Esmerelda: A Rogue Enforcers Novel
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Esmerelda
Rogue Enforcers Novella
Darlene Tallman
Contents
Character Bible
Preface
Blurb
Prologue
1. Esmerelda
2. Esmerelda
3. Beast
4. Beast
5. Esmerelda
6. Beast
7. Esmerelda
8. Esmerelda
9. Beast
10. Beast
11. Beast
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
The Rogue Enforcers Series
Next up for Darlene and Liberty in Rogue Enforcers
About the Author
Other Books by Darlene
Solo Books
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Esmerelda
Rogue Enforcers Series - Book Two
Copyright 2021 ©Darlene Tallman
Published by: Darlene Tallman
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from Darlene Tallman, the author / publisher.
ddean228@yahoo.com
The characters Leigh, Ice, Maverick, Connelly, Rowina, Charisma and Kash are used in this novel with permission from author Liberty Parker.
The character Colton is used in this novel with permission from author Grace Brennan.
The character Tabatha is used in this novel with permission from Samantha McCoy.
Editors: Mary Kern, Nicole McVey, Beth DiLoreto, Shannon Ferguson, Melanie Gray, Tammy Carney, Jeni Clancy
Formatter: Liberty Parker
Cover Designer: Tracie Douglas of Dark Water Covers
Character Bible
Esmerelda
Beast
Paxton
Landry
Leigh
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Ice
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Maverick
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Connelly
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Charisma
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Rowina
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Kash
(with permission from Liberty Parker)
Preface
There are more beings in the world than you will ever know - and there are Enforcers who make sure you never do. They’re the best of the best, perfect in almost every way. Speed, strength and gifts, they have it all. Only the best make it through their ranks. But there is another group out there, led by Colton Alexander. They might not be perfect, but they’re dedicated, vigilant and motivated. Each one is overcoming obstacles the Enforcers deemed undesirable. These men and women prove no one should ever be overlooked.
Welcome to the Rogue Enforcers, a world created by Grace Brennan. Here you’re going to meet some kick ass supernaturals and read about their path to true love. If you’re reading my book as your introduction to this world, welcome! But you should know, there are characters mentioned from books released prior to mine. While my book is a standalone, you can definitely start at the beginning with Grace Brennan’s Colton to learn how the Rogue Enforcers were formed.
Blurb
Esmerelda
I grew up knowing I had a great purpose in life, which I thought was my protection of Landry. Now ensconced within the Rogue Enforcers, I find that while I enjoy the family we’ve created from a motley crew of supernaturals, I’m still lonely. My smile never reaches my eyes, something my best friend notices. However, we have bigger problems now since Geralynn’s admission before her death and one of them shows up in a black Range Rover.
My mate.
Something I wished for in my heart of hearts, but never expected or anticipated.
Beast
I’ve never had any qualms about having my best friend, Ice’s, back so when he called and asked for help during a mission where he found his mate, I didn’t hesitate to pack and hit the road. Pulling into that campsite, I never in a million years expected to meet her.
My mate.
Full of sass, my little sorceress thinks I’ll wait to claim her.
She’s wrong. So so wrong.
The Rogue Enforcers are working hard to find and eradicate this threat so that humans continue to remain clueless as to the existence of the supernaturals, while also keeping them safe.
The hardest part about being around everyone is hiding my loneliness. I love that each of those in my new family have found their mates but wonder if I’ll ever have that in my life. A vehicle pulling up causes me to shake as I sense something is about to change. When I feel arms wrap around me and hear a deep voice say, “Hello, mate,” I visibly shudder with the intense sensations that swarm my body.
In order to get a handle on things before they spiral out of control, I flick his nose and reply, “Not now, Mr. Beast. We don’t have time for this. When we contain Ice’s adversary, then we’ll explore this intended mating, but not a moment before that. Understand?”
“No. Mine. Now,” Beast sternly states with finality present in his tone.
“Sheeet,” I drawl out. “This isn’t the right time nor place. When I’m ready, I’ll let you know.”
Beast growls as he lifts me up from my chair and marches away with me tossed over his shoulder. “We’re in lot 218!” Charisma hollers at his retreating back. I lift my head from his back and flip off my former bestie, which has her cackling as she calls out, “Enjoy, Essie.” Vicious vampire wench.
Once inside the RV that Charisma and I are sharing, he asks, “Which way?” Then, he proceeds to stalk to the back where I sleep. Closing the door with his foot, he practically tosses me onto the bed. “Mate,” he growls out, the tone sending frissons of excitement through my body.
“Who are you?” I ask, my voice breathy in a way I never remember it being before. I know his name, obviously, but this connection, this sensation of being whole — that’s something I’ve never experienced in my entire life.
“Yours,” he states, following me down onto the bed before hovering over my body. I can feel the heat radiating from him, the intensity of his gaze sending flames of desire licking through my core.
“Mine?” Again, my voice is breathy, like one of those dime store novel heroines. Since I’ve never been someone who could be called a damsel in distress by any stretch of the imagination, I don’t recognize myself.
“Yours,” he reaffirms, running his nose alongside mine. Something clicks inside, something I wished for when I was much younger.
“You’re my mate,” I state, my hand reaching up to glide through the hair at the nape of his neck. It’s not as long as Paxton’s, but it suits him. Thick, glossy, with a bit of a wave that has my fingers moving in a lazy motion that causes him to rumble.
That rumble.
Oh my goddess.
Never in my life has a sound impacted my soul the way that deep sexy noise did, and I want to immerse myself in all things Beast.
“And you’re mine,” he advises once again, his hands doing their own discovery.
Before I can say anything else, his lips capture mine and I’m lost in the sensations of coming home. Finding my one. I’ve seen my charge, Landry, as her mate pursued and wooed her. Same with Maverick and Connelly. While there was a flicker of want deep inside every time I saw them together, I had resolved that I would be alone.
“Sweet as sugar, just as honeyed,” I whisper against his lips when we break apart slightly to catch our breath. “My sugar bear,” I murmur before kissing him again.
Over and over, our lips caress as we learn each other. Somehow, during this glorious melding, we undress. Always touching, never separated, the need coursing through me is as great in him, if the heat pressing into my abdomen is any indication.
“So much I want to do to you but it has to wait, I need to make you mine,” Beast mutters. I nod, my legs already splayed wide, my body weeping with need. This isn’t something I’ve done before, but right now, it doesn’t matter, my body knows how to react.
He notches himself at my entrance and I still. Looking down at me, he cups my face in his hands, his finger swiping across my cheek. I nod slightly to let him know it’s okay for him to continue, then my eyes widen as I feel him slowly enter me. I could use my magic to make it easier on me, but I want to feel that delicious stretch as he molds himself to my body.
“Sugar bear,” I plead, unsure of what I need exactly, I just know that I’m on the precipice of something that will make my magic pale in comparison, which is saying a lot.
“I’ve got you, my sorceress,” he replies before he slowly begins moving inside me. I’ve heard mating stories from other witches, so the sparks that start shimmering around us aren’t surprising. What does shock me are the feelings coursing through my body.
As he continues his delicious assault on my body, my hands roam across his shoulders and down his arms, as I admire the sheer strength that rolls from him. When he captures one of my distended nipples in his mouth to begin laving it with his lips and tongue, I feel the fire inside flare higher. My legs now wrapped around his waist, I dig my heels into his ass and use that to thrust up as he plunges down.
“Beast,” I cry out as an orgasm courses through me, the waves of pleasure at tsunami level. My index fingernail elongates slightly as I touch the space between his neck and shoulder, and I watch in amazement as my claiming mark appears.
Before I can come down from my sexual high, he grunts out something unintelligible and I feel him bite down. The magic shimmering around us as he claims me momentarily causes my breath to stall in my chest, despite the fact that his hard, driving motion has me on the precipice of a second orgasm, something I didn’t think was possible.
“Esme!” he cries out as his body stills over mine. His large body rolls so he’s now underneath me, my body draped languidly over his. “Fuck,” he says, reaching up to touch my claiming mark. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t, my sugar bear,” I coo, my finger tracing the mark I left on him. It looks like a tattoo, with an elegant looking ‘E’ in the center. I can feel the magic radiating from it and realize that somehow, I’ve imbued him with my magic. “How soon can we do that again?” I question, my body already craving what he can give me.
“It’s fortunate for you that I have significant stamina,” he teases, kissing my forehead. Right now, I don’t feel like one of the most powerful witches alive. I’m a delicate, feminine being, not a woman feared for her abilities. I love that with our mating, he’s given that to me.
Sparks continue to fly as we learn one another. Despite being new at this whole relationship thing, my body instinctively knows what to do, and I relish in the fact that when we finally collapse, the air around us shimmering with magic, I’m fully sated yet whole.
Magical.
Beast
The last thing I expect when I roll into the campsite where my best friend, Ice, is at is to find and meet my mate, much less claim her. I came here to help, to have his back, yet from the moment I saw her, that elemental calling was too strong to do anything other than take her into my arms and claim her. As she sleeps beside me, my eyes caress her body.
She’s a tiny thing yet the power that emanates from her lets me know that in her case, appearances are deceiving. I can feel the magic that she’s expended during our lusty, fulfilling lovemaking. Never having known a witch before, I can’t believe that Mother Nature brought one into my life as my mate.
“I will protect you,” I vow, whispering so I don’t wake her. “I know you can take care of yourself, but as your mate, it’s my job, my honor, to have that privilege of caring for you, my sorceress.”
As sleep reaches up to claim me, I draw her closer then pull the covers over the two of us.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll find out what is happening and why Ice called.
Six months.
Six months as a mate. Six months with no further leads from Colton or any of the other Rogue Enforcers we know as we seek to find out who else was involved in Geralynn’s diabolical plan. Countless forays by the men in our group to track down somewhat nebulous leads which have continuously yielded zilch. Six months of me pouring over every last book I have to seek answers.
The only positive thing is, I haven’t been alone. No, I’ve had my mate by my side just about every single day except for the trips he and the others have made to ferret information from possible leads. Anything we gleaned from Geralynn’s former followers has been dutifully checked into, either by the men in our encampment or others within the rogues. Still nada.
“Are you sure?” Beast asks Colton, who called early this morning, waking us after another magical night. “Okay, yeah, we’re on it. Send me the coordinates and as soon as we get packed, we’ll head out. Thanks, man.” He disconnects the call and rolls into me.
“I take it we’re leaving?” I query, my eyes peering at the claiming mark he wears proudly, almost like a badge of some sort. It fully resembles a tattoo now, with swirls of color surrounding the ‘E’ that is in the center. Even that looks like a fancy, old-world calligraphy letter. When he shifts now, that spot is bare yet magic pulses from it with every breath he takes.
“Colton received a call from someone who says that they may have information,” he imparts, quickly kissing my nose before knifing up and stalking to the closet to pull out two bags. “C’mon, my sorceress, we need to get ready. He’s sending us in one direction while Leigh and Ice go in another to chase that lead down.”
“I hope it’s not another dead end,” I murmur. As powerful as I am, I’ve been unable to get a lock on anything related to Geralynn or her machinations. The people she had under her power told us everything they knew, but we’ve come up empty. Even the few witches in the group, who I’ve taken under my wing so they can increase their own abilities, have come up empty.
“It won’t be. I can feel it,” he proclaims, his fist touching his heart. “Now, Esme.”
I grin up at him. I’ve never been one for nicknames, yet my sugar bear calls me several depending on his mood. Charisma, however, still persists in calling me Essie, the vicious little vamp. I shake my head, still not believing that my best friend is a vampire of all things. Yet somehow, we click despite the fact that we’re so different. “Slow your roll, Beast, I need a shower first.” Yes, I can use my magic to cleanse myself, but our cabin boasts a phenomenal shower that I prefer to enjoy.
“Then you need to hurry, mate,” he instructs. My eyebrow raises as I lift my finger, causing him to levitate. “Esmerelda,” he growls out. “I’ll tan your pert little ass if you don’t let me down now.”
“You didn’t mind levitating the other day,” I remind him, smirking.
“Maybe because you were riding my dick? Could that be why?” he slyly retorts.
Shrugging, I lower him as I reply, “Maybe. Who knows? I didn’t hear you complaining then.” He chuckles as he reaches out and pulls me into his arms.
“Love you, my sassy sorceress,” he murmurs before capturing my lips with his ow
n. After he kisses me breathless, he turns me around, pats my ass and says, “Now go and hurry, please.”
I grin all the way into the bathroom. While the water is heating in the shower, I pin my hair up so it doesn’t get wet, then strip down and enter the steamy spray. Nirvana in a tiled enclosure. I don’t waste a lot of time getting clean since I’d prefer to keep my mate in a good mood. The past few months have been hard on all of us, especially the men. When three hundred of Geralynn’s former enslaved followers came back with us after vowing their allegiance to Maverick as their new Alpha, as well as the twenty or so that thought I was to be followed, I thought his head was going to explode. Thankfully, Connelly was able to soothe his inner beasts, and once Paxton, Ice and Beast talked to him, he realized that the willingness of these supernaturals to follow us meant that our property would always be protected even if we weren’t physically here. The good thing is that with all the extra hands, building cabins to house everyone took no time at all. We’ve got a nice little colony of supernaturals that are coexisting in harmony which surprises me since typically, each species tends to stick to their own kind. However, our own original group is diverse, so it works for me as long as everyone continues to get along.
While those that came back with us aren’t part of the Rogue Enforcers, Colton gave the men the okay to train anyone who wanted it so that they could defend those left behind. I also put more protective warding in place, grateful that Tabatha was able to come and help me. Her powers rival mine which makes me glad we’re on the same team. Finished with my shower, I make short work of drying off, gathering our bathroom things for packing, then once I have them in hand, I walk back into our bedroom naked.