by A. C. James
“Or not at all,” Cyn muttered darkly under her breath.
Tomas stopped talking, swallowed, and took a breath. “It’s like Felicity told you, about the púca. They mate for life, and when they mate with a human, the human becomes immortal in exchange for bearing púca offspring. But we take it very, very seriously. We—”
“Ohhh,” Cyn said flirtatiously as Tomas continued on, completely unaware he’d been interrupted. She batted her long mascaraed lashes, suddenly feeling like she understood. “Of course.”
She smiled at him, reaching out and stroking the back of his hand with her red-polished fingernail. Tomas gently removed her hand. Cyn sighed. She kept forgetting affection was apparently not something he liked to display.
“And sometimes the transformation is rather shocking to see. Which is understandable, but you’ll get used to it…”
As he continued rambling on, Cyn relaxed happily. Why had Tomas suddenly decided to explain how shy he’d been? Maybe it had something to do with the beer. She should have known he’d hide behind metaphors and use the púca mythology to cover up his obvious desire for her.
“I am so glad you understand. I wanted to tell you before, but I didn’t want to scare you off, and I had to make sure you were the right fit. There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Tomas said, smiling at Cyn. “And I think you’ll like him.”
She smiled back, suddenly intrigued. Oh, she really loved the sound of this, especially if it was going where she thought it was.
“Who?” She flashed a charming grin at Tomas, raising one of her eyebrows.
His smile faltered, but his nervous reaction was kind of cute.
“Is he a mate of yours and Niall’s?” she asked.
Tomas nodded. “Aye. And I believe you and he would get along. He’s one of my oldest friends, and I hold him very dear. His approval means a lot to me.”
A slow warmth spread from her belly to between her legs. Could it be he’d taken so long because he was waiting to see if his ‘friend’ would like her, too? Cyn had been starting to suspect he was gay, but she’d had no idea he was bi! In her head, a delicious vision formed of herself, Tomas, and a gorgeous dark-haired stranger tangling, naked and moaning. She envisioned Tomas licking and nipping at her breasts while the dark-haired stranger went down on her. Cyn almost gasped, and her panties dampened from the thought of taking two men at once. It was all she could do not to squirm.
“I’d love to meet your friend,” she purred, downing the last of her beer.
Tonight would be smashing. She licked her lips at the juicy idea of a threesome. It wasn’t something she’d ever done, but it had crossed her mind a few times. Would she have the guts to go through with it?
* * *
Flushed and breathless, Cyn followed Tomas out of the pub like a dog in heat. Her head was spinning. She couldn’t believe she’d gone from barely seducing Tomas to somehow winding up with a delicious ménage a trois. Happy Birthday to me! A tinge of trepidation crept into Cyn’s heart when she remembered she’d never been with two men at the same time, before her normal sass and confidence returned. Cyn was always up for new adventures, and there was no reason why Felicity should have all the fun with a sexy stranger. She may have lost the bet, but maybe when she revealed she’d shagged both Tomas and his friend, she could win retroactively. Or at least make Felicity gape, which would be almost as good as winning.
“It’s just a bit farther,” Tomas called over his shoulder.
At five-foot-ten with long legs, she wasn’t exactly slow, but it was still difficult to keep up with his long stride. The alcohol made Cyn’s legs feel a bit wobbly. She stopped to catch her breath, panting with the effort of trotting after Tomas. Pausing, she placed her hand up against a wall, the stone cool beneath her palm. Cyn looked up with some surprise, craning her neck. The sky was a brilliant blue, and she could still smell the salty sea air. But somehow, Cyn never noticed before how beautiful the Aran Islands really were. It was almost like another world…the air was so fresh. And while the island of Inis Mór wasn’t what she would call crowded (by any stretch of the imagination), it seemed positively deserted. Her skin broke out in goosebumps. It was almost eerie, and the fact it was still daylight made it even eerier. Bloody hell, I must really be squiffy. Her head was spinning.
Cyn looked around. “Are we going to the ruins?”
Tomas laughed. “Aye, there is a tower in need of repair, but I wouldn’t call it a ruin.”
In the near distance there was a tall stone tower, and much farther away, cliffs. Even though she didn’t remember ever seeing ruins in this direction, it was possible she’d missed them. After all, she’d spent nearly all of her energy trying to shag Tomas.
In this pastoral setting, it suddenly occurred to her perhaps this tryst was to take place al fresco. Despite herself, Cyn blushed. Being sprawled on the grass, deliciously naked and exposed, in a tangle with two men was unbelievably sexy. She shivered, feeling incredibly turned on. The sun was hot through her black pencil skirt and blouse, but a glance at the grass—and the thought of how her bare skin would be splayed out on it soon—gave her a delicious chill.
“Cynthia, are you feeling well back there? We’ve almost arrived,” Tomas said in a light tone, thankfully taking no notice of her flushed and heated state.
“Yes… I’m getting excited,” Cyn said slyly. Her words came out a bit slurred.
Tomas arched an eyebrow. “Cynthia, did you have too much to drink?”
Cyn took a deep breath, steadying herself. She didn’t want to mess this up. She’d never had such a difficult time getting a man to notice her. “I’m fine,” she said, hoping he believed the lie.
He searched her face, and seemed satisfied. Maybe he was nervous, and wanted to make sure she was okay with having a threesome. “Cynthia, are you certain you want to do this?”
“I really want to meet your friend.” She peeked at Tomas for any signs of recognition, but he was gentlemanly as always. Her stomach twisted.
Tomas nodded. “Aye, you’re very bonny. You’re going to enjoy this immensely.”
She had no doubt the experience would be incredible, but she’d be hungover tomorrow. “Yes, I believe I will.”
Tomas smiled and beckoned for Cyn to come closer. He pointed to a castle up ahead. “That is our destination,” he said, turning and walking toward it. “Do you remember everything I told you at Tí Joe Watty’s?”
“Sure I do,” she said with a purr. “You said this is taken very seriously here.”
The castle was slightly unsettling to Cyn, but she couldn’t quite figure out why it made her gut churn. She was absolutely certain she hadn’t noticed a castle on the island before. Damnit, this is an adventure, she told herself. I don’t know anyone who’s slept with two gorgeous blokes in a castle. She chalked the feeling up to her being pretty darn pissed. She was sure her morning would involve a massive headache, but she’d worry about that later.
They reached a pair of massive wooden doors that were so tall Cyn had to tilt her neck to see where they ended. Tomas pushed on one, and it swung open quietly, revealing a dark hallway.
He looked at Cyn before gesturing down its length. “Shall we?”
Cyn walked inside, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the shadows. There were windows set high into the walls, and shafts of sunlight spotted the stone floor. She breathed in a delicious and heady mixture of incense. The whole effect was intoxicating.
Hearing footsteps, Cyn turned in their direction. A drop-dead gorgeous man with slightly shaggy dark hair and eyes penetrated Cyn with his gaze. His effect on her was immediate: her panties moistened again, and she licked and bit her lower lip. The man looked as though he wanted to devour Cyn. As she took a step toward him, Tomas spoke.
“Cynthia, I’d like to introduce Fallon O’Leary.”
Cyn blushed, her breath hitching in her throat. “Pleased,” she said, smiling flirtatiously as she extended a pale arm.
Fallon took her
hand. His skin was warm and dry. Sparks shot through her whole body at his slight touch.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Fallon said huskily, before lifting Cyn’s hand and kissing it.
Oh, my, Cyn thought. This is going to be a long night.
Continue reading this story or turn the page for a special note from the author…
Dear Reader
Thank you so much for reading, Ride: Season One with Felicity and Niall’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! It would mean a lot to me if you could leave a review, even if it’s just a line or two. Reviews help readers find the books that they’ll like. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.
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Please read on because I’ve included places where you can connect with me and teasers from upcoming releases. I’m always hanging out on Facebook—it’s my favorite place to connect with readers. I really hope you’ll stop by and say, “Hi!” or Like my Fan Page.
Until next time...
Happy Reading,
A.C. James
P.S. I’ve included a preview of my Ever After Series in case you like vampires who are into a little kink and enjoy new adult paranormal. Just turn the page ;)
P.S.S. I was invited to write in Milly Taiden’s Paranormal Dating Agency world. So if you like HAWT shifter romance with alpha males and curvy women then you should check out my book Finding Her Bearing. Turn the page for a little taste…
Finding Her Bearing Preview: Milly Taiden’s PDA World
First love + mistaken identity + one BBW Latino and a sexy bear shifter = one smoking HAWT romance.
If you liked GEEK BEARING GIFTS from the Paranormal Dating Agency you’ll love FINDING HER BEARING.
Trigger Warning: This book was written to shine a light on domestic violence and may be difficult for survivors.
CHAPTER ONE
Cari smoothed her hair, sucking in one last breath before knocking on the door. This was stupid-crazy, and the last thing she needed right now. How she let Jess talk her into it, she’d never know.
The door swung open to reveal a small woman, a shock of white hair framing her smooth features in a stylish bob. She was short, but her wide smile made her seem larger than life.
“Hello, dear. I’m Gerri, and you must be Cari. Why, you’re even lovelier than Jess described. Come on in. I was just about to have some tea.”
Cari smiled at the spitfire of a woman and stepped into the apartment. Gerri closed the door and led her into a small kitchen.
“Have a seat. Would you like some tea?” Gerri’s shrewd, knowing eyes measured her movements as Cari pulled back a chair and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Sure.”
The woman poured two cups from the kettle on the stove, placed one in front of Cari, and sat across from her.
“Thanks,” Cari said, taking a tentative sip from the oversized cup.
“So, how’s your sex life?”
Cari choked, trying to keep a mouthful of tea from spewing across the table. Jess hadn’t been kidding when she warned that Mrs. Wilder was a bit blunt. That seemed like an understatement.
Cari straightened her shoulders and met her inquisitive, no-nonsense look with bold caramel eyes. “Nonexistent.”
She hated to admit it, but it was true. She hadn’t been with anyone since her ex. That disaster had ended eight months ago, and she’d moved back here. It wasn’t where she’d grown up—Cari moved here with her grandmother in the ninth grade—but she always considered it home. When she inherited her grandmother’s old, ramshackle house two years ago, she hadn’t known what to do with it. Now it was the perfect escape, a place her ex had no idea even existed. Cari had been on her own fixing it up for the past eight months.
“Do you want it to be?” Gerri asked.
Cari thought for a moment. This whole thing was Jess’s crazy idea. They’d been friends since high school; everyone else had been standoffish to the new girl living in the rundown house on the edge of town, but Jess hadn’t cared.
She was enjoying the hell out of her newfound independence, but a woman had needs. She was comfortable with her curves, her plus-size hourglass shape, and her sensuality. Cari licked her lips. Didn’t she deserve to live a little? Besides, she needed a date for her ten-year reunion.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for a major commitment, but no-strings-attached sex is something I could handle. And I need a date for my high-school reunion.”
Gerri pursed her lips. “Is that so? I may have a shifter in mind, but are you certain all you want is sex?”
Cari frowned. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. It’d been a long time since anyone even asked her. She was just getting to know the smart, sexy, self-assured woman she’d forgotten. Her ex had really torn her down. Then she thought about the only guy who ever made her feel like a goddess: her high-school crush. It was a like a lightbulb went off. She’d been too scared to say anything back then. Maybe all this reunion business was bringing back old memories, but he was definitely the definition of what she wanted in a mate.
“I just got out of a really bad relationship,” Cari explained. “I’m not sure I can make any promises.”
Gerri studied her for a moment. “You don’t trust yourself.”
Wow. Gerri really knew how to read people, in a spooky, second-sight sort of way.
Cari swallowed. “That’s exactly it.”
Gerri’s eyes lingered on her, and Cari made an effort to keep herself from fidgeting.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I’d know what to do if someone was nice to me. I have an uncanny way of attracting assholes,” she admitted.
Gerri let out a full-belly laugh, and her whole face lit up. “I can see why you and Jess are such good friends! Shifters can get their alpha egos in a twist sometimes, but I can assure you I’ll find you one who isn’t an asshole.”
Cari laughed too. She really liked Mrs. Wilder’s candor, a refreshing change from polite, superficial exchanges. “Hopefully you can find one before the reunion next week.”
“I think we can manage to find you a date. What kind of man are you looking for?” Gerri asked.
Her hunky high-school crush popped into her head again. He’d been sweet, lanky, and easy on the eyes. She squirmed in her seat and cleared her throat.
“I want someone who’s smart, fun to be with, trustworthy, a good friend, and someone who makes healthy choices. I need someone who shows up, and calls when he says he will,” Cari said, her gaze reflecting in the large cup in front of her. “I deserve someone who makes me feel good and accepts me.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. She couldn’t believe she was telling Geri all the hopes she’d pinned on relationships that always ended badly. That’s what she wanted, but she attracted men who were all wrong for her. She’d been cheated on, put down, and put up with shit when she should have walked away a helluva lot sooner.
Gerri grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You leave it to me.”
Cari couldn’t imagine anyone could measure up to her crush. They’d met painting scenery for the high school drama club. He always made her feel safe and comfortable. Cari could really be herself around him. He was her best friend besides Jess. They’d talk for hours about everything and nothing. She’d always regret not telling him how she felt about him, but i
t wasn’t until college that she’d embraced her curvaceous Latino body. If only Liam could’ve met the version of herself that was bold, fearless. She wasn’t sure that girl existed anymore.
She wasn’t sure that that Gerri could find someone who met her qualifications, either. Cari smirked. “Well, it’s a pretty tall order.”
“Honey, what you want in a man is what every woman deserves, and I assure you it does exist,” Gerri said, her eyes twinkling.
Continue reading this story or turn the page for vampires and BDSM…
Eternal Ever After Preview
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
–Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version
Preface
I never guessed that I would die with a sea of faces surrounding me, all cheering for my death. A woman wearing a jacket dress made of brocade only laughed louder when blood splattered her low, square neckline. Where is Arie? I scanned the crowded club, but all I could see were pale faces, some half-covered by masks.
My time had come, and I prayed she would finish me off quickly. The warm trickle of blood ran down my neck and chest, saturating the corset bustier of my gown. It seemed like a shame to ruin such a pretty dress. Strangely, I felt relieved the bodice was black and not a light color that would show a stain.
The fear of dying, or more accurately the fear of not existing, scared me stiff. Perhaps if I had satisfied this existential anxiety with faith I wouldn’t jump from panic to ambivalence. I should be angry at everyone who simply watched. They must think the gruesome display was part of the entertainment for tonight. After the bloody burlesque show, I could hardly blame them.
-Holly, I gave you the chance to leave.- The telepathic transference hardly seemed relevant at this point. I knew if I’d never gone to the Hellfire Club, I wouldn’t be facing death now. Still, if my death meant the killings would stop, it seemed justifiable.
