Read Online consumed by Sandra Sookoo - Free Book Online Page A

down, one of the steps groaned beneath her weight. She paused as her pulse marked the seconds. From somewhere on the bottom level, the chime of a grandfather clock announced the time. She waited and counted nine soft pings, her muscles tensed. When her guard dog didn’t appear, Ava relaxed and finished the trip without incident.
    She glided through a living area, then a smaller parlor. Mrs. Altier must have retired to her room for the night. Letting out a sigh of relief, she tiptoed to the door. The key still in the lock, Ava bit back a laugh, turning it before opening the door.
    Guess they’re not real concerned about security around here.
    Sam stood on the porch in a dark suit like he’d worn every time she’d seen him. His fiery red hair gleamed in the moonlight, a soft accompaniment to his brandy-hued eyes, except now, a few more gray hairs glimmered in his locks. New wrinkles marred his forehead and lined his mouth, almost as if his age had accelerated. “I apologize for leaving you this morning. It was childish and only netted us lost time.” He kneaded the brim of his hat in his fingers.
    “I don’t care about that. You’re here now.” Her heart beat so loud, she feared it would wake Mrs. Altier. “It’s too cold to goof around outside tonight. Come to my bedroom, but be quiet. If you wake Mrs. Altier, we’re both dead.” She caught one of his hands and tugged him inside. “I missed you.” Her heart lurched as she realized it was the truth. He’d been the one constant since she’d arrived in Destiny. Now that she’d given herself permission to let him into her heart, she knew no barriers.
    “And I you.” He crushed her into an embrace as soon as she closed the door.
    Ava drowned in the heat coursing through her body and the feel of his strong arms around her. She pulled away before she could become a puddle on the floor. “Not here.” The trip up the stairs went much faster than coming down. The step creaked. She didn’t stop or even care. The sooner they got to her room, the sooner she could have him on the bed, preferably naked, desperate, and hard.
    “Miss Lesarris, let me—”
    “Hush.” As quietly as she could, Ava opened her door, pushed Sam inside, and just as softly closed and locked it. “You owe me an explanation. Tell me why you think you’ll die in three days.”
    “Does it change the way you think of me?” Hope shone in his eyes like a beacon showing her the way.
    “No.” The connection between them had been established the first time they’d met.
    “Good.” He tugged her to the bed. “It is now slightly over two days, and that long, drawn-out story can wait. I intend to kiss every inch of your body at the moment.”
    Damn. I’m in trouble now. This was a man who knew what he wanted and was used to getting it. Exactly the kind of man she’d secretly wished Mike would be. A tiny twinge passed through her stomach. For all practical purposes, he’s dead to me . Their relationship had no fuel to continue. Now, she could see it all so clearly, and she let him go.
    You’re free now. Her wolf whined but lay down, rolling over on her back. Sam will dominate us. He’s what we need.
    Thelonious’s words came back to haunt her. Find what you think you do not need…
    Sam grinned. “Time permitting, I can do other things as well. I have had much experience over my lifetime.”
    A shiver crept over her skin. The longer she held his liquid-brown gaze, the more aroused she grew. Her nipples drew into almost painful buds visible beneath the layers of nightclothes. As she stood, trapped in unfamiliar uncertainty, she watched Sam’s focus slide to her breasts, then return to her face. Intense desire burned in that one look, enough to cause her knees to buckle.
    “I’d like that.” She licked her dry lips. Flutters erupted in her stomach when Sam growled and tackled her. They came together in a jumble of limbs.
    “Remember, if you do not want to rouse your guardian, this must