Jaxon couldn't help stroking the smooth cheek of the female nestled on his lap. Sure, he could have dumped her onto the seat and joined Parker up front to ride shotgun, but he worried she'd roll onto the floor. Okay, he lied. He could have buckled her in to keep her safe. The truth was, he just didn't want to let her go. From the moment he'd first inhaled her scent in the motel room, he'd found himself intrigued-and harder than a teenage boy with his first issue of Playboy. She wasn't bimbo beautiful, like his usual conquests, but Jaxon couldn't say he'd ever seen a more appealing woman. She possessed lush curves covered in creamy skin that begged stroking. Her wild, curly hair tumbled about her face and shoulders, giving her the look of a woman just roused-or loved. Her bowed mouth, so full and tempting, was made to suck cock, and he could only imagine what a striking contrast she'd make, naked, against his own dark skin. Shifting her on his lap, and away from his wa
Vivid green eyes peered down at her, and she heard the most beautiful mulatto man she'd ever seen say, "And some things are worth a little pain." Who is he, and what is he talking about? The man held her attention, and not just because of his mischievous smile, which widened the more he stared but because he made her want to do things-dirty things, like press her lips to his, lick her way along his cocoa skin, and nibble him. Good God, what is wrong with me? It seemed her topsy-turvy turmoil hadn't ended. Along with this thought came the remembrance that the last thing she recalled, someone had accosted her in an alley as she attempted to escape Gavin. Alarm made her eyes widen, and she scrambled to escape the lap she sat cuddled on. "Easy, sweet cheeks. You're in good hands." "More like groping ones," rumbled a familiar voice. Her gaze darted forward to see the giant from before. Turning his head to the side, giving her his profile, one of his warm
"We should stop in town and buy her some things, seeing as how everything else of hers was destroyed." Gavin's voice, after such a long period of introspective silence, jolted Wyatt. Especially since they'd spent the last few hours coasting along at a moderate speed, keeping an eye open for any vehicles that might be trailing after them. "You can emasculate yourself all you want browsing through the underwear section at the local Walmart, but count me out." "There's nothing wrong with buying a woman some underwear, especially when she's your mate," Gavin replied indignantly. "Yeah, but she's not mine. So no way am I prancing around holding up tops and pants, going, ÔDo you think she'd like this?'" Wyatt adopted a high-pitched tone that caused Gavin to let go of the steering wheel so he could launch a fist his way. Taking the blow with a grunt, Wyatt laughed. "You haven't even touched her pussy yet, and you're already whipped." "Look who's talking," snorted
Bailey didn't recall ever being this angry before. Or scared. When the wolf strode from the woods, she'd thought she'd piss her pants. When the wolf, in some screwed-up body-molting process, turned into Wyatt, she did lose a few drops. Here I thought I'd come to grips with the fact I was abducted by a cult who wanted to have sex with me. Heck, I was even thinking I might enjoy it. Then Wyatt dropped a werewolf bomb followed by a marriage one, and she no longer knew if the earth rotated around the sun or if she'd somehow ended up in an alternate universe because in her world, shit like this just didn't happen. She did the only thing she could think of when faced with facts her mind refused to believe. She freaked. Of course, her temper tantrum had the interesting result of getting Wyatt to manhandle her first, followed by Gavin. The whole situation was enough to drive a girl batty. And horny. Only once he thrust her into a tent, which Parker had erected bef
When Wyatt left the tent, he didn't initially go far because, for some reason, he just couldn't tear his eyes from the gyrating couple. He wanted to join in so badly-wanted to touch Bailey's silky skin, taste her sweet lips again, and sink his teeth into her flesh and irrevocably mark her. With a grunt that sounded more animal than man, he ran from the campground, shifting into his wolf even before he hit the tree line. Run away. Run from the temptation. Run from the future I did not choose. He howled as he bolted through the trees on four feet, his inner turmoil of earlier nothing compared to his current state. Now, he'd gotten a glimpse of her responsive nature, heard her mewling cries of pleasure, tasted her, and seen the ecstasy on his pack brother's face, a pleasure he could have if he weren't so scared to take it. But was he ready for that kind of commitment? Ready to give himself over to a virtual stranger? To someone who knew nothing about his kind, his world?
Bailey woke, spooned into Gavin's body. It seemed her new werewolf husband was very happy to see her if the cock rubbing against her backside was any indication. His lips brushed the skin below her ear, sending a shiver through her. "Morning, darling." "Hi." A trite reply but all she could manage as she suddenly found herself tongue-tied in the light of day. It was one thing to give herself to passion without any abandon the night before, another to realize the man whose arms cradled her thought he owned her-and planned to share her with his buddies. Except for Wyatt. He couldn't get out of here fast enough last night, she recalled, the realization oddly saddening. He must not have liked what he saw. Her curves weren't for everyone. Look at me getting morose over the fact I have to satisfy myself with only one lover. Bailey wanted to slap herself for being so stupid. Besides, how could she feel unattractive with Gavin's callused fingers stroking over her nipples
Bailey ended up riding with Jaxon and Parker again as Gavin and Wyatt cleaned up their camp and checked for signs of pursuit. With Jaxon driving-to keep him out of trouble, Parker had explained with a grin-she ended up seated in the back with the giant. Perfect, because she brimmed with questions, and now that the wolf was out of the bag, so to speak, she hoped he'd answer them. "What's a pack?" Parker's brows lifted. "Jumping right into it, are you? Fair enough. I guess there's no hiding anymore what we are. A pack is what we call a group of Lycans who live together under the rule of an alpha." "So, what, you share a house, and one guy makes up the rules?" A chuckle rumbled forth. "Not quite, baby. We tend to live on compounds, fairly self-sufficient ones, where we use solar energy and wind to create electricity, draw our water from wells, and where each family has its own house." "Like the Amish," she supplied, trying to picture in her mind what ex
"Something's changed about you," Gavin said to Wyatt a few hours into their journey. Up to that point, they'd carefully watched for signs of pursuit and called in a report to Nathan. According to their leader, the rogue incidences seemed to have stopped for the moment, but it wasn't news Gavin or his pack brother celebrated, not when it coincided with their rescue of Bailey. Could Roderick have banded all the rogues and set them on our trail? It made his blood run cold to even think it. He kept in regular contact with Parker, ahead of them with his precious mate, but he wouldn't breathe easy until they'd caught up. "What makes you think anything's different?" Wyatt asked, turning to face him. "You seem more relaxed for one, and you've stopped making smart-ass remarks about my mate." A smile ghosted over his friend's lips. "Let's just say I think I might have found what's been missing in my life." "For real? So you admit she's your mate too." A touch
Days laterÉ Thaddeus surveyed his demesne, a house he'd never really shared, until now. And now? Now the place was overrun with vampires and wolves. Had he lost his mind along his tumultuous journey? No, but he'd definitely lost his heart. Toni slid an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. Through their bond, her love for him warmed and filled his heart-and his cock. On her other side, Marc appeared, his stealthy abilities increasing daily with practice, enough that even Thaddeus found it difficult to spot him unless he cheated and used the thread that tied them together. "A penny for your thoughts," Toni murmured. He gave her the disgruntled truth. "How did I go from loner to this?" He gesticulated at the rescued wolves, a quad of them, sparring with Sasha in the courtyard. Toni laughed, the sound so sweet he'd kill anyone who dared threaten it. "You fell in love," she stated. He sighed. "That I did." "Do y
If someone would have told Toni watching two guys bite each other with her sandwiched between them would be one of the most intense moments of her life, she would have scoffed. But even though neither of them had bitten her, she caught some of the backlash from their joining. She couldn't help but bask in the warmth of knowing they did it not just for themselves but for her. To be with her. Because they loved her. And to think I wondered why any woman would agree to more than one lover. Toni was more than ready to let them claim her. She wanted to join them and belong to them and have them belong to her. Not because of any laws or protection, but because she wanted them. She loved them. I want them to be mine. Marc might have thought to tease her or shock her with his words of making her wetter, as if that could happen. Her pussy had never hummed so strongly or felt so slick. She crooked a finger, beckoning to them both. On to the bed they came, on their knees b
Thad drove the last leg to the compound in their borrowed car. A two-seat sports car, which meant Toni got to sit on Marc's lap. His naked lap. His naked lap with an erect cock poking at her backside. Something about prevailing against death and danger was arousing. Stimulating. Having a wet woman, whose scent drove him wild, who kept wiggling deliciously and casting him sultry glances, just added fuel to the fire stoking him. Thad must have felt some of the simmering energy because his fingers danced along her thigh, skirting the vee between her thighs and causing Toni's breath to catch. They couldn't get to the compound fast enough. Oddly enough, Toni, her voice breathy and soft, spoke in the erotically charged silence. "That was pretty intense back there." "If you mean fucking scary, then, yeah," Marc noted. He wasn't too macho to admit he'd feared. Especially for her. And there was a moment where I wondered if I'd end up a vampire puppet again. Thankfu
Okay, perhaps offering the warm heart to his comrades was perhaps not the sanest thing he'd ever done, but in Thaddeus's defense, it was considered quite the compliment in the vampire world, as it meant he was willing to share his power. With grimaces of distaste, Toni and Marc declined. Their loss. With a shrug, Thaddeus finished his treat, feeling his strength return and his wounds healing. Nothing like partaking of a master vampire's warm heart to give a boost to a weakened body. The skies chose that moment to release their moist bounty, a cool, fresh rain pelting them and cleansing the blood from their skin. But even clean, Thaddeus stood apart, watching as Marc held a shuddering Toni, a woman who'd unleashed her savage side and watched him eat another man's heart. What does she think of me now? Thaddeus wouldn't make excuses for what he was. He was a vampire. Eating the flesh of his enemies was a part of his life. A need. Although, in this case, he could have don
Despite the knock to her head, Toni understood they were in deep shit. Just one problem, she was too muddled to do anything about it. Through the ringing in her ears, she vaguely heard the word ambush and Thad's admonition to stay in the truck. Thing was staying in the truck wasn't a guarantee of protection. Evil lurked outside, and she could feel the nudge of it at the edge of her mind. Knock, knock. Who wants in? It wasn't Thaddeus. She knew his touch; it was gentle and not creepy. This mind probe reminded her more of Roderick's methods. Like a battering ram coated in slime. Someone on the impromptu battleground was trying to take over her mind. But who? Taking in deep breaths, she managed to calm the spinning in her head, enough so she could open her eyes without wanting to throw up. She wanted to shut them just as quickly. Chaos met her gaze. Despite the darkness, the one remaining headlight on the truck lit the surrounding area enough for her to see a nasty
Marc had only seconds to call upon his wolf, which meant bye-bye to yet another set of clothes. However, if he managed to get out of this ambush naked but alive, he'd count himself lucky. His initial estimate of half a dozen to the left proved accurate, but not so for the right. Marc only had a moment to realize Thad was going to get swarmed before his first ghoul attacked. Knowing what to expect this time, he didn't waste time grappling; he went for weak spots. Throat if he could reach it to tear it out. A close second was the legs. If they couldn't walk, it made them less of a threat. His strategy proved effective. While ghouls twitched on the ground and reached for him, he managed to keep to his four furry feet and cause some damage, enough that he felt the need to leave his group of ghouls and head to help Thaddeus, who was practically buried in them. He had to hand it to the old bloodsucker though. Thaddeus wasn't going down without a hell of a fight. Partway the
An hour or so later, they were on the road, the vehicle they borrowed not exactly luxurious, but the pickup truck in the garage, with the plow hooked to the front was less noticeable than Thaddeus's car with the torn hood and roof. Marc drove this leg of the trip, with Toni seated in the middle and Thaddeus on the other side. Cozy, but surprisingly pleasant. Thaddeus was still trying to come to terms with the speed at which his immortal life had changed. He'd gone from a boring and dull existence, where his primary amusement was stalking miscreants and taunting Morpheus, to embarking on a quest to save his kind, stop a war, oh, and get romantically involved with a woman and another man. Or at least the woman. The fact that she came with a hairy attachment he had yet to kill was something he still couldn't quite comprehend. I have never been one to keep pets. In times past, Thaddeus would have easily solved the dilemma by snapping a neck and claiming her for his own. He had
Wakening to one side of Toni, while Thad slumbered on the other, didn't freak Marc out as much as he feared. What began as a dislike and rivalry with the vampire had transitioned. He wouldn't exactly claim to like the guy, but he did have more respect for him and could now see him as a person instead of just a vampire. It also helped that Toni made it clear she wanted both of them, or neither of them. She wouldn't tolerate jealous bickering. Or, as she told them when they entered into a staring, growling match, "Behave, or I'll take my pussy and play with it myself." Nothing like the threat of no sex to calm them the fuck down. Then again, Marc wasn't serious about staking the bloodsucker and sticking him out in the sun for a tan, but a guy had to have some fun. Easing out of the bed, careful to let her eke out as many minutes of sleep as possible, Marc took first turn in the shower then headed off to scrounge up some breakfast. Within a half-hour, Toni arrived in the kitchen, he
This time Toni recognized the setting for what it was: a dream. I just wish I could choose a nicer location, say like a five-star resort. But no, her subconscious apparently harbored a sadistic side, and once again, she found herself in her dreary cell, wearing a gauzy nightgown trimmed with red hearts and ribbons. Ready for a loverÉor two. Unlike her last visit, this time the door to her prison was open. A shame, she'd quite enjoyed Thaddeus's appearance, and Marc's. They'd opened her eyes in this dreamscape to the possibilities, and now that they'd shown them to her, she had to wonder why she'd held back. But back to her dream. Why was she here? Was there something to be learned? Done? Only one way to find out. She strode from her former cell, the silence around her oppressive but not threatening. It seemed the fear she'd lived with for so long was losing its grip. Apparently eating some dead guy's ashes, kicking some ghoul butt, and then having the courage to take