Savage Heart (Savage Island Book 1)

by Maggie Walsh

  Savage growled with rage. Using his mental telepathy, he shoved into the snake’s mind, “Bannon if you harm my mate I will take delight in causing you as much pain as I can before killing you. Then I will bring you back just to do it again. Now back the fuck off!”

  “My apologies, Savage, I had no idea he was your mate. I didn’t even know you were here. His beauty called to me and I could not stop myself from trying to get closer.”

  “Well you’ve seen him… now get lost. Gill is mine!” Savage insisted.

  Bannon’s tongue flicked out as he began to lower himself. “He is hurt.”

  “Yes, and still recovering,” Savage stated, feeling his sadness coming back to him. He knew his mate was always in pain, even if he never complained. It just hurt that with all the powers he possessed, he could not fix his mate.

  “I can help him if you will allow me to,” Bannon stated.

  Savage shook his head. “He is human, Bannon. We can only do so much for him, the rest is up to him.”

  Bannon’s large body slithered from side to side. “I have healing power, Savage.”

  “Grey has been working on him for a while now. He helps relieve the pain at this point, and like I said, because Gill is human we can only wait. Believe me, I wish I could take his pain away and bring him back to his full capacity, but I can’t. Grey says he may never heal all the way. I don’t care, though. I will take my mate any way he is,” Savage stated honestly.

  “I can help Gill if you will allow me to touch him. It won’t hurt him. In ancient times snakes were known for their ability to heal. As time has progressed most modern snakes no longer hold this power, but as you know, I am an ancient, and I believe I can help your mate. What harm could it do to try?”

  “Are there side effects with the healing, Bannon? I don’t want my mate hurting worse than he already is.”

  “There is one, but I do not think it will pertain to your mate since he is male,” Bannon answered.

  “What do you mean?” Savage asked in concern.

  Bannon wavered in place a bit before saying, “When I heal a being they draw in my energy and this can create fertility. However, since he is male, this should not affect him in this capacity.”

  “Holy shit! I thought I knew everything about the paranormal world. Just goes to show you that you can learn something new every day.”

  “It is why I don’t go around just healing anyone. However, I am willing to do this for you, old friend,” Bannon stated.

  Savage looked at his mate once more, seeing his fear and discomfort again. Nodding, he whispered, “Do what you can, Bannon.”

  Bannon quickly moved around Gill’s lap and closed his eyes.

  “Russell, what the hell is this thing doing? Please don’t let him eat me,” Gill begged.

  Savage walked towards Gill. “He isn’t going to hurt you, Gill. I swear it on my life.”

  Gill gasped, “What’s happening, Russell? Why is my body heating up and… oh fuck!”

  “Gill, what’s wrong. Bannon, stop whatever it is you’re doing! You’re hurting my mate,” Savage snapped, rushing closer to Gill.

  Shaking his head as beads of sweat poured from the man’s body, Gill stammered, “Not hurting… hot. Oh what the…”

  Gill started jerking as he lay backwards. His legs lifted and lowered shaking furiously then his upper body started doing the same thing. “Bannon! Damn it he’s having a seizure! Stop now, or I swear I’ll kill you.”

  “I cannot. Once the healing begins it must continue, otherwise great harm could come to your mate,” Bannon whispered softly in Savage’s mind.

  “You said you could heal him and he would not suffer. Does this look like he is not suffering?” Savage snarled.

  Bannon lifted and then shifted into the handsome man Savage had saved so many centuries ago. “I’m sorry, Savage. There was much more damage than I expected.”

  Savage was relieved as Gill stopped jerking and shaking then opened his eyes. “What happened?” Gill turned his head and gasped, “Who are you and why are you naked?”

  “Hello, young one. I am a friend of your mate’s. My name is Bannon Teagor.”

  “Nice to meet you Mr. Teagor. I’m Gill Westmore.”

  “Sunshine, how are you feeling?” Savage quickly asked.

  Gill sat up with Savage’s assistance facing the beach front. “I’m o… holy crap! Is that a whale?”

  Gill shocked the hell out of Savage when he stood up and ran towards the shoreline. “Look, Russell! Look! It’s a whale.”

  Savage smiled at his mate’s exuberance, sending a message to his friend, “Walter, my mate would love to see you and your family.”

  “With great pleasure, my friend.”

  Gill gasped, clapped and bounced from foot to foot as he watched Dean shoot out of the water, turn, and land on his side. He was quickly followed by Donna and then Lisa. Savage went to his mate and brought him close to his side as Gill squealed in delight and then the crème de la crème happened when Walter leapt straight up at least fifteen feet in the air, then dropped back into the water only to leap another fifteen feet in the air.

  The look on Gill’s face was absolutely amazing. He glowed with joy and happiness making him even more beautiful than Savage thought he was before. Tears started trailing down the young man’s face causing Savage to become greatly concerned. “What is it, fated one? Why are you crying?”

  Taking Gill into his arms, Savage held himclose to his chest. “Please don’t cry. Tell me what I can do to stop those tears and I’ll do it.”

  Gill shook his head without saying a word.

  “If I know what’s wrong I can fix it,” Savage insisted.

  Gill pulled back smiling as tears continued to fall. It took him a couple of tries but Gill finally said, “Happy tears.”

  Savage looked at his mate in confusion. What the hell were happy tears? Sighing, Savage sent a message of thanks to his long-time friends and turned Gill back to where they had been sitting. “Let’s gather our things and get you back home.”

  Gill smiled at Savage and turned to see Bannon was still standing where he had been before Walter and his family had entertained his mate. The second they made it back to him, Gill went to Bannon and hugged him close. “Thank you for healing me.”

  Savage almost laughed at the startled expression on the Anaconda shifter’s face. He stood there ramrod straight for a few moments, then brought one of his hands up and patted Gill on his back. “You are welcome.”

  When Savage’s beast within began to become unstable because another was touching his mate, he gently pulled Gill from Bannon’s arms. “Gill, we must go.”

  Bannon snorted knowing full well what Savage’s issue was. Then smiled down at Gill, saying, “Savage, you are a very lucky man. If ever you need me, just call my name.”

  “Thank you, my friend,” Savage replied as he collected their things and left with his mate by his side.

  They were just walking into Savage’s room when Gill whispered, “Why don’t I hurt any more, Russell?”

  “As you know Bannon Teagor is an Anaconda shifter. He has a great ability to heal even things Grey cannot. I didn’t know this, or I would have asked him to assist in your healing when I first brought you here,” Savage replied.

  Gill softly said, “I’m very thankful to him for what he did. I wish I could do something to thank him.”

  “That isn’t necessary, fated one,” Savage said.

  Gill sat on the bed. “I know that, but I’d still like to.”

  Savage looked at his mate in awe. The man was breathtaking in body and soul. If anyone was indebted to Bannon it was himself, not his mate. Just seeing the healthy glow and pain-free way his mate moved was something he would forever be grateful for. Sitting next to Gill and unable to stop himself, Savage leaned in and softly kissed him.

  Gill immediately opened for Savage and he took advantage, swiping his tongue deep within his mate’s mouth. The taste of Gill always amaze
d Savage – sweet, succulent and absolutely delectable. Savage felt his cock go rock hard and begged to be released.

  When Gill wrapped his arms around his neck and let out a soft moan it was almost his undoing. Slowly Savage lowered Gill until his back touched the mattress and Savage lay over the top of him.

  His mate’s desire for him was evident if Gill’s rock-hard shaft was anything to go by and Savage was just as rock hard. Damn he wanted his mate. He wanted to make this man his own.

  Gill moved his hips up and started grinding his groin into Savage’s. Son of a bitch, it felt good. Fuck, his balls were drawing up tight and he knew he was…

  Savage pulled his lips off his mate’s shouting, “Fuuuuuuck!” as his seed spilled in his jeans. At the same time he heard Gill gasp and the scent of his mate’s release became unmistakable. However, it was the look of pure bliss he could see on Gill’s face that had Savage’s cock hardening once again.

  “Holy shit! We both came at the same time from a kiss!” Savage couldn’t remember a time he had ever come from just a kiss.

  Looking down at his mate, he could see the man was blushing a bright red and then quickly brought his face into the crook of Savage’s neck trying to hide his embarrassment. Savage pushed himself up on his arms looking down at his gorgeous mate. Gill looked everywhere but at him. “Gill, look at me.”

  Gill shook his head.

  Savage couldn’t help but chuckle at his mate’s stubbornness. “Gill, look at me, please.”

  Slowly, Gill turned his face until their eyes met. Savage smiled, whispering, “That was the most amazing kiss I have ever had in all my years. I can’t remember a time I have ever ejaculated from just a kiss, and yet, with you, I just did.”

  “You too? You ca… uh… you…”

  Softly laughing, Savage nodded. “Yes, Gill, I did, and it was unexpected, but so very enjoyable.”

  Gill’s giggle had Savage’s cock twitching. Savage smiled once more, whispering, “You’re going to be trouble. I just know it.”

  Gill brought his hand up and softly cupped Savage’s cheek. “Russell, make me your trouble.”

  Savage looked into his fated one’s eyes. He could see the yearning and need within those magnificent light green orbs. Savage only hesitated because he was still unsure if his mate was ready just yet. Gill didn’t understand what it meant to be a mate… well not completely. Sighing heavily, Savage sat up and brought Gill onto his lap. Wrapping his arms tightly around Gill, Savage said, “Sunshine, I want nothing more than to feel your warmth wrapping around my cock as I make love to you and then claim you as mine, but I can’t do that until I know you understand what that means.”

  “You said it meant I was yours and you were mine. I want that Russell. I… I want you. Don’t you want me?” Gill asked, sounding so sad and unsure.

  “I just told you I want nothing more than to make you mine. You’re my fated one.” Savage sat Gill on the bed and then got in, sitting with his back to the headboard, tapping the spot between his legs. “Come sit with me, Sunshine. This is going to take a while and I want us to be comfortable.”

  Gill immediately did as he was asked and settled his back to Savage’s chest.

  Savage gently held onto Gill, trying to figure out how to explain what it would mean to be a mate to him. It was funny. Savage had fought in more wars than he could remember. He fought beasts ten times his size without a thought. Yet, sitting here with the most precious man in his entire life, who was a foot smaller than himself and less than half his weight, scared the shit out of him. Gill didn’t know this, but he had the ability to destroy Savage with just one word.

  CHAPTER 10

  Gill could feel Russell’s tension and it was making him very nervous. To ask if his mate wanted him had been the stupidest thing he could have asked. Russell had been nothing but sweet and caring to him, so what could make him hesitate? “Please just tell me what’s wrong. I swear whatever it is I’m doing wrong I’ll fix it. If there’s some special ceremony we have to do, I’ll do it.”

  Russell tightened his hold, softly saying, “Sunshine, you’re doing nothing wrong. I just want to make sure you understand fully what it means to be mated to me.”

  Nodding, Gill softly replied, “Okay, tell me. None of it will matter, Russell, but I’ll listen.”

  “It just might, fated one. It just might,” Russell whispered.

  Gill was surprised to hear the slight fear in the man’s voice. Gill would have sworn on his own life that Russell wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone… good thing he didn’t bet.

  Russell pulled Gill back, so he was lying comfortably, then said, “I told you I was very old. What you need to know is that I am immortal.”

  “Seriously?” Gill gasped.

  “Yes, Sunshine… seriously. What that means is if I claim you, you will also become immortal. Now that doesn’t mean I can’t be killed. No one can live without their head or heart,” Russell stated with a scoff.

  “Okay, so I might live forever. What else?” Gill asked.

  Russell softly said, “Once we mate, we will share more than our souls. We will share our hearts, minds, and every breath we take. We will be able to speak to each other in our minds. If you hurt so will I and if I die so will you and vice versa.”

  Gasping, Gill turned to look at Russell. “But, I’m so klutzy, Russell. You’ll end up with bruises everywhere. And I really don’t know about this mind thingy. I think about things all the time and sometimes I might be thinking something, but then when I do what I’m thinking about, it will end up being something altogether different that I do. My mind is so muddled, you’ll get a headache, and if I feel everything you feel that would mean that I’ll get one too and I hate getting headaches. You’ll go crazy if you’re in my head all the time, Russell. Heck, I don’t always want to be in my head if I can help it.”

  “I think I need a road map for all you just said,” Russell laughed and kissed Gill’s lips. It took a moment for Russell to pull back. Gill still had his lips puckered after Russell’s lips left his and Gill really wanted more.

  A soft tap to his nose made Gill open his eyes to see Russell smiling at him. “No distractions.”

  “Phooey. I just want to get to the good stuff,” Gill muttered, before he turned around and crossed his arms in defiance.

  “When our talk is finished and if you still want to be mine, then trust me, there will be plenty of kisses,” Russell stated.

  Waving his hand around impatiently, Gill said, “So then spit it all out. So far I know that I might live forever, but if you die so will I, if I die so will you, if one of us gets hurt the other will know it. What’s left?”

  “Don’t worry about talking in our minds, Sunshine. I will teach you how to block out things and reopen yourself to me when you need to speak to me. You are my fated one, Gill, and I have waited many, many years to find you. Hell, I had gotten to the point that I figured fate didn’t think of me when she created mates. However, now that I have found you, I will not give you up. I hate others touching you, but once we mate it will become much worse. I will do my best to control myself, but if I ask you to come to me, you will need to do it, because it means my beast is too close to the surface and I wouldn’t want to harm another. Your safety and happiness are all I will be thinking of,” Russell stated firmly.

  “So I can’t even hug someone? Russell, I don’t know if I can promise that. I really like Lani and I hug her all the time,” Gill quickly said.

  “I am not telling you that you can’t hug someone, just try and make it fast and if I ask you to come to me, please…”

  Gill felt a slight sadness as he softly said, “Okay. I will do that, Russell, although I have no idea who I might hug. I don’t really know anyone… well Tobias… and maybe Benji, but other than that I really have no one.”

  Russel tightened his hold on Gill even more as he whispered, “You have me and don’t forget, Lani, Grey, and Heath are also your friends.”

  “A
nd Bannon, He was really nice. I really need to make him something to say thank you,” Gill muttered.

  Russell kissed the side of Gill’s neck causing goose bumps to raise all over Gill’s body. Shivering, Gill touched his cock, rasping, “Are we done yet? Cause I really want to get to the good stuff, Russell.”

  “Not quite yet. There is one more thing. Like I said before, your safety is number one to me. I can’t even think about losing you and the safest place for you is on this island. I… well…”

  “Are you saying we would live here?” Gill asked.

  Russell sighed, “Yes.”

  “Would I never go back to Maddox?” Gill asked.

  “I’m not saying we can’t visit once in a while, but… I want us to stay here where I know you will always be safe,” Russell replied.

  Gill thought about that for a moment, then asked, “Would Tobias and maybe Benji be able to visit?” His mate was quiet for a moment and Gill worried that his request might make Russell reconsider his decision on making Gill his. “It’s okay, it isn’t a deal breaker for me, Russell. I was just curious.”

  “Oh, fated one, I wasn’t quiet because I was going to refuse your request. I was thinking about how I could make that happen, but if I can figure out a way to have your friends come here and not threaten what I have created, I would be willing to allow them to visit,” Russell replied.

  Gill turned around facing Russell with a huge smile. “That’s all I wanted to know. My dad might not have locked me in my room and thrown away the key, but he did make me feel like a prisoner. I just needed to know that by agreeing to stay here didn’t mean I was going to be one once again. Savage Island might be the most beautiful place I have ever seen, but a prison is a prison no matter how you might pretty it up.”

  “I never want you to feel like I’m your warden, Sunshine. I want you to feel as if you are home… that this is your home and a safe place. I want you to live and thrive with me here. You can write your books and I can read them. If you want to go for a walk along the beach, we can do it hand in hand. I just want us to share our lives together for all eternity, loving each other for all time, because I do love you, Gill,” Russell insisted as he pulled Gill up his body.