Savage Heart (Savage Island Book 1)

by Maggie Walsh

  If what he said was true… and Russell did say he never lied, then that would mean he looked at Gill as a husband-to-be. “So does that mean we’re engaged?”

  Smiling, Russell replied, “If you need to have a label for it, then yes. However, I will be very honest here. I hope it is the shortest engagement in history.”

  “Is it okay if maybe we get to know each other first? I mean, I believe what you’re saying, but I think it would be nice to get to know each other and then… well, we can go from there?” Gill asked cautiously.

  “And that is what we are doing. You need time to heal and I would never force you into anything, so while you get better we can get to know each other. I want to know everything about you, my fated one,” Russell answered.

  “The first time I saw a shifter was one night when we were on a shift at the station going on calls with the guys. The fire was a really bad one and it was racing towards a housing development. Wyndingo ordered a fire line to be created. That’s when we make a controlled fire to help stop the one that’s coming at us. Anyway, Wyn had told me and the other two trainees to stay in the truck and he and the guys took off. I noticed one of the helmets lying there at my feet and I raced around the house to make sure Dallas had it. I saw five dragons of all sizes blowing fire making a fire line. One of them saw me and came towards me and I…” Gill put his head down in shame. “I passed out cold. When I woke up Wyndingo was there along with Destrain. They explained to me about our town, how Destrain was the king of the pixies, and Wyndingo and his men were dragons. I was surprised for sure, but then my best friend in the academy told me he was a ferret. He’s been teaching me all about shifters, so that’s how I know some things about you guys.”

  “Thank you for telling me. I look forward to hearing what you have learned. Now it’s time for you to answer my question,” Russell said with a smirk.

  Sighing, Gill replied, “Okay, but I really hope you won’t change your mind about the maybe being a mate thing.”

  Russell growled, “Never.”

  “Then I guess I should take the chance,” Gill replied.

  Russell smiled, and Gill felt a wave of happiness wash over him.

  “Okay, so back to the questions. You said technically firefighting was what you did, but… and I know there is a but here, so what is it, fated one? And don’t put yourself down this time. I told you, I would never laugh at your dreams.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Gill could see the honesty in what Russell was saying to him. “I think of myself as a writer. I love writing paranormal romance. I just never got anything published… then again, I never tried. I mean, what if I put my work out there and they say I suck?”

  “I highly doubt you suck at much of anything you put your mind to,” Russell said.

  Gill snorted, “That’s not what my dad says. According to him I suck at everything. He found one of my manuscripts one time and asked me what the hell it was. When I told him it was a story I had been writing about a fireman who could shift into a dragon. His name was Tommy and he fell in love with Lambert, a guy who was a clerk at the grocery store. Tommy was trying to woo Lambert, but Lambert had an ex that wouldn’t leave him alone and Tommy swooped in and saved him… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go off subject.”

  “I didn’t mind at all. You practically glow when you talk about your love of writing. I can feel your joy and it brightens my heart,” Russell smiled, then continued, “It sounds really interesting and I’d love to read it.”

  Gill looked back down, tears filling his eyes as he murmured, “I wish you could, but my dad tossed it into the fireplace and made me delete it from my computer. That’s also the day he told me I would be joining the fire department. I begged him to not make me do it, but he said no son of Alister Westmore would do something as frivolous as writing that kind of drivel. He had me signed up and ready to begin the firefighter academy in no time and I started a few days later. Now it’s my turn.”

  Russell didn’t say anything at first. He was looking at Gill with his lips tightened and his brows drawn together. The room was silent a second too long before Russell said, “Okay. Go ahead.”

  Gill started to get nervous with the tone Russell used. He didn’t know what he had said to upset him.

  When Gill didn’t ask anything, Russell sighed, “I’m sorry if I come off as angry. Just know I am not upset with you at all, now please, ask your question.”

  “You keep saying you’re old… how old are you?” Gill asked.

  Sighing, Russell replied, “I am very old, Gill. So old I stopped counting millennia ago. I have been around since the beginning of time. I’m sorry I can’t give you an exact date.”

  “It’s okay, but a bit overwhelming to think about. The things you’ve seen.” Gill gasped, “Oh! You could tell me things that would make my writing so informative. I mean things like… A tale of Two Cities had a line… It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… wasn’t it? I mean what really was the best of times? And with all the wars you must have seen, can you really say one point was worse than another? What animals were really here? I mean what was it like to walk with the dinosaurs? Oh crap… I bet you’ve seen a T-Rex in person, huh? Oh wow… what were cavemen really like? Did they just go, ‘Ung Ung,’ or could they talk, and if so was it in English, or did they speak something like Spanish and French?”

  “Fated one, breathe,” Russell laughed. “I promise to answer all your questions on history, but for now I would rather get to know you.”

  Gill looked away, his cheeks heating in embarrassment. Gill always did things like that. He questioned everything. He always wanted to know the whys and wherefores of things. Sighing heavily he said, “I’m sorry. I know I can be annoying, but my curiosity often gets away from me. I can’t seem to stop myself.”

  Savage placed his pointer finger under Gill’s chin and turned his face so they were eye to eye. Gill could just get lost in those sapphire blue orbs. They were mesmerizing as well as beautiful. “Fated one, are you paying attention to me?”

  “Huh?” Gill asked blinking, then automatically answered, “Not really, I was thinking how beautiful your eyes are.”

  Russell gave Gill a butterfly kiss that was too quick for Gill, then said, “Thank you. However, I want you to hear me, so I will refrain from saying how sexy and sweet your light green eyes are as well.”

  “Oh. Okay,” Gill murmured, wishing Russell would kiss him again.

  Russell dropped his finger and sat back. “I don’t want to hear any more self-deprecation coming from those soft luscious lips of yours again. There is nothing you could say or do that would be annoying to me, fated one. Your voice is like music to my ears. Every word, every breath, every question is refreshing to me and worth listening to for hours. I want to answer your questions, but I would rather save those for another time. Right now, I would rather talk about you. I want so much to get to know my mate who the fates have blessed me with. Maybe later this week we can go on a picnic and you can bring a notebook to use what I say in your books.”

  Gill smiled wide. “Oh I would lo…” The smile dropped, and Gill whispered, “I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Russell asked.

  “Well, I left most of my notebooks and my computer at my parents’ place in Maddox. The one notebook I had been working in is back in my room at the shelter,” Gill quietly answered.

  “Fated one, I have some notebooks you can use until we have the chance to go and gather your things from your parents’ home. That is if I can convince you to stay,” Russell replied.

  Shrugging, Gill replied, “I still can’t believe you want me to. I mean, you don’t really know me and I don’t know you, and it’s like I’m moving in with a man on the first date or something… not that we’re on a date, because I have to say this would be the suckiest date for you with me being in this bed and all. I wou―”

  Russell placed a finger over Gill’s lips, saying, “That is why we started this question and an
swer game… remember?”

  “Oh yeah,” Gill said with a smile, causing his tongue to slide against Russell’s finger.

  “It was your turn,” Russell said in a rough gravelly tone, removing his fingers and muttering, “You are going to be the death of me.”

  Licking his lips, Gill thought a moment then asked, “How many people are on this island and how many can do what you do?”

  “Snuck a second in there yourself,” Savage said with a smile.

  Shrugging, Gill said, “It’s only fair.”

  Russell softly laughed. “That it is, fated one.” Taking a deep breath, Russell said, “Like I said earlier, in this house there is myself, Grey, Lani, and Heath. They are wonderful people who would never harm you in any way. Outside of my home, there are approximately ten others and although no one is quite like me, they are all shifters. Which reminds me, fated one. Until I have a chance to introduce you around to those who live around here, do not venture out on your own. There are many… shall I say, unusual things beyond my walls. You can walk freely anywhere inside the walls… but not outside. For that, you must have either myself or one of the others who live here in my home.”

  Gill’s curiosity was very peaked, but he had already asked his question. Gill kind of liked this game. He had always been curious about things, never really seeing locations or situations quite like the guys next to him. Now he was wondering what might lurk outside the walls?

  “What made you finally break free from your father?” Russell asked.

  “A couple of things actually. First, when I came back from my shift at the firehouse, my father told me that he had spoken to his partner, Ford, at his law firm and I would be marrying Ford’s daughter by the end of the year. It’s not that Shelly isn’t a nice person, but… well… she’s a girl.”

  “And you’re gay,” Russell stated.

  Nodding, Gill replied, “I never was in the closet about who and what I am. I told my dad when I was eight that I found the boys far more handsome than I did the girls. He told me I would grow out of it. As I got older I knew I wasn’t going to grow out of it. It’s not like being gay is a choice, you either are or you’re not. Well, I am a gay man. Then he said it might be a good time to announce my engagement at my graduation party when I finished up at the fire academy. I told him I didn’t want to marry Shelly and that Wyndingo and I had spoken, and both of us agreed that maybe the fireman thing wasn’t for me. My dad became unglued. He told me that I would do as I was told and marry Shelly. He said it was going to secure his place in the firm, and then he told me I would graduate even if he had to go to Wyndingo himself.” Gill pursed his lips as he looked at Russell. “Who does that? Whose father goes to the Fire Chief and demands they keep his son on? A fireman always has to keep their head in the game when they’re on a call or someone could get killed. Mine… well mine goes all over the place. I find myself looking at the fire and seeing a large phoenix rising out of it and wreaking havoc on the town, then the dragon fireman comes in and saves his mate before the phoenix can kill him. Do you know what that could do to the men I’m supposed to have the backs of? Someone could die because I’m daydreaming instead of doing my job. I just couldn’t let my father do that. So I planned it all out. I packed some of my clothes and I left my parents a note telling them I was called to go into the station and would be back in forty-eight hours. I got in my car and left Maddox. I was going to go far away, but then I had some car trouble in Crystal. I met this really nice guy named Jayce who runs the Nina Abruzzo shelter and he offered me a place to stay. I thought… my father would never think to look for me there, and so I moved into one of the small rooms and used some of the money I had to buy some notebooks and started writing.”

  Gill stopped as a flash of a gnarled face came to mind and fear hit him like a fist to the face. He had no idea what happened, but the next thing he knew Russell was sitting on the bed, holding him and rocking him as Gill cried.

  “It’s okay, fated one. I’m here and as long as I am with you, no one will ever hurt you again,” Russell whispered as he continued to hold and rock Gill in his arms.

  Feeling Russell’s arms around him, Gill felt safe and cared for. He also felt his cock rise to full mast. The man smelled so good. Gill didn’t know what cologne Russell wore, but he couldn’t get enough of it as he inhaled, then inhaled again.

  “Are you scenting me, fated one?” Russell asked.

  “What is that cologne you’re wearing? It smells wonderful,” Gill said as he pressed his nose to Russell’s neck.

  Russell let out what sounded almost like a purr a cat would make, then said in a gravely tone, “It is just me. I don’t wear colognes, because I am a shifter they hinder my sense of smell.”

  Gill started to rub his body up and down, groaning at the pleasure of feeling the warmth and hard muscles of the man holding him. Damn, if Gill could, he’d crawl into the man’s skin.

  Within seconds Russell was on top of him, kissing the breath right out of Gill’s lungs. Gill opened up for the man, wanting to know if he tasted as good as he smelled and felt… Oh crap, he did!

  Their tongues touched and started a dance as their teeth clacked together when the kiss deepened even more.

  Gill could feel Russell’s huge, hard cock rubbing against him through the thin sheet covering his body. Gill wanted that sheet gone and gone now.

  Pulling and tugging, Russell lifted up high enough for the sheet to finally be removed and Gill tossed it to the floor. Both men were in a needful frenzy. Holy shit, what was wrong with him? He had only just met the man. Hell, Gill didn’t normally do things like this, but for some reason it didn’t feel wrong. Nothing about Russell felt wrong.

  The second Russell took Gill’s cock in hand and started to stroke it slowly up and down, Gill was completely lost. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this man.

  Russell’s lips slipped from Gill’s, allowing Gill to breath once more, and he pleaded, “Please. Oh please, more.”

  Russell kissed and nipped at Gill’s neck and earlobe. Fuck, that was his erogenous zone and… Oh yeah, right there behind the ear.

  Gooseflesh formed as Russell continued his assault on Gill’s earlobe, neck and shoulder, all the while stroking Gill’s cock up and down, using the precum as lubricant. Gill lifted his hips, ignoring the twinge he felt in his back. This was too good to let something as insignificant as pain stop what was happening. However, Russell didn’t feel the same as he stopped his strokes and sat up straight, rasping, “What the fuck am I doing?”

  CHAPTER 6

  Gill’s hips continued to move up and down trying to get him to continue what he was just doing. “Making things all better.”

  “I shouldn’t be doing this, fated one. You still need to heal,” Savage whispered, still grasping Gill’s hard shaft, but not moving.

  “This is going to heal me. Please… please, don’t stop,” Gill begged.

  Savage couldn’t believe how thoughtless he had been… how selfish. His mate had just woken after a tragic ordeal. He had been broken and close to death and here he was taking advantage of him.

  “Russell, please don’t stop. I need this…I really do. I need you,” Gill practically begged.

  Seeing the lust and hearing his mate’s need, had Savage in a dilemma. When a lone tear fell from Gill’s eye and trickled down the side of his face, he knew how far gone his fated one was, and release was the only answer.

  Savage started stroking up and down on Gill’s hard weeping shaft, softly saying, “Do not move, fated one. I will take care of you, but I don’t want you hurting yourself.”

  Gill’s hips stopped moving and Savage slid back a little further, so that he could lie between his mate’s legs. Lightly, Savage licked up one side and down the other of Gill’s cock, gently placing the tip of his tongue on the drops of semen that had begun to trickle out.

  Savage groaned as the flavors of his fated one’s juices coated his taste buds. Mixed in with the flavor of Gill was
the musky, luscious scent and it had Savage rapidly undoing his own pants and stroking his cock as he placed his mouth over his mate’s hard, weeping shaft.

  “Oh fuck! That feels so good,” Gill hissed through gritted teeth as he gripped and tugged on Savage’s hair.

  The slight sting from his scalp along with the taste and smell of his mate, had Savage close to exploding. Savage lifted and lowered his mouth faster and dropped his hand from Gill’s cock. Placing a finger into the sides of his mouth, Savage used the saliva to lubricate his finger then placed the wet digit against the puckered entrance of his fated one.

  Slowly he pushed that finger into his mate’s hole and Gill hissed in pleasure, murmuring, “Oh fuck, yeah! Fuck me with that finger.”

  Savage was a bit surprised at how dirty his shy little mate spoke, but it was turning him on with every word he spoke.

  “Give me another, you sexy beast. I need to feel more… show me how alive I am,” Gill hissed out.

  Savage felt the beasts within him surfacing and had to tamp them down before they broke free. Adding a second finger, he continued to suck his mate as he slid the finger deeper, searching until…

  “Holy fucking hell! Oh! Oh!” There it was…his mate’s sweet spot. “Not gonna last, Russell! I’m so not gonna last!” Gill shouted louder and louder.

  Savage increased his strokes on his own cock as he rapidly raised and lowered his head on Gill’s shaft. He was so fucking close and then Gill shouted, “Holy shit!”

  Seed quickly spurted into Savage’s mouth and slid down his throat. With his mate’s shouts and the taste of his man’s release, Savage felt his own build and erupt in his hand and the bed below.