Taming the Vampire: Over 25 All New Paranormal Alpha Male Tales of Contemporary, Military, Shifters, Billionaires, Werewolves, Magic, Fae, Witches, Dragons, Demons & More

by Mandy M. Roth

  “I know who is inside me.” Becky’s eyes never left his. “The only man who has ever been inside me.”

  Those words from her lips released something inside Maverick that scared even him. He had to hold himself back. He was stronger now and knew he could break her so easily. He took her mouth again as he pumped inside her, the wall helping keep her stable as he used both hands on her hips to control the motions. He knew she was close, and so was he, but he didn’t want this to end. Slowing his pace, he grinned when she groaned in protest and tried to go against him by bucking her hips.

  “Damn you, Maverick.” Her husky voice breathed against his neck where she had dropped her head against his shoulder. “Please don’t make me beg.”

  Dropping his head, he caught her mouth with his. “Never,” he said against her lips and then smiled. “That’s for another time.”

  A tear escaped her eye, sliding down her cheek; he watched its path as he brought her to completion. Her scream of release sent him over the edge while his growl of possessiveness echoed in the room. He held her against him, both of them breathing hard holding on to each other.

  “I’ve missed you so much.” Becky’s eyes were lowered, but she slowly looked up with uncertainty shadowed in their depths.

  Not sure what to say, Maverick dipped his head and kissed her before setting her down. Her body was freezing, goose bumps covering her skin. Tucking himself in and zipping his jeans, Becky stood watching him, fully naked and standing proud as if waiting for something. He knew what that something was, but he wasn’t sure if he could promise her anything… yet.

  When Maverick remained silent after her telling him she had missed him, she turned and walked away. Standing in her bedroom, confusion settled in her chest. She felt lost. What they’d shared, she would do again with or without any promise from him; there were no regrets. But grief threatened to tear her apart. She knew she wasn’t losing him again; she never really had him again.

  A laugh mixed with a cry escaped her mouth. She was thinking crazy-ass thoughts that made no sense. Maverick Wilder always had that effect on her. With a sigh and a shake of her head, she grabbed dry clothes and dressed. She needed to get back to work. The dinner crowd would be starting soon. If she was to own the restaurant one day, she had to be responsible no matter what life threw at her. This time life threw a cruel curveball called Maverick.

  Once done, she reached for the doorknob, but stopped and dropped her hand. How was she going to do this again? Would she survive? This time, she knew by his actions he was going to walk away. What they’d shared was no promise that he would stay, and she would never think that or hold it over his head. No, it was something that had to happen because she wanted it and obviously so had he.

  “Shit!” She leaned her head against the door. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

  Getting that out and calming her nerves, she opened the door. Maverick was on the phone, but his eyes instantly went to her.

  “Yeah, okay,” Maverick said into his phone, his eyes shifting away from her. “I’ll be there.”

  Becky sighed, heading toward the refrigerator knowing what was coming. Grabbing a water, she shut the door then turned to face it head on. “Good phone call?”

  “Actually very good,” Maverick said, then cleared his throat. “They found James’s place as well as the books he used, and some of the money.”

  “Seems he was careless.” Becky nodded, taking a drink of water. “So, I’m good now. No one coming after me. It’s all clear.” Okay, she was rambling.

  “It looks like from the books that the only big money owed was to the bastard we caught today.” Maverick didn’t elaborate. “And they found them on the cameras from the club, so they were there that night, saw you dancing with James and figured you knew his business.”

  “Awesome,” Becky said, a fake grin on her face. “Well, I appreciate—”

  “So are we going to stand here and pretend we didn’t just fuck in your living room?” Maverick’s voice was hard and to the point.

  “You were the one who said as soon as I was safe you were gone,” Becky shot back. “Your words exactly.”

  Maverick sighed and rubbed his eyes. “My job is dangerous. I have a lot of enemies.”

  She may be dying inside, but she’d be damned if she let him know that. “Hey, let me make this easy for you.” She grabbed his bag that sat next to the counter and shoved it into his stomach, making him grunt. “Get out.” She cocked her eyebrow at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “What?” Maverick looked at her, shocked.

  “If you think I’m going to stand here while you make every fucking excuse you can think of to walk out of my life, well, you’re crazy.” She pushed his chest, her voice surprisingly calm. “Get out. I’m throwing you out. Go.”

  Maverick’s eyes narrowed as he dropped his bag. “My job is dangerous. That is not an excuse, but a fact.”

  “Well, so is mine,” Becky shot back. “But I’m not using that as an excuse.”

  He actually laughed, but it wasn’t a funny “ha-ha” laugh. It was an ‘I can’t believe you just said that’ laugh. “You are seriously comparing what you do to what I do?”

  “Spoken like a true man.” Becky snorted. “You know, Maverick, you just took it upon yourself to walk away from me a year ago. You never asked me if I was willing to take a chance, danger or not.”

  “I was not willing to take that chance with you, Becky.” Maverick growled in irritation.

  The words spilled out of her with pained ease. “Then you never really loved me.” She pulled no punches because that was exactly what she felt.

  He walked up to her so they were nose to nose. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Maverick’s breathing was harsh as he turned, punching her wall. With a curse, he picked up his bag and walked out of her door and out of her life, leaving her crushed once again.

  Chapter 11

  Maverick sat at headquarters finishing up some paperwork. He glanced at his phone. He still had doubts about Becky’s safety, so he had hired someone he trusted to sit outside her apartment and keep an eye on her. He knew she was safe because no evidence pointed otherwise, but it was for his peace of mind.

  “Hey, was thinking of getting some lunch.” Dusty walked in, sitting down in the only empty seat in his small office. “I know a little restaurant with a few sexy waitresses.”

  “Go away, Dusty,” Maverick growled the words, not in the mood.

  “Dude, come on.” Dusty sighed. “What in the hell is wrong with you to let a woman like her go? She is fucking hot and obviously into you. Hell, if you’re done, then care if I give it a shot?”

  Maverick was over his desk before Dusty could move. He was on top of Dusty ready to plow his fist into his face until he saw him smiling like an idiot. “I’m about ready to beat your face in. Why the fuck are you smiling?”

  “Because you’re in lurve, my friend, and too fucking stupid to do anything about it.” Dusty sat up when Maverick pushed off him with a curse.

  “She doesn’t deserve to live this kind of life.” Maverick leaned against his desk, then reached out a hand to Dusty, pulling him up.

  “Yeah, well, bullshit on that.” Dusty brushed himself off. “It seems Barry, Mike, and Don would disagree with you on that since all of them have families. I think you’re a pussy, to be honest with you.”

  “Do you want your ass kicked?” Maverick growled without much heat behind the threat.

  “Did you even ask her what kind of life she wanted?” Dusty asked, his eyebrow cocked. Seeing his face, Dusty nodded. “Of course you didn’t. Seriously, bro. Give her a choice. If she doesn’t want to take a chance, then she isn’t even worth your time, but I saw her in action, and she’s a badass who can take care of herself pretty much. But you better get your ass in gear before someone else steps in, just sayin’.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Maverick straightened, looking down at Dusty. He looked as if he didn’t
want to say anything, but Maverick knew better. Dusty was always running his damn mouth about something.

  “Casey, the Enforcer you hired to watch her, told me he’s been talking to her. He thinks she’s hot,” Dusty said, then grimaced. “Damn, dude. I’m sorry. I guess you need to know exactly who you hire to do some of your jobs.”

  “That motherfucker.” Maverick roared as he stomped his way out of his office.

  What Maverick didn’t see was Dusty chuckling and shaking his head. “Damn, wouldn’t want to be Casey.”

  Becky had just finished work. She knew the guy sitting outside her apartment had been hired by Maverick to keep an eye on her, which both pissed her off yet made her feel a little safer. Her eyes went to the hole in her wall. She tried to ignore it, but it was right there. She needed to get it fixed, tell Casey she was fine, and wipe every memory of Maverick from her life.

  Before she could even put her bag down, she heard squealing tires and then men yelling at each other. One voice was very familiar. Running to her door, she threw it open. Maverick was pulling Casey out of his car through the window.

  “Maverick!” she screamed, running toward them. Casey was young, and she could tell he was no match for Maverick. “Stop! What in the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Go back inside.” Maverick ordered, but she wasn’t listening.

  “What the fuck?” Casey tried to pry himself away from Maverick.

  “I hired you to do a fucking job.” Maverick was in his face.

  “And I’m doing that job.” Casey looked confused and a little scared, but who wouldn’t? Maverick was a frightening sight when he was pissed off.

  “She is not available,” Maverick yelled, pointing toward Becky.

  Both Becky and Casey looked at each other. “Ah, okay,” Casey said, staring at Maverick. “What in the hell does that have to do with my job?”

  Cocking his head, Maverick dropped Casey with a curse. “Fucking Dusty.”

  Casey’s mouth snapped open, and then he looked pissed. “Dusty told you that I was trying to pick her up?” His face turned red with rage. “I swear to God, I’m going to kill him this time. What the fuck!”

  “Yeah, you better get to him before me,” Maverick said, his tone less harsh. He reached out, straightening Casey’s shirt. “Sorry, man.”

  “Dude, you know I would never—”

  “Yeah, I know. Go ahead and take off.” Maverick nodded toward his car.

  Becky watched what was happening, shocked to see Maverick looking a little embarrassed. Once Casey was gone, she put her hand on her hip.

  “You thought Casey and I were…?” She cocked her eyebrow at him.

  “No,” Maverick said, shaking his head. “Dusty…. You know what, never mind. It’s not important.”

  “There it is.” Becky gave a bitter laugh. “When it has to do with me, it’s never important.” She turned and walked into the apartment.

  She screamed when the door slammed behind her. Turning, her eyes landed on Maverick, who towered over her. “How in the fuck can you say that? You are the only thing that is important,” Maverick shouted. Shaking his head, his voice lowered. “Becky, knowing what I am, what I do and the danger, what choice would you have made a year ago?”

  With her heart beating wildly in her chest, Becky eyed him with surprise. Vulnerability filled his eyes. “The same choice I would make today, Maverick,” she said, her voice strong and true. “You. My choice would have been and is you.”

  When Maverick reached out and pulled her to him, she was sure her heart would explode. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her hair. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, soaking in his words, breathing in the moment. “I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to keep you safe.”

  “I love you, Maverick Wilder, and you are the same person to me, fangs and all.” She looked up at him, cupping his cheek. “I never stopped loving you.”

  A small squeak escaped her lips when Maverick picked her up and headed to her bedroom. “I love you, Becky.” He nudged her door open then slammed it shut with his boot. “And I owe you slow lovemaking, so I hope you’re well rested.”

  The grin on his face and the heat in his voice was almost more than she could take. “If I remember correctly, I was never well rested where you were concerned.” Becky smiled up at him, never happier than she was at that very moment. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Dusty stood next to Maverick, spotting Casey in the crowd. “You know, you never did thank me.” Dusty reached up, tugging at his tie.

  “For what?” Maverick frowned, but his eyes stayed glued to the back of the church.

  “Ah, for this.” Dusty threw his hand out in a grand gesture. “If not for me, we wouldn’t be standing here. Unfortunately, Casey almost died in the process, but I made this happen.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Dusty.” Maverick rolled his eyes.

  “Dude, some respect. We are in church.” Dusty grinned, his eyes watching Becky’s best friend walk up the aisle. “So, does Sandra have a boyfriend I may need to kill ‘cause she is fuc… freaking hot!”

  Maverick looked around Dusty to Dale, who looked uncomfortable and out of place standing in his black tux. His gaze returned to Dusty. “You know, I think I owe you one.”

  “Damn straight you do.” Dusty smirked then winked at Sandra.

  “Hey, Dale,” Maverick whispered toward Dale. “You remember your ex, Betty?”

  Dale gave him a confused look before nodding.

  “Dusty here went out with her after you broke if off.” Maverick grinned when Dusty grimaced and squeezed his eyes closed when Dale growled low in his throat. Maverick leaned close to Dusty. “Now we’re even.”

  Maverick laughed, but it caught in his throat as he stared at the most beautiful woman at the back of the church. With Earl at her side, Becky took his breath away. Her white strapless dress was plain but absolutely gorgeous, hugging every curve on her body. Her hair hung loose down her back the way he liked it. He fell in love with her all over again at that very moment.

  “Holy shit.” Dusty whistled low.

  “I will kill you, church or not,” Maverick warned with a smile before stepping down to meet Becky, who beamed at him. Earl placed her hand in his then kissed her on the cheek before taking a seat.

  “I’m an idiot,” Maverick murmured, reaching up and cupping her cheek.

  “What?” Becky leaned into his touch with a frown.

  “I could have done this a year ago.” He bent down and kissed her softly. “I love you, Becky soon-to-be Wilder. You’re mine, and I’m never letting go.”

  The End

  About Teresa Gabelman

  Teresa Gabelman is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. When not writing about alpha vampires, sexy shifters, hot cowboys and the women who drive them crazy she can be found near a lake with a fishing pole and her Kindle.

  www.teresagabelman.com

  Midnight Echoes by Mandy M. Roth

  Midnight Echoes by Mandy M. Roth

  Part of the Immortal Ops Series World (Crimson Ops)

  He’s a bad-boy vampire feared the world over…

  She’s off limits…

  Vampire and Crimson Operative Bhaltair hasn’t always played for the side of good. He’s walked a fine line throughout his immortally long life and has very few regrets. He’s always had everything he’s ever wanted—that is until Meena. As a human descendant to the master vampire he serves, Meena isn’t on the menu. That is until he learns he’s in danger of losing her to another supernatural male.

  Chapter 1

  Meena Emathia sat in the oversized gymnasium that had been built onto her grandparents’ home. It was a training facility. To her understanding, it had originally been used solely by her grandfather—a master vampire once feared the world over—and his men. She had a very hard time seeing her grandfather, Labrainn, as a killing machine or a man who struck fear into the hearts of other supernaturals. As far as she knew, he’d
given up his wicked ways when he’d mated with her grandmother, a real-life fairy.

  And since Meena’s birth, even more had changed. Her grandfather had partnered with two organizations, Paranormal Security and Intelligence (PSI) and the Paranormal Regulators. Meena still wasn’t clear on the distinction between the two, but she’d been told that PSI was much like the human version of the CIA, and the Regulators were more like a version of the police—but she wasn’t totally sure she that was right. She’d once made the mistake of asking for clarification and was still confused as to what went where and with who. Either way, her grandfather and his men all fought for the good guys now.

  Her father, Stamatis, was a Paranormal Regulator and had been for centuries. He also worked on and off with PSI directly under their Crimson Sentinel Ops Division (Crimson-Ops), or Fang Gang, as she’d heard his best friend, Whitney—a wolf shifter—joke more than once. Her grandfather’s right-hand man, Bhaltair, was also a member of the Fang Gang now, though no one joked with him about the name.

  Everyone was smarter than that.

  Vampires, werewolves and faerie were commonplace in her world, though she often felt like an outsider looking in. Where most humans had no idea supernaturals existed, and great pains were taken to keep them ignorant of such, Meena had been privy to them since birth. She wasn’t like them though.

  Not even close.

  She glanced around the training room. It was extremely large but relatively empty, as was often the case when her sister Rose was training. Rose had been born with many vampire traits and gifts, but without a demon or the need for blood. This made her special. All the perks with none of the negatives.