Sweet Submission Page 5

  "Kita, pretty baby, if you keep doing that I'm going to find it awful hard to behave here,” She looked up into his eyes, and he smiled at her before accusing, “see what you're doing to me?"

  "Sasha...” Her voice came out as a barely heard whisper against his lips.

  He kissed her softly, his lips a tantalizing mix of tenderness and searing heat.

  He drew away from her, “I'm going to come back in twenty minutes, that'll give you time to get ready for bed, and you had better be here when I come back."

  Kita's hands twitched, her fingers scratching unconsciously for a piece of him to hang on to. Her body was craving him. Now more than ever the delicate place between her legs was burning. Hot, wet, and unfulfilled it was pure torture for her to watch Sasha pull away. She didn't move from the bed, but lay there watching him as he retreated to the door, vanishing around the corner before she could beg him to stay with her and put out the fire in her body that he had created.

  Kita stared up at the ceiling, her head was spinning and her body was aching. Sasha had just punished her more than any vision could have.

  * * * *

  Sasha lay awake in the rocking chair, absently toying with the metal hooks under his jaw. He was stiff and uncomfortable, and he shifted to alleviate the stress on his back. Kita was in bed under the covers when he had returned, but she never fell asleep. Even now, as he sat here watching her, she was wide awake. Her back was turned to him, but he knew that she was awake. He could hear her breathing softly.

  The covers were draped over her lovely outline, hugging her feminine curves. She moved her arm restlessly and he stood to his feet, pacing silently across the floor. He stopped, catching a glint in the darkness. It was Kita. She had turned over and was watching him with her sparkling blue eyes.

  "You can't sleep.” She said.

  "Can you?” He countered.

  She smirked, he couldn't see it, but he could feel it. He tensed for a moment. She was right, he couldn't sleep, and it was more than just the fact that her tempting naked body was just feet away from him that kept him up.

  His mind was a flurry of activity. He was thinking about the hunter in the forest, the man that was staying just a hairs breadth away from him, so close and yet out of reach. He had to find out who he was and what he wanted, but he had no idea how. Somehow he had to get a hold of the man. He had questions that needed answering. He sighed and looked over at Kita.

  "How long was that hunter after you, sweetheart?"

  She went rigid, and hesitated before answering, “only a few days. He chased me around the mountains for a little bit before I ended up here, in your territory."

  She swallowed. She would stick to her story as closely as possible without giving away too much and hope like hell that she didn't get tripped up in the web of lies.

  Sasha was quiet, deep in thought. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down beside her.

  "Did you ever get a good look at his face?” He asked.

  Kita felt a deep swell of heat rush over her in being so near to him again, and she was barely able to answer his question. “Oh, umm, no, not really..."

  He looked back at her, frowning, “what is not really? You either saw his face or you didn't."

  She sat up, pulling the bed sheet with her, “I saw him, but it wasn't terribly clear.” There was an edge in her voice and Sasha noticed it. She was nervous. He could hear her heartbeat accelerate.

  "What did he look like?"

  Kita swallowed, “he, ah, he was dark, shadowy. He was always wearing the long black trench coat."

  "What color were his eyes, skin ... his hair? Come on, Kita, you just stood there in the meadow staring at him. Don't try to tell me that you don't know what he looked like."

  For a moment she didn't breathe. She felt like a little kid with her hand caught in the cookie jar. She was glad he couldn't see her face, or he would have seen her features lose color as uncertainty gripped her. She should have given him more credit. Of course he would have noticed her reaction in the meadow.

  She cleared her throat, “he was, ah, dark. Dark skin, dark eyes, dark hair...” her tone dropped to a low whisper, “he does well in the shadows."

  Sasha stood, pacing once more. She couldn't tell if he believed her. His eyes were glowing like golden candles in the darkness as he turned back towards her, finally resting with a heavy sigh back into the rocking chair to her right. She saw his silhouette as he brought his palms up to cover his shaved scalp, cradling his head in his arms as he deliberated to himself.

  Kita felt ill with guilt. She wished that she could have told him the truth.

  CHAPTER 6

  "Sasha, wake up..."

  Sasha blinked the sleep from his eyes, inhaling slowly as he focused on the figure before him. He frowned as panic and alarm struck him like a wrecking ball slamming into his gut. Kiser was standing before him, along with several of the other men from his pack. They all looked sick ... terrified.

  He jerked his head sideways reflexively, and when he saw the bed empty he demanded, “where's Kita?"

  Kiser pointed to the wall, and Sasha followed the direction of his finger. Kita was dressed, leaning against the barrier while she watched the men in the room. She looked unusually nervous, even fearful in their presence.

  "Sasha, you need to come with us.” Kiser stated once the Alpha had returned his eyes back to him.

  "What's going on?"

  Kiser inhaled slowly, “it's about Gina...” He looked away and his voice quavered, “she's dead."

  "What, what do you mean?” Sasha sat up. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, “how can she be dead?"

  Kiser swallowed uneasily, “she's dead. Her throat was cut."

  "Where was she? No one was supposed to be out alone at night. That was a rule. It was an order!” Sasha stammered. He still couldn't accept what he was hearing as truth.

  Kiser indicated a man behind him, the same breed as the Alpha and himself. “Micah found her this morning when he went out for a run. She was near the meadow, lying on the river bank."

  "That mother fucking hunter ... I'll fucking tear his throat out!” Sasha snarled with rage.

  "Sasha,” Kiser said softly, shifting his weight nervously, “she wasn't touched by a dart or a bullet. She bled to death. The hunter had to get right up close to her. It's almost as if she went to him."

  Sasha took a deep breath, and then he jumped to his feet. He brushed past his subordinates as he headed for the doorway. Suddenly he swung around, staring right at Kita.

  "Stay put, Kita, don't even think about leaving this house. If I come back and find you gone, so help me if I don't track you down and make sure that you never see the light of day again."

  She glared at him as he turned through the doorway, disappearing from sight.

  * * * *

  Sasha looked down at the woman's body. She was still fully clothed but everything around her was bathed in blood. Her throat had three clean gashes sliced into it from where a small trickle of blood continued to escape. He stepped back away from the body. He had never been close to the woman, but he knew her, she had been in the pack ever since he could remember.

  His heart sank. He was out here last night, patrolling the territory and making sure that his home and his family were safe. The only other two people in the forest at that time had been the hunter and Kita. Kita ... she was the only one who would have dared to disobey him ... or so he thought. He felt sick suddenly, and his gut rolled with unease. If he hadn't kept her from getting near the river this could have been her, lying dead on the river bank. Instead it was one of his own, someone he thought certain would never defy his rules.

  Anger and frustration made his cheeks burn and his teeth clench as he bawled his fists in his palm. It didn't matter to the hunter if it was Gina or Kita. He was killing the very people that Sasha was supposed to protect. Gina, he hardly knew her, but still it was one more pack mate that he had failed to protect. With every death he
was failing as a leader.

  Sasha looked away from the woman's body, staring into nothingness as cold air fell from his lips in wispy clouds, “I couldn't save her...” he whispered to himself.

  "It's not your fault, Sasha.” Kiser rested a hand on the Alpha's shoulder as he stepped beside him, “she disobeyed your rules. She knew better than that. You can't go blaming yourself for this."

  Sasha didn't respond. He felt accountable. No amount of words would fix that. To lose one pack mate was a misfortune, two was carelessness, but to lose four ... that was just plain failure.

  "Have her buried. Tonight we'll honor her death with a hunt. Make sure that everyone knows.” Sasha said quietly as he turned away, walking slowly down the river's edge.

  He glanced over his shoulder, watching as his subordinates collected the body in a tarp and disappeared through the trees. The hunter wasn't far. He could still feel him. But before he engaged him, he wanted the rest of his pack mates securely behind the trees.

  The air around him was calm and quiet. There was a low fog on the ground, and the sky was overcast. When he could no longer hear the footsteps of his pack mates over the earth he finally took the liberty of attempting to contact the hunter.

  "Come on you coward,” he challenged the hunter stridently, “get over here and fight me instead of hiding like a scared bitch."

  He thought he heard a low chuckle somewhere beyond the rush of the river. There wasn't much that Sasha's keen ears didn't pick up.

  "You like to kill my pack mates, but you don't have the balls to attack me?” He hissed as he strode across the damp earth, creeping slowly closer to the encroaching water, “get over here and fight me already you goddamn coward!” he snapped impatiently.

  "Sasha, the great leader and fighter, be patient. Your death will come soon enough,” the hunter replied brazenly.

  Sasha froze. The words had been whispered. He couldn't get a bead on the hunter and he knew it.

  "What is it that you want from me? If you want to kill me just do it, and then leave my family alone.” The Alpha growled.

  "Don't be in such a rush to die, eye-commander. You still have something of mine, and I want it back. I can't get it back from you if you're dead,” the hunter said softly.

  Sasha could hear the snow crunching underfoot as the hunter moved away and he fought to keep him from leaving, “what is it that you want? I will gladly give it to you if you leave my family alone."

  "No you won't...” The barely heard sentence was followed by a fading chuckle.

  Sasha knew that the man was gone. He tried to bait him out several more times with questions and threats, but the enemy was silent, having retreated farther back into the forest across the river.

  * * * *

  Kita felt warm tears spilling from her eyes to wet her cheeks as guilt and blame sank into her stomach. She had to get out of here. If she had only left sooner the woman that had been killed would still be alive. She felt sick inside, knowing that she was the reason that Sasha was in agony. He couldn't sleep, and he had no peace. He was constantly aware that there was a hunter out there just waiting for his next victim. He had now lost four pack members to the stranger, a stranger who Kita knew too well.

  But for all the pain she felt inside as she kept her secrets hidden, for all the remorse she felt for things that couldn't be taken back, nothing stung as much as the expression in his eyes whenever he looked at her. There was disquiet in the shadows of his gaze, but more than that there was a sense of protection, protection that she didn't deserve. If he only knew that she was the cause of this. He would never give her that look again.

  She sank down against the wall, cradling her head in her hands. Her emotions were spinning wildly in her head as anger, sorrow, and self-pity fought for control of her sanity. She was so lost in the internal battle taking place in her head that she hardly noticed when a shadow had slid into the room with her.

  Sasha saw Kita sitting on the floor against the wall, looking completely defeated as she tried to shrink into herself. He moved quietly to her, kneeling down as he took her hands in his, removing them from her pale face. She lifted her long dark eyelashes, revealing blue eyes that were glassy with tears. She swallowed and looked away from him, as if trying to hide the fact that she was crying. In that moment his heart ached for her. He wanted to touch her, to dry her eyes and hold her close, make her feel safe in his arms. Gently he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in tightly to him as he held her.

  Kita didn't even resist when he embraced her. Instead she sank into him, enjoying the security of his hold all the while knowing that it was only temporary. She savored it, clutching her arms around his neck never wanting to let go. She nuzzled into his throat, inhaling his sweet masculine smell. His skin was warm and soft against her cheek.

  She had never trusted a man, especially an Alpha, but Sasha was different. He made her feel like she could trust him, like he would never betray her or use her for his own benefit. He made her feel safe, sheltered in the warmth of his arms in a way that she had never known.

  Sasha held her, squeezing her tightly against him and relishing the moment just as much as she was. The feel of her supple body against his, her warm body heat, her soft breath as it brushed his throat. He took it all in with hungry greed. He felt her silky blonde tresses sweep over his fingertips, and he yearned to sink his hands into them. He sighed to himself, it was a small comfort when all he could think about was his failure as a protector, as a leader and defender, but at least he had saved someone last night.

  He felt a hot tear spill over onto his cheek and he whispered against her, “why are you crying, pretty baby?” She didn't answer. He kissed her temple, “you're safe here, Kita, I'll never let anyone hurt you."

  She sobbed against him, harder now. She didn't deserve his compassion, and she certainly didn't deserve his protection. He kissed her temple again, a sweet, lingering kiss that made her more repentant than ever.

  "We're going to have a tribute hunt tonight for the woman who was killed. Come with us.” It came out as more of a request than a demand, but she nodded against him in acceptance.

  Kita rested against his shoulder. Sasha would be leading the hunt tonight, and he would be too busy to keep an eye on her. It was the perfect opportunity to get away from here.

  She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. She would never have this feeling again, she would never know this moment. As soon as she was gone her life was forfeit. The arms of the hunter would be cold and empty, not warm and secure like Sasha's. The realization made her want to be reckless, reckless with her heart, reckless with her love, reckless with Sasha. She kissed his throat, feeling his steady pulse under her lips.

  Sasha pulled away from her, staring into her deep blue eyes that were still gleaming with wetness. He saw hurt and vulnerability swimming in them, and it brought out his protective nature in a way that he had never felt before. His every instinct wanted to find the cause of her distress and tear it apart. He wanted to make her secure, hold her against him until there was nothing left for her to fear.

  He stood up, pulling her with him. He cradled her in his arms, still lost in her beauty as he pressed her against the wall. She looked up at him, completely trusting of him as her eyes found his. He leaned down, gently pressing his lips to hers. She tasted sweet like honey, and he couldn't help himself when his kiss went deeper. Her thick soft lips parted invitingly, and he slid his tongue into her mouth. She was warm and moist, smooth as hot silk against his tongue.

  Kita felt a feverish heat sweep through her body, sending shivers of excitement through her entire being until she was visibly trembling against him. Her stomach tightened into a knot as uncertainty and hesitation made her shiver inside, but the more he possessed her mouth the more she relaxed, gradually sinking into him as she returned the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him for dear life. She had never been kissed like this. A part of her felt the sting of regret. The hunter would
never kiss her like this—no one would.

  Sasha's mouth was so commanding and yet so tender at the same time, and her thoughts were immediately brought back to the big man against her. She could feel his hard body pressing against hers in an effort to dominate her, and every fiber of her being reacted to his touch and his demand. Her nipples strained against the thin fabric of her shirt, and hot wetness caressed the insides of her thighs with her growing excitement. She moaned softly against his mouth as his tongue wrestled against hers, and the kiss quickly ignited into an uncontrolled passion. She sighed against him, fiercely matching his tongue strokes with her own until she was panting for breath.

  Sasha lifted Kita effortlessly away from the wall, easing her down onto the bed. He was out of breath and his eyes were dark and gleaming with his hunger for her. He kissed her small jaw, trailing his deep, feverish kisses down to her collarbone. She rocked her head back as a soft cry of ecstasy escaped her lips, and her hips arched eagerly. Sasha was impossibly aroused already, and the small cry that left her lips only made his desire that much more rampant.

  His hands slipped under her shirt, slowly climbing upward over her ribcage, until he felt the swell of her breasts in the palms of his hands. He cupped her soft flesh, squeezing gently as the tips of his thumbs brushed over her painfully tight nipples. She moaned under his touch and he slipped her shirt over her head, exposing her breasts to his hungry eyes. His lips again found her throat as he tasted her, devouring her with his kisses. He could feel the soft warm rhythm of her pulse under his tongue, and he nipped gently at her skin. She jerked excitedly beneath him, her hips rising to sweep across his erection that was pushing tightly against his jeans. He groaned, trying to keep his arousal from overruling his sensitivity to her. His mouth moved down over her collar as his lips eagerly found the rise of her breast. He licked and sucked on her taught pink buds, gently pulling with his teeth as he moved from one to the other until they were red and swollen from his attention.

  "Sasha, please...” Kita moaned beneath him.