"Ransom. Wake the fuck up, man."Someone was going to die for interrupting the best sleep of my life. I rolled over, sliding my arm over the woman cuddled against my side. "What, Atlas?" I growled through our mental connection."Are you back in your human body""Yes. Go away." I pulled Kiema closer to me. The events of the night rolled through my mind like a movie. If I wasn't so fucking happy that she was in my bed, in my arms, I'd be embarrassed about losing it that quickly. I hadn't felt that out of my head since the first time I'd had sex. Even then I felt I had a little more game than I'd had last night with Kiema. I laughed as I remembered her glare as she slapped me. I'd been about to beg her to touch me again. Then, out of nowhere, I get to show her how to please me. The woman was a goddess. No question. A snore interrupted my memories. I laughed mentally. Well, as goddess-like as a human can get, anyways. "Ransom!" Atlas yelled in my head. I got the feelin
The team was talking in my head again. Yelling if I wasn't mistaken. I just didn't have the energy to tell them to shut the fuck up. I was drained. Pretty sure my brain was somewhere on the floor. "Ransom, we have some news. I know you're awake. Your brain signals have picked up again." Dr. Fucking Atlas. "What?" I didn't care if I sounded like an asshole. "Have you shifted again?""No. Gaia, what is with you guys?""According to legend, you have forty-eight hours to shift again, or you lose the ability forever."Huh. That was something to think about."If you chose to not shift..." Atlas' voice trailed off. My chest tightened. "If I chose not to shift?""Your illness could come back.""What the fuck?!" I shot up in bed. A sleepy Kiema pushed me away from her. "Stop it, Ransom. It's sleepy time."She's so fucking cute. But we have a situation. "Ki. You really need to wake up." I told my team that I was going to share the information with her. Various
I leaned against the bathroom door, heart in my throat. Guess that answered that question, huh?As the tears started to gather in my eyes, I slumped to the bathroom vanity. My hair was a rat's nest. There was a huge love bruise on my shoulder. But overall, I didn't look any different. Too bad I felt completely different. I could still feel him inside me. Feel his skin as it pressed into mine. His hands as he molded my flesh. The way my sex melted and creamed for his. I'd never felt so close to anyone as I did to Ransom. Felt understood, like I belonged in the world. As if someone might miss me when I was gone. Right now, it felt like he'd taken a knife and ripped through me with one blow. "If I don't change, I could need you forever."I gasped at the pain all over again. Need me, not want me. My parents needed me. Well, my power at least. But outside of that fact, they certainly didn't want me. I'd thought Ransom wanted me. Wanted me for more than just my power. But appare
I panted into her hair, licked the bead of sweat that purled behind her ear. I waited until my heart settled back into a normal rhythm before I spoke. Her shiver made me smile. "Just so we're clear, you're staying with me. You don't get to leave.""Just so we're clear, you're staying with me. You don't get to leave," she repeated, emphasizing the changes. I chuckled. "I can live with that." I wrapped my arms around her, squeezed her tight. "Fuck, Ki. You ripped me apart," I whispered into her hair. Her arms came around me. "You shredded me first," she said into my shoulder. "How?" I set her away from me so I could look into her silvery eyes. "Seriously. How? I thought we were good and then you shut me down and shut me out."I watched her as she studied me. She really didn't understand. "When you said that if you didn't change, you would need me forever." Her beautiful face tightened. I ran the words over again in my head. Nothing sprung out at me as negative. I
I did a little more than get new clothes on. I took another shower. I didn't mind smelling like Ransom, I just didn't want to feel the slight grit of dried sweat on my skin all night. "About time. I was about to send out the search party.""Which would have been you?""Hey, your rules." He winked at me. "Dinner's ready."I rubbed a hand over my belly. "Thank Gaia. What's on the menu?""Pork steaks and veggies.""Sounds delicious." I sat in my customary spot at the island. The glass of water beckoned me. I took it, drained it in one go. Wiping my lip, I held the glass out to him. A cheeky smile on my face. "Pretty please?"He refilled it and handed it back. "A little dehydrated?""Yeah. My mouth feels like the desert. Or what I would assume the desert feels like." I bounced one shoulder in the air. Ransom leaned in and kissed me. "Feels like a nice fucking mouth to me."I rolled my eyes and pushed him back. "Food now. Sex after I ice my crotch."He snorted, sp
Her scent filled my nose. Berries and amber. It was so thick it coated my tongue. Her scent was almost as delicious as her taste. Shouting from the computer warned her away from me. Must have managed the change. I felt like day-old ass, so I probably had shifted. Opening my eyes, I came face to face with the woman who'd stolen my heart. I could see tiny flecks of blue in her pale gray eyes. Something I'd never noticed as a human. I nuzzled my nose into the space between her neck and shoulder. I could fucking live drenched in this woman. Her small hands ran through my fur. I just hoped to Gaia that I wasn't that awful collection of animals like the first time. I'd been focusing on the lion alone.Pulling back from Kiema's neck, I looked down at my paws. Weird, how easy I was with being part animal. Like finding comfort and belonging I'd been missing my entire life. I hadn't even known to wish for something like this. Hadn't known it was possible. "Ransom, you're hurting Ki
"Kiema, honey, I need you to check his vitals," Saint said. I nodded before crawling over to the fully naked man. His dark blond hair covered his face. "His coat is the same color as his head hair. His mane the color of his pubic hair.""I'll make a note of it. Can you give me his pulse?""I don't have a watch, and can't see a clock.""I'll run a timer. Ready?"I nodded."55 beats per minute. Is that good?""That's fucking amazing, Ki-Ki. Before, he was running around ninety, ninety-five at rest," Asher rushed to answer. "Is he running a temp?"I laid the inside of my wrist against his forehead. "Maybe a little one. He feels slightly warm to the touch. But dry, there's no sweat or dampness.""Good, honey. You're doing great. Open his eyes for me. Do his pupils look normal?"I checked. "They seem a little bigger than normal, but I wouldn't say they look abnormal. Does that make sense?""Sure does. He was saying his vision and smell were off the charts. It would
Gaia, my body hurt. I felt like I'd been run over by a fucking semi. I stretched and became aware of the warm body cradled next to my own. My cock shot to full alert as she wiggled her ass back against me, a low irritated moan rumbling through her chest. Running my hands over her hot little body, I wished I had the strength to do more than just feel her. "Mm."I felt the moment she woke. Her body stilled as if assessing her surroundings. Once she realized where she was, she sank into my body like she'd melted. This time when her ass pushed against my cock, she reached back and grabbed my ass, pulling me tighter into her body. I groaned. "Ki.""Let me take care of you." She rolled over in my arms. Pushing the blanket and towels off my body, she gently rolled me to my back. I felt like my body was about to explode, in both good and bad ways. Drawing in a shaky breath, it caught in my chest when she rose above me like a goddess. Her honey skin dark gold in the morning ligh