by U
By the time the sun rose in the sky, they were both exhausted. Her body ached in places that she couldn’t even name, but she was very, very happy and satisfied.
Chapter Sixteen
Two Weeks Later
Pierce stood on the pitch. He closed his eyes and savored the cool breeze that flowed against his face. After tonight’s match he had a date with Madison. For the last two weeks they’d been in mating bliss. Now that her lioness’s heat had died down, they could go on dates and the only sexual tension was of the natural, human variety.
They’d spent almost every day together. With Ryan in and out of town, they’d had his place mostly to themselves. The only kink in their plans was the current demolition project going on in the kitchen. Pierce had managed to convince Jess not to destroy everything completely, but they were taking out an unused closet and expanding the pantry, putting in a brand new meat freezer, and adding a few more appliances. Madison and Jess had bonded over their love of baking and Jess was trying out a few gluten-free recipes that Madison had given her.
They had also been busy with house hunting. Despite wanting Madison with him at his home, Pierce understood her need for space. Once she decided to move in with him, she could rent out her home and bring in extra income. He’d convinced her to accept a loan and payment plan from her parents so she wouldn’t have to feel as if they were giving her something for free.
Madison had made Pierce a part of all her decisions, consulting him every step of the way. It warmed his heart that she was open to his suggestions. Their relationship was growing by leaps and bounds, but still they kept things slow.
Between his schedule and hers, they were busy. The Wolven Winery Weekend he’d planned was only a few weeks away, and he looked forward to getting some time away from the town and his office. Despite all the issues they were having with the major leagues on the issue of shifters coming out of the paranormal closet, their success was growing with each game.
Pierce was thankful that he had Madison to talk to and help de-stress with. Sully was running her hard, but she thrived on the challenge. For all her hemming and hawing, being in a relationship suited her. He’d gone from mate-not-wanted to couldn’t-live-without, and he didn’t want it any other way.
Pierce left the pitch, swung by his office, and grabbed his jacket. He checked in with Matt to make sure there wasn’t anything he needed to take care of, then he sped away toward home.
Madison greeted him at the door with a hug. “Hey, you ready for tonight?”
He nodded. In fact his tiger was eager for it. Already, he could feel the pull of the full moon.
Even Madison looked a bit frazzled over what was to come. Ryan would be shifting in the mountains tonight. He wouldn’t say why, by Pierce suspected it was the same reason he wasn’t around as much these days and why he seemed to be a walking cologne factory lately. Pierce didn’t pry or ask. If Ryan had something to tell him, he would.
Rather than give his friend anymore thought, Pierce headed upstairs, took a shower, and put on some sweatpants along with a loose-fitting old sweatshirt. Madison was wearing leggings and one of his old T-shirts. Wearing any confining clothing tonight wouldn’t help matters.
Dinner was a subdued affair, with energy and tension crackling on the atmosphere. This time he wasn’t sure what to say to her to soothe her nerves. She hadn’t shifted under a full moon in a long time. During her father’s recovery, Madison had always toughed it out, subduing her lioness with strong sedatives so she could be fresh and ready in case her parents needed her for something.
It had taken some convincing, but he’d persuaded her to shift with him tonight. It would give her a chance to unleash her lioness and let it stretch its muscles. His property was expansive enough that they could stalk the grounds and hunt without fear of hurting someone or of scaring the few humans who lived in town.
Once they’d eaten a dinner filled with chicken and pasta for energy and protein, they headed outside and undressed. He held her hand as darkness fell upon them. With a deep breath, he changed, allowing his body to take the pain of transformation as muscles and bones shrunk and thickened. He gritted through the burning of the marrow in his bones and the boiling of his blood. He dropped down to all fours and let out a pained whine as his tail burst from his tailbone and his face took shape.
His senses came alive with the night. He pawed the cool ground and looked up at his mate, but she wasn’t there. Panic filled him for a second before he felt the square head of Madison’s lioness nudge him.
While he was concentrating on his own change, she’d gone for her shift without waiting. He nuzzled her face and cleaned her cheeks and lips. She returned the favor.
The only thing he missed was the ability to talk to her with words. Instead, he depended on chuffs and growls and short barks to guide her out to the property. He let her explore her surroundings and get her feline bearings for herself.
For the rest of the night they chased each other and played. She even followed him into the pond, but only stayed for a minute or two before she decided it wasn’t her cup of tea. His tiger loved water; her lioness, not so much.
He climbed up onto shore and shook off the water right next to her. She growled at him, rose up, and with a flick of her tail headed back toward the house. He chuffed in amusement and followed.
A fire had been built on the patio, and some cutlets of meat had been set out for them to eat. Pierce allowed the pain to roll over him as he shifted back into his human form. They both moved slowly as they got dressed, their bodies gradually acclimating back to their normal forms.
Pierce helped Madison sit down on the padded bench and together they ate cold chicken and drank sports drinks to get their electrolyte levels back up. Sleep tugged at his eyes and he could see Madison was ready to pass out too.
He guided her upstairs and tucked her in, not bothering to shed his clothes. Once he had her in his arms and she was asleep, he could rest too.
Both man and tiger were finally satisfied. They had their mate right where they wanted her, and she wanted them back.
~ About the Author ~
Author, part vampire, part pixie, Selena Illyria was born with a need to write and enable. Her imagination takes her into the paranormal, sci-fi and fantasy genres and all sorts of mischief. When not writing she enjoys catching up on her TBR pile, watching some of her favorite programs and listening to her favorite music as well as teasing people with posts on decadent food and plot bunnies.
Discover more about Selena Illyria here
Website: http://www.selenaillyria.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Selena-Illyria/100175079107?ref=nf
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Selena_Illyria
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/selenaillyriasofferings/
~ Also by Selena Illyria ~
At Drogan’s Command
Who knew one little disc could cause so much trouble? Certainly not Rena, until the disc in question—the one in which she lives out every sexual fantasy she’s ever had, including a few inspired by her crush, Captain Drogan Carter—falls into the wrong hands. Drogan’s. Rena is desperate to get it back—she can’t let him know all her darkest, dirtiest secrets…
When Drogan finds the disc and watches the very private contents, his first feeling is guilt. But that guilt soon turns to a raw, sexual need to have the wanton, carefree Rena in his bed. He knows she’ll never come to him willingly, but once he gets her, he’ll have plenty of time to win her over, and to prove to her that reality can be so much better than fantasy. But first he needs a plan, a way to get her right where he wants her: at his command.
Buy At Drogan’s Command here
http://www.amazon.com/Drogans-Command-Hades-Helmet-Crew-ebook/dp/B00FAUT8T4/
Dragons at Midnight
Dragon New Year Book One
One dragon is hot enough, but three can make this tiger shifter burn in the most delightful ways.
Tiger shif
ter Louisa thought she'd ring in the New Year all alone. Little did she know that three younger dragon shifters plan on making sure she celebrates things right. Add a little steam, a few dragon shifters with dirty minds, and some creative use of furniture and New Year's Eve becomes the perfect scorching-hot party for four.
Buy Dragons at Midnight here
http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-at-Midnight-ebook/dp/B006M47PV0/
Dragon Ugly
Dragon New Year Book Two
Can a dragon shifter give more than just hot sex?
After Brent’s New Year’s fling with his friends Fletcher and Tor—and Tor’s mate Louisa—Brent is determined to find his own mate. His dragon wants him to find their mate, too, and if Brent doesn’t find a way to locate her soon, his dragon will take matters into his own talons. And that could spell trouble.
Wolf shifter Carissa has no desire to live up to her wild musician mother and artistic father’s vision of free love and sex parties. She’s buried her sexual desires and focused on building up her aromatherapy store, Scentify, no distractions allowed. Until she meets Brent. The sexy dragon shifter makes her burn with suppressed need. The only problem? His dragon wants Carissa, too. And pursuing the dominant dragon would be playing with fire.
Giving in to his dragon saps Brent of his focus and energy. Things are turning ugly—dragon ugly. How can he bond with his mate when his dragon only wants sex?
Buy Dragon Ugly here
http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ugly-New-Year-ebook/dp/B00D8DE0AM/
Seven Sins Inn: Pietro and Callisto
Pietro doesn’t think he has time for love. Being a demon king and part owner of Seven Sins Inn leaves him little time for women. But when his friends claim that they’ve found the perfect match for him, Peitro is determined to prove that he doesn’t need a set up--he can find his own date, thank you very much. Undeterred, his friends send him to investigate a “problem” at one of the Inn’s guest functions, where Pietro sees the woman of his dreams, right there in the very kissable flesh.
Paranormal negotiator Callisto Monroe went to the Seven Sins Inn for a friend’s wedding, hoping she could scope the place out for work. But she didn’t plan on being swept away by the hot, dark-haired demon, or spending a weekend having the hottest sex of her life. All that’s well and good. But when things get too hot to handle, how is she supposed to protect her heart?
Buy Seven Sins Inn: Pietro and Callisto here
http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Sins-Inn-Pietro-Callisto-ebook/dp/B009PB94LQ/
Roman: Fallen Lovers
Can a mere woman heal a fallen angel's wounds?
Author Tristina Deveroux has been dreaming of a man—a tall, dark, sexy man whose nightly visits bring her to a fever pitch. But come morning, she always awakens agitated and unsatisfied—and alone. When her agent suggests a writer's getaway in Scotland, Tristina can’t resist the chance to gain a little distance, hoping a change of scene will help her escape the dreams and get her mind back into her latest book.
But when she receives a passionate letter from a mysterious Scot, she can't resist the urge to meet him. Can love triumph and heal them both from past hurts? Or will the clash of fantasy and reality bring the past back to haunt them?
Buy Roman: Fallen Lovers here
http://www.amazon.com/Roman-Fallen-Lovers-ebook/dp/B004GHN5NW/
Renny’s Mate
One Island. One Werewolf. One week of wicked sex in the sun...
When Larissa's given a week at her boss's private island, she jumps at the chance for some sun, sand, and complete relaxation.
Avoiding his family's annual get together, Renny hops a plane for his brother's private island. But once the werewolf in hiding spots Larissa coming out of the surf--wet, nude, and irresistible--hiding is the last thing on his mind. And the last thing he expected was to find his mate. But how can a woman like her trust the black sheep of the family who's never committed to anything in his life?
Buy Renny’s Mate here
http://www.amazon.com/Rennys-Mate-Beach-Bums-ebook/dp/B0074B6IM2/
“Dragons at Samhain”
Halloween Heat II
An Anthology of Erotic Paranormal Ménage
Three stories of blazing paranormal ménage. Hot dragons, sexy wolf shifters, and scorching threesomes to make an unforgettable Halloween night.
"Master Me" by Rachel Firasek
"Dragons at Samhain" by Selena Illyria
"Witchvine Seduction" by Dawn Montgomery
Buy Halloween Heat II here
http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Heat-II-ebook/dp/B009MRN9SW/
~ More Romance from Etopia Press ~
Seducer’s Moon
Lunar Mates Book Nine
Loribelle Hunt
Two wolves. One mate. A secret so big it will stun the werewolf world.
Gage Rylon has a secret. He’s the heir of the last Regis, the king of werewolves, but more than that, his father was leader of the Society of Rogues and murdered his own mate, Gage’s mother.
Orphaned and separated from his twin Gideon at the age of thirteen, Gage is finally reunited with his brother. But as it turns out, they’ve both set out to claim the same mate.
Marilyn Sanders has no intention of taking one mate, much less two. Throw in the fact that one of them is the Regis and she’s even more determined to keep her distance. If only they weren’t so damned irresistible. As if the dominant, overbearing Alpha would allow her to resist.
But there is something more dangerous than two mates lurking in the shadows. As Gage makes his identity known to the werewolf world, he comes under threat from those who won’t return to central rule. Worse, the new leader of the Society wants him eliminated…
Buy Seducer’s Moon here
http://www.amazon.com/Seducers-Moon-Lunar-Mates-Loribelle-ebook/dp/B00GC70K96/
To Hiss or to Kiss
Katya Armock
Chloe can “talk” to animals…so why can she hear the thoughts of this hot, green-eyed man?
Abandoned by her mother and raised by a father who’d given up on life, Chloe doesn’t let anyone get close. Lucky for her, she can communicate with animals—telepathically. Her long hours at the animal shelter help her cope with the stress, and the animals are the only people she needs. But when a suspected dog-fighting ring comes to her attention, Chloe decides to do a little spying. And in her rush to win the dogs’ trust, she almost gets herself caught.
Until a sexy stranger intervenes, and she finds she can overhear his thoughts. She’s never been able to hear people, and this man’s about as sexy as she’s ever seen. It’s more than intellectual curiosity that drives her to discover his secret: he’s a jaguar shape-shifter, and the presence of this cat among the dogs might be a bit too much to handle. But the animal attraction is just too hot to resist, and the passion between them makes both the sparks—and the fur—fly…
Buy To Hiss or to Kiss here
http://www.amazon.com/To-Hiss-Kiss-ebook/dp/B00BMVRTP0/
Skin Deep
Feral Ink Book One
Sarah Mäkelä
Angelique had no idea her black panther tattoo would force her to abandon the love of her life--Connor O'Reilly--but she's determined to keep him safe no matter how much it hurts. Her tattoo doubles as her feline familiar: loving, protective, dangerous, and with a life of its own. It's also her deepest secret and draws enemies who desire its power for themselves.
Connor has no idea why Angelique left him, but he's determined to win her back. As a werewolf, he has secrets of his own. Now his alpha is ready to force him to mate with an ex-girlfriend he can't stand unless he can find Angelique and claim her as his mate. But even as their secrets threaten to keep them apart, hidden enemies seek to destroy their chance at love forever.
Buy Skin Deep here
http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Feral-Sarah-Makela-ebook/dp/B00A3Y9RTI/
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapte
r Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
