Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

by Kiki Howell

  Hermione moved her tongue with unrelenting precision around, back-then-forth and up-then-down over her clit and slipped two fingers into Saira’s passion. She felt the rage of Saira’s orgasm begin in waves of intensity as her pussy clamped and pulled. Plunging her fingers deeper, she pulled back, used her experienced thumb to strum Saira’s button and gyrate herself on Saira’s foot. She felt her own climax building forcefully.

  It started with Saira. The young girl had lost all control of conscious response. She screamed release into the muffle that was Draédon’s cock. The vibrations of her humming scream sent a magnetic jolt through his body and his orgasm ignited. He plunged deeper into the young girl’s mouth while she grabbed his ass with her right hand and grabbed Hermione’s wrist with her left. She pushed herself onto Hermione’s fingers and hand until another finger found its way into her pulsating pussy. Hermione threw her head back and screamed as she rocked through her own orgasm, rolling, thunderous, uncontrolled, as every other sensation extinguished with the power of the next.

  The explosion of chain reactions released like a series of fireworks one couldn’t call back; a symphony of uncontrollable ignitions that left bursts of emotional release in its wake.

  They spiraled in unison following Hermione’s lead. She played the two young lovers as though they were a fine musical instrument and produced the most magical harmony. She quite enjoyed it herself. She crawled up Saira and kissed her lightly, savoring the delicious remains of Draédon. She pulled Draédon to her and kissed him deeply while he tasted and smelled of his lady-love. Then they both bent over Saira and the three shared a kiss while Hermione dropped her own fingers to her trembling pussy still reeling and throbbing. She dipped her fingers into herself then slipped her wet fingers into their shared kiss. They sighed and relaxed on the bed of banana leaves. A deep, exhausted sleep overcame them as they embraced the delight of their intimacy.

  When Saira and Draédon awoke, they were alone and took advantage of their gift of time to make love again. Before drifting off, Draédon professed his love and commitment to finding a way for them to be together.

  The princess awoke hearing distant whispers from her sisters who had risen from the palace collectively to find her and bring her news. Draédon still slept naked, but Hermione was gone. Saira ran naked to the water’s edge on her human legs. She sat in the lapping surf and brought her knees up to her chest to hide her exposure. Her sisters swam and gathered around her.

  She was excited to tell her sisters of her joy. “Oh, the most amazing thing has happened! I am in love. But what happened to your hair? What are you doing here? Is it Father? No! Grand-Mamére?” Saira rattled on.

  Her oldest sister answered. “Father and Grand-Mamére are fine. We sacrificed our hair to learn what we needed to bring you home. We have news of your Prince. He is promised and at the time the Ocean God took his ship, he was preparing to meet his betrothed.”

  “No! That is impossible. I revived him from death with my own breath. He loves me as I love him. Love changes our destiny! He would not lie to me. We have shared our love on this day and are joined!”

  “No, Saira. A ship is coming. Sent by his Father, the King of Le, to collect him and continue his voyage with his bride-to-be. We have bargained with the Queen of the Saltwater Sirens, Hermione, for your freedom and life. She demanded our hair, which she cut and took, that we prove our love and devotion to you to bring you home. Come with us now to the Palace, come home. Your time here is done. You have little time to live if you do not come with us immediately. She will demand you plunge a saber into the heart of your beloved Prince as additional tariff if you wait longer. Trust me, little sister. It is the only way to save both your lives.”

  “I cannot. I will NOT! I do not believe you!” Saira cried as her wise sister pointed to a royal ship on the horizon.

  “That is the new ship preparing to leave and take your prince once again to his betrothed.”

  Saira’s heart ached, but she could not leave. “Thank you for coming. I know not what I will do, but you must go before he wakes. Tell Father and Grand-Mamére I love them both, as I do all of you fair sisters. Now, go!”

  With that, her sister mermaids disappeared beneath the surface, flipping their elegant tails in a fond farewell. When Saira turned back to the shore, she saw the King’s men arriving and talking to Draédon. He asked if they had spied a ruby-haired beauty, but they claimed they had not.

  “You must have been dreaming. Too much time in the sun with no food or water.” They convinced Draédon it was his delirium even as he tried to tell them of the woman he loved. They helped him with clothes then into the boat that would carry him to the waiting ship. Draédon cast his eyes back to the beach, searching, hoping it was not a dream, but finding no proof.

  Saira dropped to her knees in tears. She begged the Goddess for his return and promised anything, everything, but for his love. She had no idea how long she cried before Hermione appeared before her.

  “You tricked me! And my sisters!” Saira said to the Siren, who smiled in response. “But, why? What have I done to deserve such hatefulness?”

  “Not you, your Father, the Sea King! He cast me out of the Land Below the Sea to fend for myself, which I have done quite nicely. But it is not the life I wanted. Now, you will be denied the life you want. You will die, unless of course, you do as I say,” Hermione cooed.

  “What could there be to live for, without my Prince? I am doomed, anyway,” Saira conceded.

  Hermione offered a solution, “I will take you to the ship for it is now too far away for you to swim as a mortal. Explain all to Draédon and if he loves you, he will promise himself to you. By so doing, you will be granted a human soul and live happily ever after. When you die, you will rise to the Heavens to fly for all eternity with the angels.”

  “Why should I believe you? After all you have done to hurt me, to hurt Draédon? You stripped my sisters of their beautiful hair knowing they would do anything, promise anything, to help me. You have shamed me to hurt my father for some injustice you no doubt deserved. You are cruel and evil and I don’t believe anything you say!”

  “Why would I lie to you now, when I have won? You have paid the price for your father, now and in years to come. No matter what you or I do now, nothing can undo what is already done. I should be sorry for what I have done, but I am not. I revel in the joy your pain will bring your father in ways of humiliation to come. Why would I lie, now, when it is all over but for the price to be paid over and over in my satisfaction?”

  “You would do that for me, now, after all you have done?” Saira was suspicious, but what could she do?

  “As I said, fair Saira, I have won and will reap my satisfactions for years to come. I have no need to use you further against your father.”

  Saira agreed, reluctantly, as she saw no other option. and they left immediately for the ship.

  Young Saira walked into the water, its comforts once familiar and soothing, on trembling feet. She felt vulnerable and foreign in surroundings that once harbored her against all threats. Now the very threat to her wellbeing she was forced to trust. The ship was well outside her ability to swim the distance on the useless legs humans thought so accommodating. She laid across Hermione’s back and wrapped her arms around the sea witch’s neck. She understood now why sailors and others called them witches if this be their lot at the hands of the sorceress. Saira would gladly throttle her if she didn’t need her so much. Her situation was grave and dangerous.

  Her very life, be it as a mermaid shamed and humbled in the house of her dishonored father or as an airbreathing upright in the arms of a man she hoped wanted her, her very existence was in the hands of a witch, a sorceress, a magus, who was a proven liar and who had already betrayed her. She had no reason to trust this siren, but she had no other option.

  She would throw herself at the feet of her prince and beg for him to take her with him, to allow her to love him forever, however long that may be. If he
would consider taking her, perhaps together they could think of something, anything that would resolve the circumstances in which they found themselves.

  The trip out of the harbor and to the ship was a long and tiresome one. Every time Hermione dove below the surface, Saira had to hold her breath, an action that was not at all natural for her. It tired her but she dare not ask Hermione to stop diving. She was afraid the wicked witch was trying to put her to death and claim it was an accident. Unwilling to give Hermione any excuses or ideas to betray her further, Saira thought it wise to keep her own counsel.

  Once upon the keel of the ship, where the clear glass windows opened to her lover’s quarters, they rode the waves hoping to find him, so that Saira could gaze upon him. Saira was filled with overwhelming happiness, adoration and love. She turned to thank and embrace Hermione when the siren started to laugh.

  “Oh, thank you, dear Hermione, for your kind and generous help. I knew that you could never be so cruel as to leave the daughter of your closest friend to expire on the bed of the sea you so dearly love.”

  “You stupid, stupid girl! You think me a blubbering fool? You think I am so soft as to be recalcitrant of my actions and beg your forgiveness for my crimes against you and your fair prince? Ha! Your mother was just like you, all sweet and loving, trusting everyone with regret in their voice and forgiving every trespass. She wore her goodness on her sleeve as you wear your heart. It is amusing.”

  “Why, why would you be this way to me, now, after all...”

  “All what, little princess? Because you think we made love? I took you, Saira, you and your prized virginity, the last precious thing to the good Sea King, more precious than life for it was you, in your birth, that took the life of your mother. And he forgave you that. Well, I never have. Be it not for you, your mother, my dear friend the Queen, would yet be alive today!”

  “But you were banished before my birth, or so the word is in court. How can that possibly be my fault?”

  “Before or after, what does it matter? She is gone and you, fair maiden, are here. I owe you no explanations, you stupid girl, and I tire of talking to you about this or anything else. I have had my fill of you.”

  “You can’t leave me here!” Saira cried.

  “You’ll be fine, silly Saira. You only need to do one thing to save your own pretty neck.”

  “Pray tell...” Saira treaded the shifting water with her aching arms as she tried to stay afloat.

  “To spare your own silly life, you must take this dagger and plunge it into the heart of your Prince. Once done, your tail will return and you can live out your life in the sea, forever, alone and unhappy. Bid the Sea King a greeting from me and do tell him I return you to him a willful, selfish wench doomed to his Palace, no longer a virgin who has brought shame upon the House of the Sea King, with whom he is saddled to live out her days in shame and old spinsterdom. He will never be able to sell you for a dowry into royalty. No one wants a wicked malicious princess prone to satisfying her selfish desires at her first opportunity.” Hermione spewed hatefully as she tossed the dagger at Saira who caught it, but just by chance.

  “Wait...”

  And Hermione laughed uproariously and with an indignant satisfaction as she swam away, abandoning Saira to whatever be her fate. Saira could still hear her laugh intermittently as she sang a song of lore into the malevolence.

  Saira wiped away the tears and scampered aboard the stern and stayed there out of the water, for the most part, until the sun set and bid the day adieu. She waited until dark and climbed aboard then made her way to the Royal Cabin below the captain’s deck to the stern of the ship. She entered quietly and crept to Draédon’s bedside and sat beside him, memorizing his every line, his smile, his brow which she had once bathed with sea sponge and cool fresh water to revive him. She knew she’d rather die than kill him. She would give him one last kiss and leave him to his destiny. As she placed her lips on his, Draédon stirred, and then woke.

  “You are real, Saira. I didn’t dream you. You saved me,” he whispered into the darkness.

  “Yes, Prince, I am real.”

  “And our passion – that was real too?”

  “Most definitely. The siren told you I am a Princess, too, of royal blood and lineage. Let me tell you a story.” And she proceeded, in tears, to tell him everything, putting her faith and fate in the hands of the Gods, Goddesses and her Prince, her beloved.

  “I have sent word to my father that I cannot marry the Princess of Le,” he said, “for my heart belongs to another, a woman to whom I owe this life. I have told him that I would return here as soon as possible and spend my wealth and eternity, if necessary, to find you again, for something so lovely as you with a heart of such purity and beauty. I would have found you if it took all my years and all my strength. Now, here you are. We will send news of our betrothal to your father, and we will join all the Oceans that be and all the Lands that are, together in a far greater, far grander Kingdom, one that truly is based on love, peace and harmony. And when we die, my darling, we will fly together with all the angels in all the Heavens for Eternity. Come lie beside me, my Princess Saira. Be my love.”

  She took his hand and gave Draédon the gilded dagger meant for his heart, knowing they would need it for the enemy that was still out there. There were more battles to come, but for now Saira embraced with her love, her heart upon his heart.

  ~ The End ~

  About the Author

  MUFFY IS A USA Today, Amazon, International, and Award-Winning Bestselling Author of Provocative and Paranormal Romance about love, sex, hope and passion. An American author of the popular Shadow Seduction Series (a paranormal love story), the Ribbons of Moonlight Series (a contemporary romance), the Heart Series and Memories of Us Series, she has penned a dozen more books and anthology collections.

  Muffy, likened in style to one of the Bronte sisters and Anne Rice, was born in Texas to traditional parents. With two older brothers, she was the youngest, the family "princess," indulged and pampered. Her father was a career Colonel and pilot in the U.S. Air Force which required the family to travel extensively. They lived in most points between Alaska and France. Having spent her formative years in Europe, Muffy 'came of age' in France which forged her joie de vivre and love for books and writing. Married and living in the tropical paradise of SW Florida along the Gulf Coast, Muffy writes provocative romance and sensual literotica while she enjoys life in the sun with her husband and wee Havanese pup, Buddy.

  Join Muffy's mailing list to get the scoop on her new releases, free reads, giveaways and special promotions. Follow her on Facebook at Muffy Wilson or MuffyWilson.com and on Twitter at @SexyMuffyWilson. Muffy also blogs daily at Muffy Wilson Books ~ Contact Muffy at Muffy@MuffyWilson.com.

  ~ Live, Laugh, Love with Passion

  Where to Find More about Muffy Wilson

  Website | Blog | Mailing List Sign-Up | Readers' Favorite Reviews | BookBubAuthorPage | Twitter | Email | Facebook | FB Fan Page | RWA | SWFRW | YouTubeTrailers | Google+ | LinkedIn | Tumblr | Pinterest | Triberr| Instagram | Wordpress | Naughty Nights Press | Goodreads | Yellow Silk Dreams Publishing | The Romance Review

  More by Muffy Wilson

  Coming In Hot: Paranormal & Contemporary Medical Romance Boxed Set

  Steamy & Dreamy: A Collection of Sizzling Romance, Fairytales, and more!

  Prowlers & Growlers: A Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

  Dark Desires: A Contemporary Romance Collection Full of Bad Boys, Bikers, Billionaires, and More!

  The Hearts Series: The Complete Boxed Set

  Consenting Hearts (The Hearts Series Book 1)

  Secret Hearts (The Hearts Series Book 2)

  Immortal Hearts (The Hearts Series Book 3)

  Healing Hearts (The Hearts Series Book 4)

  The Para-Portage of Emily (Shadow Seduction Series Book 1)

  Moonbeams of Unintended Consequences (Ribbons of Moonbeams Book 1)

  Cheerleaders in Heat<
br />
  Characters Welcome: An Erotic Authors Guild anthology

  Memories of Us (3 Book Series)

  The Touch: Memories of Us Series ~ Book One

  The Embrace: Memories of Us Series ~ Book Two

  The Kiss: Memories of Us Series ~ Book Three

  Visit Muffy Wilson Books website for more...

  Dangerous Beauty, Sexy Beast

  by Dariel Raye

  © 2017 Dariel Raye All rights reserved.

  Editor and cover designer: Leanore Elliott

  Contains intense, explicit sex scenes, coarse language, and violence.

  Dedication

  For my fabulous nurse, Amanda, thank you for finding me a computer so I could continue writing during my extended and unexpected stay in the hospital. As always, you listened, cared, and went above and beyond the call of duty during your watch. Special thanks to my supportive readers and author friends, and last, but certainly not least, Leanore, you are a Godsend.

  Dangerous Beauty, Sexy Beast

  by Dariel Raye

  Drayden saved her life— but her incessant need for vengeance could mean the end of his.

  Thirteen years after the brutal murder of Treva Evers’ entire family, a cloaked stranger shows up just in time to save her from the same fate. When he disappears as quickly as he appeared, she is drawn into an underworld replete with magic and long forgotten customs, a place where nothing is as it seems, including her mysterious savior, and every word or action could result in brutal consequences.

  Chapter One

  NOTHING HELPED GET the day started like the welcoming scent of dark roasted coffee. For most people, the day was coming to an end, but it was just beginning for Treva Evers. She faced the challenge of another night with a long, leisurely cat-stretch before dragging herself to the bathroom to apply a quick facial mask and brush her teeth. Then she padded into the kitchen, grateful to the inventors of timed coffeemakers and Seattle’s Best. Some days and nights were life-changing, and this would be one of them. The realization was undeniable the moment she woke, aware that a new challenge had begun. Prepared or not, exhilaration rolled along every nerve, muscle, and joint like a deep tissue massage, propelling her forward. It had been over two months since her last kill, and she was itching to get back to work.