unseen force. And then she had begun praying.

  Distantly, he remembered hearing the rumor that Dawn never prayed. She never attended the religious services provided for Sanctuary, and refused to be in the pastor’s presence. She was one of the few that claimed God hadn’t made Breeds and He hadn’t adopted them.

  But she prayed in her dreams. In a child’s broken voice, hoarse with pain, she prayed in her dreams. God save me…

  And he knew what she had pleaded to be saved from. She had prayed to God as they raped her, and they hadn’t stopped. They had hurt her, over and over again. She had been taught in those labs that she didn’t have a soul. That she was created by man, not by God. That God had no interest in Breeds. A child suffering through what she had suffered through, how could she help but believe it was the truth?

  His little Cougar Breed believed God had abandoned her. And then everyone else had as well. Callan had left her to Dayan’s insanity and then Seth had left her to the mating heat. Dawn had known only betrayal, only pain.

  And yet here she lay in his arms, relaxed, sleeping deeply.

  Seth had demanded monthly reports on Dawn after he left her. For years, he had called Jonas personally, making certain she had everything she needed, providing what he could to make her safer, more comfortable. And through those years he had gained some information on her.

  He knew she often woke the estate with her screams, until the past few years. He knew most nights she didn’t sleep at all. She dozed through the day, sometimes she napped in the forest. She made few friends, she trained religiously, and the male Breeds within the compound lived almost in fear of her. Jonas hadn’t mentioned why. Dawn had been amused at the accusation, her gaze glittering with laughter.

  He saw glimpses of a prankster in her, a smart-ass if ever one had been born. A strong, stubborn, determined woman, far different than that shadow of a broken child that he had glimpsed ten years before when his chauffeur had mauled her breasts and called her a Council plaything.

  And now here she lay in his arms, more a lover than any other woman who had ever touched his body.

  But still plagued by the shadows of a past that she refused to remember, and the God she believed had deserted her.

  He sighed tiredly and kissed her brow, a smile, both of sadness and of thanksgiving, curving his lips as she purred for him again. A slow little rumble as she tucked herself tighter against him, her thigh sliding between his, her little fingers flexing against his flesh.

  She was his. Now he had a find a way to save her.

  “Sleep, baby,” he whispered as she muttered against his chest and tried to turn. “Right here, Dawn. I have you safe.”

  She relaxed against him once more, her breathing light and slow, and a few moments later another little purr. And how he loved those purrs.

  How he loved his Cougar Breed.

  CHAPTER 13

  The house came awake several hours later. The tragedy of the other night wasn’t forgotten, and the guests were filled with snide questions and brittle remarks concerning the deceased.

  It seemed there were few people who had truly liked Andrew Breyer aside from Seth, Dane Vanderale and Ryan Desalvo. The other guests, while outwardly shocked, some even appearing grief-stricken, were gluttonously excited over the fact that someone had actually died.

  Dawn could feel the excitement humming among the guests, which totaled nearly a hundred. Hell of a board meeting getaway, she thought as she followed Seth and watched how effortlessly he played the perfect host.

  The evening’s festivities were yet another party. Despite her objections, the band that had been hired for the event had flown in that afternoon and set up in the huge ballroom at one side of the house. The many French doors lining the room were thrown open and crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over everything.

  Drinks flowed freely, a buffet had been arranged for those whose hunger hadn’t been assuaged by the outdoor barbecue earlier, and many of the couples were dancing slowly in the center o
f the floor set aside just for that.

  Dawn stood beside Seth, aware of his hand at the small of her back as he once again talked with the CEO of Foreman Motors regarding the vehicles they supplied Sanctuary. Timothy Foreman was also on the board of directors of Lawrence Industries and, Dawn knew, one of those who had been voicing concern over the gifts that the company was making to the Breeds.

  Dressed in yet another black uniform, she was aware of the looks the other women were suddenly giving her as Seth made no secret of the fact that they were now a couple.

  Dash’s orders to stay on his ass not withstanding, Seth seemed to want her at his side as well.

  She restrained the sudden need to fidget as the Foreman daughter looked her over once again, a moue of distaste on her lips.

  Dawn stared back at her, lifting her brow mockingly. Patience Foreman didn’t stink of corruption, merely a small degree of selfishness. Her pale blue eyes were curious, a bit arrogant and definitely disapproving as her gaze flicked over Dawn’s clothing again.

  “Would you like one?” She indicated her uniform. “I hear it’s all the rage with the teenagers this year.”

  Unfortunately, that was the truth.

  Patience’s look was one of supreme offense. “Not hardly. I would have thought Seth had enough money to actually buy you some clothes.”

  “Why would he?” Dawn blinked back at her. “I make enough money hunting that I can buy my own.”

  Patience’s eyes widened in shock as Dawn felt Seth’s hand press warningly against her back. She smiled back at him placidly, catching the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

  “Patience is such a girly girl,” Mrs. Foreman said proudly. “She’s never had so much as a speck of dirt on her.”

  Dawn gazed sympathetically at Patience. “I’m so sorry. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

  If she wasn’t mistaken, Timothy Foreman’s cough was completely faked and the clearing of Seth’s throat was more a muttered laugh than anything else.

  Surprisingly, Patience’s lips twitched in amusement. “I would appreciate that,” she replied drolly. “And I’ll be certain not to tell anyone your taste in clothes leaves much to be desired.”

  “Yeah, I’d hate for anyone to find that out,” Dawn replied. “It could be embarrassing in my line of work.”

  At that moment the comm link at her ear beeped demandingly. Dawn reach up and activated it before turning away and flipping down the mic hidden in her hair. “I’m here.”

  “Additional agents have arrived,” Noble reported. “We have four incoming. Your presence is requested in Dash’s suite.”

  Dawn let her gaze rove around the room. Catching Styx’s eye, she indicated that he should take position at Seth’s back. With a quick nod Styx moved across the room, his powerful, bold presence receiving more than a few appreciative female looks.

  “I’ll be right back.” She turned to Seth as he leaned closer to her, his gray eyes concerned now. “Styx will keep you company.” She shot him a grin as he grimaced at that information.

  “If you’ll excuse me.” She nodded to the Foremans politely.

  She left the group quickly, made her way through the house and then to the upper floor. The place should have come with a map, she thought as she moved past the other guests then took the stairs quickly before maneuvering through the hallways to Dash’s suite.

  She gave the door a quick knock, then waited until it opened. She knew the moment she saw Dash’s expression, the compassion and sympathy in his eyes, that she wasn’t going to like what was awaiting her.

  She stepped inside anyway, aware of the door closing behind her as she faced the two men she had hoped to avoid, preferably indefinitely.

  “Well, what an honor,” she drawled mockingly. “Pride Leader Lyons and his henchman, Director Wyatt. To what do we owe the pleasure? Or were you just looking for a really cool party to attend?”

  “Dawn,” Dash said warningly, his voice darker, more commanding.

  “Oh yeah, that whole respect thing.” She shrugged her shoulders as she shoved her hands into the back pockets of her uniform pants. “Sorry ’bout that, Dash. I must be low on sleep or something.” Or tolerance. Forgiveness. Or maybe it was understanding she was low on. Understanding how her brother, the man she had depended upon totally, could have betrayed her as he had.

  She watched the wariness that flashed in his beautiful golden eyes, the regret and the anger. In Wyatt, she saw only cold silver eyes staring back at her from a savagely remorseless expression.

  “I’m busy right now,” she told them both. “So if you just wanted to say hi, consider it said and I’ll go back to the party. It’s really great. My uniform is all the rage.”

  She swallowed back the pain, the incredible fury at the knowledge that these two men had stood with Seth in that office in Sanctuary. That they had shown him that disc, the images of the child that she had been, the animal those labs had turned her into.

  Callan grimaced, his canines flashing as he pushed his hands through his hair and glanced at Dash. There was a flash of retribution in his eyes.

  Seeing him dressed in a silk business suit, his heavily muscled body flexing dangerously beneath it, Dawn knew she should be wary. Callan was normally a patient pride leader, but he didn’t tolerate disrespect at all. And that was too damned bad tonight.

  “Dash, you aren’t needed right now.” Callan flicked his gaze to the Wolf Breed. “I’ll take care of this.”

  Dash crossed his arms over his chest and stared back at Callan. “I’m her commander here, Callan, that supersedes your authority over her outside Sanctuary,” Dash pointed out to him.

  “Then I’m telling you to leave,” Jonas growled. “I am your superior.”

  Dash laughed at that. “If you want to try me, Jonas, we can go head-to-head right here, I’m all for it. But it’s not something you want to do.”

  “And all this flexing of male Breed muscle is really swoon worthy,” Dawn injected sweetly. “But completely juvenile. Can I get back to the party now? Seth promised me a dance, you know.”

  “We’re going to talk,” Callan snapped. “Now.”

  “We have nothing to discuss, Pride Leader Lyons,” she informed him coldly. “The time for talking to me is, oh, I’d say about ten years past.”

  As she stared back at