The Shifter's Soul

by R. A. Boyd

  His warm body against hers brought her a peace that no other sexual experience had. They loved each other, accepted each other, and despite the things going on in their lives, they would always be there for each other.

  Simon hummed and kissed the top of her head as he climbed the steps and walked to his bedroom. Carefully, he placed her at the foot of the bed. When he tried to urge her backward, she surged forward, grabbed his cock, and circled the head of him with her tongue. The warm, salty bead of liquid on the slit of his cock filled her senses.

  “God,” he groaned, taking one hand and rubbing his fingers along the curve of her lips. “Fuck. Your mouth feels so fucking good.”

  He pumped his hips toward her face and moved a few curls that had fallen into her eyes out of the way. Simon panted and moaned, and Charlie felt like a powerful sex goddess. This man who had lived for countless years was surrendering to her touch and reveling in the pleasure she was giving him.

  She tightened one hand around his long shaft, sliding it up and down the length of him, and used her other hand to massage his balls. Taking him as deep as she could to the back of her throat, she hummed and felt the head of his dick pulse inside her mouth. Lust pumped through her when she looked up at him. His head was tilted down toward her, but his eyes were closed. He dragged a hand down his abs and brought it to her hair, tightening his grip, hips moving to and away from her face. A light sheen of perspiration covered his forehead. She wanted the thickness of him inside her pussy, but more than that, she wanted to watch him submit to the bliss she created just for him.

  Simon opened his eyes and watched her as she sucked him into her mouth. She pulled away, letting a trail of saliva be the only thing that connected them, eyes still lifted to his as he watched in awe. She sucked him back into her mouth, cupping his balls and lowering her hand to play with her pussy.

  A deep rumble started in his chest as he began to say her name over and over again like a prayer he couldn’t stop that poured from his lips.

  “No,” he said, pulling away from her but she grabbed the back of his thighs and sucked him back into her mouth. “Fuck, fuck. Charlie, stop,” he said, taking a fistful of her hair to pull her away. “I don’t want to come in that beautiful mouth of yours just yet.”

  Still holding on to her hair, he leaned down and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her deep, claiming her mouth, searching every inch of it with his tongue. He grabbed her under both of her arms and pushed her farther up the large bed. She spread her legs wide for him, eyes glued to his huge erection.

  Charlie could feel his cock caress the side of her thigh as Simon settled over her body.

  “Are you ready for me?” he asked as his thumb teased the entrance of her sex.

  “Just fucking take me.”

  He held her gaze as he shoved his entire length into her, burying himself deep inside her core. They both called out as his balls slapped against her ass. His invading presence was immense inside her. Her legs shook as her pussy trembled and stretched for him. Simon held still above her, allowing her body to adjust to his size.

  “So tight. So good,” he cried out.

  God, he felt so good, filling and stretching her. She grabbed the sides of his body and ran her nails along his skin, urging him to move. He pumped his hips once and then settled again over her, taking his time so he wouldn’t hurt her. His arms flexed on either side of her head as he held the bulk of his weight off of her. He pulled away, and as he surged forward again, she lifted her hips and took him deep, arching her back to take him fully. She cried out with every stroke as her orgasm started to build in her core.

  “I want you to come on my dick,” Simon whispered.

  Charlie wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She could take the weight of him, wanted to feel his chest against hers, to feel his heart pounding against hers. She could feel him all through her body. She curled her legs around his hips, using the heels of her feet to push him deeper.

  His mouth covered hers, and he sucked on her tongue to the rhythm of his hips slapping against hers. Their sweat soaked bodies writhed together as a growl shook in Simon’s chest, stimulating her nipples. Her building orgasm coiled into a tight rod, and when it released, Charlie screamed out Simon’s name. Exploding stars filled her vision at her release. He fucked her harder, faster, over and over as the final tremors of her orgasm shook her body.

  She whimpered as his cock swelled inside of her. His hips moved in a quick jerking motion as his orgasm took him over, and a loud roar filled the room as he came. His chest heaved against hers, and his stomach clenched as Charlie’s pulsating channel sucked him in, milking his cock as he came into her and filled her with his seed.

  She let out a breathless laugh and then moaned as his body shivered above her. She nipped at the now healed mark on his shoulder where she had bitten him earlier.

  He held his forehead against hers as they fought to catch their breath. She’d never been a part of anything so primal, so beautiful, in all her life. Her insides continued to quiver from the remnants of her orgasm.

  “Charlie,” Simon panted, his sweat dripping down on to her body. “I love you. I’m so happy you’re here now.” He let out a sound that was nothing short of a sob. “Thank you for bringing my grace back to me. My soul.”

  She held him tight to her, nodding her head up and down. She couldn’t speak just yet. Her breaths still pounded in and out of her mouth as his large body lay over hers. Right now, Charlie didn’t need to speak. She was happier than she’d ever been. She was safe and in the arms of the man who would love her for the rest of her life.

  Everything was perfect, even the parts that weren’t so perfect. There was nothing she could say to let him know how much of her life he’d restored just by being present.

  Lightly, she ran her nails up and down his muscular back. “I love you too, Simon. So much more than you could possibly know.”

  Charlie stood in the kitchen, looking at the bouquet of wildflowers Simon had brought her after he’d come back from his run with Damon. They were lovely. The lavender, yellow, and white petals were dainty on their short, stubby stems. They looked perfect in the small blue and white coffee cup he’d put them in.

  Was Miri okay? As she and Simon laid in bed together, they only talked about it briefly. He said Miri was sharp and quick-witted and that she’d return when she could, but that if she took too long he would ask Willow to summon her.

  She took a sip of her coffee and glanced out the window. It was dark outside. The only reason she wasn’t asleep next to Simon was her need to use the bathroom. Her bladder had demanded it and wouldn’t let her continue to sleep. It took a few minutes of maneuvering to get from under him. He’d pulled her close to his body as he slept, arms wrapped around her like he was afraid she’d fade away. Their love-making had been an explosive, magnificent joining that she would crave every day for the rest of her life. She rubbed her thighs together and could still feel the weight of him there. The thought of him between her legs brought a heaviness to her sex and breasts.

  “Whoa there, girl,” she whispered to her lady bits. “We need at least four to six hours of downtime before we can hop on the saddle again.”

  Simon gave her a damn good pounding, and her body needed time to heal.

  “Are you talking to your vagina,” Simon said from the doorway.

  His voice startled her and she tried not to spill her coffee, but there it was on the table, reminding her she was clumsy. So what.

  Grabbing the dishcloth and cleaning the spill she said, “Yes, Simon. I was talking to my vagina. She wants more of you, but I think she needs a small break.” Not too small.

  “Want me to kiss it and make it better?” He walked toward her, pajama pants hung low on his sexy hips. The band caressed his Adonis belt and brought a rush of heat to her nethers.

  Charlie shrugged and opened her arms to him as he pulled her into his embrace. “You’re trying to start something, aren’t you?�
��

  “I can finish it.” It was nice to see him happy like this, wide smile on his full lips just for her.

  Naughty man, ready to bring her to orgasm just to make her feel better. He was a keeper.

  They hadn’t known each other long, but Charlie could see subtle changes in him since he got his soul back. When he was soulless, even when he was sweet-talking her, he had a pull to the corners of his eyes that made him look stressed. His shoulders had held a tightness that was ever present. It was gone now. He seemed as happy as she felt.

  “Are you hungry?” he whispered in her ear, the warmth of his exhale tickling her neck.

  She nodded her head and squeezed him. “Yes. I made gumbo. I just put it away. Want me to fix you a bowl?”

  “You don’t mind?”

  Why would she mind? She’d hand him the whole pot of the good stuff if he asked. Well, only if she took a small bowl out for herself first. “I don’t mind. Go on and sit down.” She pulled away from him and pushed him toward the kitchen table. “I’ll pop it in the microwave for you.”

  She tried not to be excited as he watched her move through the kitchen, his predatory gaze hot on every move she made.

  “Your cheeks keep playing peek-a-boo when you walk by. I like that shit.”

  Charlie cracked out a laugh as she pulled Simon’s pajama top farther down her hips. She hadn’t planned on sitting down anywhere, so she pulled on his shirt and went to make a cup of coffee.

  Simon reached and slapped her hand away as she pulled the shirt down again. “Don’t fix it on my account. I love peek-a-boo butt cheeks. Walk by me again.” With a grin, he waggled his eyebrows at her and then winked.

  After everything was ready, Charlie put his food down in front of him and then went back to get her bowl. “I’m going to grab some panties. I don’t want my bare butt on the chair.”

  “I’m okay with it. Sit your pretty ass down on that chair.”

  “Ew,” she said, scrunching up her face and shaking her head. “How many people have sat down on that chair with outside clothes on? I don’t want my hoo-ha exposed.”

  He grunted in agreeance. “I would let you sit right here,” he said, pointing at his face, “but I’m about to eat.”

  She laughed so hard she leaned over and grabbed her stomach. “Please stop.”

  Careful not to fall, she ran upstairs and grabbed a pair of pink and green boxer shorts from her bag. She was going to have to put all this stuff away soon so she could stop riffling through her carry-on just to find clothes.

  By the time she came back to the kitchen, Simon was standing in front of the microwave warming up another bowl of gumbo.

  “My God, woman,” he said around a mouthful of corned bread. “This is delicious. Did you run to New Orleans to get this?” he joked.

  She nodded quickly. “Yup. I burned out a new pair of sneakers running back and forth while you were gone. You like it?”

  “I love it. Tastes just like the gumbo from my favorite restaurant down there. I didn’t know you could cook.” He cut another piece and put it on a plate.

  She preened under his compliments. “I love cooking. And baking. I make these really great cookies.” She shrugged and sat down at in front of her bowl at the table. It should be ready now. Looking at Simon’s chest and abs flex as he talked had taken her attention away from keeping an eye on her food in the microwave. She let it roast until it was too hot. “I only make the cookies around Christmas. They take a long time to prepare.”

  After Simon pulled his bowl from the microwave, he joined her at the table, and they ate in comfortable silence. They didn’t need pointless chatter to feel good about each other.

  Charlie glanced at the flowers on the table as the scent of lavender, peppermint, and thyme filled the air. Were these night blooming flowers that only emitted their floral aroma at night? If so, she wanted to fill the entire house with them. It was beautiful.

  She went to ask Simon, but the grimace on his face stopped her.

  “Miri?” he asked, concern laced in his voice. “Are you okay?”

  The disembodied voice of the gypsy resounded through the room. “Yes. I can’t stay, but I need to tell you something vital.” In a gradual fade that looked like a special effect on a computer screen, Miri came into view. She stood in front of the window with her back to them. When she turned around, the worried look that marred her face earlier when she appeared to Charlie was gone. Now, her face was a vision of peace and beauty. “I’m so happy you’ve found each other.”

  “Who was chasing you earlier?” Charlie asked.

  Miri pressed her lips together, giving a slight shake of her head. “The being you know as Samiyah was after me, trying to get your soul, Simon.”

  Simon’s body tensed as he stared at her. Balling his hands into fists so tightly the spoon in his hand began to bend, he chewed the inside of his jaw as a growl grew in his throat. “I don’t understand. He’s dead.”

  Miri nodded and came closer, but this time Charlie couldn’t hear the jangle of her jewelry or the rustle of her clothes. “Yes, he is. But his spirit is still here controlling another. Your brother. Ronin.”

  “Fuck.” It was the only word Simon could get out before a feral growl tore through his lips. Anger rolled off him in waves, and all Charlie wanted to do was comfort him. His eyes darkened to the amber color of his beast’s fur and he shook with fury.

  “Simon,” Charlie said, standing from her chair to walk around the table to stand next to him. “We need to warn your family.”

  “He knows I know,” Miri continued. “He was trying to stop me before I could tell you. That’s why I left so quickly. Simon, your brother is fighting him. But he’s losing. Ronin still slumbers in the sleep the witches set upon him. Sometimes he wakes and tries to fight, but he can’t. Samiyah is powerful and his possession is strong. Tell your witch friend that the coven did not abandon her. They just don’t know he’s gone. You’ll have to banish Samiyah from this plane of existence to save your brother. Do not underestimate him. Samiyah is a powerful witch in the body of a powerful being. He is dangerous. He leads the Rogue pack. There resolve has grown. To them, he is a Ghost shifter who is working against his own brethren because he knows how dangerous you can be.”

  Charlie rubbed the spot between Simon’s shoulders and felt him ease under her touch. All Simon had wanted was one day of normal with her. She felt sorry that she couldn’t give that to him.

  Simon grabbed her wrist and stroked her skin with his thumb. “Why do you smell sad?” he asked. He looked up at her and pulled her into his lap. “I’m sorry this is happening.” Regret filled his voice, and it broke Charlie’s heart.

  “No.” She cupped his face and leaned down to kiss his nose. “This isn’t your fault. I’m sad you couldn’t get one day of peace with your soul. That’s why I’m sad.”

  Miri inhaled quickly and made a low ‘wow’ sound as she looked around her. “Thank you for letting me go to my family once more. There’s nothing else keeping me here. I kept your soul safe. I found out what I needed to help you. I think I can go now.” She sniffed, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “My niece will contact you to help your witch friend get the ingredients to the spell that will repel him from your brother and prevent him from taking over any more of your clan.”

  “Thank you, Miri,” Simon muttered, as he wrapped his arm around Charlie. “You’re the reason I wasn’t put in the ground long ago.”

  Charlie’s voice caught in her throat, and all she could do was wave at Miri as the most radiant light engulfed her, and she disappeared from sight.

  Chapter 13

  “So you all knew I didn’t have a soul, and you didn’t say anything?” Simon yelled, eyes scanning the area where his brothers and sister sat.

  Damon splayed his hands and gave him a ‘well duh’ look. “You didn’t bring it up, so neither did we. We’re angels, dumbass. We know when someone is missing a soul. I’m amazed you thought we wouldn’t notic
e.”

  Jace shrugged and blew out an exasperated breath. “I noticed, but just didn’t care. Your soul, your business. As long as nobody horrible had it, we were cool.”

  Simon was back to hating them all again. His fantastic brain was already coming up with things to do to them to make them pay, and he was going to start with Jace. His family sucked.

  “Back to the bigger shit going on.” Teague rolled his eyes and handed his mate a cup of tea. “At least Ronin isn’t trying to end us. It’s that damn twatwaffle Samiyah.”

  Simon’s mind reeled at what was happening. They’d gotten out of one problem only to have an even shittier one fall in their laps. Perfect time to get his soul back. Every emotion bombarded him, but he didn’t know how to react. All he wanted to do was kill everything to keep Charlie and the rest of his family safe. Well, at least that was a familiar feeling. Everything else was too much.

  Charlie’s unease was driving him crazy. She sat in one of the recliners in the common area, looking out the front window. She kept toying with her phone and bouncing her leg up and down like she was nervous. Hell, why wouldn’t she be? The shit storm that had been their lives since the Rogue clan started coming after them was being kicked up a notch, and she was right here to experience it with him.

  She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled when she noticed him watching her. Waggling her eyebrows, she gave him the finger and then blew him a kiss. Sweet woman.

  “How did no one notice Ronin just get up and walk away? It doesn’t make sense.” Willow puffed out her cheeks and drummed her fingers on the table in front of her.

  “It does,” Zeke said, walking in from the kitchen area with two cups in his hand. “Samiyah was part of the coven for centuries. He knows every spell and every inch of the coven house. If he knew how to possess Ronin and still hold on to his powers, he could get out of that house with ease. As much as the house is empty, all he had to do was wait. Did you talk to Sariel?”