by Piper Fox
“If you’re talking about Gage, he’s not here with me.” She shrugs off my hand and enters the shop, picking up a basket as she starts towards the aisles. “If you have something to say, say it quick. I have friends waiting for me.”
“I’m sorry I left you last night. I never meant for you to get hurt like that.” I glance around, clocking every mortal in the place. The further we can stay from them, the better. For everyone involved.
She just shakes her head as she picks up a couple big bottles of tequila. “He had a bow and arrow, Eran. What did you think was going to happen?” She spins and looks up at me, her lips drawn into a tight line. “I get that you’re not interested in me, and you’re clearly out here all for yourself, but I don’t want to hear excuses from a sex demon who would just as soon fuck everyone in this store before touching me.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “I think you’ve got some bad information, Ryanne.”
“You didn’t turn on the charm for a server last night, for a couple of thugs, even influence Gage, while you just walked away from me?” She rolls her eyes and moves into another aisle to add more bottles to her basket. “I wouldn’t have given in to your thrall anyway. I would’ve had you in cuffs and on your way to lock up if they hadn’t come in last night, looking for a fight.”
“What makes you think I wasn’t trying to seduce you? Ryanne, you’re the first woman in centuries to make me actually want to pursue you. Not just because I need sex to survive, but because of you.” I shake my head and reach over to take her basket from her. “You don’t have to believe me. I probably wouldn’t. But I’m not the evil force you’ve been led to believe I am. Whatever mortal charges they’re trying to stick to me aren’t my doing. I may not be a saint, but I’m not the demon I’ve been painted as.”
“Sure. I’m just supposed to believe that you’re an upstanding guy, even though it all adds up. The trail of bodies. Everything you are.” She tugs the basket back toward her, and I let her take it without fighting it.
Neither of us need the attention of smashed liquor bottles.
“Like I said, you don’t have to believe me.” I smirk. “For now. I don’t imagine this will be our last meeting, Ryanne Atwood.”
I want so badly to explain to her, to show her that I’m not the monster she thinks I am. But she’s got people waiting. An S.E.A. enforcer. And I can’t stay in this public place much longer. Not if I’m going to keep fighting against the need to feed on any and all mortals who cross my path.
I just have to hope the fates will keep putting us together, until she listens to me. Until she can help clear my name.
I slip out the back of the liquor store, going through areas commonly only used for staff. Avoiding people has become a game for me. It’s the only way I can keep from making things worse for myself.
At least the seedy motel I’m staying at has plenty of by the hour rentals, enough to keep me from completely losing myself to the hunger.
Hayden’s waiting for me when I come back to the room.
“I found us a snack.”
“I told you. I’m not doing that anymore. I don’t want to fuck random women. Or men. There has to be something better, something longer lasting, than just picking up strangers in bars.”
“Who says you have to enjoy her? You didn’t mind watching the other night.”
I roll my eyes and push open the door to my room. Unlike the rest of the spaces in this place, mine is like a sanctuary. Clean, organized, and devoid of any of the depravity that goes on behind all the other doors nearby.
Including the door to Hayden’s room.
He doesn’t even fuck them, as far as I can tell, although they must get some euphoric high, since I can taste the energies they leave behind, even hours after he’s feasted on them.
Hayden’s the only vampire I’ve ever tolerated, even though we’re cut from similar cloth. Branded demons by the S.E.A., by creatures who don’t know their asses from their elbows, just because we weren’t born on this plane.
Most vampires I’ve met revel in the kill, in the taste of the last moments of someone’s life as the blood drains from their bodies.
Hayden fights his nature, as much as I do.
“What are you feeding on tonight?”
He grins as he steps into my room. “This one’s going to be feisty; I can just feel it. She’s got fight in her, and it’s going to make the pleasure all that much more fun.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“She’s a kickboxing instructor. I didn’t get her name, but if you want me to send her over before we send her on her way, you should feel free to ask her.”
Rolling my eyes, I head over to the minibar and pull out the full-sized bottle of vodka I’ve been keeping in there.
It’s almost empty.
Great. I can’t even get drunk on the stuff, and I’m almost out.
“Just leave the adjoining door ajar.”
He shrugs. “Your loss. Something tells me she’d be good at sex.”
As Hayden leaves, I flop back onto my bed, closing my eyes as I try to focus on the present, on the here and now.
Not on my encounter with Ryanne.
Not with how disgusted she looked when she talked about my supposed crimes.
I don’t miss the realm I was born into. When the rift opened, I was cocky enough to think that whatever waited on the other side would be better than constant orgies, relationships with multiple partners, all the free love I could get.
I never could’ve anticipated that the mortal realm would be so much worse.
At least at home, lust was shared with feelings, with people I cared for. Here, there’s no connection. No romance. No love.
Just meaningless, tolerable sex.
As I hear Hayden return to his room and start whatever foreplay he uses to lead up to a bite, I down the last of the burning alcohol and let my mind wander to Ryanne.
To her soft, sexy curves. To her full, pouty lips. To all that long, dark hair that I could tangle my fingers in.
Now she, at least, would be worth the feelings.
If only I could get her to acknowledge that I might not be the worst kind of creature in the world.
Pacing Panther, Deciding Demigoddess
GAGE
My panther is on edge and ready for a fight. They’re taking too long.
Ryanne’s been out of my sight, with an inexperienced, young wolf all day, and all I want to do is rip out of my clothes and go running through the woods until I find her scent again.
“Would you sit down for two minutes and just fucking breathe, kitty cat? You’re wearing a trench in my hardwood.”
“How can you act so cavalierly about all of this? Ryanne almost died last night. She’s being targeted, being hunted.”
“She can take care of herself. Or, failing that, she has a wolf who knows how important she is. You’re not the only one who loves her, Gage.” Brandis gets up and forcibly catches me, holding me in place. “Whether you like it or not, she’s a stubborn female who’s going to do what she wants, when she wants. She’s not going to play by your rules. And the harder you try to push, to be the hero she didn’t ask for, the further she’s going to run from you.”
I sigh and sink down on the couch. “Why are you trying to help me? I thought you wanted a shot at wooing her yourself. It’s not like you to be nice to me, Brand.”
He shrugs. “It’s not like I’ve forgotten how to be your friend. Even if you think you’ve got a claim on her, I don’t think it’s going to be that simple. Ryanne doesn’t strike me as a woman who believes in fate.”
I open my mouth to say something more, but I close it again when the door opens.
“We brought tacos.” Ryanne grins as she walks in.
But she’s not carrying anything resembling tacos. Unless tacos now come in liquid form.
“And booze?” I raise an eyebrow at her as I get up to take the box from her.
“You can’t have
these tacos without margaritas. I know you guys can’t get drunk, but surely you can at least enjoy the taste of a good tequila.” She lets me extricate the box from her arms, which I consider progress.
Tyler comes in behind her, carrying duffle bags, computer bags, and a couple of white plastic bags that have a bright red logo printed on the side.
“You could’ve helped with more than the booze, Ry.”
Putting her hands on her hips, she shoots him a saucy glare. “You could’ve let me come back out and grab something more once I brought the box in. Just because I’m now aware that shifters are stronger than the average man doesn’t mean you have to try to prove it.” She sticks her tongue out at him as she reaches out and takes one of the duffle bags. “It’s not like we’re in grave danger of having the trunk of your trusty sedan robbed out here.”
I instinctively want to take the bag from Ryanne, but I’m not going to push my luck. “Do we need to do anything for the tacos? I can get a pan heating.”
“They’re already made, Gage. If you want to find a pitcher, I’ll whip up the drinks. Unless Brandis has a blender.” She looks over at him, and it’s hard to deny the already comfortable feel between them.
She’s got Tyler, who she’s known forever, who fights her nightmares with her, and Brandis, who literally saved her life.
I’m not entirely sure why she’d choose me.
But it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying.
“No blender. A few magical objects that might work, but they also might rip a hole in the fabric of time and space, so maybe not.”
“On the rocks it is.” She grins. “Good thing I got ice.” She heads into the master bedroom and drops her bag before coming back out. “Hey, Gage, after dinner, can we go outside and talk?”
I raise an eyebrow at her, surprised that she’d single me out, but I’m not going to argue. “Of course.”
She smiles softly at me, and then starts rifling through Brandis’s cabinets. “Don’t you have anything that could even pass as a pitcher?”
“I’m afraid I’m not the most domestic of bears.” He grins as he gets up from the table and pulls down a large bowl. “Can we make this work?”
“It’s basically a punch bowl.” She laughs. “I think that’ll do.”
I watch as she starts dumping the contents of multiple bottles into the bowl, measuring nothing. She seems to move at her own beat, her own internal recipe guiding her, until she dips a cup in and takes a sip.
A few more pours, and she starts filling glasses.
“Okay, they’re a little strong, but I figure you guys won’t get drunk off them anyway, so we might as well make it a party.”
I take mine without any real intention of drinking it.
Once we’re settled at the table, she lifts her glass and says, “Cheers. It’s been a crazy few days, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one whose world kind of got flipped upside down when all of this happened, but I’m glad it did. I can’t wait to see what else happens in the coming days.”
We all clink our margarita glasses together, and as I take a sip, my eyes go wide.
“A little strong?”
“Okay, maybe a lot strong. Don’t blame me. Tyler can tell you, I don’t do anything half-assed. Strong coffee, strong booze.” She grins as she takes another swig. “And strong spice.”
I watch as she rifles through the bag, digging through until she finds the foil wrapped tacos labeled diablo.
I guess she does like everything strong.
Tyler takes the time to separate out the rest of the tacos and describes them to Brandis and me before he selects his own.
It’s all a new experience for me. I’m so used to meals alone, on the road. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this many meals out of my week shared with other people, let alone the same people.
We eat in a comfortable quiet, with only Ryanne’s groans of pleasure to really break up the silence.
My panther preens at the idea that we’re the only ones at the table who have heard those sounds because of our prowess, our abilities to please her.
At the back of my mind, I can’t help but feel like the spare shifter in this foursome. She invited Brandis into bed with her last night. Tyler ran to her side at the first sign of nightmares.
I was a bedroom away, alone.
After we finish eating, Brandis starts cleaning up as Ryanne pours herself another margarita and crooks her finger at me.
I follow her outside, glad for the time alone with her, but afraid of what it’s going to mean.
“Hey. I…” She takes a sip of the tequila heavy drink. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“You can tell me anything, Killer.” I sit on the wide porch rail, waiting for her to find her words.
“We slept together. Tyler knows it. I’d be surprised if Brandis hasn’t put two and two together too. But here’s the thing, Gage. I’m not looking for something serious. My whole life just flipped one-eighty, and I’m still just trying to find my feet. I…I guess I want to make sure you’re okay with us not being an exclusive thing.”
“You want Brandis. Or Tyler.”
“No.” She sighs. “Maybe. I don’t know. I want to feel like I have some say in my own life. And I know that shifters are big on the fated mates thing, finding that perfect person and making your claim. I’m not ready to be claimed. By anyone.”
I get up and pace with agitated movements. “You want the other day to be a one-time thing.”
She shakes her head. “I want to figure things out as I go. I don’t want you thinking that it means that whatever we had between us is over.”
I reach out and pull her in close against me. “As long as I still have a shot, I’m not going to be mad at you for exploring your options.”
I hate saying it, and my panther’s pissed too. I don’t want her to have options. I don’t want to think about sharing her. I want her, naked, in my bed, always.
She’s not a shifter. She’s not even human. If she needs more than just me, then I want to try to be the bigger man.
Doesn’t mean I won’t do everything I can to distract her from the other two, every chance I get. She might want options, but I’m going to do everything in my power to prove to her that I’m the best one.
Ryanne leans in closer and kisses me softly, her fingers tangling in the back of my hair for a moment before she tugs on it and deepens the kiss.
I groan into her mouth as my hands slide down her back to her ass.
When she pulls back, breaking the kiss, she says with a bit of bite in her voice, “And if you and Brandis can’t figure out a way to get along, to quit your bickering and fighting, you’re never getting close to me or my vagina again.”
I smirk as she ruffles my hair. “We could just make this easy on us both and you could let me claim you.”
“Fat chance.” She shakes her head and pulls completely out of my reach. “I’ve got a lot to learn here, a lot to figure out. And that includes deciding what my heart wants. If it wants any of you at all.”
I watch as she walks back into the house, leaving me alone on the porch with my panther.
She’s mine. I know it. But I’ve already seen what happened the last time I took her choices away. I’m not going to push her again.
Torn Between the Mind and the Heart
RYANNE
The night closes in around the cabin, making it feel almost like the four of us are in our own little world.
Tyler’s wasted no time getting logged into the wi-fi. He’s sitting at the table, headphones on, as his fingers fly over the keys almost faster than I’d think the computer could keep up with. Whatever he’s researching, he’s in his zone. Where he’s the most comfortable.
Gage hasn’t come in since I left him on the porch. I can’t bring myself to peek out the window and see if he’s still sitting out there, or if he’s left. I didn’t hear a car engine start up, but the man’s a panther—he doesn’t need a car to take himself miles
away.
And Brandis…is being Brandis. I don’t get the feeling that he likes having idle hands, as he seems to be constantly in motion doing one thing or another. Cleaning up the kitchen. Throwing in a load of towels to be washed. Making sure Tyler has water to drink.
Finally, I can’t take it anymore. It’s too quiet, too domestic.
“I’m going for a walk.”
“Like hell you are.” I have no idea how Tyler heard me. He hasn’t even looked up from his laptop. But the command in his voice is clear and sharp.
“Who’s going to stop me? You?” I cross the room and wrap my arms around him from behind, perching my chin on his shoulder as I check out what’s on his screen.
He pulls his headphones off and glances over at me. “If I have to. I’m still not opposed to the leash idea.”
I roll my eyes and give him a squeeze. “What are you looking at?”
“Pantheons. Trying to figure out which god or goddess you might descend from. But since being a pain in the ass and stubbornness doesn’t seem to be a unique trait among the gods, it’s taking longer than I expected.”
“Hey.” I swat his shoulder. “I have other qualities.” I smirk. “Is there a god of over-caffeination? Because I’d definitely come from that line.”
He just rolls his eyes. “Brandis, can you find something to occupy our bored little demigoddess here? Give her a coloring book or knitting needles or something?”
Brandis laughs. “I’m not taking a crayon or a needle in the eye for you, wolf.” He comes close and pulls me away from Tyler. “But I do have something that might interest her.”
I perk up, intrigued. “Oh?”
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.”
Tyler waves us off, pulling his headphones back in place before his fingers start to fly again.
Brandis leads me down the back hallway, past the operating room, to a flight of stairs.
“You’re not going to murder me in your basement, right? Because I’m pretty sure I’m hard to kill, and you really don’t want to mess with me when I’m pissed.”
