ROMANCE: Paranormal Romance: The Valley (Book One) (Fun, Sexy, Mature Young Adult Vampire Shape Shifter Romance)

by Charlotte Swanpol

  With his arms wrapped around her, and hers around him, she lost all concept of time, spiraling into his kiss. His lips moved to her ear lobe, sucking gently before nibbling. He kissed his way down her neck, to her shoulders, her breasts, and brought her hands up to kiss them too, her now-ringed finger. She sunk into her love, her body overwrought with lust. She bristled as she leapt up and wrapped her legs around his waist. With eyes closed, her intuition told her each step brought them closer to the bedroom. She opened them as he lay her down, the roses and candles scattered along the dressers and nightstands, as well.

  Hungrily, he peered down at her, licking his lips. He knelt forward to untie her scrub pants, and she colored, briefly, once more. This was nothing for her kittens to witness. He tossed aside her pants as he kissed each of her knees, then the place just inside her knee. He left a warm trail as he licked a path up one thigh and down the other, her body writhing in earnest.

  Jade gasped when Lewis began, slowly at first, with his tongue. He worked in circles, bigger and then smaller, concentrated. Jade’s hips began moving to his rhythm, eager to assist in any way she could. She let out a low moan when he slid a finger into her, deep and firm, the moan turning to panting as he added another, and then another. She groaned, and took a handful of his hair to bring his face to hers. Lewis kissed her tenderly before slowly removing her top.

  With one look at the black lace bra, Lewis’ eyes grew hazy. If he had been hungry before, he was starving now. He schooled himself to stay tender, patient, but his urgency was growing as quickly as his erection. Jade reached down to feel it beneath his jeans, and deftly worked the button and fly to add them to the growing pile of clothing. She sat up and left him standing, leaning to place a warm, wet kiss at the base of his member. She tried to tease him the way he had teased her, going slowly, sensuously, but when she’d begun her steady pace, Lewis reached around to take her hair in his hands, steering her in another direction.

  Before she was prepared, or had even gotten close, her fiancé finished, but he was not discouraged. He tugged off his tuxedo t-shirt and laid her back once more. Gently, he brought her leg up as he entered her, his previous work making it easy.

  Both Jade and Lewis inhaled sharply as he thrust deep inside her, his warm kisses finding homes on her goose-bumped skin. She smiled with pleasure; the feeling of Lewis sent her reeling.

  Moments passed, and though it still felt great, she wasn’t any nearer. She closed her eyes, and tried to imagine what was going on.

  She focused on the speed, the friction, the sweaty body above hers. She imagined tanned skin surrounding dazzling emerald eyes, raven curls spilling onto her cheek; strong hand caressing her breasts, the long fingers playfully teasing her nipples. She felt the same hands rake their nails down her skin, his desire palpable. Jade gritted her teeth and barked an order.

  “Spank me,” and he obliged, the ring of skin on skin muted by the covers.

  She felt his surprise, and urgency increase, engulfed in passion. She saw him looking down at her, thrusting tirelessly, with that private joke dancing on his eyes and lips. Her mouth went dry from the heat.

  Approaching the tipping point, she murmured, “Don’t stop,” but she knew he wouldn’t. He leaned in to kiss her with those gorgeous, plump lips and she couldn’t resist. She sucked the bottom one into her mouth, nibbling lightly, and the pace increased further. Steadily her climax built, closer and closer, until finally ripples of ecstasy convulsed through her body, down to her toes and fingers.

  Throat raw from screaming, she lay panting in silence with Lewis on top of her, and could feel him throb within. An extremely satisfied grin spread across her face, and as she stroked his hair, a tear made its escape from her eye into the pool of light brown hair beneath her. Fiancé. She was engaged. She was getting married.

  Abruptly, Lewis got up, and grabbed a towel. He sat on the edge of the bed, cleaning himself up in silence.

  Hurt and confused, Jade lay on the bed, the sudden absence of Lewis left her shivering less than his icy demeanor. What had happened?

  She was about to ask when he stood up and, covering himself, faced her.

  “Who the fuck is Owen?”

  End Of Book One

  Back to Table of Contents

  The New Hire

  Book Two

  Natalia Shields

  The New Hire

  Book Two

  Jade

  Jade froze where she lay, the question reverberating through her mind. The air was as thick as sludge, threatening to suffocate her as it oozed through the room. She scoured her memory, Lewis’ impatient stare boring fiery holes through the tension and into her soul.

  I haven’t done anything wrong, she thought. I met a coworker today, which was to be expected. He knows I started a new job, and that I’d be meeting people. Why is he so mad? He wasn’t even there, today? How does he even know about Dr. Azevedo?

  She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed, heart pounding and thoughts racing. The silence was the only thing heavier than the air.

  “WHO THE FUCK IS OWEN?!” he bellowed. Lewis loomed down at her, quivering with barely contained rage. Dropping the towel, he stepped forward and took her jaw in his vice-like hand.

  “You scream his name in my ear as you come,” he spat, his face inches from hers. “The least I deserve is an explanation. Who is he? How long have you been fucking him?”

  Jade tried to pull her face away, but he held on tightly, and she blinked back tears of both pain and frustration. She looked up at her furious fiancé; she’d never seen him like this before. How did we get here? she thought. A few minutes ago everything was perfect. Softly, she placed a hand on his, and he snatched it away from her jaw as though it had been burned.

  “Lewis, I’m not cheating on you.”

  “Like I fucking believe that!” he snarled, pacing in front of her. He was a caged bull, ready to charge at the slightest provocation. She needed to tread carefully, here.

  “Lewis, please just listen,” she began. “I love you, and only you. In the three years we’ve been together, I have never been so much as tempted to cheat on you. You’ve been the light in my life from the very beginning, so supportive, and funny, and caring. You were there for me during the most difficult time in my life. Why would I do anything to hurt you?”

  Lewis paused to look at her, and she stood. He took in her curves, her nudity, and slowed to a stop. She approached him, her eyes searching for a response, any indication that she was getting through to him. She brought her hand to his cheek, pleasure rippled through her when he didn’t pull away from her caress.

  “I know how good I have it with you,” she breathed. “Why would I do anything to jeopardize that?”

  “Then explain to me what the hell happened just now, because I sure as hell have no idea,” he croaked. “Do you even want to marry me?”

  “Of course I want to marry you,” she crooned. “I’m sorry about this whole thing; it was an accident. Dr. Avezedo is just one of my new coworkers – albeit, a very handsome coworker – and he just popped into my head. I’m sorry.”

  “Was that supposed to make me feel better?” he pouted.

  The hurt in his eyes was more than she could bear, and finally she understood. She’d done more than scare the shit out of him, make him think she’d been unfaithful; she’d hurt his pride, and she knew that a man’s pride was more fragile than tissue paper and, once torn, about as easy to repair. His ego was bruised, thinking he wasn’t good enough to get her off. She bit back a smile before lifting up to her tip-toes to place a soft kiss on his lips. He returned the kiss, leaning into it softly, then pulled away once more and sat on the bed.

  “That still really sucks, Jade. Like, you had to do this tonight?”

  Well, I only met him today, she thought wryly.

  “Come on, Lewis,” she pleaded. “It was an accident! I can’t control where my mind goes every second of the day! And can you honestly tell me that you’ve neve
r thought about anyone else during sex, before?”

  He considered that for a moment before looking at her sheepishly.

  “I guess you’re right,” Lewis admitted. Ouch, Jade thought. “But it was always supermodels, or actresses, and the one time Jessica Rabbit. Never anybody real, never anybody I actually knew.”

  Though it stung to hear that her fiancé had fantasized about other women during sex, especially women she could never possibly compare to, she was relieved; she could see the light at the end of the tunnel, she was almost off the hook. She took a deep breath.

  “I’m sorry, Lewis. Please forgive me,” Jade soothed. “It will never happen again. And, if it does, I promise I’ll do a better job of hiding it.”

  He looked up at her, sternly, but softened as she beamed down at him, the joke lifting both spirits and tension. Finally, he smiled, and she sat down on his lap.

  “I didn’t know you were such a jealous person,” she teased, wrapping her arms and legs around him.

  “I didn’t either. I guess I just get crazy when it comes to my fiancée,” he murmured, placing little kisses along her collar bone.

  Fiancée, she thought. I’m his fiancée. And then it hit her. She squealed with delight as she kissed him hard, determined to prove to him that this time he was the only one on her mind.

  Owen

  Owen Azevedo sat on the deep leather couch in his living room, the volume on the television off and subtitles highlighting the details of the soccer game along the bottom of the screen. He took a swig of his beer, less than icy cool now, and choked in excitement when his team clinched the winning goal. Sputtering, he looked down to make sure he hadn’t awoken the sleeping boy in his lap. The four-year-old furnace remained asleep, and Owen risked another sip of lager in an attempt to cool off.

  The little bungalow was warm to begin with, original hardwood floors refinished, and neutral earthy tones on the walls. In the living room, directly off the front door, there was a big bay window with cedar shutters overlooking the porch, and two wide, overflowing bookshelves framed the large entertainment unit. With feet set on the coffee table, Owen looked down at tiny head full of thick, dark curls. Pride and love surged through him, as well as anger.

  He was furious with Marcelo’s mother. It’s not that he had big plans that night, or any night, for that matter, but he had his routines, and it frustrated him to no end when they were altered. Never mind the fact that she had abandoned her children to rush off and meet some loser for a date. Who goes on dates on Monday nights, anyway? he wondered.

  Karla was a grown woman, allowed to make her own decisions and mistakes, and he knew that. She was smart, beautiful, and kind, if a little naïve. She was a hopeless romantic, and more than entitled to do her best to move on. He loved her deeply, and wanted her to be happy, but Owen had a hard time supporting that when so many hearts were at stake.

  At that moment, a tiny gurgle rose from the car seat on the arm chair. Marta was stirring; it was time for a snack. Gently, he got up, setting the curly head on a throw pillow, and moved to tend to the infant. At only eight months old, Marta was swiftly developing into a contemplative and curious little girl; she rarely cried, and had the most charming giggle. Owen bent down to scoop her up, and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. It wasn’t as dark or as curly, and for that he was grateful. It had taken a good many years for he and her mother to master their own curls, and didn’t wish that on this little peanut. One out of two kids with those troubles was more than enough.

  She cooed up at him as he carried her to the kitchen, retrieving a bottle from the fridge. He switched on the front burner, and as he’d been instructed a hundred times, he filled a saucepan with water to heat up the bottle. He leaned against the island countertop, rocking the little babe gently, and got lost in his thoughts.

  He could remember everything about how these two little souls were brought into the world. He could still see the joy in Karla’s eyes each time she told him she was pregnant; remembered the pride that swelled in his chest. Could remember the feel of her as he hugged her, spun her in the air; hear her giggle in his ear. He remembered his surprise when he found out he’d been the first person she’d told, and remembered marching her to his mother’s house to share the wonderful news.

  He remembered sitting in the hospital waiting room, with his stomach in knots the first time, and a busy and confused three-year-old to entertain the second. Remembered how tired she looked each time he joined her in her hospital room, tired but so lovely. He remembered every moment after, every birthday, and every boo-boo, and every crunchy work of art that hung on his refrigerator door. Marta and Marcelo, they’d both been through so much in their short lives. Owen wondered what else life had in store for them.

  The cooing transformed into a whine, and Owen was brought back to real life. He held the bottle in the boiling water and after a moment, tested it on his wrist. Perfect. After turning off the stove, he made his way back to the living room, Marta slurping hungrily at her bottle. He peered down at Marcelo, still sleeping soundly on the couch, and decided to put Marta to bed.

  He entered his bedroom, a makeshift nursery and, after burping and changing Marta, set her in the sturdy wooden crib next to the queen-size bed. Owen glanced at his wristwatch, the face reading 10:30, and probably time to get to sleep. The kids would be up early, and if he knew Karla as well as he thought he did, he knew it would be him that they’d be waking. He crept back into the living room and turned off the T.V., lifting Marcelo up into his arms.

  He lay the pajama-clad child down in the bed, covering him up with the blanket, and Owen was grateful that he’d been successfully potty-trained for years. He got himself ready for bed and climbed in next to Marcelo, moving carefully so as not to disturb him. As Owen got settled and comfy, Marcelo turned over and nuzzled into his chest. Barely audible, the drowsy toddler whispered, “Goodnight, daddy.”

  Though the kids remained asleep, the soft, steady breathing the only thing heard in the darkness, Owen was certain the sound of his heartbreak had been loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.

  Jade

  The next morning, Jade awoke having only hit snooze twice which, for her, was a huge accomplishment. She rolled over and hugged Lewis, asleep on his side, and kissed him lightly on the shoulder. It was his ‘rest’ day, and she didn’t want to disturb him. As softly as she could, she slid out of bed and into the shower.

  She could barely contain her laughter, smiles erupting on her face at random; she very nearly sang, though she knew she should not. Lewis had mentioned in not so many words that she should stick to her day job, and she agreed. As she lathered her shampoo, she thought of their fight the previous night.

  Why had Dr. Avezedo popped into her mind and, more importantly, why had he stayed there? Sure, he was handsome, but she had no idea who he was. He could be a drug dealer or a mass murderer, or who knows what! Well, probably not, but still! she thought. The point was she knew nothing about him besides the fact that he was astronomically handsome. And I guess that’s really all you need to be to fulfill a sex-fantasy. Though she did begin to wonder what it would actually be like to feel his lips on her skin.

  She shook her head and finished bathing. Quit thinking like that, or you’ll start another fight. She stepped out of the shower and began toweling off, head to toe, the sparkle of her ring twinkling in the mirror. She twisted the towel around her head and threw on her bathrobe, intent on getting the coffee started. It had been a long while since she’d felt awake this early in the morning, let alone motivated. She puttered around the kitchen and getting her oatmeal together as the coffee brewed. It was alarming, really, how productive she felt. Maybe this was the ring; she was finally growing into wifehood.

  Jade sat at the kitchen table, eating her breakfast and sipping her coffee, as Lewis shuffled in rubbing his eyes.

  “Good morning, sleepy head!” she cheered. “I made some coffee!”

  “I can’t believe it!” L
ewis yawned. “You’re up before me and you made coffee? Have I died?”

  “Very funny,” Jade smirked. “I think I’m just feeling very domestic on account of this ring on my hand! If you need to shower or use the bathroom, I’d do it now because I have to start getting ready in about ten minutes!”

  Yawning again, Lewis filled a mug with coffee and made his way to the bathroom. While Lewis used up every last second of that ten minutes, Jade finished her breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. She even made the bed, got dressed, and prepared her lunch for the day – leftover chicken parmesan. What is going on with me, today? she wondered. She passed Lewis on her way to the bathroom, who took her by surprise, and pulled her into a deep, luxurious kiss.

  When she was finally allowed back into the bathroom, Jade encountered the first speedbump in her otherwise smooth morning. How was she going to look today? Recalling her gorgeous, man-eating coworker, she thought perhaps a little bit more was called for on her second day.

  She plugged in her curling iron, intent on starting her makeup while the rod heated up. She didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard, but also didn’t want to look as plain as she had sitting next to Hospital Receptionist Barbie the entire day prior. She settled on a look that was fresh-faced, with a slightly more dramatic eye; a little bronzer. Just enough to look like some actual effort was put in without competing with Alexa. Satisfied, she put her brushes and creams away and began curling her long, light-brown hair. The wide barrel of the iron left big, romantic curls, and she pulled it back a bit to keep it out of her eyes. When Jade had finally finished, she gave herself a contented smile. She was grateful for the extra time she had had that morning – she felt like she could go out and conquer the day.

  The clock on the microwave read 7:04, leaving her just enough time to gather her things and kiss Lewis before heading out the door to catch her 7:16 bus. As she began the former, Lewis snuck up and hugged her from behind.