by Marie Harte
Until she leaned up and winked at him. “That all you got?” she said between breaths. “For a badass monster, you seem awfully sweet to me.” Enraged all over again, he turned her over onto her belly. He lifted her hips and rammed his cock into her ass. She cried out, and he laughed, chuckling at her helpless flailing.
“Better, mate? Does it hurt now?” he asked as he reamed her with all the strength and rage burning inside him. For all the times he'd been unable to help those less fortunate, for each time he'd wanted to but had been too scared to take Ava into his arms. Every thrust into that tight little hole, he saw another of his failures, and he took her harder.
He clawed her hips and waist, burning for release as he gave the stubborn witch what she'd begged for. Punishment. Discipline. Love.
“Oh, Gunnar. Yes, yes,” she cried out as she writhed under him.
Her delight with his rough handling excited him, made him eager to see how much she could take.
He leaned over her back and shoved himself deeper. Then he put his hands under her chest and gripped her breasts, squeezing tight.
“Nice tits, baby. So soft and round. Those nipples are hard, aren't they?” he growled.
She moaned and ground her ass against him.
“Yeah, begging for my cock, aren't you?” He pinched her nipples, elated when she bucked under him and mewed her need to come. “Drown me with that sweet pussy, baby. Let me smell your need.” He inhaled and groaned as his release drew closer.
He needed more. A taste of her blood. Tersch liked the bite he'd already made, but he wanted everyone to see his mark. “Pull your hair away from your neck,” he ordered in a low voice, thick with excitement.
She moved to obey him without delay, shoving back against him.
Tersch acted on instinct. He bit her neck hard, let go of her nipples, and then squeezed them again. Then he withdrew from her ass before shoving home once more, coming with an explosive ending as he filled her ass up.
Ava cried out as she came, joining him in a bliss so complete, Tersch found himself shifting back into his beast without thought. The orgasm seemed to last forever, and he could barely think as his body stopped firing.
In a slow pull that felt like heaven and hell in the same breath, he withdrew from her body and came again. The small afterbursts of pleasure left another mess all over her ass as he shook out the rest of his cum.
Ava lay limply against the table, suddenly human and so still, his heart seemed to stop beating.
“Ava?”
She groaned and rolled over. Tersch was horrified to see her covered in blood and bruises on her front. His claws had cut her in places all over her beautiful breasts. And even though her skin was dark, he could see the mottled blood bursts under her skin.
Then she started to heal right in front of him until all that remained of his claiming was the sweet, subtle blending of wild jungle and cedar. Their scents, perfectly entwined.
He stared at her dumbly, not sure what to say or do as the entirety of what he'd done came back to him. He'd practically raped her. And though she'd orgasmed and cried out her release, had it been pleasurable, or had she actually been yelling out for him to stop? He couldn't remember, couldn't think past the sheer rapture of coming inside his female. Just thinking about it made him hard all over again. He didn't normally feel this horny after such mind-blowing sex, but with Ava, none of the rules applied.
She groaned again and rubbed at her bloodied throat.
Shame filled him, a need to make things right. He needed to clean her up and leave her alone. But he owed her more than that.
Tersch changed back into his human form. Wanting to atone, he apologized for his brutality with a tender kiss. There, where he'd marked her neck. On her nipples, where he'd ground the sensitive flesh. Again and again, all over her body. He licked her to a climax with just the easy stroking of his tongue, and though he remained hard, he refused to take her again. Not like this.
The berserker had tried to force her submission, but Tersch knew Ava had willingly given it. She'd endured it for him. And that made all the difference. He just hoped he hadn't killed her love with his brutality.
Ava blinked up at him, dazed and not sure if half of what she'd felt had been real. She'd never been taken so thoroughly before. Gunnar had marked her everywhere. He'd come in her pussy, her mouth, and her ass. Bites, scratches, and a hard reaming that still left her aching, though most of her outer marks had faded.
Had she ever been so possessed by another?
She looked into his bright blue eyes, eyes filled with regret and worry. She wanted to reassure him that she'd wanted it. Every bite and mark he'd given her, she'd earned. He'd finally claimed her with a show of force she'd never forget. A true male Circ, born to be raw and strong and hard. Her mate.
But the best she could manage was a grin as she slumped into an exhausted sleep.
When Ava awoke, she blinked into a dark room not her own. A swift sniff told her she lay in Gunnar's bed, but her mate wasn't near. Disappointed but realistic, Ava knew they'd need to talk about what had just happened.
She rolled to the side of the bed and stood on shaky feet. A glance down her body showed her wearing one of Gunnar's T-shirts. She smelled clean, like the soap he liked to use, and was bruise free, but her ass and pussy remained pleasantly sore. She swallowed and grinned. A sore throat as well, and one that had been well earned.
She made her way to the bathroom and used the facilities. She wondered how much time had passed and what the rest of the team had been up to while she and Gunnar had finally come to terms with each other.
The door opened, and her grandmother walked in.
“That's much better.” Alicia smiled. “Finally mated, have you?” Ava groaned and sank back onto the bed. “Yeah.”
“I knew he'd be the one for you. He's a strong one, just like our people at home.” The natural-born Circs in the Amazon. “Are you sore, dear?” Ava blushed. “A little.”
“Then it was a good claiming. Perfect.”
Yet Ava couldn't contain a niggle of doubt. She wanted to talk to Gunnar, to make sure he wasn't going off again, worried he'd damaged her beyond repair.
“Don't worry. Gunnar's working with Jules, Jesse, and Lonnie. Kisho and Morgan are on the way home, and Sheridan and Olivia are safely on their way up north to stay with Doc and Circe's Recruits for a bit. They'll be safer up there while we finish this mess with Robert Anderson.”
“So you and Lonnie are good now?”
Her grandmother's perky grin reassured her. “Oh yes, though I think I probably need to do a little more groveling to make Lonnie feel better. You know how men can be.” Alicia's smile faded. “I never would have believed Lonnie capable of any wrongdoing were it not for Anderson's manipulation. I had Jules do a thorough look at my aura. I fear I've been tainted for far longer than I'd thought.”
“I'm sorry, Grandma.”
Alicia leaned closer and stroked Ava's cheek. “I'm sorry, Ava. I never meant to hurt you.”
Ava snorted. “That toss against the wall? Please. That was nothing.” Her grandmother chuckled. “That's my girl.”
“Any news on Grayson?”
“Not yet.” Alicia frowned. “But Keegan and James managed to bug Anderson's vehicle. And one other piece of news that might interest you. Melissa Ramirez's body turned up yesterday floating in the Potomac River.” Ava sat up, groaning as she did so. “What?”
“A gunshot to the forehead. Right between her pretty blue eyes.”
“I want to say good riddance, but somehow I thought Jack would handle it better.”
Alicia frowned. “I don't think this was Jack. And that worries me. I have a feeling Anderson is cutting ties. If we don't find him soon, he may decide to go to ground and stay buried for a while. And I'd very much like to nip this in the bud.”
“I have a feeling we need to.” That odd sense Ava sometimes had returned. If they didn't locate and neutralize Anderson now, real trouble wo
uld befall them later. The kind even Circs couldn't rebound from. Dead Circs told no tales.
Alicia nodded and stepped back from the bed. “Well, I just wanted to see how you were getting on. I told Gunnar you'd be fine, but the boy is being surprisingly tight-lipped this morning. You need to reassure your new mate.”
“I will.” A sudden thought hit her. “Um, Keegan's not back yet, is he?”
“Why, yes. In fact, I thought I saw him headed to the gym earlier.”
“Hell.” Ava quickly rose and winced as she headed for the door. “I don't suppose you know where Gunnar is?”
“I believe he's working out with the others.”
“In the gym?”
“Yes.”
Ava sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” She quickly made her way downstairs to the gym. Outside the open double doors, Jules, Jesse, Lonnie, Kisho, Morgan, and James Foreman were taking bets.
“That's gonna leave a mark.” James shook his head. “I told him to leave well enough alone. Who the hell would think goading Tersch is a smart thing?”
“Hey, I like Keegan. See how he's using those twenty-pound weights to knock into that idiot?” Morgan pointed to the gym. “That's smart thinking.”
“We really should break them up.” At least Lonnie had the sense to stop the mindless fighting. “Tersch is ahead by two hits, so I win. Now let's stop them before one of them really gets hurt.”
James frowned. “Now, Admiral, I need to make back my money. Double or nothing says Keegan slams him in the head with that barbell.” She'd heard enough. “Okay, fellas. Show's over.” The group turned to stare at her, and Ava realized she should have taken a moment to dress in more than Gunnar's large T-shirt.
Jules grinned and moved back from the door. “Please, Ava. After you.” She sniffed and walked through the small crowd.
“Ten says Ava stops the fight,” she heard Morgan say.
She rolled her eyes and advanced on the testosterone-laden fools before her.
Keegan looked damn good in nothing but a pair of shorts. Too bad her heart was already taken.
“Okay. Break it up, boys.”
Gunnar turned to glare at her, and Keegan took advantage. A large black iron disk hit her mate in the gut and took him down.
“That's now one hit ahead. I win,” Jules said from the doorway.
“Out! All of you,” she shouted and ignored the muttered laughter. “Keegan, leave.”
“You sure, Ava?” Keegan drawled. “Because if this big lug is giving you a hassle, I could—”
He choked off the rest of what he'd meant to say when Gunnar's large hands wrapped around his throat.
Ava licked her lips, taken with so much raw power. “Gunnar, let him go. We need to talk.”
He shook Keegan before dropping him to the floor and advancing on her. In seconds, he had her wrapped under a large arm. “See this, Keegan? This is mine.
Touch her again, and I'll kill you.”
Keegan turned a confused gaze to Ava as he rubbed his throat. “What's he talking about?”
She sighed. “My Neanderthal boyfriend—”
“Mate.”
“Mate, is convinced you want to have sex with me.” Keegan grinned. “Well, sure.”
“Keegan,” she growled. “Tell him we never had sex. Even when we were dating.”
He frowned. “Well, it wasn't for lack of trying. Fool woman was playing hard to get.” He had a twinkle in his eye. “But hey, if you want to try me on for size, I'm game.”
Gunnar snorted. “Dream on. You couldn't handle her.” Keegan laughed and stood. “You might be right.”
Gunnar relaxed by her side.
“I'll let you two talk. But no sex in the gym. Some things just ain't right,” Keegan warned and left them alone. He closed the doors behind him.
Before Ava could say anything, Gunnar turned to her with a scowl. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Excuse me?”
“Parading that body around the others? You trying to make me crazy?” His eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you like being mauled by the monster inside me. You want it back? Want me to rape you again? Talk about kink.” She flushed. “Gunnar, stop. I was worried about you.” He opened his mouth to retort and froze. “Worried about me?” Ava grabbed his arm to keep him from moving away. “Let's get something straight. I'm fine. You didn't rape me. And you need to stop denying who you are.
You're a beast, man, berserker. Everything. So stop rejecting that part of yourself.”
“You and your grandmother can think what you want. I know I claimed you last night. That's it. We're not playing with that monster again. The next time we have sex, you're using that suppressant on me. I won't hurt you, baby. I don't like knowing I made you bleed.”
“Yet you're hard just talking about it.” She glanced at his erection with a raised brow.
He turned around, giving her his back. “I'm a freak, all right? But I love you. I can't help being this way, but I don't want to be. I like being with you.” He turned around to face her again, his body once again under his control. “As a man or beast, I can handle that. I can't stomach hurting you.”
“Oh, Gunnar.” She hugged him tight, content when he hugged her back. “You don't understand yourself. Just because you have certain sexual needs doesn't make you a freak. I'd be surprised if you didn't have control issues in the bedroom. You're a berserker. So strong, you're naturally endowed to be dominant. But you're also a Circ, a part of a team, and you're subservient to Jules. You give and take. And with me, your mate, you can have it all.”
He looked so hopeful yet wary. It made her heart hurt to see him in such conflict.
“Ava, I'll try. But until I'm sure I won't hurt you, I think we need to use the suppressant.”
“Ah, about that.” Damn, she hadn't wanted to discuss this yet, but the timing was right.
“What about it?”
“I don't have one. I used a placebo before, so you'd think you couldn't hurt me.
And it worked,” she said in a rush when he would have argued.
“You little witch.”
“I couldn't agree more,” Robert Anderson said from the doorway. He had a smug look on his face and a gun pointed in their direction. “Now why don't we join Alicia and the others in her study? I have so very much to share with you all.” Ava looked down at herself, wondering how she managed to find herself in these situations. “Could I get dressed first?”
Gunnar growled and stepped in front of her.
“Why bother when you look just beautiful as you are, my dear?” Anderson smiled, though the expression didn't reach his eyes.
Ava sighed. “This is so not my day.”
Chapter Eleven
Alicia stared at the men invading her study. Sitting with Lonnie, sharing a cup of tea and old times, made everything that had passed the last few weeks feel like a bad dream. Yet once again, Robert Anderson tried to come between her and those she loved.
Jules, Jesse, and Kisho preceded four rogue Circs into the office. Jules looked less than pleased. Kisho's face wore no expression.
“Sorry, Mrs. Sharpe. They’re holding Morgan, Keegan, and James hostage so we’ll cooperate. Jules warned us not to do anything until we talked to you.” Jesse announced on a Dawn Endeavor broadcast. Even Lonnie heard the news, but like the others, he didn't react.
“Ava and Gunnar?” she asked.
“Together in the gym. With Anderson.”
She had a bad feeling about that.
“So this is the bitch,” one of the rogues muttered. “Doesn't look so shit-hot powerful to me.”
“Smells powerful, though,” another said.
The rogues were clad in a dark black material that looked formidable.
“The new Kevlar weave, hmm?” Lonnie said. “I just outfitted my team with those.”
The obnoxious rogue nodded.
“Where are the others?” she asked, knowing this team would have knowledge of all the occ
upants in residence.
“Anderson's got your precious granddaughter. Don't you worry. The psychics are out of it. And Reynolds is bleeding out as we speak. You do what we tell you, and everyone will live.”
Kisho growled, and his claws appeared.
“Morgan is fine.” Jesse frowned. “But he said to hurry up, or he’s going to drain more energy than his kitsu had planned to give up tonight. Oh hell, is that love talk for sex?”
Kisho coughed and flushed, but Alicia could see the relief he tried to hide.
Obviously Morgan was well enough to heal himself once Kisho found him again. The pair could exchange energy in a way she still found amazing, after all she had seen in this world.
“It's okay, Kisho.” Alicia had finally accepted that their vision would come to pass. And now that it had, she felt much better about the possible outcome. She and Lonnie had shared truths yesterday, and she understood how fortunate she was to have someone so trusting and loving in her corner. “Jules, Kisho, Jesse, I want you to be calm and do everything they tell you to.”
“No shit, lady. We’re the ones with the guns and the claws.” As one the rogues held up one the new Circ 1000s. With them, Circs could be taken down in one shot, since the specially crafted rounds penetrated deeper into Circ skin than the other weapons they'd used.
“How nice for you.” She smiled and secretly handed Lonnie her own version of the gun she'd had hidden in her desk drawer for just this occasion, though hers was filled with tranquilizers. Mentally, she warned the others, “Get ready, men.” The Circs tensed, and the rogues responded.
“Now!”
In seconds, Jules, Kisho, and Jesse had disarmed three of the four rogues.
Lonnie shot the fourth, then continued shooting the others until all the rogues were down.