Skin Walkers: Leto

by Susan Bliler

  His eyes lingered on the column of her throat and his tongue peeked out to wet his lips as he envisioned running his nose up her throat and following the path with his lips. He knew she’d be soft and warm. His eyes dipped to where her legs were spread under the blanket and when he imagined poking his nose and lips around in that region his cock grew painfully engorged.

  He was shocked at his body’s response to her and he stood breathing heavily in the corner trying to control himself lest he wake her from her sleep. How can I want her? He didn’t understand it. She’s the enemy! Strange how one’s mind can know a fact but one’s heart could be in doubt. He hated the contradictory feeling and emotions and he couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t some Megalya trick. Perhaps when they’d somehow infused her with his scent it drew some subconscious physical reaction from him.

  She moaned and whispered his name again and his balls drew tighter. He curled his hands into tight fists and his eyes darkened. If she says my name one more time… He didn’t finish the thought because it ended with him fucking her instead of killing her and he refused to be the Walker fool who was called in by some Megalya siren who’d somehow used his own scent to lure him in.

  He watched as she kicked the blankets off and his eyes locked on her exposed legs and slid upward to the satiny powder blue panties she wore with a thin matching camisole. Her hand returned to shove her camisole higher and splayed slender, elegant fingers against her flat belly. He took a step closer.

  Partially shifting, he inhaled. If they’d used his blood it’d surely dilute at some point and fade right? It didn’t make sense that he’d scent this strongly on her. For a second he considered the notion that she too could have simply been a Megalya victim but the thought had his face screwing tight in rage. That is exactly what she wanted him to think. That she wasn’t what she is…Megalya.

  She straightened one leg then rolled to her side facing away from him and curled into a ball. Her panties pulled tight then slid over her luscious ass to expose more of her skin. If he didn’t know for a fact that she was sleeping he’d think she was doing it to taunt him. His teeth ached from gnashing them together, but not nearly as badly as his balls.

  Fuck I want her! He drew in a slow steadying breath in an attempt to calm himself.

  “Leto,” Shy moaned.

  And that was it. Leto’s control snapped.

  ***

  Shy was startled awake and when her eyes snapped open they locked on the darkest most intimidating eyes she’d ever seen. She tried to suck in a breath to scream but the hand clamped over her mouth had her panicking momentarily until she realized she could breathe through her nose.

  “Do not scream,” Leto growled as he leaned over her.

  Shaking her head she tried to convey that she wouldn’t scream. She didn’t know if he understood or not because his hand remained clamped over her face. Leto stared into her eyes for long moments and when they flooded with tears he tore his eyes away to study her face, then her hair.

  He was on the bed with her, lying beside her. Well, partially beside her and partially on top of her. One of his legs was over one of her own resting between her thighs. The hand that wasn’t clamped over her mouth was reached across her breasts and holding her shoulder in a firm grip.

  Shy’s breathing was rapid but nothing compared to the pounding of her heart.

  With both hands occupied, Leto leaned down and used his nose to brush the hair away from the side of her face before dropping his head to inhale near her throat. He brushed his nose up and down her throat very slowly before pulling back to frown at her.

  “You smell like your mine.” He licked his lips but didn’t look away from her. “Are you mine Shy?”

  Her name sounded odd on his lips. She dropped her eyes to his mouth and tried to place why it sounded so strange. It sounded…safe. She knew she should be terrified but was having difficulty conjuring up the emotion when he was being so gentle. It was a side of him she’d never seen.

  “Answer me,” Leto growled drawing Shy’s eyes back to his.

  How do I…she didn’t know how to respond. If she said no she was afraid he’d kill her. If she said yes, then what? Would he kill her for saying it?

  Slowly, Leto peeled his hand from her mouth finger by finger. It didn’t happen slowly enough because Shy still wasn’t sure how she was supposed to answer.

  When his hand was finally gone she licked her dry lips and watched as his eyes followed her tongue. She swallowed hard, “Leto,” his name came out more breathy than she’d intended. “Please don’t hurt me.”

  His eyes flicked back up to hers, “Answer my question Shy.”

  She shook her head and her lips parted, “I-I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  His expression darkened, “Speak the truth.” The hand that was on her shoulder loosened and slid across the top of her breasts. The slow movement was sensual and had Shy’s cheeks flaming as she felt her nipples pebble. She knew in the thin camisole the reaction wouldn’t go unnoticed if Leto happened to look down. As if reading her thoughts his eyes slid down and locked on the stiff peaks that were now standing at full attention hoping for consideration.

  “You react to my touch like you are mine.”

  His hand slid down over the thin material of her shirt and when his palm slid over one erect, sensitive nipple, Shy had to bite back a keening moan that nearly slipped free of her lips.

  Leto cupped one breast before he began massaging it. Involuntarily, Shy arched her back and then quickly turned her head away from him to hide the mortification at her own reaction.

  The hand continued to massage before it stopped to roll her erect nipple between two strong fingers. The sensation sent warmth shooting straight to her sex and when Leto added slight pressure with a pinch Shy couldn’t control the eager moan when she knew she’d just moistened in preparation for him to take her.

  Leto inhaled and the hand on her breast stilled then was gone. He grabbed her jaw and pulled her face until his eyes locked with hers. “You smell like you’re mine.”

  “I’m sorry,” Shy whispered hooding her eyes under her lashes. “I am…” God how do I put it! “Attracted to you.” She cringed knowing she sounded like an idiot.

  She felt his chest expand against her side, “That doesn’t answer my question Shy. Are. You. Mine?”

  Lifting her eyes she stared at him, her vibrant blue eyes didn’t waver with the sad admission. “No,” her words were whispered, “No Leto, I am not yours.”

  Chapter 14

  With the admission that she wasn’t his, Shy half expected Leto to snap her neck then and there. Instead, he jerked himself from the bed, punched a hole in the wall, then stormed out of her room, slamming the door behind him.

  Shy hesitated only a moment before she reached for the covers and yanked them up to hide her half-naked state. She was still trembling and whether it was from fear, desire, or a mixture of both she wasn’t sure.

  Finally getting her breathing under control her heart seized when the bedroom door was thrown open and Aries rushed in.

  “You okay?” Concern marred her brow as her eyes flashed down Shy then back up. “I just saw Leto storming down the hall. Did he hurt you?”

  Afraid she wouldn’t get the word out, Shy shook her head.

  Aries turned to frown at the hole in the wall before looking back to Shy. “Did he try to hurt you?”

  Again Shy shook her head. She didn’t want to have to explain how Leto had snuck in her room to threaten her and had ended up getting her all hot and bothered. Licking her parched lips Shy dropped her eyes to study the quilt that covered her. “I-I thought you said I would be safe.”

  Aries planted both hands on her lean hips. “My room is just next door. I didn’t expect Leto to actually track you down. It’s foolish with Conn and his team so close by.”

  That caught Shy’s attention. “Is York close?”

  “Look,” Aries crossed to the bed and took a seat. “You ne
ed to stay away from York.”

  “Why?” Shy’s eyes rounded, “Is he dangerous too?”

  “No, he’s just…” Aries laced her fingers and stared unseeing up at the ceiling as if searching for the perfect word. When nothing sprang to mind she tapped her finger tips together while forming a silent “O” with her lips and shook her head before frowning and exhaling a harsh breath. When her eyes found Shy’s she seemed annoyed. “Look, you know how you heard us talking about the affliction?”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, Leto is afflicted.”

  Shy flattened a hand on her chest and recoiled, “With what?”

  Aries smiled. “The affliction in Walkers means that the male is in...,” she dropped her eyes and blushed before peeking up, “heat?”

  “Uhhhh,” Shy’s brows hiked. She didn’t want to laugh at Aries but was highly tempted.

  “Oh don’t look at me like I’m a fucking idiot! It’s true. Walker men go into heat. Leto’s in heat, which means it’s a really good idea to keep other Walkers away from you right now.”

  “What would Leto being in heat have to do with me?” Her cheeks flamed, “Aside from the fact that I’m a woman?”

  “Here’s the problem. You carry his scent because unbeknownst to him you carry his child.”

  Shy shook her head and shrugged her shoulders her face all but screaming, “And?”

  “Leto’s in heat and he’s looking for a garden to fertilize. You carry his scent, which makes him think that you are his. So doesn’t it make sense that the bull elk would go to one of the cow’s in his harem when he had…needs?” Aries gave herself mental thumbs-up for having explained the affliction so eloquently.

  Shy was in the process of scratching the back of her neck when she paused mid finger bend. “Did you just call me a cow?”

  “Christ!” Aries threw up her hands and stood. “Look Shy, stay away from York. Stay away from all men unless you want Leto killing them. Because that’s what he’ll do. He’ll be forced to assert his dominance and show that no one is taking what is his and he’ll fight any and all challengers to the death. You are his and he won’t tolerate another male near you. There! I said it. Do you finally get it?”

  Fear inched up Shy’s spine. “No. I’m not his!” She sprang from the bed and pointed at the hole in the wall. “Does it look like he’s interested in me Aries? He wants to kill me! He tried to kill me! And you people promised to keep me safe and then let him waltz right in here while I was asleep. Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to wake up to a hand clamped over your mouth?”

  Aries shrugged one shoulder negligently and mumbled under her breath, “Actually I do.”

  “What?” Shy snapped.

  “Uh, nothing. Look, I get that your confused and scared and all those girly emotions, but there are only two things you need to understand. One, stay away from other men. You’ll only get them hurt. Two, Leto’s a little…testy right now.”

  “Testy?”

  “How about crotchety? Does that work better for you?”

  Shy could feel her face reddening in anger. “He isn’t crotchety Aries. He’s a fucking psycho!”

  “Well,” Aries continued nonchalantly, “he didn’t kill you so that’s a plus.”

  “A plus,” Shy gasped. “He didn’t kill me and it’s a plus?”

  Aries winced, “Okay, that sounded bad. You know,” she backed toward the door, “maybe I’ll have Jenny or Lilly explain things to you. I don’t seem to be doing a very good job.

  “Yeah,” Shy shook her head before covering a hand over her mouth then dropping it. “Maybe someone who is more in-tune with all these girly emotions I’m experiencing.”

  Instead of feeling bad Aries actually smiled, “Sorry. I don’t do damsel-in-distress mode very well. But Lilly is just your girl. I’ll get her. Stay here.” And with that Aries backed out the door leaving Shy angry, confused, scared, and alone.

  ***

  Conn found Leto in the estate’s gym. The dark haired Walker was pummeling a heavy bag with such concentration that he didn’t seem to notice Conn’s approach.

  “Ugh, ugh,” Conn cleared his throat then threw up his hands when Leto spun on him with a fierce growl. “Easy Leto. It’s just me.”

  “Leave!” Leto turned back to the heavy bag and started pounding away.

  Conn circled the bag and braced hands on either side before stepping in to hold it in place with his hip. “So, you tracked down Shy.”

  Leto stopped punching for a moment. His angry eyes flicked to Conn then back to the bag.

  “When I first met Aries, I was sent to retrieve her from the South American jungle. One of our Walkers has been searching for his sister. He had reason to believe that Aries was her.”

  Leto kept punching, “And I care why?”

  Unperturbed, Conn continued as if Leto hadn’t even spoken. “The very first time I laid eyes on her she dropped me to my knees.” When Leto kept punching, Conn jerked back and yanked the bag out of his reach, which sent the Walker over extending and falling to his knees as his head snapped back and fury registered on his expression.

  “Literally Leto. When I first saw Aries I was physically affected.”

  Leto’s sneer faltered a moment as he remembered the first time he saw Shy. Quickly, he masked his curiosity and sprang to his feet to remove his gloves. “Again, I care why?”

  “It’s part of Skin Walker mating ritual. It’s called the affliction. Mother nature’s way of kicking us in the balls to ensure we aren’t dumb enough to pass on our one true angel.”

  When Leto dropped the worn gloves on the mat at his feet and turned to head to the showers Conn’s angry words stopped him. “At least hear what I have to say Leto. It might come in handy.” Leto didn’t turn toward him but he didn’t leave either. “I’ll tell you how it was explained to me but first I’ll tell you that I didn’t believe it for a second. I fought it. I didn’t want to be mated, to be tied to any one person, but in the end…she was my angel and I couldn’t just walk away from that.

  Dr. Arkinson believes that the affliction is like the rut that elk experience; however, it’s triggered not by the shortening of days but by introduction to one’s angel.” He stopped and eyed Leto’s back. “Do you hunt?”

  Leto didn’t answer.

  “Of course you hunt. We’re Walkers, it’s what we do.” Giving Leto a wide berth, Conn circled until he was in front of the Walker. “A rutting bull elk is urged by his desire to ensure that his seed is passed on. Bull elk will fight for a harem and then fight to keep it. This ensures that only the seed of the strongest and most virile species is passed on. It truly is survival of the fittest and we Walkers are no different.

  Like the rutting bull elk, we too will forego eating, drinking, and sleeping, too pre-occupied with protecting our angel.”

  “And if she is protected?”

  Conn smiled. Leto’s question wasn’t confirmation that he understood or even believed his explanation of the affliction, but it was close. “It’s more than just protecting her. The need to claim is what keeps the affliction from subsiding.”

  “Claim?”

  “Mate,” there was a smile in Conn’s voice. “You can try to fight it. I did.” He drew in a deep breath and exhaled loudly, “And I failed. The only thing I succeeded in was allowing my body to weaken to a point where I was unable to protect my angel when she needed me most. She almost died and it was my fault. I was too stubborn and too proud and it…” he didn’t like to remember how badly Aries had been injured when Remy had taken her from him. He gnashed his teeth but smirked as it inspired a thought. “Shy is beautiful.”

  Leto didn’t move, but his body suddenly tensed.

  “There are many un-mated Walkers here.”

  Leto spun and growled out, “And?”

  Conn shrugged, “Just saying.” Deciding he’d given Leto enough information to process, Conn turned and left the gym without another word.

  Alone, Leto sneered at
the empty doorway and denied that he was drawn to Shy or afflicted by her in anyway. Yes, she is attractive and maybe under different circumstances… He pushed the thought aside still angry with himself at his body’s reaction to her earlier that morning. She is my enemy! He repeated the thought in his head, much as he’d done the entire time he’d been working out in the hopes that the thought would finally stick and he’d stop thinking about Shy Brookes in any other capacity especially the one that had him fighting an erection.

  She had done something to him, he was willing to admit that much, but he wasn’t for one second willing to believe that she was his angel. She’s Megalya. Why he was the only one that could see it he didn’t understand, but he’d get the proof. He’d watch her silently from the shadows until she slipped up and when she did, he’d be the one catch her.

  Chapter 15

  Shy smiled as she gave Mahkya Mulholland a gentle push sending the little girl sledding down the slight snow covered slope and evoking a delighted squeal from the child.

  “She loves it here,” Lilly was re-packing the picnic basket she’d carried to StoneCrow park as she watched Shy inch down the hill to help Mahkya drag the sled back to the top.

  “I can see why.” Shy’s cheeks were pink from the frosty exhilaration, her breath left her lips on a frosty cloud. “Thanks for the hot chocolate and sandwiches by the way.”

  “I thought a light snack would be nice.” Lilly turned to her daughter, “You ready to go baby?”

  “Aww, mom.” Mahkya’s lower lip pouted out. “Me an Shy was just havin’ fun!”

  Lilly smiled, “I know baby but it’s getting cold fast and you need to take your bath.”

  “What about Shy?” Mahkya sulked, “Can she come over an play for awhile?”

  Hooking the closed picnic basket over her arm, Lilly trudged through the snow to her daughter and grabbed her mitten-clad hand. “Shy needs to go back to her suite and get some rest. You remember I told you about the special package she’s carrying.”

  Mahkya’s eyes lit with excitement. “I remember momma.” She smiled at Shy, “I hope it’s a girl so me an her can play together.”