Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1)

by Amy Brock McNew

  He held her tightly to him, touched to his core by what she'd said. She'd voiced what he'd been too afraid to say, and it touched him more than she'd ever know.

  But did she even realize she'd said it?

  Magic was a powerful thing. For someone not used to the power, it could give them a sort of high. Make them do and say things they might not ordinarily consider. Was that all that was behind her words, or did she mean them?

  Rhys could've made love to her without marking her. He could've kept control. But he didn't and there was no going back. When she awoke, she'd sense the difference immediately. She might even shift as the powerful emotions, as the sense of him inside her soul, hit her. How was he going to explain all of this? What if their mating was the trigger that set her magic free?

  He drew in a shaky breath. Fuck. He'd screwed up big time. By binding them, he may have pushed her away forever. If Makenna ran, the pain would be unbearable. Neither of them would be able to fully function. Their magic would be affected, and gods knew what disaster that could cause. Especially with the power they commanded.

  Rhys looked down at the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms. He closed his eyes, feeling the contentment and love in her soul. The trust in him.

  It broke his heart.

  She'd trusted him implicitly, and he'd changed her life forever, without her consent.

  He kissed the top of her head, trying to block the pain in his heart from her.

  What had he done?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Can You Feel My Heart

  Blood. Howling. The moon. Pain.

  More blood.

  A scream from a dying animal.

  A severed head spinning on the ground staring at her.

  Killer. Killer. You're a monster.

  Makenna’s mouth filled with the tangy copper of blood.

  Then she was in bed with Rhys. They were floating. Ecstasy like she'd never know. Peace. Moonlight fueling her soul as it tied with his.

  Love. Rightness.

  Destiny.

  Flashing teeth. Howling at the moon. Then the bite. She bit him back.

  The world exploded.

  Blood splattering. Dripping from her hands and the knife she held.

  Victory. The thrill of battle.

  Destiny.

  Killer. Killer. You're a monster.

  Makenna's eyes flipped open. She sat bolt upright, her body on full alert, prepared to face the enemy breathing down her neck. But as she scanned the room bathed in morning light, her senses told her nothing waited for her.

  There was no enemy haunting her steps. Then why did she feel like she was being watched? Like an important task remained unfinished?

  Her eyes continued to scan the room, her senses reaching out into the rest of the apartment. She wasn't alone, but it wasn't a feeling of danger that washed over her. It was peace and safety.

  Solace. A feeling of being home.

  Makenna inhaled deeply to clear her mangled thoughts. Rhys's scent hung thick in the air. She flipped to the right, finding nothing but rumpled sheets and a dent in the pillow where he'd been. Or had he? Her hand fluttered to her forehead as she forced memories to the surface. Only, she wasn't sure if they were memories or part of the twisted yet amazing dream she'd had.

  What the hell had happened last night?

  Swinging her legs over the bed, Makenna fully expected for her stomach to roll or her head to start pounding, convinced she'd drank too much wine at the restaurant. But none of that happened. She took stock of each body part, closing her eyes and running through each system, looking for anything odd. Nothing. Matter of fact, she felt better than ever.

  Her senses, which seemed sharper than even her strange normal, kicked in full force. The light was brighter, the birds outside louder. Her neighbors were fighting again. The apartment beneath her filled with the smell of burnt toast. Mick had probably had another of his drinking binges. Then the sound of water running in her bathroom reached her uber sensitive ears.

  Oh shit.

  Rhys had stayed last night. He was still there. She swore she could hear him breathing over the running water. Feel his heart beat in her chest. Sense his chaotic emotions. It almost felt as if he lived inside her skin.

  Now the crazy was back. Fucking fantastic.

  Should she sit and wait for him? Throw on some clothes, leave him a note, and hightail it out of there? Go make coffee? She'd never had anyone stay all night. She didn't do that. She was way out of her comfort zone.

  Before she could make a choice, Rhys emerged, the water still running behind him.

  He didn't have a stitch of clothes on that magnificent body.

  Makenna glanced down at herself. Okay, so neither did she. Her first urge was to yank the sheet around her. Fuck it. If last night really did happen, he'd seen it all, touched it all, anyway. The thought of the things they'd done from her dream, which she was slowly beginning to understand as reality, sent her cheeks into full blaze mode. She took in his amazing form, memories blending with the sight of him and steaming up her insides. Every instinct she had told her to wrap herself around Rhys and never let go.

  Her chin went up at his carnal grin, though his eyes held a tentativeness she hadn't seen there before. Not just his eyes spoke to her, though. She felt it.

  Okay, that was just plain weird. And impossible.

  She shook her head, trying to regain her sense of equilibrium. “Morning.”

  The words squeaked out. She seriously had to get a handle on herself.

  “Good morning, love.” His smile widened, and all tension left him as he stalked toward her.

  Yep. She'd felt that too. Things had gone way past weird. Now his desire was lighting her on fire from the inside.

  Makenna’s dream rushed back with his words. Love. She'd felt it. Within herself. From him. But she didn't do love. Wasn't even sure she knew what it was. Besides, she was so broken, she wouldn't know love if it punched her in the face. It wasn't in the cards for her. Certainly not with a guy she'd only met a two days ago. One who had already pissed her off more than anyone she knew. She smacked down the rising fear in her chest.

  “I uh, didn't expect you to still be here.” She picked at an invisible piece of lint on the comforter as she lied. The longer she was awake, the more of last night came back to her.

  Passion. Heat. Need.

  An experience unlike any she'd ever had. A connection that completely blew her away. A depth of emotion she'd never felt.

  Glowing lights that had to be her imagination.

  But if that was real, then did that mean the rest of her dream was real too? The muggers, the fight, the blood.

  Oh God, had she really killed someone?

  The breath froze in her lungs. Every muscle tensed. Fighting for control, Makenna looked down at her body, checking her fingernails for blood, looking for cuts and bruises, any sign she'd been in a fight. No, that was ridiculous. She felt fine. Not an ache or pain anywhere. Makenna expelled a relieved sigh. So that part had been a dream.

  But she still had Rhys to deal with, and she had no idea what to do with him. Was he the type who'd expect some kind of commitment? Would he want to be exclusive?

  Shit. Here came the sweats. Fucking awesome.

  Her eyes flew to Rhys's, then away. No way could Makenna look at that intense gaze right now. Instead she focused on the floor. Then she peeked up at him, unable to resist.

  Rhys frowned, then knelt in front of her and smoothed his hands over her knees. “Yes you did. You knew I wouldn't leave you. Not after what we shared.” His voice lowered to a rough timbre that caressed her nerves. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He moved between her knees, sending her heart rate skyrocketing. “I wasn't too rough, was I?”

  “Ah, no. I, uh, yeah. That's how I like it. No one's ever, I mean...” She trailed off, hating herself for rambling like a nut job. She thought she covered her nerves well, giving him her best smile, but apparently not. He smirked, and she had the u
rge to slap him. “I'm fine and you were absolutely fucking fantastic. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  There. Makenna was back. Smart ass mouth and all. Only, she didn't feel like herself. She felt different.

  Powerful.

  New.

  Weird.

  Maybe she should see a shrink.

  “Well, I wasn't fishing for it, but I can't deny I do love hearing it.” Rhys took her hands and stood. “Still, you must be sore. Come. I drew a bath for you.”

  Drew a bath? Geez, who talked like that? Makenna stifled a laugh, seeing that he was serious, and rose. She was about to tell him she was fine and didn't need a bath, but when she moved to follow his lead, intimate muscles flared alive. Okay then, so maybe every part of her wasn't better than ever. No, that wasn't true. She might be sore, but damn, it was the best sore she'd ever experienced in her life.

  The man definitely knew what he was doing when it came to making love.

  He turned in time to catch her grimace. “You definitely need a good soak. Come on, love.” He tugged her into the bathroom.

  There was that word again. Panic zipped down her spine. She shook it off as he helped her step into the half full, steaming tub. It was only an endearment. It meant nothing.

  She heard laughing in her head, running right alongside the intense sensations of caring and longing coming from him.

  Definitely time to get her head checked. Shit, it was way past time.

  Yet Makenna clung to his hand as he knelt beside her on the rug. His touch calmed her and incited her at the same time. He soothed that ache in her gut, filled that hole in her chest that usually pounded with loneliness. With him, she wasn't alone. In such a short time, he'd made her need him. Rely on him.

  That wasn't good.

  She released his hand and sank further into the bubbles, needing the space and detesting it at the same time. Too confusing. Too many questions. Too many emotions she wasn't equipped to deal with. Besides, Rhys wouldn't feel so warmly about her if he really knew her. If he saw inside her head. If he knew how broken she really was. How many demons and other beasts fought for control inside her.

  Her idea that she could just have some fun with the guy then set him free was looking like the worst plan she'd ever come up with.

  And that was saying something.

  “You need to learn how to relax.” His voice jarred her back to the moment. He reached across her and grabbed the sponge, then dipped it in the water and gently dragged it down her arm. “Close your eyes and let me take care of you.”

  Rhys had said that last night. When they were in the shower. He'd helped her get cleaned up after...wait. That wasn't right. She closed her eyes, seeing blood swirling with the water in the bottom of the shower.

  That was a dream.

  Yeah, they'd been together, been in the shower, but the blood? That had to be her imagination. Too much wine.

  But the feeling she was missing something wouldn't release her.

  She opened her eyes and met his. “Rhys, about last night,” she paused as icy fear grabbed her heart. Fear that wasn't hers. But it had to be. And why not? Something had changed last night. Not just between them, but inside of her. Makenna swallowed hard and continued. “I'm not sure what exactly happened, but we need to talk. Everything's all jumbled in my head. And I feel, I don't know, different.”

  She watched a myriad of emotions run across his face, a vein ticking in his forehead and his jaw clenching. The ache in her stomach, the twisting in her chest, were further evidence something was off.

  He was hiding something. That was plain. Another kind of fire licked at her.

  Rhys switched his ministrations to her other arm, gliding the sponge across her collarbone. “Of course you feel different. We made love for the first time.” He didn't meet her eyes as he slowly ran the sponge over her skin, then raised it up and dripped water over her chest. “We can talk about that.”

  Tension billowed in the air. Some sexual, but some from another source she couldn't pinpoint.

  Makenna fought to stay focused as he dragged the sponge between her breasts. “Yeah, we should. But I'm more worried about before that. The rest of the night.” She squirmed as he reached her belly button and swirled his pinkie around in it. Focus. She cleared her throat. “After we left the restaurant, when we got here. Were we, I mean, I thought I remembered these people. Did we─”

  Rhys dropped the sponge in the water with a splash and ran his hand down her thigh under the water. Whatever she was going to ask was erased by the electricity shooting through her, straight to her center. He was so good with his hands. She sank back as he reached her knee, then worked his way back up, skipping over the place she desperately wanted him, and worked his way down the opposite leg.

  He gripped her thigh, massaging where her leg met her torso with his thumb. She relaxed a little more, though the anxiety mixed with the desire in his touch kept her hanging on the edge.

  “I'm sorry for being a dick at dinner. You're so closed off. I wanted you to open up to me, to let me see you. I pushed too hard.” She sat back up, tension filtering back into her muscles. “You've never let anyone really see you, have you?” The words were quiet, but they hit their target.

  “I don't know what you mean,” she whispered, closing her eyes as that talented hand worked its way up her body until it lightly circled her throat. She wanted to sink into him, but she couldn't.

  Rhys knew her. Or was beginning to. That couldn't happen. She'd rather get rid of him on her own terms than have him leave her even more broken than she was.

  And he would break her if he left her.

  She had to end it first. Her soul ached at the thought.

  Could she do it?

  He leaned in, whispering in her ear as his thumb ran circles around her throbbing pulse. “It's okay, Kenna. You're safe with me. I won't hurt you. I swear it.” She opened her mouth, and he brought a finger to her lips. “Shh. Don't fight it. Don't fight me. We're a part of each other now. You can't run from me, love. I'm in your heart.” The hand around her throat slid down to rest on her left breast. “Just as you are in mine.”

  His lips descended on hers, silencing any argument she might have come up with. There was nothing but his touch, his kiss. Tender, yet searing. Soft, yet strong. Full of things she didn't understand and couldn't process.

  His tongue caressed hers in a hypnotic rhythm, drugging her. All her worries and fears melted as he loved her mouth, going deeper with every swipe. He flayed her open delicately, laying her soul bare to him.

  Not that it mattered. He was already in there.

  Rhys broke the kiss, their breath the only sound in the steamy room. He grabbed her shoulders and scooted her forward, easing into the tub behind her. Once settled, he picked her up as if she weighed nothing and turned her around, setting her down to straddle his hips. She gasped at the feel of him hard and hot, resting between her thighs.

  Makenna leaned in, riding the tide of emotion flowing between them. She rubbed herself against him as she twined her fingers in his hair and brought his mouth back to hers. His hands ran up and down her spine, lovingly caressing her skin, pulling her closer. She reached for him and raised to her knees.

  Rhys grabbed her wrist and halted her movement. “Kenna, you're sore. We need to be careful until─” he cut himself off, that worried look shining in his eyes again. “We should wait.” He released her wrist and slid his hand between them. His fingers found her. Sparks shot through her body.

  But she wanted more.

  She ignored the part of her brain screaming that he was keeping something from her. “I need to feel you again.” She slapped his hand away and carried on with her task.

  Lining them up, she settled herself down on him slowly. Biting back a wince at the slight pain, she lowered herself until their hips met. The world seemed right again once they were joined. Worry, pain, fear, it all got pushed to the side by the intense, blinding pleasure of having him inside her.
>
  He rested his hands on her hips. “Easy. Take it slow.” His words were spoken through gritted teeth and restraint rippled through his muscles.

  Makenna let her head fall back as she rode him. Controlled at first, slow. Then the sensations took over. Blinding need claimed her, and she increased her speed.

  Lights flashed behind her eyes. Water splashed over the side of the tub, drenching the mat. His hands gripped her so tight she knew she'd have bruises. She didn't care. She'd wear them with pride.

  Rhys was all. They were all.

  In the moment, they were one.

  She wasn't alone.

  Something in her whispered she never would be again. She wished she could believe that voice.

  Finally, she screamed his name as he growled hers. She collapsed against his chest.

  Rhys blew out a long breath. “You're insatiable.” She raised her head and he smirked. “You can handle more than I thought.” Pride and satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. “Now I'm thinking we should amp things up a bit.”

  Makenna grinned, sated and content. “Oh baby, you have no idea. I can take whatever you─” she ground to a halt as her eyes fell to his shoulder.

  Her gut churned, and her post orgasmic haze quickly dissipated. She pushed up to her knees, missing his presence inside her even as the urge to run ripped into her veins like razors.

  “Kenna?” Rhys sat up straight, trying to pull her back towards him.

  She leaned out of his grasp and he frowned. She felt his eyes searching, felt a tickle at the back of her neck as her brain threatened to shut down. She closed herself off, determined he wouldn't see her. She gripped the sides of the tub, raising herself up and off of him.

  “Kenna, what's wrong?” Rhys reached for her, and she shook him off. He followed her gaze, and his eyes widened. His breath quickened.

  She extended a tentative hand and touched the mark at the juncture of his neck and shoulder.

  A mark that exactly matched her teeth.

  A mark she'd made in the part of her dream that actually was a dream.

  The part where they glowed and floated above the bed.